Jim Barton

With 35 years of experience in the marching arts, James Barton has established himself as a leader

in color guard education and performance management. His extensive background includes directing, designing, and choreographing for numerous high-caliber groups across Southern California. James has coached at all three WGI classification levels, with multiple finalist performances at WGI Championships. He has a proven track record of successfully leading programs and driving team performance.

James is the President of West Coast Winter Guard and a founding member of the Winter Guard

Circuit, where he has been instrumental in shaping the development of winter guard in the region. His commitment to the growth of the activity was recognized in 2014 when he was inducted into the Southern California Winter Guard Hall of Fame.

As Artistic Director of Prado Performing Arts from 2010 to 2015, James oversaw the creation and

management of the Prado Independent Performance Ensemble. James is the current Band Director

at Eastlake High School where he manages 2 Bands, 1 Percussion ensemble and 2 Winter Guard

programs along with overseeing a six figure Booster organization. He also manages/directs the color guard programs for Canyon Hills HS, Bonita Vista HS, and Point Loma HS, where he designs and directs their competitive programs. In addition to his work with individual schools, James serves as the Director/Designer/Choreographer for Chula Vista Visual and Performing Arts High School and consistently driving program success and excellence.

In his 26 years as a full-time educator, James has developed a reputation for effective leadership,

team building, and program management, delivering high-performance results while fostering a

supportive, collaborative environment. Outside of his professional life, James owns an awards and

engraving company with his wife Melissa and enjoys spending quality time with his three adult

children, their families, and his grandchildren. The family’s favorite getaway is Disney, where they

enjoy making memories together.