District Jazz
Please contact Trey Wadell for any questions related to District Jazz Band.
District Jazz Band Dates:
TBD - 11:59 PM - Audition Registrations Due
November 4, 2025 - 5:00 PM - District Jazz Auditions at Carthage HS
January 13, 2026 - 6:00-8:30 PM - District Jazz Sectionals at Carl Junction HS
January 16, 2026 - 6:00-8:30 PM - District Jazz Rehearsal at Neosho HS
January 17, 2026 - 9:00-12:00 AND 1:30-4:30 District Jazz Rehearsals at Neosho HS
January 17, 2026 - TBD - District Jazz Performance at Neosho HS
TBD - 11:59 PM - Audition Registrations Due
November 4, 2025 - 5:00 PM - District Jazz Auditions at Carthage HS
January 13, 2026 - 6:00-8:30 PM - District Jazz Sectionals at Carl Junction HS
January 16, 2026 - 6:00-8:30 PM - District Jazz Rehearsal at Neosho HS
January 17, 2026 - 9:00-12:00 AND 1:30-4:30 District Jazz Rehearsals at Neosho HS
January 17, 2026 - TBD - District Jazz Performance at Neosho HS
2025-2026 All-District Jazz Clinician
Mr. Clarence Smith
Retired
Clarence Smith was the coordinator of music at Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley, where he teaches jazz history, music appreciation, and percussion. He also teaches on the college's Longview and Blue River campuses, and directs jazz ensembles at both Penn Valley and Blue River. In addition, he is the associate director of Kansas City Youth Jazz, a non-profit organization offering jazz education and performance to students in grades six through twelve.
From 1993-2003, Smith was director of the jazz program at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts High School in the Kansas City, Mo. School District. During that time, he directed a nationally acclaimed jazz ensemble that performed in state and national festivals including performances at the Kennedy Center and The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., and at the Music Educator's National Conference.
Smith is the director of the annual two-day MCC-Penn Valley-18th and Vine Jazz Festival, and is in demand as a jazz/percussion clinician and adjudicator. In 2000, Downbeat Magazine named Smith "Jazz Educator of the Year." He is the past chairman of multi- cultural music for the Missouri Music Educators Association, and currently serves on the board of the Mid-America Arts Alliance. As a professional drummer/percussionist, Smith has appeared with many artists including Mike Vax, Bill Watrous, Rich Matteson, Ahmad Aladeen, Carmel Jones, Queen Bey, and Will Matthews. He currently performs regularly with The Uptown Players and The Clarence Smith Trio.
Smith earned an undergraduate degree in music education from Central Methodist University, Fayette, Mo., and has a Master of Education degree, specializing in creative arts in learning, from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. (Kansas City Campus). He has also studied jazz extensively at Central Missouri State University and in 2003 he was selected as a Music Fellow at Northwestern University's School of Music in Evanston, Ill.
Retired
Clarence Smith was the coordinator of music at Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley, where he teaches jazz history, music appreciation, and percussion. He also teaches on the college's Longview and Blue River campuses, and directs jazz ensembles at both Penn Valley and Blue River. In addition, he is the associate director of Kansas City Youth Jazz, a non-profit organization offering jazz education and performance to students in grades six through twelve.
From 1993-2003, Smith was director of the jazz program at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts High School in the Kansas City, Mo. School District. During that time, he directed a nationally acclaimed jazz ensemble that performed in state and national festivals including performances at the Kennedy Center and The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., and at the Music Educator's National Conference.
Smith is the director of the annual two-day MCC-Penn Valley-18th and Vine Jazz Festival, and is in demand as a jazz/percussion clinician and adjudicator. In 2000, Downbeat Magazine named Smith "Jazz Educator of the Year." He is the past chairman of multi- cultural music for the Missouri Music Educators Association, and currently serves on the board of the Mid-America Arts Alliance. As a professional drummer/percussionist, Smith has appeared with many artists including Mike Vax, Bill Watrous, Rich Matteson, Ahmad Aladeen, Carmel Jones, Queen Bey, and Will Matthews. He currently performs regularly with The Uptown Players and The Clarence Smith Trio.
Smith earned an undergraduate degree in music education from Central Methodist University, Fayette, Mo., and has a Master of Education degree, specializing in creative arts in learning, from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. (Kansas City Campus). He has also studied jazz extensively at Central Missouri State University and in 2003 he was selected as a Music Fellow at Northwestern University's School of Music in Evanston, Ill.
Previous District Jazz Clinicians
2025 - Ms. Lori Hutton - Drury University
2024 - Mr. Tim AuBuchon - Truman State University
2023 - Dr. Joseph Parisi, University of Missouri - Kansas City
2022 - Dr. Joel Vanderheyden, Jefferson College
2021 - Event Cancelled
2020 - Mr. Jim Mair, Kansas City Kansas Community College
2019 - Mr. Jim Widner, University of Missouri - St. Louis
2018 - Mr. Rob Babel, For Zumwalt North High School
2017 - Mr. Freddie Greene - Missouri Southern State University
2016 - Mr. Randy Hamm - Missouri State University
2015 - Dr. Tommy Poole - Northeastern State University
2014 - Dr. Todd Wilkinson - Ottawa University
2013 - Mr. Euell Hanna - Verdigris High School
2024 - Mr. Tim AuBuchon - Truman State University
2023 - Dr. Joseph Parisi, University of Missouri - Kansas City
2022 - Dr. Joel Vanderheyden, Jefferson College
2021 - Event Cancelled
2020 - Mr. Jim Mair, Kansas City Kansas Community College
2019 - Mr. Jim Widner, University of Missouri - St. Louis
2018 - Mr. Rob Babel, For Zumwalt North High School
2017 - Mr. Freddie Greene - Missouri Southern State University
2016 - Mr. Randy Hamm - Missouri State University
2015 - Dr. Tommy Poole - Northeastern State University
2014 - Dr. Todd Wilkinson - Ottawa University
2013 - Mr. Euell Hanna - Verdigris High School