A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Makena James is a prominent organist, pianist, and composer. She serves as organist at Tryon Presbyterian Church, accompanist for the Carolina Community Chorus, and is the youngest member of the Blue Ridge Ringers. She currently studies with Dr. Brennan Szafron. Previous positions include organist at Fairfield Mountains Chapel in Lake Lure, NC and interim organist at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Edneyville, NC. She is in demand as a recitalist and has performed around the east coast, in addition to maintaining a Youtube channel, where she performs musical arrangements and transcriptions for organ, piano, and handbells.

Makena won first prize in the American Guild of Organists (AGO) Buffalo Chapter Organ Competition in 2021 and has been selected as a finalist for the Charleston International Music Competition, the New York Classical Music Competition, and the American International Music Competition. She holds a colleague certification from the AGO and is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society.

Makena received her bachelor’s degree Magna Cum Laude in organ performance at Houghton University. There, she was the first undergraduate student to be featured in Houghton’s annual homecoming concert in 2020. In the fall, she will be the first Houghton graduate to attend the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and will do so on a full ride scholarship.