A graduate of Florida State University, James Palmer has been teaching High School Orchestra for Twenty Two years. He is currently the Orchestra Director and Fine Arts Department Chairman at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia, and The Music Director for The Youth Orchestras of Greater Columbus in Columbus Georgia.  In addition to his teaching career, Mr. Palmer has  served as conductor with the Florida West Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra, Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and former Music Director for The Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra and the Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra.  He is also the Camp Director and Senior Conductor at The Florida State University Summer Music Camps. Mr. Palmer’s orchestras have performed at The Midwest Clinic, The Florida Music Educator’s Conference, The MENC Southern Division Conference, The ASTA National Orchestra Festival, and the 2005 ASTA National Conference. Mr. Palmer has been a leader in ASTA serving as The National Orchestra Festival Chairman and President of The Georgia ASTA.

Jim Palmer has received the Teacher of the Year Award in three separate High Schools.  He is a frequent clinician having conducted All State Orchestras in Florida, Georgia, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, North Carolina and Vermont. Mr. Palmer has also maintained a career as a professional violist performing with The Sarasota Pops Orchestra,   The Southwest Florida Symphony and Chamber Orchestra as well as a free lance violist in the Atlanta area.  Mr. Palmer is a member of ASTA, GMEA, and The American Federation of Musicians Local 148-462. He lives in Kennesaw, Georgia with his wife Lydia, son Curtis and daughter Ericka.