Austin Franklin is currently a student at Lamar University. He is working towards his bachelor’s degree in music composition under Dr. Nick Rissman. While composition is his main focus, Austin actively performs and is involved with the Lamar drumline, percussion ensemble, concert/symphonic band, Lamar Civic Orchestra, and Jazz band. With the Lamar drumline, he has won competitions at PASIC. Austin is also an educator; instructing drumlines, teaching private lessons, and tutoring theory in the Beaumont area. He arranges for marching bands, drumlines, jazz ensembles, and various other groups. His compositional uniqueness derives from several styles including romantic, 20th century and jazz. Composers such as Berg, Hindemith, Chopin, Debussy, and Bill Evans have contributed to his writing. Austin has composed several works including pieces for solo and ensemble percussion, piano, jazz quartets, and woodwind quintets. Austin continues to write and further his education thanks to his family, friends, and professors.