Kevin a musician all his life :
Beginning with trumpet in the 3rd grade an instrumentalist throughout public school, he was “recruited” by his dad to take over his TV show because of health reasons. Since it was all live back then, they could not just throw in a taped show. A TV music awareness show “Town talk” that covered interviews and information about music from all around the area. Kevin ended up hosting it for two years starting at at age 17 .
His formal training started by attending Murray State University (Murray, KY) after receiving a two year music scholarship including an in depth study in piano, brass instruments, music theory and composition. After 3 years, he transferred to and received a music performance degree (B.M. Performance., U. of Colorado). After a few years performing professionally in a brass quintet, he auditioned for the Air Force Band. 375 applicants tried out and and he was only 1 of 3 that were selected. Kevin was accepted into the Air Force Band with “breakout” groups Jazz Band (trombone), Brass Quintet (Tuba) and Rock Band (harmonica). Kevin put in three years full time “on the road” touring 11 mid-west and eastern states states most times playing two gigs a day and sometimes 1 at night in addition.
After the Air Force, Kevin attended musical instrument repair school and settled down in Vancouver WA. This resulted in the added experience to also learn saxophone, clarinet and flute. After a few years, he was persuaded by many local music teachers to go back to college and get his Masters in Music teaching degree from Lewis and Clark College . Kevin started teaching music and visual art at High School, Middle School and Elementary schools in Portland.There, he organized hundreds of music and fine art events for the community.
At the same time he joined the 234th Army National Guard Band where he toured for 10 years. Later he received his his Masters in Administration from WSU in Vancouver and later a Performance Certificate in Bass from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Within the 10 years of performing and touring with the Army Band, Kevin was lucky enough to have the opportunity to cover the Pacific Region many times on tour. This included areas out of Oregon including remote sites such as Wake Island, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, Australia and Panama. Kevin was also given the position of NCO Educational Liaison between schools and communities. This position connected diverse distant communities with the joy of music.
Kevin and his then co-teacher ( keyboard and vocals) met several years ago when Kevin first switched to playing bass guitar. Starting an R&B group, they hit it off learning from each other and started the classes “Jam Session” first at Clark College then expanded to Mt. Hood College and continued for 5 years.
Now also a commissioner with the Clark County Arts Commission, a member of Greater Vancouver Chamber and Vancouver Downtown Association, he is currently involved in bringing music and the arts into the business communities. Jam Session™ organization helps create even more exposure to the public and exposure to the artists with little or no cost the the hosting business owner.
These classes are now taken to a new level. Offering them privately to the community as a not for profit structure without any restrictions on content and offerings, he can use community connections to help widen performing and learning aspirations to artists.
Welcoming all levels of players and being able to be a resource for a variety of instruments, we help to spread the contagious gift of live music and networking musicians throughout the area. Kevin has been involved with even more community outreach. Free Music in the Park events, community and neighborhood fundraisers and local business support bring together surrounding downtown neighborhoods.
Now it’s your turn, please tell me something about yourself on the waiting list or info on yourself tab.