Brooks has toured internationally as a bluegrass musician and serves as director of Madison Singers at the Richmond Area Arts Council, choir director at Lexington Traditional Magnet School, and artistic director of the Licking Valley Singers in Cynthiana. He holds a Master of Music in choral conducting as well as a Bachelor of Music from Eastern Kentucky University.
As a student, Brooks performed with the EKU Bluegrass Ensemble since its inception in 2016 up through last year. In that time, he saw the group grow from an idea into a fully-fledged, touring band.
“I've been lucky enough to see that happen at Eastern, and I think it can happen here too,” he says.
One of Brooks’ long-term goals is for Union’s ensemble to perform in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) collegiate showcase. He says this was a great experience for him as a student, and he wants to give students at Union that opportunity, too.
Bringing his love of music back home means a lot to Brooks, as he got started by playing music in church and with friends right here in Barbourville. His local mentors include Junior McKeehan, Byron Hammons, and Union College choral director, Dr. Virginia Gay Gandy.
