Michael Larkin serves as Director of Bands at The Colony High School where he guides the educational and artistic vision of a comprehensive band program. Under his leadership, The Colony High School Marching Band advanced to the Texas State Marching Band Contest in 2017, marking the school's first appearance in a decade. Additionally, The Colony High School concert ensembles consistently achieve sweepstakes and superior ratings at UIL assessments. Notably, the wind symphony was named a Commended Winner by the Foundation for Music Education’s National Wind Band Honors in 2023 which recognizes outstanding achievement in performance by high school bands.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Larkin served as the Director of Bands at Jupiter High School in Jupiter, Florida, from 2010 to 2016. During his tenure, the band secured back-to-back state championship titles and consistently placed in the top five at the Florida Marching Band Championships. The concert bands, percussion ensembles, chamber ensembles, jazz ensembles, winter guards, and winter percussion all achieved superior ratings at district and state-level assessments. Under his direction, the band program nearly doubled in size, and the color guard program more than tripled. In 2015, the Jupiter High School Varsity Winter Guard debuted at the Winter Guard International World Championships, placing fourth after a first-place semifinals 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.
Mr. Larkin holds a Master of Music Degree in Music Performance-Trombone from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He was a brass instructor with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012 to 2017, serving as Brass Caption Head from 2014 to 2017, playing a pivotal role in leading the corps to its first appearance in the Drum Corps International World Championship Finals in 2016. Additionally, he has served as a Brass Instructor for the Boston Crusaders, the six-time World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard, and the 2007 Division III World Champion Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. His performance experience includes membership with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003 to 2006, and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2008.
Throughout his career, Mr. Larkin has instructed numerous high school marching bands and concert ensembles nationwide, including the 2017 Army All-American Marching Band, and is also an active adjudicator. Mr. Larkin studied privately with James Miller of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and Dr. Randy Kohlenberg from UNCG, and has received instruction from artists such as Thomas Burge, Irvin Wagner, and Tony Mazzocchi. He has also studied conducting with Dr. Kevin Geraldi and Mark Norman. Mr. Larkin is profoundly grateful to his mentors and teachers, including Amanda Drinkwater, Bill Watson, Matt Harloff, Michael Klesch, T. Andre Feagin, Michael Cesario, and Frank Troyka, for shaping his passion for music education.