KCCK’s Corridor Jazz Project, which the Iowa Bandmasters Association has called “the crown jewel of jazz education in Iowa,” returns in 2026 as more than 500 students from 21 schools will play in concerts March 9 at The Paramount and March 10 at The Voxman Hall of Music.
2026 is the 19th consecutive year of the program, begun in 2008 by KCCK to provide a mentoring and performance opportunity for high school jazz students. Students work side by side with the Midwest’s top musicians in a professional studio recording experience, capped off by a concert on Iowa’s most prestigious stages.
The studio recordings are collected for a compilation album, available as a digital download or physical CD at www.kcck.org.
“This year, guest artists from as far away as North Carolina have come to work with our students and participate in this landmark program,” says KCCK general manager Dennis Green. “The reputation of our students and KCCK spreads further each year.”
Performance Schedule:
March 9, 6:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids
In Association with The Cedar Rapids Community Concert Association
Admission: $15 at the door
• Marion High School Jazz Band One, featuring Simon Harding, saxophone
• Center Point-Urbana Jazz Band, featuring Sean Kiefer, trumpet
• Cedar Rapids Washington High School Revolutionists, featuring Saul Lubaroff, saxophone
• Williamsburg Jazz Outlet, featuring Lynne Hart, clarinet
• Cedar Rapids Xavier High School Jazz Band One, featuring Blake Shaw, bass
• Linn-Mar High School Colton Center Jazz Ensemble, featuring Mike Conrad, melodica
• Prairie High School Jazz Band One, featuring Steve Shanley, keyboard
• Independence High School Jazz Orchestra, featuring Toni Lefebvre, trumpet
• Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School Band of Blues, featuring Brian Zeglis, drums
• Anamosa High School Jazz I, featuring Tye Male, saxophone
• Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School Jazz One, featuring Chad Eby, saxophone
March 10, 6:30 p.m., Voxman Hall of Music, Iowa City
In Association with University of Iowa School of Music
Admission: Free
• City High Jazz Ensemble featuring Joey Schnoebelen, trumpet
• Clear Creek-Amana Jazz Ensemble featuring Bob Washut, piano
• Lisbon Jazz Band featuring Rich Wagor, bass
• West Liberty Varsity Jazz featuring Rod Pierson, saxophone
• Mount Vernon featuring Mike Livingston, saxophone
• Liberty High Jazz Ensemble featuring Aaron Ottmar, piano
• Mid-Prairie Jazz Band featuring Mike McMann, trombone
• West High Jazz Ensemble featuring Chris Navarette, trumpet
• Solon Jazz Orchestra featuring David Kunz, bari saxophone
• West Branch Jazz Ensemble featuring Joel Nagel, trombone
The Corridor Jazz Project is supported by Hills Bank, ACT, The Cedar Rapids Community Concert Association, The University of Iowa School of Music, Orchestra Iowa, West Music, the Strauss Fund for Jazz Education, and Kirkwood Community College.
Jazz 88.3 KCCK is the public radio station operated as a part of the community outreach of Kirkwood Community College.
For more information, visit www.kcck.org.