Brett Penshorn is currently finishing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the University of North Texas, where he studies with Eugene Migliaro Corporon. At the University of North Texas, Mr. Penshorn served as the conductor and instructor of record for both the University and Concert Bands, taught undergraduate conducting, and served as a guest conductor and teaching assistant for six concert ensembles comprised of more than 500 undergraduate and graduate instrumental music students. Penshorn also oversaw the graduate staff and Wind Studies library.
Penshorn advocates the wind band as a medium of serious artistic merit and has been actively involved with GIA Publications. He served as the Coordinator of Research Associates and as a contributor to the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series. He also contributed to several recording projects, such as the Windworks and Composers Collection recording series.
Penshorn is a strong advocate for community outreach and served as Assistant Conductor, Personnel and Artistic Manager for the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. He has coordinated residencies with groups such as the international Barcelona Clarinet Players and the Canadian Brass. In 2019, he worked as a production assistant on the Grammy-nominated One for All (2020) album.
Penshorn received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music degree in Band/Wind Ensemble Conducting from The Pennsylvania State University under Dennis Glocke. During his time at Penn State, he conducted the Concert and Campus Bands, was a teaching assistant for undergraduate conducting classes, guest conducted the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and assisted with the Penn State Marching Blue Band.
His teaching career began in the Schertz/Cibolo/Universal City Independent School District in Texas, where he was Head Band Director at Barbara C. Jordan Intermediate School as well as an assistant director at Byron P. Steele II High School. Following his Masters degree, he was Assistant Band Director in the Luling Independent School District, where he taught the Junior High Varsity Band, the High School Concert Band, and assisted the Luling High School Eagle Marching Band. During his tenure, both ensembles earned First Division awards from the UIL Concert-Sight Reading Contest, and the marching band made its fourth consecutive appearance at the UIL State Marching Band Contest.
Professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, the Conductors Guild, Phi Kappa Lambda Honorary Music Fraternity, North Carolina Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.