James Fackenthal is the Assistant Carillonneur at the University of Chicago, where he also works as a cancer researcher in the Division of Biological Sciences. He began carillon studies with David Caldwell at the University of Rochester in 1984, and two years later passed the advancement exam for the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA). Since then he has played numerous carillon recitals throughout North America.
While in Rochester, Fackenthal studied secondary piano at the Eastman School of Music and taught performance classes at the local chapter of the American Recorder Society. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology/geology from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Indiana University.
Fackenthal, currently a member of the GCNA Board of Directors, served as a juror on the GCNA Examination Committee for four years and currently co-edits the GCNA newsletter, “Carillon News,” with his wife, Donna.