TBI Judging Panel
Colin McAllister is an active teacher, clinician, percussion arranger, and freelance jazz artist living in Ruidoso, NM. He has earned his master’s degree in Percussion and Jazz Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder under Dr. Douglas William Walter and a dual bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University in Music Education and Percussion Performance under Dr. Fred Bugbee. Mr. McAllister performed with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 1999 and 2000, and with the World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard percussion section in 2004.
Mr. McAllister’s professional playing experience includes the Boulder Philharmonic, Ft Collins Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Central City Opera, Colorado Light Opera, Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Nywot Symphony Orchestra. He has also shared the stage with jazz musicians such as Brad Leali, Brad Goode, Andre Heyward, John Gunther, Stephen Jones, Mack Goldsburry, Dr. Doug Walter, Dr. Josh Quinlan, and Dr. Ben Markley. His professional teaching experience includes the front ensemble and drumline at New Mexico State University from 2005-2006 and 2019-2021. He taught the front ensemble for Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble from 2008-2009. He served as Adjunct Percussion Professor of drum set for the Continuing Education Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 2009-2010. He also served as adjunct percussion professor at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2017-2023. Mr. McAllister was the Director of Percussion Studies at Del Valle High School in El Paso, TX, from 2010-2016 where they received many awards and accolades. He was also the Director of Bands at Indian Ridge Middle School in El Paso, TX. His jazz ensembles have performed on the national stage at the Chicago Midwest Clinic and at the Jazz Educators Network.
Mr. McAllister is currently the Director of Bands and Choirs at Ruidoso High School and Ruidoso Middle School. Colin McAllister is a very active performer in the El Paso/Las Cruces jazz scene on vibraphone/drum set and leads and plays in several jazz ensembles. He has an educational endorsement with Vic Firth and endorses Vic Firth Products.
Mr. McAllister’s professional playing experience includes the Boulder Philharmonic, Ft Collins Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Central City Opera, Colorado Light Opera, Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Nywot Symphony Orchestra. He has also shared the stage with jazz musicians such as Brad Leali, Brad Goode, Andre Heyward, John Gunther, Stephen Jones, Mack Goldsburry, Dr. Doug Walter, Dr. Josh Quinlan, and Dr. Ben Markley. His professional teaching experience includes the front ensemble and drumline at New Mexico State University from 2005-2006 and 2019-2021. He taught the front ensemble for Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble from 2008-2009. He served as Adjunct Percussion Professor of drum set for the Continuing Education Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 2009-2010. He also served as adjunct percussion professor at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2017-2023. Mr. McAllister was the Director of Percussion Studies at Del Valle High School in El Paso, TX, from 2010-2016 where they received many awards and accolades. He was also the Director of Bands at Indian Ridge Middle School in El Paso, TX. His jazz ensembles have performed on the national stage at the Chicago Midwest Clinic and at the Jazz Educators Network.
Mr. McAllister is currently the Director of Bands and Choirs at Ruidoso High School and Ruidoso Middle School. Colin McAllister is a very active performer in the El Paso/Las Cruces jazz scene on vibraphone/drum set and leads and plays in several jazz ensembles. He has an educational endorsement with Vic Firth and endorses Vic Firth Products.