First Class Petty Officer James L. Hurd, USN
Clarinetist, Naval Academy Band

Musician First Class James Hurd hails from East Meadow, New York, and graduated from East Meadow High School in 1995. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from the Manhattan School of Music in 1999. His principal teachers were Charles Russo, William Kerr, Isidore Cohen, Henry Schuman, and Stephen Taylor. While at the Manhattan School of Music, he performed in the premier student orchestra as well as the Contemporary Music Ensemble. Petty Officer Hurd has performed under the baton of such important conductors as Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Zdenek Macal, Sergiu Commissiona, and Kurt Masur.

In 1999 Petty Officer Hurd auditioned and was chosen as clarinet instrumentalist with the United States Naval Academy Band where he performs in the concert band, chamber winds, and clarinet quartet, as well as ceremonial and marching units.

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