Kyle Skinner (they/them), b. 2006, is a composer, percussionist, poet, and teacher based in and around Dallas, TX. An artist of interdisciplinary nature, their music sits in the intersection between intense personal expression and its universality. Looking to combine a variety of influences (amongst those jazz, the standard classical canon, contemporary timbral exploration, and poetry), Kyle strives to examine the systems that we live under in a liberative mindset, utilizing traditional artistic structures in new, desconstructive, and spiritually freeing ways. Recent compositions have explored themes of toxic masculinity, White Christian Nationalism, creative self-expression, and grief. Recent literary pursuits include a chapbook published by Bottlecap Press, a libretto, and articles on theology, contemporary Christianity, and music.

Currently in pursuit of a B.M. in Music Composition at Southern Methodist University, their studies of composition and theory have been conducted under Lane Harder, Rob Frank, and most recently Xi Wang. Recent involvements include a selection to the Composer's Workshop at the 2024 International Trombone Festival, selection as a finalist for the 2026-2027 Irving Symphony Orchestra Composer-in-Residence program, and studies at the European American Musical Alliance (EAMA) in Paris, France under Phillip Lasser (counterpoint, analysis), Benjamin C.S. Boyle (counterpoint, analysis), Abbie Betinis (composition), Kyle Blaha (counterpoint), Ning Zhang (musicianship) and Mark Shapiro (keyboard harmony, musicianship). Studies in percussion have been conducted under the likes of Jon Lee (solo percussion), Drew Lang (solo and orchestral percussion), John Bryant (drumset), and most extensively Ed Smith (jazz vibraphone). 

Kyle, when not in a dorm, lives with their amazing mother and father, their sweet little sister, and when he's home their incredible older brother. They like Mary Oliver, E.E. Cummings, the rivers in Oregon, coffee, and their old dog, Gemini.