James Rivers (’66), 82, of Topeka, Kansas, an acclaimed pianist who performed around the world, died July 4, 2026. A graduate of UNT and The Juilliard School, his New York Town Hall debut recital at age 25 launched an international career in major European and North American cities. He was featured at the Spoleto Festival USA, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Texas Round Top Festival, and on live broadcasts in New York, Brussels and Paris. He performed at the prestigious Four Freedoms Award ceremony in honor of President John F. Kennedy, and for years he was the collaborative pianist for acclaimed Metropolitan Opera soprano, Margaret Kalil. He was pianist-in-residence and served as a professor of music at Washburn University in Kansas for 46 years.