Jerry Junkin
Jerry Junkin is an American conductor, primarily of wind bands. Junkin is on the faculty at the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Vincent R. and Jane D. DiNino Chair for the Director of Bands. He conducts the Wind Ensemble, and instructs graduate, as well as undergraduate conducting courses.
Biography
Jerry Junkin was born in Victoria, Texas in 1954. His father was director of bands at Victoria High School, which influenced the young Junkin to pursue music.[1] After graduating from Victoria High School in 1974, he pursued a college education in music at The University of Texas at Austin and was named Assistant Director of Bands in 1978. He followed this with similar positions at the University of Michigan and the University of South Florida.[2]
He currently is the conductor of the Wind Ensemble and Director of Bands at UT Austin, a position he has held since 1988.[3] In addition, he also serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Dallas Wind Symphony, as well as Music Director and Conductor of the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia.[4] Junkin has previously served as a President of the Big XII Band Director’s Association, a member of the Board of Directors of The John Philip Sousa Foundation, Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association, and President of the College Band Directors National Association.[5]
Under his tenure, the UT Austin Wind Ensemble has collaborated with a number of notable artists and composers. In 2005, Junkin led the world premiere of John Corigliano's Symphony No. 3 Circus Maximus at Carnegie Hall.[6]