YouthJazz.us

ALUMNI COMBO at Governor's Arts Awards
2025-03-13 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | KAY MCFARLAND JAPANESE GARDEN & VENUE, 635 SW Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS, 66606, United States
2025 KANSAS GOVERNOR’S ARTS AWARDS
Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Alumni Combo will perform.
Personnel as per assigned. Details provided in group chat and emails. Thanks!

Description

The Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards are presented annually by the Kansas Arts Commission to extraordinary members of Kansas’ arts and culture community. The awards recognize and honor individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the arts in Kansas, celebrating excellence, leadership, and community impact. The 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards ceremony will be held in Topeka.

Award Categories

Arts Advocate of the Year – An individual who actively works to educate the public and/or government at local, state, or national levels on the value and impact of the arts.
Arts Community of the Year – A city, town, neighborhood, or community recognized for its strong support and integration of the arts in local culture.
Arts Leader of the Year – An individual demonstrating extraordinary leadership and vision in advancing the arts.
Arts Organization of the Year – An organization recognized for exemplary work in the arts, whether through significant artistic achievement or substantial contributions to the growth and vitality of the arts.
Arts Patron of the Year – An individual who generously supports the arts through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or dedicated volunteer efforts, without being directly involved as an artist or administrator.
Emerging Arts Leader of the Year – An early-career professional who exhibits leadership and significant potential for future impact in the arts.
Emerging Arts Organization of the Year – A newly established or developing organization making significant strides in the arts and growing in influence.
Excellence in Arts Education – An educator, arts education program, or organization recognized for long-term excellence and innovation in arts education.
Excellence in the Arts in Business – A business or corporation demonstrating outstanding and sustained support of the arts.
Excellence in Public Service in the Arts – A government official at the local, state, or federal level who has shown exceptional support and advocacy for the arts.
Kansas Arts Legacy Award – an individual or organization with a lifetime of long-standing, significant impact on the arts in Kansas and/or beyond, enriching the cultural landscape through artistic achievements, leadership, philanthropy, or advocacy over many years. This award may be given posthumously.
Excellence in Artistic Achievement in:
• Dance
• Literature (includes all creative writing forms)
• Media Arts (includes film, video, audio, kinetic digital arts, interactive media, and other related forms)
• Music
• Theatre
• Visual Arts (includes painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, drawing, crafts, public art, and other related forms)
• Other Art Forms

Eligibility

Nominations will be accepted from any citizen of Kansas.
Nominees for all awards (except the Kansas Arts Legacy Award) must be residents of Kansas or actively making significant contributions to the arts in Kansas.
Nominees for the Kansas Arts Legacy Award do not have to be current residents of Kansas but must have significant ties to the state through previous residency. The Kansas Arts Legacy Award is the only category that will accept posthumous nominations.
Self-nominations will not be considered.
Current members of the Kansas Arts Commission, Kansas Arts Commission staff, and current Kansas Arts Commission Field Representatives are not eligible for consideration.
Recipients of awards will not be eligible for the same award for five years following their award.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The 2025 Fellowship
2025-02-24 | Kansas City Area Youth Jazz, United States
We’re pleased to announce The 2025 Fellowship of the Kansas City Area Youth Jazz program with our 7th season beginning rehearsals on April 6, 2025. Learn more at YouthJazz.org

2025 FELLOWSHIP AUDITIONS
2025-02-16 15:00 - 19:00 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
*Main Featured Photo titled “Downtown from Rooftop” by Duane Hallock
is the tentative 2025 FELLOWS album cover (all rights reserved).
_____
The Next Generation.

*

We conduct rigorous auditions for Fellowships in February and announce the selections in March each year. Rehearsals are on Sunday evenings during our season of April, May, June, and July with no rehearsals on Labor Day or Fourth of July weekends. Youth Jazz Fellows perform a Showcase Concert in July and also perform paid performances in the greater KC area community. Commitment to attend all rehearsals and performances is required. The season culminates in recording an album in a professional recording studio that’s released worldwide on a professional record label. We have capacity for four ensembles.
_____

2025 Fellowship Auditions.

TIME
NAME
INSTRUMENT

3:00 PM
KAMDEN MARTIN
DRUM SET

3:15 PM
AMBER QUINT
VOCAL + BASS

3:30 PM
ZACH CHESSER
GUITAR (BRING YOUR OWN AMP)

3:45 PM
MATHEW SOLOMON
ALTO SAX

4:00 PM
WILL KIMLINGER
BARI SAX

4:15 PM
KAI McGARRY
DRUM SET

4:30 PM
BEN ELLMAN
DRUM SET

4:45 PM
BRAYDEN EVANS
ALTO SAX

5:00 PM
ISAAC FAUST
PIANO

5:15 PM
KENYI YOYO
ALTO SAX

5:30 PM

5:45 PM
MASON BARTH
BARI SAX

6:00 PM
ETHAN ASHWORTH
ALTO SAX

6:15 PM
DAETON FITZPATRICK
TENOR SAX

6:30 PM
KELSEY O’DONNELL
BASS

6:45 PM
JOSH ?
TRUMPET

7:00 PM
BRUCE BISTIMONTE
TROMBONE

7:15 PM
ODIN MARDIS
BASS

7:30 PM
AMIL McDANIEL
BASS

7:45 PM
JAVIER CRUZ
DRUM SET

* DALLAS HALL (REMOTE)
TRUMPET (PSU)

*Remote audition via Zoom due to attending college at Pittsburg State University.

*

Auditions for Fellowships are held the third Sunday each February beginning at 3:00 pm in 15 minute increments in Studio A at BRC Audio Productions in Kansas City, Kansas.
Candidates SHOULD call our office at (913) 250-5141 and leave a message with: (1) name and instrument, (2) mobile phone number, and (3) preferred time.
Candidates SHOULD prepare to play: (1) a jazz standard, (2) a blues in F, (3) all major scales correctly in 60 seconds or less, and (4) interview. We use iRealPro to accompany auditions.
Successful Candidates who accept a 2025 Fellowship automatically agree to the YOUTH JAZZ “terms and conditions” as part of participation in the program.
_____

Send this to someone who you think would enjoy this experience.
Visit the YouthJazz.us website to learn more and get involved!

TV Appearance: HGTV URBAN OASIS 2024
2024-11-18 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-11-15 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-10-30 08:00 - 09:00 | Network Television, United States
Kansas City Area Youth Jazz 2024 Fellows are featured on an episode of *HGTV URBAN OASIS 2024.
Watch the 2024 Fellowship appearing on HGTV the following airing dates and times: TUESDAY, Oct 8 at 9 am CST; THURSDAY, Oct 17 8 am CST; WEDNESDAY, Oct 30 8 am CST; FRIDAY, Nov 15 9am CST; and MONDAY Nov 18 9 am CST.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD
Tell your friends and family to watch the program too!
I have also created a Facebook event on the Kansas City Area Youth Jazz page. Please invite your contacts to the event so they will watch.
*NOTE: The show only airs on TV and digitally on MAX.
This link is to the promo videos at the HGTV website. Please note that Youth Jazz is not on these short clips only the full episode of the program. Thanks again to Lily and her crew!
HGTV online: https://www.hgtv.com/sweepstakes/hgtv-urban-oasis/2024/hgtv-urban-oasis-2024-videos
_____
Youth Jazz Alumni come from cities and towns throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. KC is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). Youth Jazz is a unique program based in Creative Youth Development (CYD). CYD describes programs that blend excellence in artistic instruction with principles of positive youth development. Participants represent the diversity of demographic inherent to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Our organization includes members of all jazz generations, ethnicities, genders, and economic backgrounds. See: https://YouthJazz.us to get involved!
All the best, Mr. B
Christopher Burnett, Founder + Artistic Director

TV Appearance: HGTV URBAN OASIS 2024
2024-10-17 08:00 - 09:00 | Network Televisiom, United States

TV Appearance: HGTV URBAN OASIS 2024
2024-10-08 09:00 - 10:00
Kansas City Area Youth Jazz 2024 Fellows are featured on an episode of *HGTV URBAN OASIS 2024.
Watch the 2024 Fellowship appearing on HGTV the following airing dates and times: TUESDAY, Oct 8 at 9 am CST; THURSDAY, Oct 17 8 am CST; WEDNESDAY, Oct 30 8 am CST; FRIDAY, Nov 15 9am CST; and MONDAY Nov 18 9 am CST.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD
Tell your friends and family to watch the program too!
I have also created a Facebook event on the Kansas City Area Youth Jazz page. Please invite your contacts to the event so they will watch.
*NOTE: The show only airs on TV and digitally on MAX.
This link is to the promo videos at the HGTV website. Please note that Youth Jazz is not on these short clips only the full episode of the program. Thanks again to Lily and her crew!
HGTV online: https://www.hgtv.com/sweepstakes/hgtv-urban-oasis/2024/hgtv-urban-oasis-2024-videos
_____
Youth Jazz Alumni come from cities and towns throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. KC is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). Youth Jazz is a unique program based in Creative Youth Development (CYD). CYD describes programs that blend excellence in artistic instruction with principles of positive youth development. Participants represent the diversity of demographic inherent to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Our organization includes members of all jazz generations, ethnicities, genders, and economic backgrounds. See: https://YouthJazz.us to get involved!
All the best, Mr. B
Christopher Burnett, Founder + Artistic Director
*

iSTEAMKC 30-Minute Livestream Concert
2024-09-19 19:00 - 19:30 | Vine Street Studio, 2033 Vine Street, Kansas City, MO, 64108, United States
Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Inc. has been invited by iSTEAMKC who will sponsor a Youth Jazz Alumni Ensemble to present a 30-Minute Livestream Concert from their studio. A Youth Jazz Alumni Quartet will be the featured performance.

2024 BIRD BOOT CAMP + MUSICAL SALUTE
2024-09-14 09:00 - 15:00 | The Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, 4747 Flora, Kansas City, MO, 64110, United States

(VOCAL ENSEMBLE) RECORDING SESSION 2024 FELLOWS ALBUM
2024-08-25 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
Congratulations and THANKS to everyone.

Week 17 of 17: The 2024 Fellowship of the Kansas City Area Youth Jazz program officially concludes with its 2024 FELLOWS album recording sessions on July 28, 2024. The album features the Watson Ensemble, the Crain Ensemble, and the Brady Vocal Ensemble which will be recorded on August 25, 2024 to finish the process.
_____
BRADY VOCAL ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

Coordination with BRC Audio Productions will be made between the Brady Ensemble Clinicians: Rev. WM Thornton and Maurice Butler and William Crain. Questions and inquiries should be directed to the clinicians and not the studio.

_____

The Next Generation.
*

We conduct rigorous auditions for Fellowships in February and announce the selections in March each year. Rehearsals are on Sunday evenings during our season of April, May, June, and July with no rehearsals on Labor Day or Fourth of July weekends. Youth Jazz Fellows perform a Showcase Concert in July and also perform paid performances in the greater KC area community. Commitment to attend all rehearsals and performances is required. The season culminates in recording an album in a professional recording studio that’s released worldwide on a professional record label. We have capacity for four ensembles.
_____

2025 Fellowship Auditions.
*

Auditions for Fellowships are held the third Sunday each February beginning at 3:00 pm in 15 minute increments. Candidates SHOULD call our office at (913) 250-5141 and leave a message with: (1) name and instrument, (2) mobile phone number, and (3) preferred time.
_____

Visit the YouthJazz.us website to learn more and get involved!

RECORDING SESSION - 2024 FELLOWS ALBUM
2024-07-28 15:00 - 21:00 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
Congratulations and THANKS to everyone.

Week 17 of 17: The 2024 Fellowship of the Kansas City Area Youth Jazz program officially concludes with its 2024 FELLOWS album recording sessions on July 28, 2024. The album features the Watson Ensemble, the Crain Ensemble, and the Brady Vocal Ensemble which will be recorded in August.
_____
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
WATSON ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

CHARLES FISHER, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
JAMES BARTON, BARITONE SAXOPHONE
JAVIER CRUZ, DRUM SET (1)
BRETT CARTER, VIBES (1)
AMIL McDANIEL, ACOUSTIC BASS
WATSON ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

GREG CARROLL, CLINICIAN/ PIANO
DAVID CUNNINGHAM, CLINICIAN/ TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
*
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
CRAIN ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

DALLAS HALL, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
DYLAN REED, ALTO SAXOPHONE
ETHAN GAUL, TENOR SAXOPHONE
CARLOS OLIVAS, DRUM SET (1)
KELSEY O’DONNELL, ELECTRIC BASS
NASH OHLUND, PIANO
CRAIN ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

HOUSTON SMITH, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ EWI
DR. TODD WILKINSON, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ COMPOSITION
_____

The Next Generation.
*

We conduct rigorous auditions for Fellowships in February and announce the selections in March each year. Rehearsals are on Sunday evenings during our season of April, May, June, and July with no rehearsals on Labor Day or Fourth of July weekends. Youth Jazz Fellows perform a Showcase Concert in July and also perform paid performances in the greater KC area community. Commitment to attend all rehearsals and performances is required. The season culminates in recording an album in a professional recording studio that’s released worldwide on a professional record label. We have capacity for four ensembles.
_____

2025 Fellowship Auditions.
*

Auditions for Fellowships are held the third Sunday each February beginning at 3:00 pm in 15 minute increments. Candidates SHOULD call our office at (913) 250-5141 and leave a message with: (1) name and instrument, (2) mobile phone number, and (3) preferred time.
_____

Visit the YouthJazz.us website to learn more and get involved!

RECORDING SESSION - DRESS REHEARSAL (ALL ENSEMBLES)
2024-07-21 15:00 - 18:30 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
WATSON ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

CHARLES FISHER, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
JAMES BARTON, BARITONE SAXOPHONE
JAVIER CRUZ, DRUM SET (1)
BRETT CARTER, DRUM SET (2)
AMIL McDANIEL, ACOUSTIC BASS

WATSON ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

GREG CARROLL, CLINICIAN/ PIANO
DAVID CUNNINGHAM, CLINICIAN/ TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN

*
CRAIN ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

DALLAS HALL, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
DYLAN REED, ALTO SAXOPHONE
ETHAN GAUL, TENOR SAXOPHONE
CARLOS OLIVAS, DRUM SET (1)
KELSEY O’DONNELL, ELECTRIC BASS
NASH OHLUND, PIANO

CRAIN ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

HOUSTON SMITH, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ EWI
DR. TODD WILKINSON, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ COMPOSITION

CRAIN ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL
2024-07-14 17:00 - 18:30 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
CRAIN ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

DALLAS HALL, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
MAGALI MÁRQUEZ, CLARINETS (BFLAT,BS)
DYLAN REED, ALTO SAXOPHONE
ETHAN GAUL, TENOR SAXOPHONE
CARLOS OLIVAS, DRUM SET (1)
KELSEY O’DONNELL, ELECTRIC BASS
NASH OHLUND, PIANO

CRAIN ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

HOUSTON SMITH, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ EWI
DR. TODD WILKINSON, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ COMPOSITION

WATSON ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL
2024-07-14 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-07-07 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-30 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-23 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-16 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-09 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-02 15:00 - 16:30 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
WATSON ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

CHARLES FISHER, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
JAMES BARTON, BARITONE SAXOPHONE
JAVIER CRUZ, DRUM SET (1)
BRETT CARTER, DRUM SET (2)
AMIL McDANIEL, ACOUSTIC BASS

WATSON ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

GREG CARROLL, CLINICIAN/ PIANO
DAVID CUNNINGHAM, CLINICIAN/ TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN

CRAIN ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL
2024-07-07 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-30 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-23 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-16 17:00 - 18:30 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
CRAIN ENSEMBLE FELLOWS

DALLAS HALL, TRUMPET/ FLUGELHORN
MAGALI MÁRQUEZ, CLARINETS (BFLAT,BS)
DYLAN REED, ALTO SAXOPHONE
ETHAN GAUL, TENOR SAXOPHONE
CARLOS OLIVAS, DRUM SET (1)
KELSEY O’DONNEL, ELECTRIC BASS
NASH OHLUND, PIANO

CRAIN ENSMBLE CLINICIANS

HOUSTON SMITH, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ EWI
DR. TODD WILKINSON, CLINICIAN/ SAXOPHONES/ COMPOSITION

LEE'S SUMMIT JAZZ FESTIVAL
2024-06-22 12:00 - 21:00 | Bridge Space Lee’s Summit, 206 SW Market St, Lee's Summit, MO, 64063-2314, United States
A Youth Jazz alumni ensemble has been asked to perform at this festival.

LEE’S SUMMIT’S 1ST ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVALSATURDAY, JUNE 22ND 2024, 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Eight live jazz acts, art vendors, food trucks, & more!Pre-sale tickets on sale NOW! All proceeds go to The Lee’s Summit Jazz Orchestra, Downtown Main Street, and The Alzheimer’s Association of Kansas City.

Personnel is the 2024 Watson Ensemble:

Charles Fisher, trumpet and flugelhorn
James Barton, saxophones
Amil McDaniel, bass
Javier Cruz, drums
Brett Carter, percussion
Greg Carroll, KCAYJ representative, piano

*
ABOUT THE EVENT:

Eight live jazz acts, artist booths, food trucks, and an activity for kids!
TICKETS – All proceeds go to The Lee’s Summit Jazz Orchestra, Downtown Main Street, and The Lonest Day Efforts to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of Kansas City.
*

CRAIN ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL
2024-06-09 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-02 17:00 - 18:30

Banneker School Restoration First Annual Juneteenth Jazz & Blues Festival
2024-06-08 14:30 - 17:00 | English Landing Park (Parkville), 8701 McAfee St, Parkville, MO, 64152, United States
Youth Jazz Alumni Ensemble:

Logan Smoot, trumpet and flugelhorn
Brady Johnstone, alto saxophone
Miles Clemons, piano
Amil McDaniel, bass
Blue Noyes, drums
Houston Smith, KCAYJ representative

Save The Date June 8, 2024 3P-9:30P*Banneker School Restoration First Annual Juneteenth Jazz & Blues Festival *Produced & Directed by Dave Basse, Grammy Award Nominated For “It’s Always You”. *The entertainment is:3P Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Fellows Alumni4:45P Alex Ambramovitz & His Swingin’ Kansas City Jazz Band 6:34P Dave Basse8:45P Earnest James Zydeco*Admission Free, Bring Your Lawn Chairs,Food Vendors, Beer & Wine Available For SaleWe hope you will donate to the Banneker School Foundation

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND - NO REHEARSAL
2024-05-26 | BRC Audio Productions, 1933 N 10th Street, Kansas City, KS, 66104, United States
