James Ernest Gillespie, Jr.

On November 30,1940, James Ernest Gillespie was born to Evelyn (née) Ray and James E. Gillespie, Sr. in Tazewell, Virginia, a small town nestled within the rolling hills of the Appalachians, the winding Clinch River and sweeping farmlands.

As its Salutatorian, Jim graduated from Tazewell High School in 1958 where he was a member of the Beta Club and in his senior year, a recipient of the Arion Music Award. Jim also represented his town and school as a member of Virginia All-State Band for four successive years and as a participant in Boys State.

Jim began studying clarinet as a third grader, and though the smallest player in the band, he did not let that slow him down.

Jim received his undergraduate music degree from Concord College, and continued his academic pursuit at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he was granted both Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in multiple woodwinds with clarinet as his principle instrument, all degrees granted with honors.

After completing his doctoral degree the now, Dr. Gillespie, married vocalist Cheryl Hopkins, the young, talented soprano he met, and with whom he fell in love at Indiana University.

Jim Gillespie was accomplished in multiple areas, not only as a fine solo performer, but as a teacher of the clarinet demonstrated by the stellar achievements of his students following their graduations. He was endlessly supportive of his clarinet studio, always proud of his students’ accomplishments out in the world.

Jim was an academic to the core and was the initial editor of The Clarinet,The Quarterly Journal of the International Clarinet Association a position he held for 37 years. Jim was honored in 2007 by the International Clarinet Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the I.C.A. Clarinetfest held in Tokoyo.

His reference books on works for reed trio and solos for unaccompanied clarinet became standard references in the field.

Jim continued performing throughout his career playing in multiple U.S. states in addition to Canada, Stockholm, China, England, Scotland, Japan, Hong Kong, Hungary, Germany, Taiwan, Italy, Belgium and beyond.

Jim stepped away from teaching in 2017 and the university obligations which took him on his ife‘s journey from Concord College, to Indiana University, University of Redlands, Northeast Louisiana University, now the University of Louisiana at Monroe and in1978 to North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas from from where he retired as a Regents Professor Emeritus.

Jim and his wife Cheryl were then free to pursue their great love of world travel, and so they did with great joy!

If you choose to make a donation in Jim’s honor, please consider a donation to UNT College of Music, the James E. and Cheryl Gillespie Clarinet Scholarship Fund at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.