Born in Illinois, conductor/composer James Bolle studied at Harvard, Aspen, Antioch and Northwestern University. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by both Franklin Pierce and Notre Dame Colleges. Bolle studied composition with Darius Milhaud and conducting with Richard Lert. His music has been performed in the United States, Israel and Canada. He founded Monadnock Music in 1966 and was music director of the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra for 28 years. He has recorded for Musical Heritage, Monitor, Titanic, Serenus, CRI, Gasparo, Koch International and Albany Records. [Bio via Albany Records]

James Bolle was the state's second artist laureate. The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is charged with recommending several artists' names to the Governor every two years. The governor then selects one to honor as artist laureate.

Click here for a listing of previous New Hampshire Artists Laureate