James Sexton is the Assistant Band Director at Tennessee State University and the Director of the Jazz Collegians. In his role as assistant band director, Mr. Sexton plays a key role in coordinating the creative halftime shows and other performances for the Aristocrat of Bands. He is also one of the arrangers responsible for the band’s dynamic and unique musical repertoire.

As Director of the Jazz Collegians, Mr. Sexton has led the group to perform at prestigious events such as the 2022 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL, the North Texas Invitational Jazz Festival, the JEN Jazz Conference, and the Notre Dame Invitational Jazz Festival. In 2008, the group was honored as the Overall Grand Champion at the Clark Terry Jazz Festival in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Mr. Sexton also directed the Jazz Ensemble for the HBCU 150 Voices Choir at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Recently, the Jazz Collegians toured Colombia, South America, where they performed and conducted workshops for students, adding to their list of accolades, including winning the 2022 Virtual HBCU Jazz Festival.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Sexton has served as an arranger, guest conductor, clinician, and festival judge. He is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Jazz Educators Network, College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters’ Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.