Meet The Big Band Staff

Big Band

Chris Parks, Director

Mr. Parks is the Director of the Boston University Bands, which provides quality music opportunities for members of the Boston University community. Mr. Parks' has also been Director of Athletic Bands since 2001. In addition to the Athletic Bands, Mr. Parks conducts the Boston University Concert Band.

Mr. Parks grew up in El Paso, Texas, where he attended the University of Texas at El Paso. After receiving his Bachelors of Music Education in El Paso, he moved to Boston to pursue his Masters in Trumpet Performance, which he completed in 1995. Upon graduating, Chris spent 5 years touring nationally and internationally with numerous Broadway musicals, including The King & I and The Sound of Music. He has toured with Marie Osmond and John Davidson and has performed with Julio Iglesias, Bobby Shew and Dizzy Gillespie.

Mr. Parks has been a member of the faculty/staff of the Tanglewood Institute, the Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps and the Drum Major Academy.
Justin Mitnik, Graduate Assistant

Justin M. Mitnik recently finished his 7th tour as the featured trombonist in the Tony and Emmy Award winning Broadway musical: BLAST and BLAST II: MIX! He has performed as a soloist in over 19 cities in Japan, London England, and coast-to-coast in America. Justin also has performed principally with the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, and Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. He is also active performing in various Brass bands, quintets, and ensembles throughout the country.

Justin brings to BU his vast knowledge of performing, but also his extensive experience as an educator. He received his B.M. from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a K-12 MA Certification in teaching. He has instructed drum corps since 2000. He has taught the Spartans Drum Corps and led them to 3 world championships along with the Connecticut Hurricanes Senior Drum and Bugle Corps. Justin has also instructed and held clinics with many local marching bands in New England. He has been the Assistant Director of the UMass Lowell Mary-Jo Leahey Summer Band Camp and also teaches many private students.