Luke Helker
Luke Helker is a percussionist, educator, and sound engineer living in Lawrence, Kansas. He recently obtained his Master’s degree in percussion performance and musicology at the University of Kansas having studied with Dr. Michael Compitello. He is currently pursuing his DMA in percussion performance under the tutelage of Sam Um.
Luke strives to learn and perform all facets of the percussive field. He has had the distinguished pleasure of performing with world-renowned percussionists including Andy Akiho, Eriko Daimo, Tony Miceli, She-e Wu, and So Percussion. Luke’s experience as an educator is expansive, having instructed high school marching ensembles, the Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps, and collaborated with non-profit programs to provide after school lessons and clinics to children. He has recently become the first instrumental instructor for the Bishop Seabury Academy, helping to establish the program alongside the school’s award- winning choral program.
Luke also values the power of music as a vehicle for activism and the creation of new works. He is the founder of Ears to the Earth, a new annual concert program that celebrates eco-driven music and actively commissions new works to be premiered around Earth Day. For the inaugural concert, Frank Nawrot and Daijana Wallace were commissioned to compose new works for percussion and percussion/cello.
Luke is proud and excited to be an Artifact artist and can’t wait to share the music he’s making with these beautiful sticks and mallets!