James Dekle

CHORAL TEACHING ARTIST & INTERIM SITE MANAGER

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J.Dekle is a singer/songwriter/musician/music educator that was born in Statesboro, GA. J.Dekle is dedicated to positive social change through inspirational and motivational entertainment events & productions, as well as music education. Through performance and education J.Dekle hopes to satisfy his personal motto: If I can help somebody, then my living will not be in vain.

J.Dekle, 27, is no stranger to music education and performance, having graduated Magna Cum Laude with his Bachelors of Science degree in Music Education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Fl and a Master of Music Education degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. In addition to his degrees, J.Dekle has years of music experience that preceded his journey and ultimately signaled his desire for music performance. J.Dekle started singing as a toddler and began to play the piano by age 7. By the time he was 11 years old, J.Dekle was trying his hand at songwriting while learning to play saxophone. He participated in local and statewide Georgia music festivals throughout middle and high school and while in college, joined the world-renowned FAMU Marching ‘100’ and the FAMU Concert Choir.

A leader by nature, J.Dekle held several positions while involved in the ‘100’ and Concert Choir. He served as back rank sergeant of the saxophone section while in the band and tenor section leader and accompanist of the Concert Choir. While in college, J.Dekle joined Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a music fraternity, where he served as song leader, and also was a member of FAMU Connection, a performance arts group dedicated to university recruitment. His involvement with the Concert Choir led him on several national and international music tours including the Bahamas and Ethiopia, where choir members performed with Lauryn Hill, The Marley Brothers and the I3’s featuring Rita Marley. In addition to opportunities with the choir, J.Dekle provided background vocals for R&B and gospel singer Kelly Price in 2005 and toured Spain as a soloist/musician for The Florida Singers in 2006.

In 2007, J.Dekle began teaching at Albemarle Road Middle School, where he developed the choral program. J.Dekle taught at Albemarle Road Middle School until the end of the 2008-2009 school year. In September 2009 J. Dekle began his studies for a Masters Degree in Music Education which he completed in the spring of 2011. As a result of his scholarly efforts, J. Dekle was invited to be a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society.

Currently, J. Dekle is working with the Atlanta Music Project at Coan Recreational Center in Atlanta, GA, and promoting his debut CD Release entitled “Purpose”.