In addition to his duties at CSULB, James Atkinson also performs on French Horn with the Los Angeles Music Center Opera (principal), Glendale Symphony (principal), Santa Monica Symphony (principal), Fine Arts Brass Quintet, all major Motion Picture and Television studios, and as a regular substitute with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

He has also played with the US Navy Band, Calgary Philharmonic (principal) and Utah Symphony Orchestra (associate principal). He has received scholarships for and participated in both the Aspen Music Festival and the Music Academy of the West at Santa Barbara.