Dr. Josh Calkin is Director of Bands at Wayne State College. He is a professor in the Music Department whose duties include directing the Wildcat Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Brass Ensemble, and Mariachi Oro y Negro. He also teaches all applied low brass and low brass methods, world music, and instrumental conducting. Calkin holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Plymouth (N.H.) State College, a Master of Music in Tuba Performance from Boise State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance from the University of Iowa.
Calkin maintains an active performing schedule, both as a recitalist and in area ensembles. Recent solo appearances include recitals at the 2017, 2013, and 2011 Great Plains Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conferences, the 2017 Midwest Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba Conference, and the 2017 Tuba Euphonium Conference of the Rockies, and guest appearances at Cornell College, Hastings College, and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He also recently appeared as a featured soloist with the Sioux City Municipal Band, the Buena Vista University Concert Band, and the Bishop Heelan High School Concert Band. Calkin is the tubist with the Sioux City Symphony Brass Quintet and A Touch of Brass, Principal Tubist with the Sioux City Municipal Band and Nebraska Brass Band, Substitute Tuba with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, sousaphonist with the Crazy Eight Brass Band, and trombonist with the Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble.
Calkin is also an in-demand clinician and teacher. Recent highlights include guest clinician with the Nebraska Class C All-State Band, the Northwest Iowa Bandmasters’ Honor Band, and the Wayne State College Honor Band, and adjudicator for the Northeast Jazz Festival and Nebraska District Music Contest.
Calkin is a member of the International Tuba-Euphonium Association, the International Trombone Association, the Nebraska Bandmasters' Association, and the Nebraska Music Educators' Association. He is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national band fraternity. He is a 2004 inductee into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and was the recipient of the 2006-2007 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award at the University of Iowa. He has studied tuba with John Manning, Michael Fischer, Thom Untersee, and Matt Walters. He has also studied trombone with James Chesebrough and conducting with Marcellus Brown and Gary Corcoran. Calkin is an Adams Custom Brass Performing Artist and plays Adams tubas.
In his spare time, Calkin enjoys golfing, reading, cooking, and home renovation projects. He is active in the Wayne Community Theatre and Corinthian Lodge #86, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He lives in Wayne with his wife, Lauren, and their daughter MacKenzie.
Education
DMA, Tuba Performance, University of Iowa, 2015
M.M., Tuba Performance, Boise State University, 2004
B.S., Music Education, Plymouth State College, 2002
Academic Interests
Dr. Calkin's academic interest centers around tuba performance - his dissertation was on transcribing art songs for use as beginning lyrical etudes for young tubists. His teaching interests include low brass, jazz, and marching band.
