As a composer, James Piorkowski has written many pieces for guitar, both in solo and in chamber settings. His musical language, while described as both erudite and multifarious, remains accessible. "Piorkowski is a modernist, always experimenting as he moves easily from tonal to atonal formats." –Fanfare. Piorkowski studied composition with Anton Wolf at the State University College at Buffalo and with Donald Bohlen at the State University of N.Y. at Fredonia. He also has had classes with Aaron Copland, Jacob Druckman, Lucas Foss, Morton Feldman and Milton Babbitt.

Piorkowski's most recent recording, Sentient Music, (Centaur Records) features seventeen original solo guitar compositions, including his increasingly popular Sentient Preludes. Critics have called the recording, "an absolutely engrossing collection."- Buffalo News, while guitarist/composer Roland Dyens wrote, "Bravo for the CD! You do have your very own world, man, and it's great!"

His collaborative album, Freedom Flight: Guitar Music by Ortiz and Piorkowski, features original compositions for solo guitar, two guitars, flute/guitar and voice/guitar. Piorkowski's works are "inspired by Shakespeare, Venezuela, and religious imagery when he sets out to work his magic" -El Nuevo Dia (San Juan). The CD has been summed up as: "Great music and wonderful musicians" -American Record Guide.

For eighteen years, Piorkowski was a member of the world-renowned Buffalo Guitar Quartet. The BGQ toured internationally and released four highly acclaimed recordings. Guitar Player Magazine stated that the Buffalo Guitar Quartet was "one of the world's premiere classical guitar ensembles."

James Piorkowski is a SUNY Distinguished Professor at the Fredonia School of Music, State University of New York, serving as head of the guitar program since 1983. In 2006, Piorkowski was the recipient of both the President's Award for Excellence and the Robert W. Kasling Award for Scholarly and Creative Excellence. He was the recipient of the University's William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award in 1998.