About the Arrangers
About the Organizers
Brian and Reid have been friends since 2004 when a mutual friend and fellow music educator introduced them. They share many passions including baseball, social justice, and more recently, how to semi-successfully parent young children. After completing their masters degrees in the same cohort at the University of St. Thomas, the two began to nurture a deeper friendship that revolved around music education. Both residents of South Minneapolis, they have worked to spread awareness and understanding towards diversifying the repertoire of instrumental music curriculum. Along with several other colleagues, Brian and Reid helped to create the Minnesota Music Education Association's '10 Best Practices for Repertoire Selection' guidebook. You can watch that video below and read the handout here.
Following the creation of the '10 Best Practices' guide, both Brian and Reid were struck with the lack of historical representation, especially from Black composers. And thus, the Black Composer Revival Consortium was born.
Following the creation of the '10 Best Practices' guide, both Brian and Reid were struck with the lack of historical representation, especially from Black composers. And thus, the Black Composer Revival Consortium was born.
Brian LukkassonBrian Lukkasson is the Blake Upper School instrumental music director. He loves coffee, running, baseball and jazz and knows a lot about princesses.
Brian is also an active clinician alongside longtime friend and collaborator, Nora Tycast. Together they have formed Musically Literate, a consulting group that focuses on leading music teachers and departments through workshops and facilitating professional learning plans. |
Reid WixsonReid Wixson is the Director of Instrumental Music at Minneapolis Southwest High School. He too loves coffee, loves exploring nature, and knows a lot about home improvement projects.
Past projects include co-presenting at the 2017 Midwest Clinic on Selecting Repertoire and co-leading the 2020 MMEA Diversity Task Force. |