Darin Kamstra
Regional Education Artist - Colorado Mesa University - United States

Overview

Darin Kamstra, DMA, is an associate professor of music at Colorado Mesa University and Director of Jazz Studies and Percussion. Kamstra teaches Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Jazz Improvisation, Percussion Ensemble, Percussion Lessons, Percussion Pedagogy, Music Technology and Music of World Cultures. He believes in fostering students with diverse abilities so that they can adapt to a wide variety of musical opportunities in the future.

He currently serves as principal timpanist/percussionist of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, performs on drum set with the Grand Junction Rockestra and CMU Faculty Jazz Quartet, and appears frequently as a percussion and jazz clinician and recitalist regionally and nationally. He served as principal timpanist of the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with professional orchestras, jazz groups and music theater companies throughout Colorado, Illinois and the Pacific Northwest.  

Also an active composer and arranger, Kamstra’s works are published by Tapspace, Walrus Music Publications and Grand Mesa Music Publishers, and they have been featured at regional, national and international conventions and at universities across the United States. He is a contributor to the Percussive Arts Society Online Research Journal, a regional education artist for Pearl/Adams Percussion and a regional endorser for Sabian Cymbals.

Publications

“Bateria for Solo Timpani,” Tapspace Publications

“Eagle Samba for Big Band,” Walrus Music Publishing

“Soundscapes 4-6 for Percussion Quintet,” Grand Mesa Music Publishers

“Hippopotamus Blues for Big Band,” Walrus Music Publishing

“Soundscapes 1-3 for Percussion Sextet,” Grand Mesa Music Publishers

“Dreidel Samba for Big Band,” Walrus Music Publishing

“Five Style Miniatures for Percussion Ensemble,” Grand Mesa Music Publishers

“Percussion Faculty Positions at U.S. Institutions of Higher Education Advertised from 1992-2001 Qualifications and Duties.” Percussive Arts Society Online Research Journal.

Links

www.darinkamstra.com

http://www.coloradomesa.edu/music