Community wishing pianist on way

If you ever go looking for James Golden, here’s a tip: He’s probably somewhere within arm’s reach of a piano.

He has spent most of his waking hours at keyboards in Portales and Clovis for well over 20 years, accompanying school choirs, collaborating with singers of all ages, performing hymns for churches, providing music for weddings and funerals.

What makes that run even more remarkable is that Golden is still a few months shy of his 30th birthday. You see, he started his first regular gig — as pianist for the Arch Baptist Church — at the ripe old age of 9.

For the past two years, he served as choir director for the Portales Municipal Schools. He’s also the pianist/organist for First United Methodist Church in Portales and accompanies the Clovis Community Choir.

And, oh yeah, he is an accompanist for the Eastern New Mexico University vocal studio, the Southeast New Mexico Music Educator Association’s All-District Honor Choir, and the New Mexico Music Educators Association All-State Small School Band and Symphonic Band.

Phew.

But if you’ve not already heard, this talented guy is heading clear across the state to a new job come August. Golden has accepted the position of choir director at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington.

The congregation at Portales’ Methodist Church is inviting the public to hear Golden in “concert” for the last time at its 9:30 a.m. Sunday service in the sanctuary at 200 S. Ave. C.

The church is also hosting a public “We Wish You Well” party for Golden at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the church fellowship hall with finger foods, chips, fruit, veggies, etc. You’re welcome to add to the feast, but “no chocolate, please,” organizers say. (A run-in with a serious kidney stone last winter left the chocolate-loving Golden banned from his favorite sweet.)

James Golden may be one of the most familiar faces in all things music in our area.

He was at the keyboard for 15 PHS musicals, starting when he was but an eighth-grader at Portales Junior High. He’s also played for 16 Maypole windings at PHS, and, he estimates, close to 100 weddings and funerals, although “it feels like a million.”

The 2008 PHS graduate said music has always been part of his life.

“Both sides of my family are musical and I have been surrounded by it for as long as I can remember,” Golden said. “My paternal grandmother’s family — the McAfees — were all musical. Ma-maw would talk about her uncles, father, and some of her immediate family getting together, pickin’, grinnin’, and singin’.

“Mom’s side of the family is also very musical,” he continued. “She was part of the Owen sisters who used to sing at the Floyd Jamboree back in the day and at many other events around the community.”

His three older sisters, Ginger, Ashley, and Lindsey, all took piano lessons from legendary local teacher Eunice Schumpert. When they came home to practice, young James would pick out their tunes by ear.

When he was 6, his mother had him demonstrate for Schumpert and she said, “I can work with that,” Golden recalled.

Schumpert became Golden’s teacher until he graduated from high school. He calls her “the single most important musical influence” in his life.

“She pushed me to heights I did not know that I would be able to attain,” Golden said. “I will never forget her praying with me before any of the events that she had enrolled me in and I always remember her thanking God for the divine art of music that we so humbly get to participate in.”

As an eighth-grader, Golden was tagged by then Portales schools choir director Franklin Smith to accompany the high school choirs. That spring marked the first of those 15 high school musicals.

“As a teacher now,” Golden said, “I can’t even fathom asking an eighth-grader to sit at the piano and play an accompaniment while a choir sings. But for some reason, Franklin saw something in me that I did not know I had. It was under his direction that I truly began my love of collaborative piano work.”

That “something” was “excellence,” Franklin Smith said.

“I think James always knew he was a great musician, but I’m not sure if he believed he was a leader and a teacher as well,” Smith said. “He does everything in excellence. His technique is top-notch and he pays attention to detail.”

That same technique caught Jan Smartnick’s eye many years ago when she saw Golden performing at a PHS Maypole.

The longtime music director for FUMC Portales, Smartnick lined up the youthful musician as a regular substitute for the church’s pianist and organist Bill Wood. When Wood retired, Golden moved into that position full-time.

“James is totally capable and dedicated to his music and anything having to do with music,” Smartnick said. “He is sincere, spiritual, fun to work with. He has brought enthusiasm and variety to our music program.”

Kayla Paulk, ENMU’s main collaborative pianist, said James Golden was familiar to many in Eastern’s music program when he came onto campus as a freshman, and “we all assumed he would be a music major.”

When he veered into speech and language pathology, Paulk recalled, “so many of us were surprised and, to be honest, a little disappointed. We had hoped he would choose music, as we saw in him tremendous potential as a future music educator.”

Even while he studied communication disorders, though, Golden continued at the piano, most memorably working with ENMU music professor John Olsen.

“Dr. Olsen had a huge impact on my life musically,” Golden said. “I felt he took a true interest in my musical ability as well as my overall existence as a human. The trust, respect, and dedication he instills is beyond anything that can be put into words.”

Golden completed his bachelor’s degree and was one semester into a master’s program in communicative disorders when the principal of Portales Junior High called to offer him a job as a choir director.

“I always grew up hearing that the Lord works in mysterious ways,” Golden said. “Well, that’s not quite how he works in my life. I either get dumped with the answer or slapped up the side of the head.”

Presented with an unexpected opportunity to return to his first love, Golden said he “jumped in feet first and never looked back or regretted the decision.

“Getting to share the divine art of music is what I was made to do and I thank the Lord daily that I get to do it,” he said.

PHS Band Director Kelli Morrison said that while she’s excited for Golden’s opportunity to head Piedra Vista’s award-winning choral program, “I have to admit I cussed a little when I heard he was leaving.

“He’s such an amazing colleague, musician, and friend,” she said. “His talents and antics will be greatly missed in Portales.”

Golden has a mile-long list of people he says he will miss as he packs up to drive 400 miles west to Farmington. It includes the folks who will be throwing his going away party on Sunday.

“FUMC has been such a wonderful church family to have,” Golden said. “I have felt more loved and more accepted there than I have anywhere else. Leaving this church is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.”

But the music calls, as it has for Golden’s whole life, and good musicians don’t miss a beat. He reports to his new high school in two weeks.

“James is a great musician, pianist, and music educator,” Paulk said, “and he’s invested deeply in sharing these gifts so generously with our community. He’s done so with great humility and kindness of heart. His shoes cannot be filled and he cannot be replaced.”

Betty Williamson thanks James Golden for many beautiful music memories. Reach her at:

[email protected]