James Welch received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from Stanford University, with further studies in France and Austria. He has concertized internationally, with performances in such prestigious venues as Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Leipzig Gewandhaus, National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. He has also performed and taught in Beijing, Taipei, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Jerusalem. A specialist in Latin American organ music, he received a Fulbright award to perform and conduct research in Brazil; since then he has performed in Mexico and edited three volumes of organ music by Mexican composers. The author of two biographies of prominent California organists, Dale Wood: The Man and the Music, and Richard Purvis, Organist of Grace, he has performed at conventions of the American Guild of Organists and at the International Congress of Organists; his articles have appeared in The American Organist and The Diapason; and he has released numerous CDs, recorded on a variety of organs. He taught on the music faculties of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Santa Clara University.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has served as ward organist and stake music chairman. He is the composer of a hymn in the Church's hymnal ("Bless Our Fast, We Pray," No. 138). He performs regularly as a guest recitalist at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, and he has taught at the Church Music Workshop held at Brigham Young University. He served a mission in Brazil and has returned several times for concerts and master classes. From 2016-2020 he was bishop of the Stanford YSA Ward. He and his wife Deanne are the parents of two sons, Nicholas and Jameson. The Welches live in Provo, Utah, where Dr. Welch continues his concert and teaching work.