BIOGRAPHY
Mike Korson is currently a music arranger, performer and professor based out of Dallas, Texas. He is serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Industry Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has held other academic positions at Texas Christian University as well as East Texas A&M University. Prior to his appointment at UTA, he taught saxophone in the McKinney Independent School District for ten years.
Mike holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Saxophone Performance with a related field in Music Business from the University of North Texas. During his time at UNT, Dr. Korson served as a Teaching Fellow for the saxophone studio of Dr. Eric Nestler and a Teaching Assistant for the Music Business program under Professor Jessica Muñiz-Collado. Additionally, he completed his Master’s Degree in Saxophone performance at Texas Christian University where he was the lead alto saxophonist in the TCU Jazz Ensemble, soprano saxophonist in the graduate saxophone quartet, and performed with the TCU Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony.
Dr. Korson made his orchestral debut in 2010 with the TCU Symphony Orchestra performing Alexandre Glazunov’s Concerto for Saxophone as the winner of their annual concerto competition. He appeared with the orchestra again in 2014, performing Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Saxophone. As a freelance musician, he frequently performs as a jazz and classical saxophonist for musical groups such as the Dallas Winds, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the Premier Lone Star Wind Orchestra. He has had the opportunity to perform at venues in Argentina, The Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba, New York, and many others.
As a music entrepreneur, he founded MK Music Designs in 2019 to kick off his music composing/arranging business. Since the company’s conception, MK Music Designs has worked with numerous high school marching bands across the state of Texas in creating custom arrangements that fit each program’s individual needs. The company believes in developing great relationships with each program to enhance their Fall marching band shows from a MUSIC and a DESIGN perspective. For more information about MK Music Designs and for a list of shows, please visit the MK Music Designs page.
Dr. Korson is also an active music arranger for small ensembles, wind bands, and choirs across the North Texas Region. Marching bands who have performed his arrangements have earned consistent superior ratings at UIL Region contests and have appeared in the finals of UIL Area competitions.