About Luke Helker

Luke Helker is a percussionist, educator, and sound engineer currently living in Lawrence, Kansas. He is currently pursuing his DMA in percussion performance under the tutelage of Dr. Sam Um. He has established Ears to the Earth, an annual concert program that both celebrates music about nature and commissions new works to emphasize current attitudes. For the inaugural concert, Frank Nawrot and Daijana Wallace were commissioned to create new works for percussion and percussion/cello. Jenni Brandon and Nicholas Tran were commissioned for the 2022 concert that took place on Earth Day.

James Alexander recently graduated with a DMA in cello performance at the University of Kansas with a cognate in orchestral conducting. His research and cello performances center around art music of Vietnam. He recognizes the value in all musical perspectives and seeks to bring the world together through music. He is a co-founder of Amorphous Ensemble, of which Luke is also a member.