The Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Tom Lundberg, will perform a concert featuring Dr. Matthew Niess. Dr. Niess is a Washington, DC based cross-over Edwards Trombonist and Summit label recording artist. He served in The U.S. Army Band “Pershing's Own” as lead trombone with The Army Blues Jazz Ensemble and trombonist with The U.S. Army Brass Quintet. He is currently a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

He began his teaching career as Director of Bands at Calvert High School and has since taught at Towson, West Chester, and George Mason Universities. In 2021 he became Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Trombone at Shenandoah Conservatory. He is the founder and director of The Capitol Bones, The National Jazz Workshop, and has appeared as a soloist, clinician, and adjudicator at numerous schools venues throughout the United States.

This event is made possible with support from the Mark Hulsether McKee Memorial Jazz Endowment Fund. Mark McKee played in the KJYO under the direction of Don Hough and was an outstanding musician. Through this endowment, Mark’s family and friends hope to provide an annual enrichment experience for students discovering a passion for jazz in the KJYO.