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 (2004-2006). 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, Indian film composer A.R. Rahman, Nelly Furtado, and Lenny Kravitz. He was a featured clinician at the 2012 North Alabama Day of Percussion, the 2016 Illinois PAS Day of Percussion, and the 2019 North Carolina Percussion Symposium.

James served as Director of Percussion at Bellbrook HS/MS (2007-2008), Assistant Band Director at Baker MS/Fairborn HS (2010-2011), Director of Percussion at Kettering Fairmont HS (2009-2013), Director of Percussion at Seminole HS (2013), Director of Percussion at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (2014-2019) and currently serves as Director of Percussion for Rouse HS/Wiley MS in Cedar Park, TX. He is also the 2020-2021 Vice President of Percussion & Winds for the Michigan Color Guard Circuit.

He marched tenors with Trinity Indoor Percussion Ensemble (2000), Music City Mystique (2001, WGI World Champions), Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2001), Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2002), and Rhythm X (2003-2004).

He served on the percussion staff for the Glassmen (2003), the Madison Scouts (2004-2006), the Carolina Crown (2007-2008), the Cadets (2009-2011), and RhythmX (2005-2013). He served as the visual designer for Madison Independent (2011), Eastside Fury (2011-2013), as the Caption Head/Arranger for Infinity Percussion (2014-2018) and Redline Percussion (2015-2018), and Program Coordinator for Alchemy Independent (2019). Most recently he worked with the Madison Scouts as the Caption Head/ Arranger (2012-2014) and Percussion Director/Arranger (2015-2018).

James currently works with Spirit Winter Percussion as the Visual Designer (2006- present), Cap City Percussion as a Designer/World Battery Co-Caption Head (2019- present), and the Phantom Regiment as the Ensemble Specialist and Battery Caption Head.

James is proudly endorsed by:

Pearl Drums/Adams

REMO Drumheads

TreeWorks Chimes

Vic Firth Drumsticks and Mallets

Zildjian Cymbals