McKinney, University of Colorado Boulder College of Music associate professor and director of bands, was nominated as producer, along with conductor Jerry Junkin, for their recording of “John Williams at the Movies” with Dallas Winds, a professional concert band based in Dallas, Texas.
The nomination is in the Best Classical Compendium category, which recognizes recordings with at least 51 percent newly recorded material, says McKinney, noting that the recording includes music by composer John Williams, much of which had never been recorded previously.
McKinney’s other recent recording credits include projects with the University of Michigan Symphony Band, University of Texas Wind Ensemble, University of North Texas Wind Symphony, Keystone Wind Ensemble and the Duquesne University Wind Symphony.
He conducts the CU Wind Symphony, guides the graduate wind-conducting program, and oversees the University of Colorado Boulder comprehensive band program. He previously taught at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.), Interlochen Arts Academy (Interlochen, Mich.), and Duquesne University Mary Pappert School of Music.
McKinney holds degrees from Duquesne University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, as well as a doctorate in musical arts (conducting) from the University of Michigan.
He has published articles in numerous conducting resources including five volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Band and, most recently, The Conductors Companion. He has also authored a chapter about Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon for the book, “Women of Influence in Contemporary Music.”
McKinney was named a finalist for the Thelma A. Robinson Award by the Conductors Guild; was nominated for a Louisiana State University Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award; and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
For more information, visit www.colorado.edu/music/2018/12/07/faculty-member-two-alumni-nominated-2019-grammy-awards.