Darin Kamstra, DMA, is a professor of music at Colorado Mesa University, director of Jazz Studies and Percussion and head of the Department of Music. Kamstra teaches Percussion Ensemble, Percussion Lessons, Percussion Pedagogy, Electronic Music, and Advanced Music Technology. He believes in fostering students with diverse abilities so that they can adapt to a wide variety of musical opportunities in the future.
Kamstra 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 Quintet, 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. He directed the Colorado Mesa University Percussion Ensemble for invitational performances at the 2024 Edeta Arts Percussion Festival in Valencia, Spain, where he was also a featured clinician.
Also an active composer and arranger, Kamstra's works are published by Tapspace, ejazzlines, and Grand Mesa Music Publishers. These works have been featured at regional, national and international conventions and at universities across the United States. Many of these compositions can be viewed on YouTube. He is a contributor to the Percussive Arts Society Online Research Journal and a regional education artist for Pearl/Adams Percussion. When not working on music, Kamstra enjoys getting outdoors, especially mountain biking and skiing.
Selected Publications
"Rockin' Pauken for Solo Timpani," Tapspace 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.