Date: November 28, 2006
Special to The Well at MHC

Balancing Performing and Teaching

This past November, Brian was invited to perform at the 2006 Percussion Arts Society International Convention in Austin, Texas as part of the society’s New Music Focus Day. Percussionist Brian Tinkel enjoys a career that draws on his background both in teaching and in performance as chamber musician, soloist and orchestral player. Since joining the faculty at Mars Hill College in the Fall of 2004, Mr. Tinkel has built a successful percussion program. In 2007, he plans to complete his doctoral dissertation from the University of Oklahoma. “This represents a long road of work and accomplishment” he told us last week.

At Mars Hill, Brian is the Director of the Percussion Ensemble and the Mountain Lion Marching Band. He teaches private lessons to his eight students and teaches several academic courses within the music department. This past November, Brian was invited to perform at the 2006 Percussion Arts Society International Convention in Austin, Texas as part of the society’s New Music Focus Day. Brian is an active writer and clinician for many local marching bands. He has been a guest clinician at numerous college workshops and arranges for percussion ensembles across the country. Last Spring, he took the Penn State Indoor Drumline from 17th to 3rd place at the 2006 WGI Championships in Dayton, OH. While this schedule is rigorous, Brian is lucky to have found his love in another musician, Cynthia Roop, who teaches flute in the music department as well as performing with various regional and national ensembles.

Mr. Tinkel holds a B.S. in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration and has received both a B.M. and M.M. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he studied with Thom Hannum, Eduardo Leandro, and Dr. Peter Tanner. In addition, he has been admitted into candidacy for the Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. He was Principal Timpanist with the Enid Symphony, has performed with the Oklahoma Philharmonic, and performs regularly with his wife Cynthia in their flute and percussion duo, Mosaic.

While being involved in the drum corps activity for over fifteen years, Mr. Tinkel’s performance opportunities led him to being a member of the Boston Crusaders and Star of Indiana. He went on to perform with the Star of Indiana’s Brass Theater production where he toured with The Canadian Brass and Nexus. Since devoting his time to teaching, Brian has been on faculty with the Crossmen, the Glassmen, and has coordinated percussion activities for the Magic of Orlando and the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps. Most recently, Mr. Tinkel served as the Percussion Caption Director and Arranger for Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps. Mr. Tinkel is an artist and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian cymbal oompany, Pearl-Adams musical instruments, REMO drumheads and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.