DR. MICHAEL WALKER
inspires students and audiences alike with his multimedia, cross-cultural collaborations and imaginative recontextualization of the concert experience. As Associate Professor of Horn at the University of New Mexico, and a founding member of the Amity Trio, he leverages skills in entrepreneurship, musicianship and pedagogy to champion musical experiences outside the traditional Western conservatory canon.
NEW MUSIC
Dr. Walker prioritizes the work of living composers, with a focus on those from underrepresented communities in the classical music world. He has commissioned and premiered a wide variety of new works both on his own and in his work with Amity Trio.
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Dr. Walker has commissioned over 15 chamber and solo works for horn and natural horn, including pieces by Teresa Careño, Alice Jones, Francisco Cortés-Álvarez, Tonia Ko, Lauren Bernofsky, Ryan Chase, and Dana Wilson.
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In his work with Amity Trio, Dr. Walker partnered with Mexican composer Nur Slim twice for bilingual children’s opera productions produced both onstage and virtually, Lucrecia y el canto de los Dudasaurios (2022) and the upcoming Oliverso (2024).
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Along with the Amity Trio, Mike released a debut trio album in 2022, “Between Us Now,” featuring commissioned music by composers who identify as women. A 2024 series of albums featuring music from New Mexican and Mexican composers, is now underway.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Planning and research are the engines behind Dr. Walker’s commissions and collaborations. In his roles with the Amity Trio and as Associate Chair of the UNM Music Department, Dr. Walker builds foundations that lend lasting strength to his projects and partnerships.
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Dr. Walker’s funding research has resulted in over twelve separate awards over the last three years to fuel projects with Amity Trio and others.
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Aside from funding, Dr. Walker oversees much of the day to day functioning of Amity Trio and its associated projects, including communications, PR and ongoing relationships with artistic partners.
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Dr. Walker is the current Associate Chair of UNM Music, where he uses his business and entrepreneurship skill to build engaging, enriching and meaningful programming for UNM students.
TEACHING & NATURAL HORN
Dr. Walker aims to provide students with a broad perspective and opportunities outside the traditional conservatory education, such as the natural horn program he started at UNM. He maintains a studio of approximately twelve students from across the country.
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Dr. Walker’s program allows students the use of four Seraphinoff replica natural horns from the early 19th century.
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Dr. Walker’s students have recently won paid positions and engagements with the Littleton Symphony (principal horn, 2022), Opera Southwest, Metropolitan Horn Authority and US Army Band. Recent undergraduate students have gone on to graduate work at UMass Amherst (with assistantship), Wichita State University and the University of Texas at Austin.
PEOPLE SAY
"His horn playing is so full of rich colors and drama, to say nothing of virtuosity."
- Dana Wilson
Composer
“Dr. Walker really does walk the talk! He is a monster musician, magical mentor, and takes care of business too! … and all that with a sparkle in his eye. I’m a big fan.“
- Jeff Nelsen
Hornist, Canadian Brass
Professor of Horn, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
“Mike is a consummate chamber musician -- down-to-earth, pragmatic, yet always open to new possibilities. His playing is both sensitive and powerful, summoning a deliciously wide range of tone colors and nuance through his instrument that breathes fresh life into every score he performs."
-Dr. Alice Jones
Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Career Services at the Juilliard School