About Future Jazz KC
Future Jazz KC is a Kansas City nonprofit dedicated to helping young musicians grow through jazz education, performance, improvisation, mentorship, and community.
Who We Are
Future Jazz KC provides high-level jazz education and performance opportunities for student musicians in grades 9–12, with programming expanding to grades 6–12 in Fall 2026.
Our students rehearse, perform, improvise, study jazz history and theory, and learn how to work together in real musical settings. We are not here to replace a student’s school music program. We are here to supplement it — giving young musicians another place to grow, connect, and be challenged.
What Students Learn
Future Jazz Ensembles and Combos focus on the musical and personal skills students need on and off the bandstand.
- Rhythm
- Ensemble playing
- Sight reading
- Improvisation
- Composition
- Transcription
- Jazz theory
- Jazz history
- Stage presence
- Leadership
- Traditional jazz repertoire
- New and commissioned music
Mission Statement
The mission of Future Jazz KC is to cultivate, expand, and enrich the community for jazz and improvised music through education, performance, and artistic development.
Developing the musicianship of our students is the foundation of our curriculum. We believe the lessons learned through hard work, listening, empathy, creativity, and collaboration are valuable far beyond music.
Jazz teaches students how to think, respond, lead, support, and take risks. Those skills matter on the bandstand, in the classroom, and in life.
Our Story
Future Jazz KC was founded in 2015 by Artistic Director Marcus Lewis. What began as a summer jazz camp quickly grew into a larger vision: creating a year-round jazz education community for young musicians in Kansas City.
The original goal was simple — give students meaningful performance experience, access to professional musicians, a deeper understanding of jazz, and a place to connect with other serious young musicians.
That vision continues today through ensembles, combos, concerts, workshops, mentorship, and community partnerships.
Our Philosophy
Future Jazz KC was founded on the belief that jazz represents freedom, creativity, discipline, and community. Jazz is one of America’s most important art forms, and it has always brought people together across backgrounds, generations, and experiences.
We honor the tradition of jazz while also embracing the future of the music. Students study the masters, learn the language, and perform traditional repertoire — but they also explore new compositions, modern styles, and commissioned music.
Our goal is not only to develop better musicians. It is to help develop confident, curious, collaborative young people.
Join the Future Jazz KC Community
Whether you are a student, parent, band director, donor, or community partner, Future Jazz KC exists to help young musicians grow.