71
Department of Music
Brent McPike
Brent Gordon McPike began his professional music career after being chosen as one of six guitarists by Busch Gardens' traveling audition tour in 1987. The following year he graduated from Butler University, then went to teach guitar at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan where he got the opportunity to play in the faculty jazz band that performed live on public radio w/ legendary jazz clarinetist, Buddy DeFranco. Spending most of the 90's in Bloomington, Indiana as a graduate student of music at Indiana University, he performed all over Indiana and beyond as a solo guitarist and jazz combo leader for the School of Music's Office of Musical Attractions. He also served as director of Indiana University's Young Guitarist Program from 1995-2001. He completed his Doctor of Music degree at IU in 2004.
In 2001, he relocated to Terre Haute, Indiana to serve on the faculty at Indiana State University's music department. Since then he has released two compact discs: one being an accompaniment CD (2005) to the book First Lessons for Guitar by Julio Sagreras (www.cdbaby.com) and a second one titled, Smooth Landing (2007) with his group, The Haute Club, featuring 12 original compositions (also on www.cdbaby.com). In 2008 McPike was named Arts Illiana's Professional Artist of the Year at the 'Bravo!' Awards, and in March, 2009 he and fellow guitarist, Dan Sumner, (comprising the McPike/Sumner Duo) won First Place at the Brownsville (TX) Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition playing mostly McPike's original compositions. In the Summer of 2008 he toured Thailand on a travel grant from Indiana State University, performing solo as well as with the Ambassador Brass - and giving workshops and masterclasses. He also performs with Steel Drum virtuoso, Dr. Jimmy Finnie, Professor of Music at Indiana State University. In addition, he was named to a list of September's Top Songwriter's (2009) by the staff at Song Of The Year - Houston, TX.
D.M., M.M. Indiana University; B.M. Butler University.
Office: FA 228C
Phone: (812) 237-2797
 E-Mail: bmcpike@isugw.indstate.edu
|
