Past News
2024
The American Prize Winner
21 November 2024
Dreams of America has been named winner of the Marian Anderson Award for Social Justice (Professional Division) of The American Prize. A big thank you to Helen Harrelson and the National Youth Brass Band of America for commissioning the piece and to Fountain City Brass Band for their fantastic premiere in September 2022!
Bold Journey Interview
24 October 2024
Jenkins interviewed with Bold Journey, an online magazine dedicated to exploring problems and obstacles faced by many, including imposter syndrome and burnout. Through the interview Jenkins recalls what helped him navigate these situations and how he has come to terms with them.
The American Prize Finalist
2 May 2024
Remnants has just been named a finalist in the Composition - Instrumental Chamber Music (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Winners will be announced soon.
Missouri Western State University
22 April 2024
Jenkins has accepted a position as Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO to begin this coming fall. Go Griffs!
The American Prize Finalist
9 April 2024
Of Vigils and Storms has just been named a finalist in the Composition - Orchestra Music (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Winners will be announced soon.
The American Prize Finalist
26 March 2024
Dreams of America has just been named a finalist in the Composition - Band/Wind Ensemble (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Winners will be announced soon.
2023
2024 College Music Society's South Central Conference
15 December 2023
Remnants was selected for performance at the 2024 College Music Society's South Central Conference. The conference will take place 14-16 March 2024 at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR.
2024 College Music Society's Mid-Atlantic Conference
14 December 2023
Rock Bottom was selected for performance at the 2024 College Music Society's Mid-Atlantic Conference. The conference will take place 6-7 April 2024 at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.
RED NOTE Composition Competition
10 December 2023
Eosphorus: The Morning Star was named a finalist in the 2024 RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Competition.
2024 College Music Society's Northeast Conference
5 December 2023
Rock Bottom was selected for performance at the 2024 College Music Society's Northeast Conference. The conference will take place 23-24 March 2024 at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA. More information can be found here.
2024 College Music Society's Southern Conference
21 November 2023
Remnants was selected for performance at the 2024 College Music Society's Southern Conference. The conference will take place 22-24 February 2024 at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. More information can be found here.
Remnants named finalist in Carlos Guastavino International Composition Competition
2 September 2023
Remnants was named a finalist in the 2023 Carlos Guastavino International Composition Competition sponsored by Sonus International Music Festival. The six finalist works will be performed as part of the festival at end of October.
Unfinished List of the Things I Love selected for performance in Germany
17 July 2023
Unfinished List of the Things I Love was recently selected from a call for scores to be included on Gregory Wiest's upcoming program "What Will Be." The concert will take place in Munich, Germany during the 2023/2024 season.
Join the Gazing Earthward Consortium
12 July 2023
Dr. Corey Seapy, Director of Bands at the University of Central Missouri, is forming a consortium to commission Jenkins for a new work for wind ensemble. This new piece will be titled Gazing Earthward.
Two pieces named finalists in WASBE Competition
20 June 2023
Fountains and Solar Flare were both named finalists in the 4th Annual World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Composition Competition (Category 1). The three finalist pieces will be performed at the WASBE Latin America Regional Conference in São Paulo, Brazil in July 2023.
Promotion and Tenure
9 June 2023
Arkansas State University has announced that Jenkins has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure effective July 1, 2023. Wolves Up!
2023 Society of Composers, Inc. Online National Conference
21 May 2023
Unfinished List of the Things I Love was accepted for performance in June as part of the 2023 SCI Online National Conference.
Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra Performance
9 May 2023
In April 2024, the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra will give the premiere of the orchestral version of We Seven.
2023 New Music on the Bayou Festival
28 March 2023
Unfinished List of the Things I Love was accepted for performance in May at the 2023 New Music on the Bayou Festival in Ruston and Monroe, LA.
Finalist, A-State Faculty Award for Emerging Scholarship
17 March 2023
Jenkins was named the College of Liberal Arts and Communication's finalist for Arkansas State University's Faculty Award for Emerging Scholarship. Winners to be announced later in the semester.
2023 SCI Region V Conference
13 March 2023
Remnants was accepted for performance in November at the 2023 SCI Region V Conference at Ohio University in Athens, OH.
Coaching at University of Tennessee at Martin
27 February 2023
Jenkins worked with the University of Tennessee at Martin Wind Ensemble as they rehearsed We Seven for their concert in March.
Rock Bottom named semi-finalist in Petrichor International Music Competition
7 February 2023
Rock Bottom was named a semi-finalist in the 2022 Petrichor International Music Competition hosted by Petrichor Records.
2022
We Seven won First Prize in Dresdner Bläserphilharmone's Winds Composition Contest Saxony
9 November 2022
We Seven for Wind Ensemble has won First Prize in the Dresdner Bläserphilharmonie's Winds Composition Contest Saxony I Edition. It will be performed by the Dresdner Bläserphilharmonie in Dresden, Germany in 2023.
Rock Bottom won First Place in WASBE Competition
21 July 2022
Rock Bottom for Wind Ensemble has won First Place in the 3rd Annual World Association for Symphony Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Composition Competition. It was performed at the WASBE Convention in Prague, Czech Republic on July 21, 2022.
Pieces for brass band now also available through BrookWright Music
9 May 2022
Jenkins's music for brass band (Boreas: The North Wind, Dreams of America, Kolo, and We Seven) is now available in partnership with BrookWright Music, in addition to being available directly from Jenkins via Square. Click here for more information. Looking forward to working with BrookWright Music!
2021
Rock Bottom named finalist in WASBE Competition
16 December 2021
Rock Bottom for Wind Ensemble has been named a finalist in the 3rd Annual World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Composition Competition. The three finalist pieces will be performed at the WASBE Convention in Prague, Czech Republic on July 21, 2022.
We Seven now published through Murphy Music Press
9 December 2021
We Seven for Wind Ensemble is has been picked up for publication through Murphy Music Press, LLC. Click here for more information. The Brass Band version will still be available directly from Jenkins via Square. Looking forward to working with Murphy Music Press!
2022 International Trombone Festival
28 November 2021
Dr. Bruce Faske was selected for the Performing Artist Showcase Recital at the 2022 International Trombone Festival at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR. His submission included a forthcoming work by Jenkins for trombone and piano written in memory of Dr. Faske's father. The conference will take place July 13-16, 2022. Check back here for more details.
Virtual Coaching and Discussion at SUNY New Paltz
11 November 2021
Jenkins coached and talked with the members of the SUNY New Paltz Symphonic Band as they rehearsed Kolo for their concert later this month.
GMM Band Composition and Arranging Finalists
26 October 2021
Rock Bottom and Solar Flare have both been named finalists in the 2021 1st Annual Grand Mesa Publications Band Composition and Arranging Contest. Winners are expected to be announced in January 2022, so check back here for more details.
24th IGEB International Conference
21 September 2021
Jenkins's research paper titled "'Whatever you do, fund the band': George W. Landers and the Iowa Band Law has been selected for inclusion on the Internationale Gesellschaft zur Erforschung & Förderung der Blasmusik's 24th International Conference to take place July 13-18, 2022 at the Instituto di alta formazione musicale “Conservatorio Claudio Monteverdi” in Bolzano, Italy.
The American Prize Finalist
28 May 2021
These Are Enough has just been named a finalist in the Composition-Choral Music (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Winners are expected to be announced next month, so check back here for more details.
The American Prize Finalist
7 May 2021
Rock Bottom has just been named a finalist in the Composition-Band/Wind Ensemble (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Winners are expected to be announced next month, so check back here for more details.
The American Prize Semi-Finalist
5 March 2021
Rock Bottom has just been named a semi-finalist in the Composition-Band/Wind Ensemble (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Finalists are expected to be announced next month, so check back here for more details.
The American Prize Semi-Finalist
5 February 2021
These Are Enough has just been named a semi-finalist in the Composition-Choral Music (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Finalists are expected to be announced next month, so check back here for more details.
CD Release
1 January 2021
Jenkins's piece Of Vigils and Storms is now available on Ablaze Records' newest CD, Orchestral Masters Vol. 7. The piece was recorded in the summer of 2019 by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Mikel Toms.
2020
Variable Band Arrangements
9 July 2020
Jenkins has now created three variable instrumentation versions of three of his pieces: Fountains, Solar Flare, and Kolo. These three pieces can now be performed with six, nine, and ten performers respectively.
24th IGEB International Conference
9 April 2020
Jenkins's research paper titled "'Whatever you do, fund the band': George W. Landers and the Iowa Band Law has been selected for inclusion on the Internationale Gesellschaft zur Erforschung & Förderung der Blasmusik's 24th International Conference to take place July 23-27, 2020 at the Conservatorio superior de música "Joaquín Rodrigo" in Valencia, Spain.
UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, this event has been postponed to July 2021.
2019
National Youth Brass Band of America Commission
18 December 2019
Jenkins has been commissioned by the National Youth Brass Band of America for a new piece to be premiered at their 2020 summer course.
UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, the premiere will occur during a future summer course.
Orchestral Masters Vol. 7
1 March 2019
Of Vigils and Storms has been selected for inclusion on the upcoming ABLAZE Records release: Orchestral Masters Vol. 7. The piece will be recorded this summer by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra. Check back later for information.
American Prize Semi-Finalist
20 January 2019
Unfinished List of the Things I Love has just been named a semi-finalist in the Composition-Vocal Chamber Music (Professional Division) Category of The American Prize. Finalists should be announced next month, so check back here for more details.
2019 SCI Region VI Conference
20 January 2019
Unfinished List of the Things I Love was accepted for performance in April at the 2019 SCI Region VI Conference at Texas A&M University-Commerce in Commerce, TX.
2018
One More Time Podcast
17 April 2018
Jenkins spoke about his research on the Iowa Band Law for an episode titled "Death and Taxes" on the One More Time Podcast produced by the University of Illinois Bands.
UMKC Distinguished Master's Thesis Award
9 January 2018
Jenkins's MM Musicology Thesis, “Whatever you do, fund the band’: The History and Continuing Implementation of the 1921 Iowa Band Law, was awarded the 2017 UMKC Distinguished Master's Thesis Award. Jenkins will be in Kansas City on February 8 to attend the Annual School of Graduate Studies Awards Celebration and Community of Scholars event.
2017
2018 USF New-Music Festival
20 November 2017
Unfinished List of the Things I Love was accepted for performance in April at the 2018 USF New-Music Festival and Symposium at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL.
Join the into air, into thin air Consortium
16 November 2017
Dr. Timothy Shade, Director of Bands at Wichita State University, is forming a consortium to commission a new work for wind ensemble and electronics from Jenkins. This new work will be titled into air, into thin air, and more information can be found here or by joining the Commission Consortium.
Two New Arrangements Available
9 November 2017
Boreas: The North Wind for Brass Band and Fountains for Concert Band are now available for purchase.
CMS Great Plains Conference
2 November 2017
Jenkins's paper titled "Whatever You Do, Fund the Band": George W. Landers and the 1921 Iowa Band Law was accepted for a presentation in March at the 37th College Music Society's Great Plains Regional Conference at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA.
Lexical Tones Podcast
15 October 2017
Jenkins did an interview for the Lexical Tones Podcast with Robert McClure produced by ADJ•ective New Music.
Arkansas State University
14 June 2017
Jenkins has accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. Go Red Wolves!
2017 SCI Region VII Conference
31 May 2017
We Seven was accepted for performance in October at the 2017 SCI Region VII Conference at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.
Graduation
13 May 2017
Today, Jenkins graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition, a Master of Music degree in Musicology, and a Graduate Certificate in College Teaching.
Unfinished List of the Things I Love
8 February 2017
Unfinished List of the Things I Love was accepted for performance in March at the 2017 Emerging Midwestern Collegiate Composers Conference at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City, MO.
American Prize Winner
23 January 2017
We Seven has been selected as the winner of the 2016 Composition-Band/Wind Ensemble (Student Division) Category of The American Prize.
2016
CMS Northeast Regional Conference
8 December 2016
Nach Raum und Zeit was accepted for performance in March at the 38th College Music Society's Northeast Regional Conference at SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, NY.
UPDATE: Due a scheduling conflict, Nach Raum und Zeit will no longer be performed on this conference.
American Prize Finalist
30 November 2016
We Seven has just been named a finalist in the Composition-Band/Wind Ensemble (Student Division) Category of The American Prize. Winners should be announced next month, so check back here for more details soon.
2017 SCI National Conference
29 October 2016
Boreas: The North Wind was accepted for performance in March at the 2017 Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.
WUTM 90.3 FM Radio Broadcast
18 September 2016
The University of Tennessee at Martin Wind Ensemble concert on 19 April 2016 is being broadcast on WUTM 90.3 "The Hawk". The concert included the premiere of Jenkins's piece Blue Marble: A Symphony for Wind Ensemble. Jenkins did a short interview during his time in Martin, and this will be included in the broadcast today at 2:00pm CDT.
American Prize Semi-Finalist
14 September 2016
We Seven has just been named a semi-finalist in the Composition-Band/Wind Ensemble (Student Division) Category of The American Prize. Finalists should be announced next month, so check back here for more details soon.
Composers Circle Feature
9 August 2016
Blue Marble: A Symphony for Wind Ensemble is the daily featured composition on Composers Circle today, August 9.
Nach Raum und Zeit
18 June 2016
Jenkins's art song cycle, Nach Raum und Zeit, has been selected by Ensemble For These Times as part of their 2016 Call for Scores for performance during their 2017-2018 season. Check back here for more information.
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
11 June 2016
Jenkins has been commissioned by the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra for a new piece to be performed on April 29 & 30, 2017.
Graduate Research Grant
9 March 2016
Jenkins has received a grant from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Graduate Studies Research Grant Program. His proposed project is entitled Bridging the Gap: Composing for Middle School, High School, and Collegiate Bands.
Wind & Rhythm Podcast
6 March 2016
The Fountain City Brass Band's performance at the 2015 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL last December is featured on the Wind & Rhythm Podcast (Episode 373). Jenkins's work We Seven is among the pieces featured in this podcast. Enjoy!
RED NOTE Composition Competition
15 January 2016
We Seven was given an honorable mention in the 2016 RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Competition.
CMS Northeast Regional Conference
2 January 2016
We Seven was accepted for performance in March at the 37th College Music Society's Northeast Regional Conference at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA.
UPDATE: Due a scheduling conflict, We Seven will no longer be performed on this conference.
2015
CMS South-Central Regional Conference
24 December 2015
Boreas: The North Wind was accepted for performance in March at the 31st College Music Society's South-Central Regional Conference at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX.
Composers Circle Feature
30 November 2015
We Seven has been included in Composers Circle's New Music for Wind Ensemble mixtape.
Missouri State University Composition Festival
19 November 2015
We Seven was selected for performance in March at the 2016 Missouri State University Composition Festival in Springfield, MO.
Missouri MTNA Commissioned Composer
5 November 2015
Jenkins has received the Missouri MTNA Commissioned Composer Award for 2016. His new piece will be premiered at the Missouri MTNA Conference in November of 2016.
2016 SCI Region III Conference
27 October 2015
We Seven was accepted for performance by the Marshall University Wind Symphony in February at the 2016 Society of Composers, Inc. Region III Conference at Marshall University in Huntington, WV.
UPDATE: Due a scheduling conflict, We Seven will no longer be performed on this conference.
We Seven at The Midwest Clinic
27 September 2015
We Seven will be played at this year's Midwest Clinic by the award-winning Fountain City Brass Band at 2:30pm on 16 December 2015.
The Wind Ensemble Music of James Mobberley
28 August 2015
Jenkins's two-part podcast on the wind ensemble music of Dr. James Mobberley is now available. This is an introductory survey of the wind ensemble music of James Mobberley. The podcasts contain interviews with the composer himself, as well as conductors Steven Davis, Gary Hill, and Joseph Parisi.
2015 SCI National Conference
3 July 2015
We Seven was accepted for performance by the University of Florida Symphonic Band in November at the 2015 Society of Composers, Inc. 50th Anniversary National Conference at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.
Good Luck Schurz High School String Orchestra!
24 April 2015
Tomorrow, the Carl Schurz High School String Orchestra will be playing Jenkins's piece Fountains as part of the CPS District Festival. Best of luck to all the performers and their conductor, Hanna Mathey!
KKFI 90.1 FM Radio Interview
10 April 2015
Jenkins will be on KKFI 90.1 FM Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 1:00pm discussing the upcoming premiere of his piece Kolo by the Mid America Freedom Band.
Finalist, 2015 Morton Gould Awards
27 March 2015
Jenkins's piece We Seven was named a finalist for the 2015 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards.
Preparing Future Faculty Fellow
5 March 2015
Jenkins has been announced as a recipient of a Preparing Future Faculty Fellowship from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Panel Discussion
16 February 2015
At the 2015 SCI Region VI Conference at Henderson State University on March 6, Jenkins will be on a panel discussing "Composing and Performing Band and Vocal Literature for K-12 and College-Level Ensembles." Additionally, his piece We Seven will be performed at the same conference by the Henderson State University Wind Ensemble on March 8.
UPDATE: Due to weather conditions, the panel discussion was cancelled so that all scheduled performances could still take place.
Sen. John Glenn and We Seven
10 January 2015
Last August, Jenkins sent two scores and a recording of We Seven off to Sen. John Glenn, the last surviving member of the "Mercury Seven." Today, he received one of those copies back complete with Glenn's signature. It reads "To Derek - with best regards - John Glenn."
2014
CMS Southern Regional Conference
20 December 2014
Nach Raum und Zeit was accepted for performance in February at the 36th College Music Society's Southern Regional Conference at Mississippi University of Women in Columbus, MS.
CMS International Conference
2 December 2014
Jenkins was selected to present a paper at the College Music Society's International Conference in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland in July 2015. His paper is entitled "Music for the People: Brass Ensembles and Nationalism" and focuses on ensembles from Finland, Sweden, the UK, and the US. More information to come.
UPDATE: Due a scheduling conflict, Jenkins will no longer be participating in this conference.
2015 SCI Region VI Conference
21 November 2014
We Seven was accepted for performance by the Henderson State University Wind Ensemble in March at the 2015 Society of Composers, Inc. Region VI Conference at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR.
Fountains finished
6 November 2014
Jenkins's new piece, Fountains for string orchestra (Grade 1) is now complete. Check it out here. Fountains will receive its premiere on 19 December 2014 at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago by the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. In the near future, Jenkins plans on creating a full orchestra version and a concert band version.
New Purchase Features
22 October 2014
Purchasing options through Square Marketplace have just been added to Boreas: The North Wind, Eosphorus: The Morning Star, We Seven, orbital eccentricity, and Nach Raum und Zeit. There is a purchase button located at the bottom of each page. Additionally, there is a link under the Purchase tab above to view all options at the same time.
Composers Circle Feature
22 September 2014
We Seven is the daily featured composition on Composers Circle today, September 22.
KCMetropolis
20 August 2014
The UMKC Wind Ensemble's May 7th concert made the KCMetropolis's 2013-2014 Editor's Picks list, which included the premiere of Jenkins's wind ensemble piece, We Seven.
Composers Circle Feature
1 August 2014
Eosphorus: The Morning Star has been included in Composers Circle's August mixtape.
NewBandMusic.org
6 July 2014
We Seven has been added to NewBandMusic.org.
Composers Circle Feature
21 June 2014
Eosphorus: The Morning Star is the daily featured composition on Composers Circle today, June 21.
Mid America Freedom Band
14 May 2014
Jenkins's proposal for a new piece has been selected by the Mid America Freedom Band for performance on their April 26, 2015 Just Dance concert.
New Commission
23 April 2014
Jenkins has been commissioned for a new wind ensemble work by John Oelrich and the University of Tennessee at Martin Wind Ensemble to be performed in April 2016. More details to come.
Boreas: The North Wind
5 March 2014
Boreas: The North Wind won the 2013 Gerald Kemner Prize for Wind Ensemble. The piece will be played next year by the UMKC Wind Symphony.
33rd CMS Great Plains Conference
14 February 2014
Nach Raum und Zeit was accepted for performance in March at the 33rd College Music Society's Great Plains Conference at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO.
2013
2014 SCI Region V Conference
30 December 2013
Eosphorus: The Morning Star was accepted for performance by the Western Michigan University Wind Symphony in March at the 2014 Society of Composers, Inc. Region V Conference at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.
North American Saxophone Alliance Conference
2 December 2013
The UMKC Saxophone Ensemble under the direction of Zach Shemon just found out that they have been selected to perform at the 2014 NASA Conference. Their program will include Jenkins's new piece orbital eccentricity.
United Kingdom
2 December 2013
Jenkins will be in Manchester, England for two and a half weeks in January to work with composer Peter Graham at the University of Salford and attend the Royal Northern College of Music's Festival of Brass.
Nach Raum und Zeit
14 October 2013
Nach Raum und Zeit receives Second Place in the Rebecca Sherburn Vocal Composition Competition.
2025
Join the Imagine Without Bound Consortium
1 October 2025
Dr. Jennifer Oliverio, Principal Cornet of the Fountain City Bass Band and Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Missouri Western State University, is forming a consortium to commission Jenkins for a new work for narrator, flugelhorn, and piano. This new piece will be titled Imagine Without Bound.
Festival of New American Music
6 September 2025
Gazing Earthward was named an Honorable Mention for the 3rd Annual Festival of New American Music Call for Scores. The festival is hosted by Sacramento State University.
Central Washington University New Music Festival
20 June 2025
Remnants was selected for performance at the 2025 Central Washington University New Music Festival. The festival will take place 10-12 October 2025 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.
Brass Ensemble Version of Dreams of America Mvt. 4
20 June 2025
Jenkins has arranged the fourth movement of Dreams of America for brass and percussion ensemble to be used as a stand alone fanfare. More information can be found here: Dreams of America.
VoyageSTL Feature
28 April 2025
Last fall, Jenkins was interviewed by VoyageSTL, an online magazine that features artists, small businesses, and creatives in and around St. Louis. The interview looks at Jenkins's journey from initial dreams of being a rocket designer to become a collegiate professor.