Mike Eckerty

Michael Eckerty is the Director of Instrumental Music at Simpson College. Michael holds a Doctor of Music in bassoon performance with a conducting minor from the University of Georgia, Master of Music degrees in conducting and bassoon from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a degree in Music Education from Baylor University. His conducting teachers include Sarah McKoin, Michael Haithcock, John Lynch, and John Culvahouse; and he has studied bassoon with William Davis, Marita Abner, Jennifer Speck, Janis McKay, and Barrick Stees.

As a conductor Michael directs the Symphonic Band, College/Community Orchestra, and many chamber ensembles at Simpson College, and he has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for bands in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas.  His duties at Simpson also include teaching conducting, secondary music education courses, and applied bassoon.

Dr. Eckerty was the director of bands at Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas, directed a University of Georgia concert band, and served as an assistant conductor with the Kansas City Wind Symphony. While in graduate school, he guest conducted the wind ensembles at the University of Georgia and University of Missouri-Kansas City. A former drum major for the Baylor University Golden Wave Band, his first job was as an assistant band director in Monahans, Texas.

Michael has performed as a bassoonist with the Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Metro Opera, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and St. Joseph Symphony, among others. Michael has also won concerto competitions at the University of Georgia and University of Missouri-Kansas City. Michael often collaborates with his pianist wife, Dr. Christy Eckerty.   

Giovanni Antonio Bertoli-  Sonata Prima for Bassoon (published in 1645)

Ron Albrecht (Simpson Faculty) – Serenade for Bassoon and Piano

• D.M.A., Bassoon with a Conducting Secondary Emphasis, University of Georgia, 2008
• M.M., Conducting, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2002
• M.M., Bassoon, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2001
• B.M.E., Baylor University, 1996