James Yakas is the Director of Percussion Studies at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from the University of North Texas, a M.M. in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University, and a D.M.A. in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas. He spent a total of 12 summers in DCI as a performer, educator, and arranger spanning from 1992-2003.