Saratoga Springs, NY- James L. Byars, 85, passed away at home on August 13, 2026.

James Lee Byars was born August 9, 1941 in Amarillo, Texas, grew up in Pampa, Texas, and died at the age of 85 on August 13, 2026 in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was predeceased by his parents, his older brother, and his sister-in-law. He is survived by his spouse, Thérèse Byars, to whom he was married 36 years, his sons Michael Byars and Christopher Byars, his first wife, Janita Ashby Byars, daughter-in-law Rachael Venner, daughter-in-law Ayna Niyazova Byars, and four grandchildren, Anna, Jessica, Samuel, and Emily.

After graduating from Pampa High School, James attended West Texas State University and Indiana University. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Performance at The Juilliard School and a Master of Music Education degree at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Under the batons of conductors Robert Irving, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Valery Gergiev, and many others, James played with such ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, the Goldman Band, the Bolshoi Ballet touring company, and the New York City Ballet Orchestra, with which he enjoyed playing for over fifty years. He loved the company’s rich and varied musical repertory and its centrality to the dance. He retired from the New York City Ballet Orchestra at the end of the 2017 Nutcracker season.

During much of his performing career, James also taught orchestral music at Junior High School 125 in the Parkchester area of the Bronx, where he touched the lives of thousands of students. Undaunted by the challenges inherent in holding two full-time jobs, James took on other responsibilities, such as coordinating after-school theater productions, leading his students’ marching band in public parades, and serving as a Deacon for The Riverside Church where he was involved with the long-running Riverside Dance Festival.

Accordingly, Michael and Christopher grew up immersed in the vibrant arts culture of New York City. Family activities included Easter concerts with all members performing as a quartet, and annual salon-style chamber music “birthday concerts” involving dozens of colleagues performing in the family’s Manhattan living room. While in Saratoga Springs during the New York City Ballet summer season, the family organized several homespun back-porch productions of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and two Gilbert and Sullivan operettas that included every neighborhood youngster who wanted to join. Christopher sang in the New York City Opera children’s chorus and was featured in George Balanchine’s televised production of L’Enfant et Les Sortilèges.

James loved meeting people and making connections. Some of these connections began serendipitously, and James’s optimism and creativity often led to new opportunities with long- lasting effect. An inquiry about oboe lessons from folk singer Dave Sear led to a decades-long musical collaboration and a lifetime family friendship. A chance sidewalk encounter with Dr. Fred Rogers led to James’s appearance on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. A backstage conversation with New York City Ballet founder George Balanchine led to Michael’s enrollment at the School of American Ballet and eventual career as a soloist dancer for the company. During a vacation in Cape Cod, James gave Christopher his first saxophone lessons. He also collaborated musically with his sons—playing oboe to Michael’s piano accompaniment for a ballet that Michael choreographed and performing with Christopher’s jazz ensembles, including on six recordings.

In October 1982, James traveled to Beijing and Shanghai as a key member of the U.S. delegation at the China-U.S. Conference on Art Education, which reported, “Professional musician James Byars showed how the techniques he uses in teaching New York schoolchildren can be adapted to Chinese classrooms.” During this trip he performed oboe solo pieces for jam-packed, fully attentive auditoriums of young listeners.

In 1996, James retired from full-time public school teaching, but he stayed on as a professional mentor for the New York City Board of Education and secured funding for an after-school program that provided instruction in music, visual arts, woodworking, chess, and other areas.

As James’s health declined, he maintained his characteristic charisma, wit, and good spirits. He attended a July 2026 performance of the New York City Ballet’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He passed away at home a few weeks later, surrounded by his loving family and care staff.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, August 21st from 4pm-7pm at Burke and Bussing Funeral Home located at 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Saratoga Hospital Foundation in memory of James L. Byars, designated to the “Palliative Care Unit.”

A memorial concert for James is planned for early October 2026 in New York City