Michael Mikulka
Biography
Michael Mikulka (b. 1985, New Jersey) is an American composer, hornist and educator.
Dr. Mikulka completed his DMA in composition at the University of Texas, where he studied with Donald Grantham, Russell Pinkston, and Yevgeniy Sharlat. He completed his MM in composition at Central Michigan University, where he studied with David Gillingham, and he received his undergraduate degree in music education from Rutgers University.
Dr. Mikulka has had his music performed throughout the United States and abroad, including by members of the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, by performance faculty at universities across the country, and by founding members of the Canadian Brass, Mnozil Brass, and the Kronos Quartet. He has been named a winner or finalist 33 times in composition contests and calls for scores.
Michael currently teaches music theory, composition, and horn at Austin (Texas) Community College and teaches private horn lessons in Pflugerville ISD. During the summer, Michael is the band director for Friends Music Camp at Earlham College. He previously served on the theory and composition faculty at Southwestern University.
As a horn player, Michael most recently studied with Pat Hughes. He previously studied with Douglas Lundeen and Amy Larkey-Emelianoff. While pursuing his doctoral degree, Michael performed as a member of the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Horn Choir. He frequently performs solo and chamber compositions by living composers, including the October 2018 premiere of David Carlton Adams' Horn Concerto alongside the Density 512 Chamber Orchestra. Michael's book A Practical Method for Horn Multiphonics has been widely praised by new music experts and brass pedagogues.
In March of 2013, Michael created newbandmusic.org, a composer advocacy site which promoted self-published wind ensemble works written by "emerging" composers for free. Michael completed his DMA in Composition at the University of Texas, where he studied with Donald Grantham, Russell Pinkston, and Yevgeniy Sharlat. He completed his MM in Composition at Central Michigan University, where he studied with David Gillingham, and he received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Rutgers University.
Works for Winds
- Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble (2013)
- Etudes for Wind Ensemble (2019)
- First Suite for Wind Band (2016)
- The Florentainer (2013)
- From Detroit to LA (2011)
- Godzilla Devours Reno (2013)
- The Inaudible Do (2013)
- Music to Drift Away With (2019)
- Panic! (2010)
- Prelude and Fugue (2011)
- Six Short Scenes (2018)
- Symphony No. 3 for Wind Ensemble (2015/2020)
- Through the Icy Dawn (2010)
- Unfurl (2019)
Resources
- Michael Mikulka website Accessed 12 October 2020
- New Band Music