James Cordell

Music Director, Cobb Summer singers

A native of Hickory, North Carolina, James Cordell holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with an emphasis on choral conducting and vocal pedagogy from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he studied choral conducting with Dr. Warren Cook and voice with Ron Billingsley and Dr. William McCauley.  Prior to coming to Georgia, he served for 30 years as Minister of Music for the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hickory, NC, and as Music Educator at the Tabernacle Christian School, where he taught private voice and served as director of the concert choir and concert band.

James has been a member of the New South Festival Singers since 2021, performing with the Choral Foundation's original semi-professional chorale throughout the Atlanta area and at Charleston's Piccolo Spoleto Festival.  As a composer and arranger, James has published selections through MajorCord Music, distributed nationally through JW Pepper.  He is a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association).  

James was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Cobb Summer Singers in November 2025.