Luke Sanders

Luke Sanders is Assistant Adjunct Professor of Guitar at the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to UNI, Luke taught guitar and various courses and ensembles within the jazz curriculum at Luther College in Decorah, IA and Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Luke earned his undergraduate degree in Instrumental Music Education at Coe College in 2017. Luke later would go on to lead the jazz program and direct the 9th grade band at Waterloo West High School. Following his time at Waterloo West, Luke earned his Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy at UNI under the tutelage of Bob Dunn, Chris Merz, and Dr. Mike Conrad.

An active performer, clinician, and composer/arranger, Luke has been a staple in the Eastern Iowa Music scene for the past decade. Luke has performed with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and the Cedar Rapids-based Orchestra Iowa. Luke has also been a featured guest artist with multiple professional concert bands around Iowa presenting the stateside premieres of Mario Parizek’s guitar concerto, Fingerpick meets Blasmusik.

While at UNI Luke’s student quintet, “Bad News,” earned a grant to record an album of all original music titled We Get That a Lot. Luke’s jazz performance experience has taken him around the Midwest in numerous acts as a bandleader and sideman. Luke has been on faculty for the KCCK Middle School Jazz Camp held at Kirkwood Community College since 2016. In addition to the KCCK camp, Luke has also served on staff at the Cedar Falls Summer Jazz camp and UNI’s own Amp Camp.

When Luke is not surrounded by guitars and gear he loves to spend time at his home in Waterloo with his fiancé, Casey, and their chihuahua, Kiki.