Only the third Director of Bands at Norton Community High School since 1957, Jordan E. Kinsey has also taught instrumental and vocal music in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois at all levels from Kindergarten through higher ed. A native of Paducah, KY, he holds the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Murray State University and the Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Southern Illinois University. At NCHS, he directs the Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, Bluejay Jazz Ensemble, Marching Bluejay Band, and the Bluejay Pep Band, teaches private lessons, coaches numerous chamber ensembles, and administers the entire band program in grades 5-12. He also serves as the Artistic Director for the Norton County Arts Council, Inc. In that capacity, he has led programming and marketing efforts that have more than doubled the number of events in the council’s subscription series and brought a new variety of cultural enrichment to the Norton community.

A Sergeant in the United States Army Reserve, Mr. Kinsey served for 10 years with the 100th Army Band at Fort Knox, KY, and is now a member of the 312th Army Band in Lawrence, KS. He completed basic combat training at Fort Jackson, SC in 2002 and went on to complete on-the-job training with the 113th Army Band (Dragoons) at Fort Knox. He received training in instrument repair at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York.

Mr. Kinsey is a member of the Kansas Music Educators' Association, Kansas Bandmasters' Association, International Tuba-Euphonium Association, National Association for Music Education, Norton Teachers Association, National Education Association, and is a life member of the International Percy Grainger Society. He is music director and organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Norton and is trained as a Eucharistic Minister; having once served in this role with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefforts-Schori, as Celebrant. In his spare time, he operates a flute and clarinet repair shop from his 120-year-old home in Almena, KS.

Mr. Kinsey has published articles in Teaching Music and is a book reviewer for Music Educators Journal. He is also a frequent contributor to the Wind Repertory Project (www.windrep.org)