Jeff Kirk
Professor, Composition/Arranging & Jazz Studies
College of Music & Performing Arts
Doctorate of Education, University of Memphis Department of Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration; Master of Music in Music Education, Belmont University; Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami
jeff.kirk@belmont.eduBiography
Dr. Jeff Kirk is the Associate Director (Performance Studies) of the School of Music at Belmont University. He joined the Belmont faculty in 1987 and teaches courses in advance contemporary arranging and directs the Jazz Band I - Belmont's premiere jazz ensemble.
Dr. Kirk completed his Doctorate of Education at the University of Memphis, Department of Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration, received his Master of Music in Music Education from Belmont University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami. He is a member of the Tennessee Touring Artists Program, member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and a former officer for the International Association of Jazz Educators. He was the director of the 1994 Tennessee All State Jazz Band and also currently serves as a high school woodwind clinician. Professor Kirk has extensive recording experience including: Dion, Firefall, Kenny Rogers, Niteflyte, and others. He also has recorded television jingles for Ford, Toyota, Crook and Chase theme, and several local and national retail stores. As a live performer, he has toured with Pure Prairie League and Maynard Ferguson, and has been the headline act for Big Orange Jazz Festival, Fort Lauderdale Festival, Ringling Brothers-Sarasota Jazz Festival, Kool Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Summer Lights Festival and more. He has also opened for such acts as Bobby McFerrin, Stanley Turrentine, and Mark Murphy.
Dr. Kirk was nominated in two Grammy categories (best jazz album and best jazz instrumental solo) for his album entitled Clouds (Jazz Mania Records). He has been nominated for the Nashville Music Award and was selected as Middle Tennessee 1995 Jazz Musician of the year. His new album project for 88 Grand Productions, Come Thou Fount, is a collaborative effort with keyboardist Russell Davis.