Photo by Lauren Belasco
Michael Mixtacki is a percussionist, vocalist and educator based out of Lubbock, TX. He is currently on faculty at Texas Tech University, and teaches percussion and drum set lessons and co-directs the TTU Percussion Ensemble. Prior to his move to West Texas, Michael taught percussion and drum set at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and was the founder and director of the UTSA Summer Percussion Camp. While living in San Antonio, Michael enjoyed performing with a wide variety of ensembles including the San Antonio Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, the UTSA Faculty Jazz Quintet, the South Texas Jazz Quartet, and the Katchie Cartwright Brazilian Jazz Trio to name a few.
Prior to his appointment at UTSA, Michael taught at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. While living in the Midwest, Michael performed with a variety of different groups, including Ire Elese Abure in Chicago, IL, Ritmos Unidos in Bloomington, IN, and Grupo Balança and the Madison Symphony Orchestra in Madison, WI. He had the honor of participating on two Grammy nominated recordings with Wayne Wallace and Michael Spiro, and recorded on drum set, lead vocals and percussion on two albums with Ritmos Unidos. Michael continues to be a guest artist at many colleges, high schools and summer workshops across the country, and has participated in numerous clinics and performances at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Jazz Education Network Convention, and TMEA.
Michael earned a Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is an official clinician for the Latin Percussion Department of Education and is a Yamaha Performing artist. Michael also endorses Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.
UPCOMING PROJECTS & PERFORMANCES
DMA Lecture Recital, June 13, 2022 - Click the link below for a copy of my Slideshow and Handout from my final recital at Texas Tech University!
Lecture Recital Slideshow and Handout
PAST PROJECTS
DUO MILANDO
Duo Milando is my latest performance project with marimbist and Latin percussionist, Orlando Cotto. I got invited to play at my friend Evan Chapman’s wedding in Maryland, and realized it was down the street from Orlando’s house. He and I first got the chance to play together at the Birch Creek Percussion and Steel Band Session in Egg Harbor, WI. In 2010, he invited me to join him on his showcase performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, IN. We formed Duo Milando in Fall 2017, and performed our first showcase concert together at the UTSA Recital Hall in November, 2018. Here’s a video we made from Orlando’s visit to San Antonio - Miguel Matamoros’ “Son De La Loma,” arranged for marimba, percussion and vocals, and an original tune called “Osain” on handpan, percussion, batá drums and vocals. ¡A gozar!