[1][2] James Paul studied voice at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, while conducting various student and professional organizations.
Following his studies he was awarded the Serge Koussevitsky Memorial Conducting Prize presented by Erich Leinsdorf at the 1967 Tanglewood Music Festival.
He subsequently took posts as associate conductor of the Kansas City Philharmonic and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
A high point of his tenure was the orchestra's triumphant performance on October 22, 1988, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
As a guest conductor he has led the Chicago Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Symphonies of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, San Diego, San Antonio, New Jersey, Oakland, Honolulu, Kansas City, Jacksonville and Detroit.