CMU Names New Head for Department of Music

Colorado Mesa University just announced its selection for the Department Head of the Department of Music.

Congratulation to Dr. Darin Kamstra. He will assume the position of department head at CMU's Department of Music.

I've been a huge fan of the CMU department of music going back to the 1980s. Back then it was still Mesa College. Later, it became Mesa State College, and then ultimately Colorado Mesa University.

Looking back over the decades, I can remember several department heads. Off the top of my head, I can recall Maebeth Guyton, Dr. Monte Atkinson, and Dr. Calvin Hofer. Blackie Blackburn was a little before my time. The current department head, Dr. Hofer, will remain on staff as an instructor at CMU, but will vacate the position as chair of the department.

I've had the pleasure of performing with Dr. Kamstra countless times over the years. He started his career with CMU as a music professor back in 2004. He's a top-notch percussionist in anybody's book. The last chance I had to perform with Dr. Kamstra was at the Grand Junction Symphony Gala last November. He sat in with the Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra for the second half of the evening.

Congratulations, Dr. Kamstra. This warrants a mountain bike ride (I frequently run into him on the various trails around Colorado). Your past performance with the CMU music department clearly indicates you'll be a magnificent department head. Again, congratulations.