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Kansas City Saxophone Workshop

Overview

When: June 22-26, 2025

This year’s workshop offers tracks for middle school and high school saxophonists! Daily activities include saxophone ensemble, chamber music, clinics, masterclasses, lessons (optional), and performances by the workshop’s renowned faculty. The week culminates with student performances featuring the workshop’s saxophone ensembles and chamber groups. With its focus on individualized instruction, the KCSW curriculum is designed to benefit all students, regardless of background and experience. All are welcome and encouraged to join us on UMKC’s campus in June!

Digital brochure

Faculty

Director

Prof. Zach Shemon
UMKC Conservatory, PRISM Quartet

Faculty and Clinicians

Dr. Michael Shults
University of Memphis

Nathan Graybeal
Founder of Saxologic, CEO of JazzLessonVideos.com

Dr. Chad Lilley
William Jewell College

Prof. Aislinn Jakary
University of Central Missouri

Prof. Hannah Hickman
Connecticut State College- Gateway

Joel Gordon
Director of the Northland Youth Saxophone Ensemble

Will Peak
Peak Performance Woodwinds

Cooper Smith
Director of Bands at Rock Bridge High School, Co-Director of the Northland Youth Saxophone Ensemble

General Schedule (High School Track)

June 22, 2025

  • 1-2 p.m. — Program check-in
  • 2-2:30 p.m. — Welcome meeting
  • 2:30-4:30 p.m. — Playing evaluations for ensemble assignments
  • 4:30-5 p.m. — Distribute parts for ensembles/chambers
  • 5-6 p.m. — Pizza party
  • 6-7:30 p.m. — Saxophone ensemble warm-up and rehearsal
  • 7:30-8:30 p.m. — Chamber ensemble rehearsal/coaching
  • 8:30-9 p.m. — Program check-out (commuting students only)

*Students may store their luggage and other dorm items in a safe and secured area during program check-in.

June 23-25, 2025

  • 8-8:30 a.m. — Program check-in (commuting students only)

  • 8:30-10 a.m. — Saxophone ensemble warm-up and rehearsal

  • 10-11 a.m. — Clinic (combined middle and high school)

  • 11 a.m.-12 p.m. — Clinics

  • 12-1:30 p.m. — Lunch

  • 1:30-3 p.m. — Masterclasses (optional private lessons)

  • 3-5 p.m. — Chamber ensemble coachings

  • 5-6 p.m. — Faculty concert

  • 4:30-5 p.m. — Program check-out (commuting students only)

June 26, 2025

  • 8-8:30 a.m. — Program check-in (commuting students only)
  • 8:30-10 a.m. — Saxophone ensemble warm-up and rehearsal
  • 10-11 a.m. — Chamber ensemble coachings
  • 11 a.m.-12 p.m. — Dress rehearsal
  • 12-1:30 p.m. — Lunch
  • 1:30-2 p.m. — Dress rehearsal
  • 2 p.m. — Final performance

Program check-out for all students will occur immediately after the closing concert. All students must check out prior to departing.

Pre-Screening Audition Videos

Virtual Audition Requirements

Virtual audition videos will be used to make part assignments for saxophone ensemble and chamber groups. Please submit videos of the following, performed on your choice of saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, or bari):

  • One full-range major or minor scale in your choice of key.
  • One full-range chromatic scale.
  • Provided excerpt from J.L. Small etude #4.
  • Optional: Up to 2 minutes of solo repertoire (accompaniment not required), etudes, or band excerpts. This can be performed on your primary instrument or on a secondary instrument you would like to be considered for (soprano saxophone in quartet, for example).

Audition Excerpt

Location

Grant Hall (5228 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64110) Students can be dropped off outside the main doors on the east side of the building. A staff member will be inside the lobby waiting to check students in as they arrive.

Parking

Students driving themselves can park in the Cherry Street Parking Garage or the Student Success parking lot on the east side of the building, both can be accessed with the student parking pass. If participants do not want to purchase a pass, the 5th floor of the Cherry Street Parking Garage has metered parking, but on Saturdays and Sundays campus parking is free. The 5th floor of the garage also has a ramp that leads directly to the PAC. If students are going to be leaving the workshop by themselves, they will need to park within view of the check-out station (east side of building).

Detailed parking, drop-off and pick-up instructions will be provided in our welcome packet. Welcome packets are emailed to registered students after registration closes.

UMKC Volker Campus Map

Tution and Fees

Registration Fees

Tuition includes all classes, all scheduled events during the workshop, and lunch. Please note that this fee does not include overnight housing, breakfast or dinner.

  • Early Bird Registration Fee: $450 (deadline Friday, April 11)
  • Standard Registration Fee: $525 (deadline Friday, June 6)

Optional Extras

  • On-campus housing: $350
    • Participants who choose to stay on campus will be housed in a UMKC residence hall. This fee includes WiFi access, bed linens (sheets and pillow), breakfast and dinner.
  • On-campus parking permit: $25
    • This will allow participants to park in any UMKC Student Parking Lot. Parking is limited on campus, so a permit is strongly encouraged for those who will be bringing a car.

  • Private lessons: $50 each

    • Students may purchase as many as 5 private lessons. Students may also indicate preferred faculty for lessons. These requests will be strongly considered, but due to scheduling are not guaranteed.

Housing (Optional)

Those wishing to stay close to camp events may want to register for on-campus housing. This $350 fee includes four nights in a UMKC dormitory room. Rooms in UMKC residence halls are set up suite-style, with either two or four rooms connected to a shared bathroom. During registration, participants will be able to indicate their preference for room style, but due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee that preferences will be honored. Participants will be housed in either the Oak Street or the Johnson residence halls. 

Housing Dates

  • Check in: June 22
  • Check out: June 26

Housing Staff

All programs that offer on-campus housing will have at least one male and one female staff member staying on the same floor as our participants and will be available to participants 24/7 in case of an emergency. Parents will be provided contact information for these staff members at program check-in.

Suitemates

During registration, students will have the option to request suitemates. In order for a request to be granted, both students must have requested each other. Students may make multiple requests in case they are placed in a four-room suite.

Detailed housing information will be provided in our welcome packet. Welcome packets are emailed to registered students after registration closes.

Meals

Lunch (included with tuition)

Lunch vouchers will be provided for all lunches during the camp. Meals will occur on the UMKC campus. Breakfast and dinner are not included in tuition.

Breakfast and dinner (included with overnight housing fee)

All meals will occur on the UMKC campus.

Students with special dietary restrictions should note this in their registration. Students must stay with the group, as students are not allowed to leave the campus without a chaperone. Students are welcome to bring snacks and water bottles. There are also vending machines and water fountains available in campus buildings. For those staying in dorms, each room contains a mini-fridge should students need to store food in them.

Students who will be providing their own meals: Students wishing to bring their own food from home are welcome to do so, but they still must stay with their group/chaperone during meals.

All participants will eat with a chaperoned group. Participants may not leave the group to eat elsewhere, unless a parent/guardian has put in a special request to pick-up their child. No food is allowed during rehearsals or concert events.

Peanut allergy note: Please refrain from bringing peanuts or items with peanuts to the camp. We appreciate your cooperation in this regard.

Registration

Online Registration

Register online and pay by credit card: Saxophone Workshop Online Registration Portal

Note: If you register online, you will need an account with our online registration software. Creating an account is easy and just requires some contact information. Please contact us if you have any trouble creating or accessing your account.

Register by mail

Hard-copy forms are available upon request by emailing music-ce@umkc.edu.

Special registration requests

If registration is being partially or fully funded by a student’s school or outside source, please contact us at music-ce@umkc.edu for special registration instructions.

Registration and payment must be received by June 6, 2025.

Refund Policy: We do not offer refunds for our summer programs. All fees and deposits are non-refundable.