Biography

Michael Mixtacki is a versatile percussionist, educator, and recording artist, and serves as an adjunct lecturer in the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music at UT Knoxville. With over 15 years of experience across world percussion, orchestral percussion, contemporary, jazz, and commercial music genres, Mixtacki has built his career on a well-rounded, holistic approach to percussion.

Prior to his appointment at UT, Mixtacki served on faculty at Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Northern Illinois University. He has directed percussion ensembles, taught private lessons, and designed lecture courses in global music, music technology, and percussion pedagogy. Additionally, he founded and directed Afro-Cuban and Brazilian ensembles at each institution, sharing his passion for African Diasporic music research and performance. In addition to traveling across the country for guest artist residencies, Mixtacki has been involved with music camps and summer programs as a director and faculty member.

Mixtacki’s performance experience spans many musical genres, including appearances alongside Kristin Chenoweth, Boyz II Men, Raul Pineda, Liam Teague, Jesus Diaz, Elio Villafranca, Nestor Torres, and many others. As an orchestral percussionist and timpanist, he has performed with several orchestras across Texas and Wisconsin. His versatility as both a singer and percussionist within Afro-Cuban and Brazilian genres inspires his creative activity, where he blends these traditions with contemporary percussion sounds. Mixtacki’s recording credits include two GRAMMY-nominated albums with Wayne Wallace, and two albums with Ritmos Unidos led by his mentor, Michael Spiro. He has performed and presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and Jazz Education Network Convention.

Mixtacki holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Indiana University, and Texas Tech University. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist, and a clinician for the Latin Percussion Department of Education. He also endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Remo drumheads, and Sabian cymbals.

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Education

• DMA, Percussion Performance, Texas Tech University (2022)
• MM, Percussion Performance, Indiana University (2011)
• BM, Percussion Performance, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009)