Jim Mair

Who is Jim Mair?

Jim Mair is a soprano, alto, and tenor saxophonist, flautist, percussionist, singer, and teacher born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on May 22, 1966.

He went to high school at Silver Heights Collegiate Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1984. Mair graduated from the University of Mary with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music with a Master of Arts degree in Music. He did additional studies at the Banff Summer School of Fine Arts 1988 and at the Aspen Music Festival 1989. He's studied with Loran Eckroth, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND 1984-1988, Scott Prebys, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND 1984-1988, Tim Timmons University of Missouri at Kansas City 1988-1990, and Gary Foster and Michael Parkinson, University of Missouri at Kansas City 1988-1990. Jim has served on the faculty at the College of Southern Idaho, the International Music Camp, and the Charlie Parker Academy of the Arts. In addition, he has served as a staff writer for the Saxophone Journal and as an artist/clinician for the Selmer Instrument Company. Mair has conducted the North Dakota, South Dakota and Idaho All-State Jazz Ensembles and the Kansas City All District Jazz Band. He has been an artist clinician for the Selmer Instrument Company since 1992. While teaching in Idaho from 1995 to 1999 his radio show "Table Down Front" was broadcast across the northwest on NPR affiliates. His performance credits include appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Carnegie Recital Hall, Birdland and Showman's Cafe in New York City and the Duchin Room in Sun Valley, Idaho. Jim Mair is currently a Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music and Jazz Studies at Kansas City Kansas Community College. He also serves as the Artistic Director for The Kansas City Jazz Alliance, The Kansas City High School All Star Jazz Ensemble and The Kansas City Jazz Quintet and is the producer of The Kansas City Jazz Summit. From 2003 -2010 he served as the Artistic Director and conductor for The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, a performance organization that he and his wife Mary co-founded. In 2013 Jim was selected as the Outstanding Faculty member at Kansas City Kansas Community College receiving the Henry Louis Teaching Excellence Award. In early 2014 Jim was the KCKCC recipient of the League for Innovation John & Suanne Roueche Teaching Excellence Award. Jim and Mary have two children, Amanda and Jameson