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A passionate educator, Kris is a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s educational staff directing the Civic Jazz Band which features some of Detroit’s most promising youth. His private students have received scholarships to various music programs and colleges including Manhattan School of Music, Michigan State University, Interlochen Fine Arts Academy & Camp, and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. While pursuing his Master’s Degree at Michigan State, Kris served as a Graduate Assistant teaching Beginning Jazz Improvisation I & II, and conducting the MSU Jazz Octet III. Kris has also served as a Jazz Artist in Residence at Troy High School since 2009.

He is also the writer and co-creator of The Learning Express, a series of workshops that use Hip-Hop and Jazz to teach Elementary students about science, reading, and math. Since the fall of 2010, Kris has served as the Project Director for Pontiac GAINS, an Arts in Education Model Dissemination and Development grant awarded to the Pontiac School District by the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, Kris is responsible for integrating arts and academics for students in grades K – 6 and managing all administrative and fiscal responsibilities.

Click here to read his complete bio.

FULL RESUME

Degrees:

Graduate
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
MA Jazz Studies
2005 – 2008

Undergraduate
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
BA In Jazz Studies
2001 – 2005

High School
Southfield Lathrup High School
Fine Arts Academy
Southfield, MI
1997 – 2001

Experience:

Artist in Residence, Troy High School
- Fall 2009 – present
- Weekly Clinics w/ Jazz Band
- Arranger/composer
- Instructor of arranging and composition club

Artist in Residence, Berkley High School
- Fall 2009 – present
- Clinics w/ Jazz Band

Artistic Director, Progression Arts Inc
- Fall 2009 – present
- Co-Creator and writer of “The Learning Express”

Assistant Director of Civic Jazz Ensembles, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- September 2005 – August 2008
- Conductor of “Civic Jazz Band II”
- Weekly big band rehearsals with young jazz musicians in Michigan

Camp Director, ACES Summer Jazz Workshop, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- Summer 2007
- Weekly big band rehearsals and improvisation classes with young jazz musicians in Michigan

Graduate Assistant, Jazz Studies Area, Michigan State University
- September 2005 – May 2007
- Conductor of “MSU Jazz Octet III”
- Instructor of “Beginning Jazz Improvisation I & II”
- Substitute director for MSU Jazz Band I, MSU Jazz Band II, and Jazz Composition and Arranging

Jazz Mentor, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- Sep 2004 – May 2005
-  Trumpet instructor and clinician for “Civic Jazz Orchestra” and “Civic Jazz Band”

Jazz Instructor, Arts League of Michigan
- June 2004 – July 2005
-  Trumpet and improvisation instructor for summer jazz camp with MSU Professors of Jazz

Jazz Mentor, Arts League of Michigan
- Nov 2003 – April 2004
- Weekly workshops teaching fundamentals of jazz and trumpet to Detroit youth

Jazz Mentor, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- July 15 – Aug 9 2004
- Trumpet instructor for “Summer Institute” held at Wayne State University
- Performed in two jazz festivals with Civic Jazz Orchestra
- Conductor: Marcus Belgrave

Jazz Instructor, Flint School of Performing Arts
- June – July 2003
- Director of 6 weekly jazz combo/improvisation classes

Jazz and Trumpet Instructor, Eaton Rapids High School
- 2003 – 2007
- Clinics with jazz band
- Improvisation master classes
- Private instruction for jazz improvisation and trumpet

Jazz and Trumpet Instructor, Southfield Lathrup High School
- 2001 – present
- Clinics with jazz combo
- Trumpet master classes
- Improvisation master classes
- Trumpet instructor at marching band camp (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)