Bio
Based in Riverside, California, Tim Mikan is a veritable force of visual design and instruction. He is actively engaged in the arts, serving as an educator and clinician in numerous formats throughout the United States.
A life-long fan of music, Tim naturally joined band in middle school, studying saxophone. He was first exposed to jazz music during that time, and quickly became enamored by the sound of it and began listening to it almost exclusively. After transitioning to St. Augustine High School (1993-1996), Tim began taking private lessons and participating in concert band, jazz band and sang in Madrigal, the school's top vocal ensemble. Upon Completing high school, Tim studied music at Florida Community College at Jacksonville and Florida State University (1996-2000).
Tim has performed in numerous venues across the southeast as well as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and received an invitation to perform at the International Association of Jazz Educators Annual Convention in New York. His selection was made from a national pool of applicants to perform with the IAJE Community College All-star Big Band.
While in college, Tim had his first chance to teach, by instructing private saxophone lessons. During the summers, he also began teaching for drum majors with the Heart of Dixie Half-Time Camps (1996-1997). Shortly after, he was introduced to his first color guard experience, by performing with Ancient City Ensemble (ACE - 2000-2001), an Independent A color guard based out of St. Augustine, Florida. ACE was directed by Tim’s high school choir teacher, Jeff Dodd, who became Tim’s first major influence in not only music and color guard, but education as well. After performing with ACE, Tim joined Jeff at St. Augustine High School to teach the color guard there known as “Coast One Winterguard” (2001-2002). Even though Tim was captivated by music, it was clear his interest began shifting toward visual performance. He quickly found a passion in the marching arts and also began writing drill for marching bands.
While at Coast One, Tim met Karl Lowe, who would ultimately became his friend, co-worker and mentor. After spending two years with Ace and Coast One, Tim moved to Riverside, California and performed with Fantasia Winter Guard (2003-2004). He subsequently made the move to the Fantasia staff as an equipment technician (2005-2008), while also serving as the director of Palm Desert Middle School (2005-2008) and Palm Desert High School Color Guards (2004-2008).
In 2008, needing a change of scenery, Tim moved to Long Beach, California and also began working for Mission Viejo High School (2008-present) and Los Alamitos High School (2008-2014) as a visual designer and choreographer. The following year he returned to Riverside City College, this time as caption head, to design the fall color guard and Fantasia (2010-present). Tim has also spent time as a choreographer with the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps (2011-2012).
Tim currently works as a consultant and drill writer for various programs around the country and teaches at Palm Desert Charter Middle School and RCC. Tim was an administrator for Marching Auxiliaries as a clinic director, organizing dance and auxiliary camps at universities throughout the summer from 2005-2015. He has been a clinician for the Texas Color Guard Circuit, West Coast Winter Guard, and WGI’s Spinfest! On Tour. Tim served as a member of the Winter Guard International Board of Directors from 2016-2021. He is a co-founder and the current Director of Membership for the winter guard circuit, WestCoast Winter Guard.