Biography
James Latten, professor of music (percussionist/conductor), first joined the Juniata faculty from 1997-2000 as adjunct percussion instructor. In 2002 he returned in a full-time role as Director of Instrumental Music.
Courses Taught and Ensembles Directed at Juniata:
- Concert Bands
- Orchestra
- Percussion Ensemble
- Jazz Ensemble
- Musical Theatre Orchestra
- Percussion Studio
- Music Fundamentals
- Survey of Western Art Music
- Musical and Architectural Forms
- History of American Popular Musics
- Musical Acoustics
Additional Teaching and Conducting Experiences
- Percussion Methods and Materials
- Marching Band
- Indoor Drumline
- Raystown Wind Orchestra
Originally from Wellsville, New York, Latten holds a Ph.D. in Music Education (2003) from Penn State University, a Master of Music Education with wind conducting emphasis (1990) from Indiana University Bloomington, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (1986) from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, where he performed as soloist on the Creston Concertino with the college Wind Ensemble under the direction of Donald Stanley. At Penn State he served for three years as graduate assistant with the band program, including the famed Penn State Marching Blue Band and both basketball pep bands, Latten studied percussion with Richard Talbot, Rob James, William Roberts, and Dan C. Armstrong, and wind conducting with Ray Cramer, Dennis Glocke, Mark Scatterday, Rodney Winther, and Jack Stamp.
Jim taught high school bands and grades 5-12 percussion in New York State public schools, has guest conducted bands and percussion ensembles in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, and served as an instructor with the Penn State Indoor Drumline during 1997-2000 (including their 2000 WGI Percussion Independent Open championship year), the Juniata Valley HS (PA) drumline, the Wellsville (NY) HS drumline, as well as the Syracuse Brigadiers and Rochester Crusaders drum and bugle corps. He performed as a front ensemble percussionist with the 1985 world champion Garfield Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, which included a masterclass performance with Leigh Howard Stevens, and has performed the Yuyama Divertimento for Alto Saxophone and marimba (4- and 6-mallets) with many famed sax soloists.
Dr. Latten is currently a member of National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, New York State School Music Association, Percussive Arts Society, and College Band Directors National Association, in which he served (2007-2013, 2025-2027) as national chair of the Small College/Community College Task Force and (2017-2021) co-editor of the publication The Small Band Program: A Collegiate Director’s Resource. He serves as an adjudicator for New York State School Music Association, Music InThe Parks, and Tournament of Bands. In addition, he performs as Principal Percussionist with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and taught (2006-2024) in the State College Concert Percussion Academy, which he founded in 2006. Spare time is dedicated to researching of evidence for the truthfulness of Christianity, family board games and activities, disc golf, sightseeing, and woodworking.