Classical and Baroque keyboard studies began at the University of Oregon under Dr. John Hamilton, acclaimed organist, harpsichordist, and professor of music theory. John Hamilton’s teachers included Olga Samaroff-Stokowski in Philadelphia and New York; and harpsichord icon Wanda Landowska.
While working part time as a U of O student at Wilson Music House in Eugene, Jim met his future wife Carol Sanne who worked in sheet music and records. They were married at Grace Lutheran Church in Eugene on January 9, 1960 and had two sons Craig Alan and Geoffrey Scott—plus grandchildren Sarah Catherine Walls and Luc James Walls—during their 48 years of marriage. Carol died of cancer in 2008.
Jim has been in the music industry since college, having his first job at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle representing the Lowrey Corporation. He joined Rodgers Organ Company in 1967, and as Vice President of Marketing in 1974, was a key executive in negotiating the five-manual Rodgers organ for Carnegie Hall. It was at a Rodgers Carnegie Hall reception where Jim met one of his all-time favorite pianists, Don Shirley, a resident of Carnegie’s ninth floor apartments, as featured in the 2018 film release of Don Shirley’s life and career, The Green Book.
Walls was an early promoter of the legendary Rodgers Touring and Artist Program with Virgil Fox, and was President of the Washington County Community Concert Association (a Division of Columbia Artists, New York.) For 20 years, Walls had an association with Richard Torrence Management, New York. Mr. Torrence was concert manager for top-flight organists and pianists, including: Don Shirley, Virgil Fox, Earl Wild, Anthony Newman, Richard Purvis, Ted Alan Worth, Paul Winter, and Joyce Jones, to name just a few.
Walls retired as an executive in the music industry in 1996 to devote full time to teaching, piano performance, and community involvement. He continued classical coaching with Katherine George, 44-years as reining keyboardist for the Oregon Symphony Orchestra under James DePriest (former assistant to Leonard Bernstein of the New York Philharmonic.) Jim was Founder & Executive Director of Classics & CroissantsTM (2002-2019) — a concert and master class series by international pianists, aimed at inspiring adults and young people toward lifelong learning and superior piano performance. In addition Jim has been an active Episcopalian for over four decades, having served as Director of Communications for the Bishop of Oregon, Consultant for the Commission on Church Growth & Evangelism (Province VIII), Senior Warden at St. Stephen’s, as well as memberships in various choirs including the Concert Choir at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland. Walls has served on Trinity’s Homeless Transition Team, working with interfaith New City Initiative leaders in the Portland Metropolitan Area.
