Frank Perez serves as the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Baker University in Baldwin City, KS. He conducts the Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, teaches applied low brass lessons and music education courses. Previous appointments include director of bands at Graceland University, where he held the Vredenburg Endowed Chair, and director of bands at Ganesha High School in Pomona, California.
Dr. Perez has conducted honor bands in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. He has presented clinics and workshops both nationally and internationally. As a freelance trombonist, Dr. Perez has performed with ensembles such as the La Jolla Symphony, Los Angeles Guild Opera, Des Moines Big Band, KC Bones, Bones West, Bones Midwest, Freestate Brass Band, and currently serves as the principal trombonist for the De Soto Brass Band. He is the co-founder and co-conductor of Trombone Christmas Kansas City.
Dr. Perez earned bachelor's degrees in trombone performance and music education, and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind band conducting from the University of Kansas School of Music and has been honored by Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor fraternities, Blue Key National Honor Society, Who's who Among American Teachers, and the Phi Beta Mu International School Band Director Fraternity. He has served as the principal conductor for the KS State Lions Band and was recently named Melvin Jones Fellow, one of the highest honors for humanitarian service bestowed by the Lions Club International Foundation. Dr. Perez serves as the immediate Past-President of Kansas Bandmasters Association, Kansas representative for the Society for Music Education (SMTE), and Artistic and Educational Advisor for Impulso Marching Latinoamérica. Dr. Perez is a Conn-Selmer artist and a Dennis Wick artist.
Photo: Chris Ortiz