Meet Brendon Wilkins

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brendon Wilkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brendon, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I always strive to seek out content that inspires me. I am excited to study and investigate all the intricacies that make this content so unique and interesting. With a consistent input of ideas and art that inspires me, I am continually energized to explore and create art that represents who I am.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a multi-instrumentalist performer and educator involved in both classical and jazz woodwind performance. I’ve performed in various musical mediums throughout the United States and have maintained active teaching studios in New York, Texas, Florida, and Maine.

I currently serve as the Director of the Jazz Band, Director of the Wind Ensemble, and an Applied Music Associate at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. As an Applied Music Associate, I teach private lessons on all five woodwind instruments in jazz and classical styles.

In addition to my musical responsibilities at Colby College, I founded the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Music Organization (IDEAs in Music). The only organization of its kind on campus currently, this group provides a space for students, faculty, and staff to discuss the most pressing issues of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in music.

As part of my commitment to increasing the musical possibilities available to jazz flutists, I have been a leader in the National Flute Association’s jazz flute community. I currently serve as the NFA Jazz Flute Competition Chair and as a member of the Jazz Flute Committee. I previously served as an Advising Member for the Jazz Flute Committee. I was named a winner of the 2015 National Flute Association Jazz Flute Masterclass competition, and was also selected as a featured soloist in the NFA Jazz Flute Big Band in the same year.

I’ve been fortunate to have a wide variety of musical experiences thus far in my career including performances with Hugh Jackman, Johnny Mathis,  Doc Severinsen, and numerous others. Recording on three jazz albums and three classical albums, performing with the Disneyland All-American College Band, playing with a nationally touring musical theater production, and countless other experiences have all shaped me into the musician I am today.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think that three essential qualities for musicians are discipline, perseverance, and optimism. Choosing any career requires hard work. A career in the arts requires that you continue to dedicate yourself to your craft, even when times are hard or when the obstacles seem too large to overcome. Being an artist also requires that you believe in yourself and believe that the hard work that you have put into creating your art will yield results with enough patience.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I’m extremely thankful to have had wonderful mentors throughout my life and my musical career. All of the teachers that I have studied with have had a tremendous impact on my life and my career. This includes, but is not limited to my flute studies with Mary Karen Clardy, Jennifer Grim, Jan Vinci, and Elizabeth McNutt; studying jazz with Brad Leali, Alex Fraile, Bart Marantz, Mark Vinci, and Fred Hamilton; studying saxophone with Eric Nestler and Dale Underwood; studying clarinet with Margaret Donaghue, Deborah Fabian, and Connor O’Meara; studying bassoon with Kathleen Reynolds, Gabriel Beavers, and Jorge Cruz; and studying oboe with James Ryon and Robert Weiner.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
MelodieJoy Photography, PyramxdPhotography, Josh Gilbert

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