Dr. Kevin Kjos

Dr. Kevin Kjos is the Director of Jazz and Commercial Studies and Professor of Trumpet at Kutztown University where he teaches Jazz Ensembles I and II, Rock Ensemble I, and applied trumpet.  While at KU, the Jazz and Commercial program has been honored by Downbeat magazine Student Music Awards four times. 

Dr. Kjos has a Bachelor of Music in Theory/Composition and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, where he studied with the internationally recognized jazz and trumpet pedagogue Robert Baca.  He holds a Doctorate of Music from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington where he studied with legendary jazz pedagogues David Baker and Dominic Spera and trumpet with John Rommel and the great William Adam. 

As a trumpet player, Dr. Kjos has performed in a wide variety of musical settings from orchestral to rhythm and blues to jazz. As a composer, he has won grants for both composition and recording.

He is the author of two books about teaching: Teaching Through Imitation, A Jazz Ensemble Guide, written for the music educator, and Reflections on the Teaching of William Adam, a book analyzing the teaching methods/techniques of the master trumpet pedagogue William Adam through interviews with Mr. Adam and research into pedagogy, both non-academic and academic, including ideas found in such seemingly divergent areas as Eastern and Western philosophy and athletics.

Before coming to Kutztown University in 1998, Kevin was an ensemble leader/conductor, performer, and composer. He was the founder/director of the Minneapolis based Cedar Avenue Big Band that performed weekly at the famous Dakota Bar and Grill and O'Gara's Pub, and the new music group, The Sound Exploration Ensemble.  

Dr. Kjos was recently honored with the President's Award from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire for outstanding alumni achievement.