High School/Collegiate Series

Get ready, kids – we’re playing on KUVO!

Before the turn of the 21st century, the KUVO High School/Collegiate Series was created in partnership with various high school, college, middle school and even elementary school music programs, to provide a radio series that complements the music curriculum in schools.

Usually on the first Tuesday night each month during the school year, KUVO provides students with the incomparable experience of performing live from a major market’s professional broadcast studio under the tutelage of professional sound engineers to a discerning world-wide audience that appreciates fine music. Although the series focuses primarily on jazz, bands performing other genres have also performed, including Mariachi, R & B, Vocal Jazz and Latin Jazz.

KUVO believes in the importance of music in the lives and curriculum of children and young adults. Studies of scholastic arts programs in general and music education in particular have shown that students with music in their curriculum do better in all disciplines than students who do not have these programs available.

This innovative program is unique on Colorado’s radio landscape and KUVO Jazz89 is one of the few, if not the only, radio station in the country with such an ongoing programming commitment. The program is heard around the world at www.KUVO.org.

Since the program’s inauguration in 1997, an estimated 2,340 students have participated in the Series in small combos, big bands or as back-up to professional musicians. Colorado is fortunate that nationally known jazz artists such as Keith Oxman, Dawn Clement, Ken Walker, Joe Anderies, Walter Barr, Paul Romaine, and other professional musicians are band directors and jazz educators. The experience provides students with a renewed fervor to continue their music study evident by their enthusiasm at the end of the performance in the KUVO studios.

Anecdotal evidence from surveys of participants suggests High School/Collegiate Series performers consider their on-air experience at KUVO to be a significant part of their musical education. The performers often include it on their college applications and resumes. Their teachers tell us it’s the highlight of the school year, inspiring greater discipline and hard work.

Fun Fact: Thomas Busch, Director of Operations at Rocky Mountain Public Media (parent company of KUVO), participated in the High School/Collegiate Series. He played trumpet in the Denver School of the Arts jazz band in 1998 and 1999 in KUVO's Performance Studio at the Five Points Media Center.