Brendon M. Wilkins is a multi-instrumentalist performer and educator who is involved in both classical and jazz woodwind performance. Brendon has performed in various musical mediums throughout the United States and has maintained active teaching studios in-person and online in New York, Texas, Florida, and Maine.
Brendon is the Director of the Jazz Band and the Wind Ensemble at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. In addition to his responsibilities as a conductor, he teaches woodwinds as an Applied Music Associate. Brendon also performs with the Colby Symphony Orchestra and the Colby Jazz Collective.
In addition to his musical responsibilities at Colby College, Brendon 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 diversity, equity, and inclusion in music.
Brendon’s active musical career has led to performances with José M. Aponte, The Barcelona Clarinet Players, Scott Belck, Wayne Bergeron, Ron Carter, John Clayton, Carey Deadman, Rosana Eckert, Gregg Field, Quamon Fowler, Keith Ganz, Marshall Gilkes, Gordon Goodwin, Frank Greene, Stefon Harris, Jimmy Heath, Steve Houghton, Hugh Jackman, Sean Jones, Audrey Ochoa, Brad Leali, Sal Lozano, Johnny Mathis, Joe McBride, Marcus Miller, Christian McBride, Kate McGarry, Chris Potter, Rashawn Ross, Rex Richardson, Eric Scortia, Doc Severinsen, Jim Walker, Jiggs Whigham, and many others.
Brendon was named a winner of the 2015 National Flute Association Jazz Flute Masterclass competition. He was also selected as a featured soloist in the NFA Jazz Flute Big Band in the same year. He was named a National Finalist on classical flute in the National Association of Negro Musicians Scholarship Competition, which led to a performance at the National Convention in Los Angeles, California. Brendon also performed at the Texas Music Teachers Association Annual Convention after winning first prize at the Young Artist Competition.
As part of his commitment to increasing the musical possibilities available to jazz flutists, Brendon has been a leader in the National Flute Association’s jazz flute community. Brendon currently is the National Flute Association’s Jazz Flute Competition Chair and a member of the Jazz Flute Committee. He previously served as an Advising Member for the Jazz Flute Committee from 2015 until 2021.
Brendon was selected to play alto saxophone and piccolo in the 2016 Disneyland All-American College Band in Anaheim, California. This program has been a Disneyland Resort tradition since 1971 and gives top college musicians from all around the United States the opportunity to perform and learn about the entertainment industry first-hand through performance at Disneyland and clinics with world-renown artists and experiences in nearby Hollywood.
While attending the University of North Texas, Brendon performed with the North Texas Wind Symphony and the One O’Clock Lab Band, and recorded on multiple albums with each ensemble. The UNT College of Music faculty selected Brendon as the 2015-2016 Presser Scholar. The Presser Foundation allows the music faculty of an accredited college to award one undergraduate student a scholarship in their senior year. This student, selected on the basis of excellence and merit, will be known as the Presser Scholar.
Brendon Wilkins is originally from Saratoga, New York and is currently living in Maine. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Multiple Woodwinds with a cognate in Music Technology from the University of Miami. He also graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master of Music in Multiple Woodwinds, a Bachelor of Music Education, and a Bachelor of Jazz Studies.
Brendon has studied flute with Mary Karen Clardy, Jennifer Grim, Elizabeth McNutt; jazz with Brad Leali, Alex Fraile, Mike Steinel, Chris McGuire, and Fred Hamilton; saxophone with Eric Nestler and Dale Underwood; clarinet with Margaret Donaghue, Deborah Fabian, and Connor O'Meara; bassoon with Kathleen Reynolds, Gabriel Beavers, and Jorge Cruz; and oboe with James Ryon and Robert Weiner.