James Chudnow joined the San Antonio Symphony in 1975. Mr. Chudnow, a native of Philadelphia, started playing the bass in 1964. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and a Bachelor of Music Education from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts and was a student of Dr. Edward Arian, Roger Scott, and Fred Maresh of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Further studies included summer festivals with the Colorado Philharmonic, Temple University Music Festival, and he was rewarded a stipend fellowship scholarship to study with the former principal bass of the Boston Symphony at the Tanglewood Music Festival.
Further playing was with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Concerto Soloist of Philadelphia, and he worked under Columbia Artist Management from 1972 to 1975 when he toured with the Bolshoi Norwegian Ballet and further performed with the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. In 1976-78 he spent his summers working with the Houston Grand Opera in a new production of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
Mr. Chudnow taught at the University of Texas San Antonio for 12 years. He was also a principal player of the locally popular Winters Chamber Orchestra that was started in 1976 and established a tradition of performing free concerts for area audience. He also played for the San Antonio Lyric Opera.
James believes that playing with the San Antonio Symphony has contributed greatly to his musical growth and personal development.