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

Teaching 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)

Performer

Member of The Count Basie Orchestra (2008 – 2010)
- Soloist
- 3rd Trumpet
- Arranger

Performed or Recorded with:
Brass Band of Battle Creek
Christian McBride: Marvin Gaye Tribute
Curtis Fuller
Frank Wess
George Clinton
Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Hank Jones
Jack Jones
Jon Hendricks
Karen Clark Sheard
Kiki Sheard
LEDISI
Michigan State University Professors of Jazz
Nneena Freelon
Patti Austin
Rodney Whitaker
Slide Hampton
The Clark Sisters
Tony Bennett
Wycliffe Gordon
Yolanda Adams

Recordings as a performer/composer/arranger:

Karen Clark Sheard “All In One” KAREW RECORDS (2010)
- trumpet, flugelhorn
- co-arranger of horns

The Clark Sisters “A Clark Christmas” (2009)
- trumpet & flugelhorn
- horn arrangement on “This Christmas”

Count Basie Orchestra “Swinging, Singing, Playing” Mack Ave Records (2009)
- 3rd Trumpet
- Features Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Curtis Fuller, Nneena Freelon, Jamie Cullum, & Butch Miles

Barry Cooper and Kris Johnson “Common Journey” (2009)
- Composer, arranger, co – leader

Tony Bennett & The Count Basie Big Band “A Swingin’ Christmas” Sony (2008)
- trumpet & flugelhorn

Kris Johnson Sextet “Exodus” (2008)
- all compositions, trumpet, leader

Lyric Lee “Journal Entries” Dae One Records (2008)
- horn arrangements, trumpet & flugelhorn

Yolanda Adams “What a Wonderful Day” Sony BMG (2007)
- “My Favorite Things” horn arrangement, trumpet

Michigan State University Jazz Band I “Things To Come” (2005)
- Trumpet Solo on “Yardbird Suite”

Men of Grace: I Believe (2003)
- Trumpet solo on “In the Name of Jesus”

Randy Scott “Words Unspoken” Orpheus Recordings (2002)
- Trumpet and Flugelhorn on “Déjà vu”

Detroit Symphony Civic Jazz Orchestra “Martin Luther King Celebration” (2001)
- Trumpet Solo on “Nutville”

As a film composer:

Joshua Amir “The Saxophone Player” Independent Short Film, Rockwell Pictures (2010)
- film composer
- actor, PAUL ROGERS
- LA Shorts film festival

Dan Kimbrough “Uncommon” Documentary (forthcoming)
- composer
- civil rights documentary

Ryan Justice “Scoops” Student Film, University of Southern Florida (2010)
- composer
- winner of 2010 Campus Movie Fest (USF)

Lisa Robinson “The PuNanny Diaries” Webseries (2009 – present)
- composer and music producer for webseries
- Outstanding Score, 2011 LA Webfest

Ryan Justice “The Rumble” Student Film, University of Southern Florida (2008)
- composer for two scenes

Appearances on screen:

Joshua Amir “The Saxophone Player” Independent Short Film, Rockwell Pictures (2010)
- PAUL ROGERS, co-star
- LA Shorts film festival

Predrag Antonijevic “Little Murder” Mind in Motion Entertainment (forthcoming)
- Extra, bar patron

Tony Bennett & The Count Basie Big Band “The Making of a Swingin’ Christmas” Sony (2008)
- Performer, trumpet

“That’s What Swingin’ Is” (2006)
- performer, trumpet
- documentary featuring Kris Johnson playing Duke Ellington’s “Shepherd” in a master class with Wynton Marsalis

“Inside Jazz: Everybody’s Welcome” (2006)
- performer, trumpet
- documentary about the Michigan State University Jazz Studies Program

Commissions:

Troy High School Orchestra (2011/forthcoming)
- Jazz quartet and symphony orchestra

Farmington Community Band (2010/forthcoming)
- Jazz quartet and wind ensemble

Arts League of Michigan (2008)
- “A Journey Through a Dream”
- String quartet and jazz quartet

Awards:

The Great American Song Contest (2006)
- Winner of annual competition in the “Instrumental” category for composition “My Apologies”

Composed/Arranged for:

Count Basie Orchestra
Yolanda Adams
The Clark Sisters
Karen Clark Sheard
Othello
Lyric Lee
Stephanie K