Dr. James "Hunter" Farley is an American performer, educator, and clinician. He currently serves as the Visiting Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. Alongside his collegiate teaching, he continues to serve as the Assistant for the Tuba and Euphonium Workshop at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) while maintaining an active performance schedule as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, and clinician throughout the United States.

As a performer, Dr. Farley believes that versatility is one of the defining qualities of today's musician. His career has taken him across the United States, performing with ensembles including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the New World Symphony, the Cape Ann Symphony, and the Lexington Symphony. He previously served as Principal Tubist of the Starkville Symphony Orchestra and the Du Bois Orchestra and continues to perform regularly as a freelance musician throughout the country.

Beyond the orchestra, Dr. Farley is an avid chamber musician and advocate for bringing music into communities. As co-founder of the 855 Brass Quintet, he has helped bring live chamber music to schools, retirement communities, churches, and underserved neighborhoods throughout New England. His outreach work reflects a belief that music should be both artistically excellent and widely accessible.

Dr. Farley is equally passionate about expanding the repertoire for the tuba. He has led several commissioning projects for new works, including Aaron DuBois' Ghost in the Machine and C.J. Kemp's The Blue Room, a concerto for tuba and wind ensemble inspired by the musical traditions of the Mississippi Delta. Through these collaborations, he works closely with composers to create music that broadens the artistic possibilities of the instrument while contributing to the instrument's growing body of literature.

Teaching has always been at the center of Dr. Farley's career. Prior to joining the faculty at the Schwob School of Music, he held collegiate appointments at Mississippi State University, Brandeis University, and Bentley University while maintaining an active private studio. In addition to his university teaching, Dr. Farley continues to mentor young musicians through his work with the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. His students have earned placements in All-State ensembles, Drum Corps International organizations, prestigious summer festivals, and finalist honors in university concerto competitions. 

In addition to teaching and performing, Dr. Farley is an active clinician, adjudicator, and writer. He regularly presents masterclasses and clinics at universities and high schools across the country and has been selected to present lectures and performances at regional tuba and euphonium conferences. He serves on the College Student Committee of the International Tuba-Euphonium Association (ITEA), where he helps develop initiatives that support collegiate musicians nationwide. His articles and reviews have been published in the International Tuba-Euphonium Association Journal, contributing to conversations surrounding performance, pedagogy, and new repertoire.

Dr. Farley earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Tuba Performance from Boston University, where he studied with Mike Roylance. He also holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Gene Pokorny and Matthew Gaunt, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Memphis. His additional principal teachers include Andy Smith and Dr. Kevin Sanders.