James Koo is an award-winning percussionist who has dedicated much of his artistry to the promotion of Traditional Chinese music through the contemporary classical genre. His performances and recordings have both been officially published by PSNY and have won multiple awards.

He is the 2023 concerto competition winner at the University of Michigan and won the Eugene Bossart Prize performing the Chen Yi Percussion Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra. In the same year, he presented elements of his clinic 鼓樂 | Gǔ Yùe at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as part of their World Artist lineup. In 2022 his recording of Trans - Lei Liang (2013) was featured and awarded in the Black Swamp Multi Percussion Showcase. In 2021 his recording of Dialectal Percussions - Lei Liang (1994) was awarded at the Chicago International Music Festival for Best Work by an Asian Composer. Other collaborations include performing Le Espaces Acoustiques - Gerard Grisey with Ensemble Intercontemporain in 2021. In 2022 he performed All Rise with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Centre Orchestra. Additionally, he has performed and worked with Silk Road Ensemble member and Grammy award-winning artist, Kaoru Watanabe.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, James began his percussion studies at age six where he was enrolled in the Traditional Chinese Percussion program at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts studying with Yim Hok Man and Chau Chin Tung. In 2022 he graduated cum laude and received his B.M at The Boston Conservatory studying with Doug Perkins, Nancy Zeltsman, Samuel Solomon, Kyle Brightwell, Jon Bisesi, and Matt Smallcomb. In 2024 he graduated from the University of Michigan receiving a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance and Chamber Music, and a Graduate Certificate in World Performance Studies. His Primary instructors were Doug Perkins, Ian Antonio, Nancy Zeltsman, Tom Sherwood and Jeremy Epp. He is currently pursuing a Doctor in Musical Arts at The University of California San Diego studying with Distinguished Professor Steven Schick.