Ken Collins

Ken Collins

Ken Collins served 35 years as a musician and conductor in the United States Navy.  Entering the Navy in 1989, he spent 9 years as a percussionist in bands from Guam to Newport, RI. As a bandmaster, he led bands around the world including tours at Navy Band Northwest, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, Navy Band Southeast, and Commander Naval Forces Europe Band. His one staff assignment was as Head, Navy Music Program/Director, Fleet Band Activities.  He was selected by the Chief of Naval Operations as the 14^th Leader of the United States Navy Band Washington, DC in 2015. In addition to his responsibilities for musical leadership of this organization, the position included oversight of the entire Navy Music Program 

 

Dedicated to musical excellence, the Navy Music Program experienced tremendous professional growth throughout his tenure. From complete revisions of the fleet auditions process, to providing continuous educational opportunities for conductors, his efforts contributed to making the Navy Music Program a hallmark for the highest musical quality.

 

At Navy Band Washington, DC he led the band at the highest level ceremonies and events in our Nation’s capital including providing musical support for the inaugurations of President Trump and President Biden, the state funeral of President George H. W. Bush and the memorial service for Senator John McCain. His tenure was marked by significant commissions pushing the artistic envelope for what is possible in the wind band world. He continually programmed innovative works and sought out composers from varied backgrounds with distinct musical points of view. Committed to expanding Navy Band’s outreach, he leveraged all available social media outlets resulting in Navy Band becoming the most followed military band in the world. He proudly represented the band at the White House in 2019 as they were awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.

 

He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Nevada, a Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. He also holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in change management from Hawaii Pacific University. He was selected for membership to the American Bandmasters Association in 2020, and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. He has served as a clinician and conductor for bands throughout the United Sates and Europe, and continues to maintain an active schedule as a conductor/consultant/clinician for bands across the country.  He is absolutely committed to the notion that through innovative programming of music at the highest artistic level, the wind band can be a vital and popular element of a thriving arts scene in any community in the 21^st century.   

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