Todd Ukena
Bio:Todd A. Ukena is a composer and arranger of percussion literature and has been playing percussion since 1970. He received a B.M.E. degree from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1980 studying under Mr. Eddie Lockhart. Later, he completed a M.M. Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Oklahoma in 1988 studying with Dr. Richard Gipson. Other post graduate work was done at the University of North Texas, studying under Ron Fink and Dr. Robert Schietroma. His performance career has been well-rounded, including musicals, concert bands, jazz ensembles, percussion ensembles, solo work and marching with “The Pride” of Oklahoma Marching Band and the “Valiant Knights Drum and Bugle Corps” where he later served as drumline instructor and arranger. He worked with the Weatherford I.S.D. since 1982, starting as assistant band director, then later as Director of Music at Mary Martin Elementary School while being the front line director of the Weatherford Kangaroos Marching Band from 2006-2010, and from 2008-2010, as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. He has taught private percussion since 1976. Since 2003, he developed the ?Integrated Music & P.E.? program (I.M.P.) at Mary Martin Elementary School collaborating with the P.E. teacher in his school. He has presented this system at 2010 TAHPERD summer and winter conventions as well as the 2011 TMEA convention. Many schools and districts in Texas are using the I.M.P. system. Todd continues to develop I.M.P. and other teaching resources for music and P.E. teachers. He has numerous publications of snare drum timpani, mallet and drum set solo and ensembles with Southern Music Company (now available at Hal Leonard,) RBC Music Company, PEL Music Company and self publications at www.ukenamusic.com with many of these compositions on state solo and ensemble prescribed music lists. As is his passion, he continutes to compose for all areas of percussion creating his own publishing company, Ukena Music, L..L.C. (2013) with newly published works available at Lone Star Percussion and Steve Weiss Music Copany. He retired after thirty years of teaching in Texas public schools in May, 2011 giving him more time to teach privately with local percussion students.
Titles:
- – Three Funky Cadences
- – Dixie Cadence
- 1986 – Blue Wood
- 1986 – Jeda Night
- 1986 – Conversations
- 1987 – Accent Fever
- 1987 – Flam City
- 1987 – Lauren’s Lullaby
- 1987 – Who Knows?
- 1988 – Vanguard, The
- 1988 – Colors
- 1988 – Tempest
- 1988 – Quiescence
- 1989 – Jeda Suite
- 1989 – Funk No. 2
- 1989 – Devil, Daniel and Duane, The
- 1990 – No. 2 Funk
- 1990 – Triplet Threes
- 1990 – Times Are Changing
- 1992 – Sighs Of Carnival
- 1992 – Highland Memories
- 1993 – After School Rag
- 1994 – Tears Of Long Lost Love