James Scanga, Horn

James Scanga is Guest Lecturer of Music for Grove City College. He teaches applied Horn.  In addition, he has taught Instrumental Music Methods Classes and observed Student Teachers. He maintains a Private Horn Studio in Sharpsville. Mr. Scanga is also the Horn Instructor for the Canfield, Ohio School District where he teaches students in grades 5-12. He was a Brass Instructor for the Thiel College Marching Band from 2013-2018.

Mr. Scanga taught for 30 years in Public and Private Schools. He was the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Coordinator for the Farrell Area Schools, retiring in 2013. His duties included High School Marching, Pep, Jazz, and Concert Bands, Middle School Band, Elementary instrumental Lessons and Band, Music Appreciation, and Administrative Duties for the Fine Arts Department. He was also the Director of Bands for Kennedy Catholic High School and a Music Teacher for Venango Christian High School.

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He is a very active Horn performer playing Principal Horn in the W.D. Packard Concert Band, Youngstown Fine Arts Brass Quintet, Bravura Woodwind Quintet, Greenville Symphony Orchestra (Principal), St. Margherita Blue Coat Band, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Band, and the Shenango Valley Chorale Chamber Orchestra. He has been an orchestra musician with the Shenango Valley Lyric Opera and New Castle Playhouse. In addition, he has performed with the Youngstown Symphony, Butler Symphony, Warren Philharmonic, Westminster College Faculty
Brass and Woodwind Quintets, and the Lawrence County Brass.

James Scanga has been very involved with the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He was the Festival Coordinator for District 5 from 2013-2021 and is a frequent adjudicator for PMEA’s Music Performance Assessments. During his career he has received several awards: Farrell Alumni Association Hall of Fame Inductee 2019, PMEA Citation of Excellence 2002, Farrell Area School District Alumni Association Blue/Gold Award 2003, and Educator of the Year 2005.

Mr. Scanga is a graduate of Farrell High School in 1971, earned a B.S. in Music Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1975, and a Master of Music Performance from Youngstown State University in 1992. At Youngstown, his Horn Instructor was William B. Slocum. He is a member of the International Horn Society, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and the American Federation of Musicians, local 118.