The Instrumental Music program at KCKCC strives to prepare students to become well rounded musicians. All students will improve as sight readers, as improvisers and musicians who are fundamentally sound. This is achieved by rehearsing and performing a variety of literature that is educationally relevant and historically significant.
Instrumental groups include the Jazz Band, several small ensembles and the Midwest Winds Concert Band. Each year KCKCC Instrumental groups perform on local concert series', at local nightclubs, in the college Performing Arts Center and for community service programs around the metropolitan area.
KCKCC instrumental groups have performed at the JVC/ NYC Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and at the 30th anniversary of the Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. Since 1999, KCKCC instrumental groups have received number 1 ratings at every festival they have performed at. Notable alumni include saxophonist Bobby Watson, Tim Bailey (bassist with Ariana Grande) Adam Strick (PIXAR films) Chris Hazelton and Nick Rowland.
Faculty
Our esteemed Instrumental Music Faculty hail from six different countries, have collectively recorded over 70 compact discs, received four Grammy nominations, toured the world and are considered Kansas City's top call musicians.
Jim Mair - Director of Instrumental Music, Jazz Studies and Woodwinds
James Albright - Bass
Justin Binek, Ph.D. - Piano, Jazz Piano
Ray Demarchi - Drum Set/Percussion
Daniel Dissmore - Trumpet
Rod Fleeman - Guitar
Jason Goudeau - Trombone
Spencer Huston - Piano
Brett Jackson - Woodwinds
Nahyun Kim, Ph.D. - Piano
Mike Ning - Jazz Piano Accompanist
Brian Scarborough - Brass
Bram Wijnands - Piano Technician