Please help us welcome Xan Perkins to the MTD faculty as Instructor and Assistant Director of Bands beginning this fall.
Xan Perkins is a music educator, artist, and researcher coming from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK where he has been serving as Director of Bands and Instrumental Studies. At NWOSU, Xan directed the University Symphonic Band, NWOSU Jazz Ensemble, the Ranger Marching Band, taught low brass applied lessons, music theory, arranging, and music education classes. Prior to NWOSU, Xan began a Ph.D. at Washington State University through the Individual Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, where he also served as a Graduate Assistant for the WSU Cougar Marching Band and directed the Cougar Volleyball Band. He holds a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Northern Colorado (2019) and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Kansas State University (2016).
Xan has distinguished himself as an in-demand low brass performer, earning a semi-finalist placement at the 2023 Leonard Falcone Festival and a 3rd place finish at the 2024 Northwest Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference Artist Competition. He has performed with the Mid-Columbia Symphony, Clarion Brass, Walla Walla Symphony, Tulsa’s King Cabbage Brass Band, and Kansas City’s Back Alley Brass Band. He has also collaborated with celebrated musicians including Sam Pilafian, Jose Sibaja, Tim Buzzbee, and the Boston Brass. For the past four years, Xan has been a regular guest soloist with the Manhattan Municipal Band under the direction of Dr. Frank Tracz.
As an educator and scholar, Xan is passionate about inspiring students to engage with their local communities through music. His teaching and research draw on culturally relevant pedagogy and center the role of music in fostering an understanding of diversity and culture, with particular interest in jazz history, Second Line brass band traditions, brass methods, and athletic bands.