Michael Mixtacki, M.M.

• Master of Music in Percussion Performance, Indiana University
• Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Percussion Methods

Michael Mixtacki is a percussionist, vocalist and educator based out of Lubbock, Texas. Michael is currently teaching Percussion Methods at LCU, and is also on faculty at Texas Tech University, teaching percussion and drum set lessons and co-directing 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, UTSA Faculty Jazz Quintet, South Texas Jazz Quartet, and the Katchie Cartwright Brazilian Jazz Trio.

Prior to his appointment at UTSA, Michael taught at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. While living in the Midwest, Michael performed with a variety of different groups, including Ire Elese Abure (Chicago, Illinois), Ritmos Unidos (Bloomington, Indiana), and Grupo Balança and the Madison Symphony Orchestra (Madison, Wisconsin). 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 Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s 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.