Yreka CA, 1980
American composer and trumpeter
Works for Brass Ensemble
- Escape (2007) for brass quintet
- Vuelta del Fuego (2008) for brass quintet
- Dürrenhorn Passage (2009) for six trumpets
- Galleons & Cutlasses (2013) for brass quintet
- Last Lap (2013) for five trombones
- Tribute (2014) for brass ensemble & percussion
- Into the Blue (2015) for eight trumpets
- Vuelta del Fuego (2018) for six trumpets
- Iron Horse (2019) for brass quintet
- Semper Gratus (2021) for double brass quintet
- Full Tilt (2023) for brass quintet
- Dicennial Fanfare (2024) for orchestral brass & percussion
Biography
Kevin McKee is an American composer with a primary emphasis in brass chamber music. He was born and raised in Yreka, CA, a little mountain town in the heart of the “State of Jefferson” (Northern California). He began playing the trumpet in grade school at the urging of his father, who was the high school music teacher in town. He went on to earn two degrees in trumpet performance; a BM from Sacramento State, where he studied with Gary Dilworth, and a MM from the University of Maryland, under Chris Gekker. He is also an alumni of the Aspen Music Festival and the National Orchestral Institute.
He was inspired to write his first composition, Escape for brass quintet, after attending the 2006 MMCK chamber music festival in Japan and having the opportunity to work with the incredible composer/trumpeter Anthony DiLorenzo. He has enjoyed growing his catalogue ever since. His music has been performed on every non ice-covered continent, and can be heard on over 50 recordings. He has contributed to the International Trumpet Guild Journal and is a member of ASCAP, through which he has been a recipient of many ASCAP Plus awards. In addition to composing he is an active trumpet performer in the DC area and has been second trumpet in the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, OR since 2009. He also enjoys teaching at the International School of Music and at the DC Youth Orchestra Program in addition to his private studio. He lives with his wife, two daughters, dog and 3 cats.
from the composer’s website