Biography and CV

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Dr. Eric Angeroth Franks, known by most as Flint, is Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Jazz Ensembles/Trumpet at Simpson College where he conducts the Simpson College Jazz Ensemble, teaches undergraduate trumpet lessons, and instructs various course offerings in the Department of Music. As the Director of Jazz at Simpson, Flint organizes the annual Simpson College Jazz Festival and Simpson College Jazz Combo Camp, working with over 500 high school jazz performers during these two events. Before Simpson, Flint was the director of Jazz Ensembles/ High Brass Instructor at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR where he led the jazz program, taught high brass lessons and ensembles, and during his first year, served as the Director of Athletic Bands.  

 

As a performer, Flint has performed globally with varying ensembles in countries including Brazil, China, Austria and Serbia, in addition to domestic tours. Highlights involve performances at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, the University of Purdue-Fort Wayne, the Collegiate Band Directors Association National Conference, and one semi and two quarter final appearances at the National Trumpet Competition in the Graduate Solo Division and with the UNCG trumpet ensemble, respectively. As an orchestral player, Flint has worked with the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Flint performs in numerous other groups ranging in style and size. These groups have included the the Des Moines Big Band, the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, the Brass Band of Louisiana, The Colorado Brass, the SAU Faculty Brass Quintet, Agogé Brass Quintet, the Triad Stage's Pit Orchestra, and the brass group Hot Horns.

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Flint has worked with multiple jazz, concert and marching ensembles and organizations across the United States as both a clinician, adjudicator and instructor. Past education roles include the 5th-12th Grade Band Director in the Edgewood-Colesburg CSD in Edgewood, Iowa, assistant brass caption head at the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018, and the visual caption head with River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps in 2021. Flint is a highly sought after as a judge in marching, jazz, and solo contests across the midwest.

 

In academia, Flint stays active as presenter and researcher.  He has given masterclasses and presentations at numerous universities, colleges, high schools and multiple International Trumpet Guild Conferences on topics such as music auditions, career development, repertoire selection, and Serbian trumpet music. In addition, he has  contributed articles to the ITG Journal and to other music publication websites. 

 

Originally from the Des Moines area, Flint is a graduate of Luther College (BA '15), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MM '19), and Florida State University (DM '23), majoring in music with a minor in education, a master's in trumpet performance, and a doctorate in brass performance, respectively. His teachers include Dr. Richard Tirk, Dr. Brett Dodson, Dr. John T. Cord, Mr. Mark Clodfelter, and Dr. Christopher Moore.  Flint's doctoral treatise, titled "The Serbian Trumpet Tradition: The History, Repertoire, and Pedagogy of Classical Trumpet in Serbia" was the culmination a two-month research project to Serbia during the winter of 2022.