Kevin Luken serves as director of percussion studies at both Ballard and Eastern High Schools located in Louisville, Kentucky where he directs the Marching Percussion sections as well as the Percussion Ensembles. He also coaches percussion sectionals at Kammerer, Crosby, Westport, and Noe, Middle Schools, and teaches private lessons. Highly sought after as an educator and clinician Kevin has given numerous clinics throughout Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. As a 2005 graduate of Shelby County High School Kevin began studying percussion under the direction of Todd Wright.
Kevin received his B.M. in Percussion Performance from Morehead State University in 2011 as a student of Professor Frank Oddis and Dr. Brian Mason. During his time in Morehead Kevin studied all aspects of percussion and was a member of several ensembles including: Marching band, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Steel Band, Brazilian Batteria, and the African Drum Ensemble. Kevin was also a member of the 2007 Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps which would go on to win the gold medal and the high drums award in the Drum Corps International Summer Music Games in Pasadena California. In 2008 Kevin took part in an European music tour as a member of the Morehead State Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensemble, and in 2011 he was featured as a soloist for a demonstration clinic at the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
Kevin received his M.M. in Percussion Performance at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2015 as a student of world renowned marimbist Dr. Brian Zator, nationally recognized DCI judge J.J. Pipitone, and Dan Florio who is a 25 year member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. While in Texas Kevin continued to study all aspects of percussion and was a member of the A&M Commerce Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble 1. In the Spring of 2014 the A&M Commerce Percussion Ensemble performed a series of concerts at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to his playing responsibilities Kevin also taught private lessons, directed the Panimation Steel Band, co-directed the Marching Percussion Section, and co-directed Percussion Ensemble 2 & 3. As codirector of the Marching Percussion Section Kevin worked closely with J.J. Pipitone on marching percussion pedagogy and arranging. Outside of the University Kevin also served as principle Timpanist for the North East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and percussionist for the Texas Saxophone Quartet.
Kevin is an endorsed artist through Mapex and Majestic Percussion Instruments and Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.