Lauren McKinley is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator currently based in Spokane, Washington.  Lauren earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Performance (percussion emphasis) at Eastern Washington University. While attending EWU, Lauren won the EWU Concerto Competition, received the Undergraduate Jazz Arranger award multiple years, received the Frances B. Huston Medallion for excellence in her graduating class, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors.  In 2014, Lauren competed as a semi-finalist in the Southern California International Marimba Competition and the Great Plains International Marimba Competition.  Lauren was recognized as honorable mention for the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra Composition Contest in 2016.

 

In 2018, Lauren graduated with a Master of Music in Jazz Studies, Composition Emphasis, from the University of North Texas.  While a student at UNT, Lauren worked as a teaching assistant for the jazz arranging courses and in the jazz library. She also had the opportunity to study with world-renowned composer Bruce Broughton through a collaborative workshop between the Music Composition and Film departments at UNT.  Lauren’s arrangements were performed by the One O’Clock Lab Band and the U-Tubes.

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Lauren enjoys writing music for all ages, and her compositions and arrangements have been heard throughout North America.  She currently plays jazz and performs regularly as a substitute percussionist in the Spokane Symphony.  Lauren and her partner, Ben, teach percussion lessons to students of all ages.