James Holdman is a composer, performer, improviser, and educator living in Minneapolis, MN. He is originally from the Detroit area where grew up with a head full of Motown, an ordinary public school musical experience, membership in cover bands, and undergraduate work which included jazz studies, composing and arranging, plus musical theatre and dance. Holdman completed both his M.A. and Ph.D. in music composition at the University of Minnesota.

Holdman's compositions (which include contemporary art music, jazz, rock, and music for dance and theatre) have been performed locally and nationally by ensembles such Zeitgeist, Duo46, counter)induction, RenegadeEnsemble, the Minneapolis Trombone Choir, the American Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra, and others. His more than three decades of performing experience includes a number of genres: American vernacular styles, various 'world' musics (such as Argentine tango, Greek, Arabic, and Klezmer), and improvisational music. Current ensembles include earWorm (electroacoustic improvisation ensemble of composer-performers), and The Marimba Bullies (Zimbabwe marimbas). Other recent and past ensembles include Modal Operandi (trumpet-fronted electric jazz); Northern Latitudes Mandolin Quartet (traditional and popular string music); Universal Homelands (free jazz) with Gobrosis (Hmong spoken word artists); Middle East Music Ensemble (at the University of Chicago); The Arabic Music Retreat Orchestra; The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra; African Music Ensemble (at the University of Minnesota); Mandragora (Argentine tango); Ammala Middle Eastern Music and Dance; various Greek music ensembles; Sim Shalom (Klezmer); The Festival of Nations House Band (international variety); Head Octet (progressive/free rock); Jetsam Organic Ensemble (world music/jazz); The Dextet (jazz); The Puny Band (jazz/improv); Other Things and Co. (dance theatre for children); plus numerous jazz, rock, and variety gigs.

Holdman is currently on the music faculty at Inver Hills Community College (Inver Grove Heights, MN), and has taught at the University of Minnesota, University of Indiana East, and The Art Institutes International Minnesota.