James Sparling received his degree in Music Education with a minor in Architecture at Miami University.  He was heavily involved in the world music ensemble, Global Rhythms, where he served as Percussion Coordinator and Arranger.  This ensemble led him to perform across the globe and work with Grammy winners Glen Velez and Jamal Mohammed, Ghatam Khartick's heARTbeat, Musafir, Jeff Queen, Michael Burritt, Anthony Cirone, A.R. Rahman, Nelly Furtado, and Lenny Kravitz.  He has been a featured clinician at the North Alabama Day of Percussion, the Illinois PAS Day of Percussion, and the North Carolina Percussion Symposium.

James has worked at Baker MS/Fairborn HS, Bellbrook HS/MS, Kettering Fairmont HS, Seminole HS, Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, and Walled Lake Consolidated Schools.  He was the 20-21 Vice President of Percussion & Winds for the Michigan Color Guard Circuit and is a founding member of the Michigan Alliance for Performing Arts, a non-profit organization that serves Percussion & Winds ensembles across Michigan.

He marched tenors with Trinity Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Music City Mystique, Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and Rhythm X.  He has served in various roles for:  Alchemy Independent, the Cadets, the Carolina Crown, Eastside Fury, the Glassmen, Infinity Percussion, Madison Independent, Redline Percussion, the Phantom Regiment, RhythmX, and Spirit Winter Percussion.

James currently works with the Madison Scouts as the Percussion Co-Caption Head/Battery Arranger, and as Director of Percussion at Rouse High School and Wiley Middle School in Austin, TX.  Rouse HS was a 2024 Midwest Clinic invited ensemble and the 2026 5A TMEA Honor Band.  Wiley MS was also a 2024 Midwest Clinic invited ensemble and the 2023 & 2027 2C TMEA Honor Band.

When not teaching, he loves spending time with his wonderful wife, Katelyn, and their sweet boxer, Harper.