James Swearingen
James Swearingen’s talents as a performer, composer/arranger and educator include a background of extensive training and experience. He has earned degrees from Bowling Green State University and The Ohio State University. Prior to his appointment at Capital in 1987, he spent eighteen years teaching instrumental music in the public schools of central Ohio. His first teaching assignment took him to the community of Sunbury, Ohio. He then spent fourteen years as Director of Instrumental Music at Grove City, Ohio, where his marching, concert, and jazz bands all received acclaim for their high standards of performing excellence.In recognition of distinguished contributions, he was accorded the title of Professor Emeritus from Capital University located in Columbus, Ohio.
James Swearingen, since 1974, continues to serve as a staff arranger for the famed Ohio State University Marching Band. In addition to his arranging responsibilities, he manages to be very active as a guest conductor, adjudicator and educational clinician. Appearances have included trips throughout the United States and Europe, as well as Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Norway, Taiwan and Singapore.
School directors, student performers and audiences world-wide have enthusiastically received James Swearingen’s numerous contributions for band. With over 700 published works, he has written band compositions and arrangements that reflect a variety of musical forms and styles. Many of his pieces, including over 126 commissioned works, have been chosen for contest and festival lists. He is a recipient of several ASCAP awards for published compositions and in 1992 was selected as an Accomplished Graduate of the Fine and Performing Arts from Bowling Green State University. In March of 2000, he was invited to join the American Bandmasters Association, considered to be the most prestigious bandmaster organization in the world. He received the 2002 Community Music Educator Award given annually by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. In that same year, he became conductor of the Grove City Community Winds. This highly talented ensemble consists of many fine musicians from the central Ohio area. On June 20, 2009, The American School Band Directors Association, Inc., presented him with the A. Austin Harding Award. This prestigious award is presented annually by the organization and is reflective of valuable and dedicated service to the school bands of America. On behalf of The Columbus Area Salvation Army, and The Brass Band of Columbus, The God and Country Music Award was presented to him on March 13, 2010. In 2011, he received the Hall of Fame Award presented by the Ohio Chapter (Mu) of Phi Beta Mu. The OMEA Distinguished Service Award was presented to him at the 2014 OMEA Professional Development Conference. Later that year, he was presented the Signature Award by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. On April 21, 2015, The Ohio State University School of Music honored him with their Distinguished Alumnus Award. In the fall of 2021, The Vandalia Butler High School Alumni Association selected him, along with three others, as their Inaugural inductees into the VBHS Hall of Achievement. On January 1, 2022, he was one of five Distinguished Band Directors asked to appear on the float “Saluting America’s Band Directors” in the widely viewed Tournament of Roses Parade. On April 6, 2024, he received recognition from Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts for a lifetime of dedicated service to Music Education. In the fall of 2024, Jim, along with his wife Linda, were honored on the stadium field during a pregame ceremony honoring him for 50 years of arranging music for the famed Ohio State University Marching Band. In the Fall of 2025, he received the Governor’s Award for his contribution to Arts Education in the State of Ohio. And in December of 2025, he was invited to guest conduct “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band at the annual ABA Conference held in Chicago, Illinois.
Many of Mr. Swearingen’s most popular band compositions have been recorded by the prestigious Washington Winds and are available on Walking Frogs Records compact discs: His recordings include In All Its Glory, Exaltation, Celebration For Winds And Percussion, The Light Of Dawn, and the most recent release, Flight Of Valor.
Podcasts Featuring James Swearingen
Mark J. Conner – Everything Band – (April 26, 2021 – Episode 189)
Dr. Paul’s Family Talk – (July 22, 2022}
Publications by James Swearingen
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Homestretch
Galop
King/arr. Swearingen
Heritage of the March edition
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
012-5250-00 -
A Joyous Celebration
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3.5
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Glorious America
March
King/arr. Swearingen
Heritage of the March edition
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2.5
012-5167-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-5167-00 -
Of Blessings So Near
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2.5
011-5215-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page011-5215-00 -
Salute To The Maestro
March
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 4
012-5159-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-5159-00 -
The All-American March
"A Celebration For One And All"
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 1
023-5142-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page023-5142-00 -
As Days Go By
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2
011-5105-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page011-5105-00 -
March Of Freedom
King/arr. Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2.5
012-5064-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-5064-00 -
Along The River’s Shore
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
012-4993-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-4993-00 -
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For Liberty We Stand
Concert March
Swearingen
Full set | Extra score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 1.5
024-5048-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page024-5048-00 -
Tidings Of Comfort And Joy
"What Child Is This?" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
arr. Swearingen
Build-A-Band edition
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
026-5003-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page026-5003-00 -
And May We All
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3.5
012-4931-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-4931-00 -
May The Light Forever Shine
A Festive Celebration
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 4
012-4937-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-4937-00 -
Oh, What Fun!
The Ultimate Christmas March
Swearingen
Build-A-Band edition
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
026-4952-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page026-4952-00 -
On A Cold Winter’s Night
"The First Noel" and "Away In A Manger"
arr. Swearingen
Build-A-Band edition
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2.5
026-4973-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page026-4973-00 -
Our Moment In Time
A Joyous Fanfare!
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2
024-4985-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page024-4985-00 -
012-4906-00 -
The Cottage On The Lake
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 2
024-4866-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page024-4866-00 -
012-4816-00 -
Romanesque
for Brass Quintet
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
102-4915-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page102-4915-00 -
Romanesque
Swearingen
Build-A-Band edition
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
026-4910-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page026-4910-00 -
Santa’s On His Way
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: 3
012-4826-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page012-4826-00 -
Forever Flying
The Lost Balloon
Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download
Grade: .5
023-4782-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page023-4782-00 -
Greater Steps To Success
Benson and Swearingen
Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score
Grade: 1.5
024-4708-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page024-4708-00