Ken Jones became interested in music at a very early age, picking up instruments and teaching himself how to play the saxophone, oboe, flute, clarinet, trombone and piano. He started in band on baritone and tuba in fifth grade taking lessons on tuba, piano, and saxophone. At Jefferson MIddle School in Aurora, IL, his love for music came to fruition through the help of three powerful teachers; his vocal teacher, Diane (Dodillet) Daugherty, and his instrumental teachers, Lila and Mike Fagan. Since then he has been making music on whatever instrument he can.
At West Aurora High School, Ken switched from brass to woodwinds, after much hesitation from his band teachers, George Pichel and Dick Harrison, and found his love for Musical Theatre with performances on stage and off stage in Singin in the Rain, Peter Pan, and Anything Goes at WAHS. Becoming a woodwind quadrupler by learning oboe his senior year while on a band trip to Washington, DC, he was always in high demand to play in pit orchestras, but it wasn't until college that he Musically Directed his first show, HAIR. When he started teaching privately in college, he put the two together and found his true calling. At the University of Illinois, Ken studied with Blaine Edlefson, Debra Richtmeyer, David Harris and Nancy Ambrose-King. While in college he played in Symphonic Bands, Jazz Bands, Saxophone Quartets, New Music Ensembles, Pit Orchestras for the University and local Champaign-Urbana theatres, and many other musical ensembles that helped round out his musical experiences. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana with a B.S. in music, Ken has performed as Musical Director and Director for theatres throught the Chicago area and the US.
With over nine years of teaching experience, 20 years performing musical theatre in over 99 productions, and more than 24 years creating live music, Ken's teaching and performance philosophy can be ascertained in two words; 'relaxed confidence'. Past and present students can be seen on regional, national touring, and community stages. Ken is constantly seeking higher knowledge as an Instructor, MD, Accompanist, and performer. His improvement carries over to his students' consistent improvement and performance.
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