Washington Navy Yard, DC
Since 2014, Musician First Class Kevin C. McDonald has served as the jazz drumset chair for the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy's premier jazz ensemble. His performance credits include Dave Liebman, Mark Turner, Paquito D’Rivera, Miguel Zenon, Maria Schneider, Sean Jones, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Lee Konitz, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and the New York City Ballet. He holds a Ph.D. in musicology from The Catholic University of America. His dissertation, “Hearing the American Civil Rights Movement in the Music of Max Roach,” was published in 2021, and he has presented for prestigious academic fora, including the American Musicological Society (AMS), Jazz Education Network (JEN), and Midwest Clinic. In addition to his performance duties with the Commodores, he serves as Head Archivist for the Navy Music Program. His article, "Navy Bands: Diversity in Action," was published by the U.S. Naval Institute in 2019. Recipient of the William H. Borden Award, Clement Meadmore Scholarship, Manhattan School of Music Scholarship, and Center for Music Entrepreneurship Fellowship, he holds a Master of Music in jazz arts from Manhattan School of Music, where he was a student of John Riley.
Thursday, January 5, 2023
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM US EST