Michael Larkin is in his Eighth year as Director of Bands of The Colony High School.  Under his leadership, The Colony High School Marching Band advanced to the Texas State Marching Band Contest in 2017, which marked their first appearance in ten years. In addition to marching band, The Colony High School concert ensembles consistently receives sweepstakes superior ratings at concert UIL assessments.  Prior to arriving at The Colony, Mr. Larkin was the Director of Bands at Jupiter High School in Jupiter, FL from 2010-2016. During his last two years at Jupiter High School, Mr. Larkin led the band to back-to-back state championship marching band titles, and finished top 5 each year prior.  The concert bands, percussion ensembles, chamber ensembles, jazz ensembles, winter guards, and winter percussion consistently received superior ratings at district and state level assessments.  The band program nearly doubled during his tenure, and the color guard program more than tripled.  The Jupiter High School Varsity Winter Guard made their Winter Guard International World Championships debut in 2015, placing 4th in finals after a 1st place semi-finals placement.  In 2013, Mr. Larkin was nominated for the William T. Dwyer award for excellence in Palm Beach County.  In his first year of eligibility (after 3 years of service), his fellow teachers voted him their school’s nomination to represent them in the annual all-county award, which included 27 high schools.  

Mr. Larkin received a Master of Music Degree in Music Performance -Trombone from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. At UNCSA he performed with the symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and the trombone choir. Prior to attending UNCSA, he received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he performed with the wind ensemble, jazz band, symphonic band, brass ensemble, undergraduate trombone quartet, and the trombone ensemble.

Mr. Larkin was an instructor with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012-2017, serving as brass caption head from 2014-2017.  During his 6 total years with The Academy, he played a key role in leading the drum corps into making their first ever appearance in the Drum Corps International World Championship Finals in 2016.  He has also served as a brass instructor for the Boston Crusaders, the six-time world champion Santa Clara Vanguard, as well as the 2007 Division III world champion Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps.  He was a member of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003 to 2006 and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2008. Mr. Larkin has been an instructor with numerous high school marching and concert ensembles throughout the country, including the 2017 Army All-American Marching Band, and has also served as a guest conductor and adjudicator.

Mr. Larkin has studied trombone privately with James Miller of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and UNCSA, and Dr. Randy Kohlenberg from UNCG. He has also taken lessons from other artists such as Thomas Burge, Irvin Wagner, and Tony Mazzochi and has studied conducting with Dr. Kevin Geraldi and Mark Norman. He is grateful for his mentors and teachers that shaped his passion for music education.  Among them are Amanda Drinkwater, Bill Watson, Matt Harloff, Michael Klesch, T. Andre Feagin, Michael Cesario, and Frank Troyka.