KCYJ – performance as validation and community service…

You may have noticed that there are several Kansas City Youth Jazz (KCYJ) “12:30 Combo” performances listed on my itinerary on the Home page, as well as on the calendar on the Performance page here on site.

kCYJ @KANSAS BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION

This is pretty cool, especialy when you consider that the “12:30 Combo” is only in its third semester of existance as a formal ensemble class offered by the Kansas City Youth Jazz program. It says a lot of positive things about both, the quality of our students and of great platform provided to metro area youth by the KCYJ program. Students not only learn the technical aspects that make up an enjoyable jazz performance, they learn to integrate their musical talents within the context of day to day life by performing for others in public.

The KCYJ organization gets numerous requests for the students to participate in public events throughout the metro area and beyond. This past Spring, KCYJ was invited to the Monterey Jazz Festival’s 6th Annual Next Generation Festival. So, not only does public performance help validate KCYJ students’ learning of material covered during the semester, it can also provide a positive service to community at large in this context.

Mr.Burnett and some of KCYJ "1230 Combo" members | Photo by Joe Sands

Following are details for a couple of the community and professional service organization events that KCYJ students were asked to formally contribute their musical talents. Way to go KCYJ…

FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010 at 7PM

Kansas Bandmasters Association 2010 Summer Convention: Kansas City Youth Jazz “Reno Band” (Leon Brady) and “12:30 Combo” (Chris Burnett) performing at Kansas Bandmasters Convention at Wichita, KS

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS

The Kansas Bandmasters Association presents the very finest association of experienced and successful instrumental music educators dedicated to working within the organization to mentor each other and new additions to the community.

The rich heritage of Kansas Music Education is preserved in our organization when names like Dilley, Foster, Barnes, Markovich, Tracz, Betton, Hewitt, Molina, Fuchs, Elsass with hundreds of others have contributed to making Kansas Bands among the most respected in America.

TRADITION

Founded at the Ramada Inn in Manhattan in 1972 and 1973, the Kansas Bandmasters sought to find a community of like minds who would assemble to assist each other in the growth and development of bands in Kansas. The CONVENTION has a great tradition of getting directors AND THEIR FAMILIES together in a comfortable and affordable location where they share in clinics, concerts, rehearsals and reading sessions. Evenings provide informal sessions by the pool, concerts by our outstanding Kansas Community Bands and opportunities for families to share in the close-knit kinship of directors from school districts, universities, private studios and the amazing wealth of knowledge shared by our retired directors.

VIDEO: Why Music Matters – Jack Stamp

GUEST ARTISTS

KBA tries to bring the very best EDUCATORS to the convention to share with our membership. This summer, the convention will include: James Barnes, Scott Watson, Mary Watson, Daniel Kirk, Doug Auwater, The Independence City Band with Don Farthing, The Marshall’s Band with Clifford Manning and MORE! The Kansas All-Collegiate Jazz Band, YOUNG TEACHER PANEL, KSHSAA State Required Band Music READING BAND, Pep and Marching Band reading session, Jazz by the Pool, SMART music lab setting, The Outstanding Band Master Award…and more!

ALSO SEE:

Kansas Bandmasters Association website | http://www.kansasbandmasters.org

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010 at 1:30PM and 2:30PM

Unity in the Community’s 2010 SUMMER IN THE CITY: The Kansas City Youth Jazz “12:30 Combo” directed by Chris Burnett will perform at this Unity in the Community fundraiser event on Saturday, July 24. Performance times are 1:30 to 2:00 and approximately 2:30 to 3:00.

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY is the Midwest’s newest most innovative community organization. UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY provides a broad spectrum of services to our clients. Our experienced team offers a proven track record of developing and executing strategic, value-added programs that focus on delivering measurable results.

OUR PROGRAMS

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY’s comprehensive programs are designed to assist the families of those incarcerated and to prepare and assist individuals transitioning back into society. UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY seeks to include many community partners: corrections, parole, businesses, workforce development agencies, elected officials, landlords, mental and medical health providers, victim services, formerly incarcerated individuals, neighborhoods, faith & community-based organizations.

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY offers the following:

PROJECT H.I.K.E. ™ (Helping Inmates Kids Excel) provides the children of the incarcerated ages 4 to 18 years old with mentors; and also to provide them with outlets to develop into positive and productive adults. Through a Mentoring Children of Prisoners grant kids will be matched with mentors.

YOUTH ENTRPRENEURSHIP CAMPwill provide middle and high school students with exposure to entrepreneurship at its best. This week long camp will develop its best talent into a 4-H Entrepreneurship Club. The 2009 camp was held July 13-17, 2009, and is scheduled for July 12-16, 2010.

OUR MOTTO

The motto of UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, INCORPORATED, is “Restoration through Spiritual Transformation”.

ALSO SEE:

Unity in the Community website | http://www.mounity.org/