Chair of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Music beginning Fall 2026, Brian Kaufman develops artistic and educational initiatives that use music to spark creativity, strengthen civic participation, and build community. His work has been presented on five continents at venues including Oxford University, the Ford Foundation, Yale University, and the United Nations.
At UMBC, Kaufman oversees the music education program, directs the wind ensemble, teaches conducting, serves as the tuba/euphonium instructor, and works as a publicly engaged scholar. He currently co-chairs the International Society for Music Education’s (ISME) Music Education for Social Change Special Interest Group, holds the position of Maryland State Chair for the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), and is a member of the College Music Society’s (CMS) Music Education Council.
Kaufman remains active as a performer while designing innovative music projects that help students develop their creative voices, build meaningful connections, and confront important issues in their communities. Through projects and performances, he has shared the stage with a wide range of artists—from State of Maryland Griot Janice Curtis Greene to genre-bending composer Daniel Bernard Roumain—and partnered with institutions, including Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids, The National Aquarium, and the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development.
Seeking to reimagine music education as a space for civic growth and student agency, he spearheaded the development of the UMBC Create Music Festival, a groundbreaking model for music education presented in partnership with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Equity Committee. Rather than competing as in traditional adjudicated formats, participating ensembles collaboratively compose and perform original works. By positioning students as creators, the festival helps young musicians contribute their own ideas, listen to one another, and navigate different perspectives while developing leadership and ownership of their artistic work.
Kaufman’s most recent album, Brass for Uncommon Times (Naxos), features 40 top brass and percussion musicians in seven contemporary works under his baton. Each piece directly responds to a defining challenge of our time, including racial injustice, political division, and global health crises. Beyond the album release, the project includes community listening events designed to spark reflection and dialogue.
As a scholar, he is the co-editor, with Larry Scripp, of Music Learning as Youth Development (Routledge). The volume brings together leading international scholars and practitioners to examine how music can best contribute to young people’s creative, social, and personal development.
A recipient of the 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Creative Activity—the highest honor recognizing creative achievement across the University System of Maryland—Kaufman was one of only 39 recipients selected from more than 42,000 faculty and staff.
Contact
Associate Professor
Music Education
Tuba/Euphonium,
Wind Ensemble
Office: 410-455-2422
Room: PAHB 257
brian.kaufman@umbc.edu
Education
B.M. in Tuba Performance and Music Education, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
M.M. in Tuba Performance, University of Maryland – College Park
M.M. in Conducting, New England Conservatory
Teaching
Music Education
Conducting
Director of Wind Ensemble
Tuba and Euphonium
Research Interest
Music Education
Social Change through Music
Social Justice and Civic Engagement
Music Learning as Youth Development
Conducting Pedagogy
Tuba Performance