Philip Kuehn Joins Performance Music at Scranton
Philip Kuehn is shown with conductor and director Cheryl Y. Boga and Janelle Decker, assistant director and percussion coordinator. Kuehn joined The University as conductor and co-director of Performance Music on Aug. 15.Philip Kuehn, an accomplished and experienced music educator, bassist, composer, arranger, author and transcriptionist, joined The University of Scranton Performance Music staff as conductor and co-director of Performance Music on Aug. 15.
With extensive experience in both instrumental and choral music, Kuehn joins Scranton’s talented, enthusiastic and deeply-dedicated conductor and director Cheryl Y. Boga, founder of Performance Music at The University of Scranton in leading all musical, educational and administrative aspects of programs. Shared responsibilities include conducting, rehearsing, teaching student ensembles, and producing and directing the Guest Artist Series, World Premiere Series, Nelhybel Collection and educational outreach events such as masterclasses and clinics. Performance Music programming is also supported by Janelle Decker, assistant director and percussion coordinator.
Boga and Kuehn have known each other for almost a decade (having been introduced by Joseph Boga who is Boga’s son and Kuehn’s friend and colleague). They are very much looking forward to working together to serve Scranton students and their audiences.
Kuehn comes to Scranton from Snow College in Utah, where he served as a tenured associate professor of music and director of jazz studies. He studied with Dwayne Dolphin and Jeff Mangone in Pittsburgh before attending The Juilliard School where he studied with Ben Wolfe and David Grossman for his Bachelor of Music degree, and with Ron Carter for his Master of Music degree. A native of western Pennsylvania, Kuehn hails from a family of musician/educators and is no stranger to Scranton, having performed on campus several times with various guest artist ensembles.
During his impressive career, Kuehn has performed, recorded, broadcasted and/or toured with Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Jonathan Batiste, Branford Marsalis, Khristian Dentley of Take 6, Cyrille Aimee, Randy Brecker, Veronica Swift, Anthony Hamilton, Dr. Billy Taylor, Roy Hargrove, Kurt Whalum, Emmett Cohen, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Kyle Athayde Dance Party and many others. Formerly the regular bassist for Jonathan Batiste’s groups, including the “Stay Human” band, Kuehn has made several guest appearances on the Late Show with Steven Colbert.
Five of Kuehn’s arrangements for strings and choir appear on “Christmas with Jon Batiste.” Those arrangements have been featured on CBS, and the album placed No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz chart and No. 1 on the Heatseeker’s chart.
Kuehn’s bass playing was featured on Disney/Pixar’s Grammy/Oscar/Golden Globe-winning movie “Soul,” the soundtrack of which won a Grammy for Best Soundtrack, and he also recorded on Batiste’s Grammy-nominated album “Anatomy of Angels - Live at the Village Vanguard.” He has appeared on ABC’s “The View” with Tony Bennett, at the White House with Dr. Billy Taylor, with Anthony Hamilton at the Sundance Film Festival, and collaborated with Quincy Jones on an extensive arrangement of “Ode to Joy” for the Beethoven Orchester Bonn’s performance in Germany for Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary.
Kuehn completed a 24-song transcription portfolio of pre-1960 songs for Harry Connick, Jr. His research is featured in “Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz, Vol. 2,” compiled by Ronald Carter and Richard Miles. He also wrote a teacher resource guide on Duke Ellington’s Sepia Panorama, served as a clinician with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Program, as director of the Snow College Jazz Summit and Snow College Summer Jazz Workshop, as guest conductor for music education festival ensembles including local, regional and All-State ensembles, and as vice president of the Jazz Education Network - Utah Chapter.
With extensive experience in both instrumental and choral music, Kuehn joins Scranton’s talented, enthusiastic and deeply-dedicated conductor and director Cheryl Y. Boga, founder of Performance Music at The University of Scranton in leading all musical, educational and administrative aspects of programs. Shared responsibilities include conducting, rehearsing, teaching student ensembles, and producing and directing the Guest Artist Series, World Premiere Series, Nelhybel Collection and educational outreach events such as masterclasses and clinics. Performance Music programming is also supported by Janelle Decker, assistant director and percussion coordinator.
Boga and Kuehn have known each other for almost a decade (having been introduced by Joseph Boga who is Boga’s son and Kuehn’s friend and colleague). They are very much looking forward to working together to serve Scranton students and their audiences.
Kuehn comes to Scranton from Snow College in Utah, where he served as a tenured associate professor of music and director of jazz studies. He studied with Dwayne Dolphin and Jeff Mangone in Pittsburgh before attending The Juilliard School where he studied with Ben Wolfe and David Grossman for his Bachelor of Music degree, and with Ron Carter for his Master of Music degree. A native of western Pennsylvania, Kuehn hails from a family of musician/educators and is no stranger to Scranton, having performed on campus several times with various guest artist ensembles.
During his impressive career, Kuehn has performed, recorded, broadcasted and/or toured with Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Jonathan Batiste, Branford Marsalis, Khristian Dentley of Take 6, Cyrille Aimee, Randy Brecker, Veronica Swift, Anthony Hamilton, Dr. Billy Taylor, Roy Hargrove, Kurt Whalum, Emmett Cohen, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Kyle Athayde Dance Party and many others. Formerly the regular bassist for Jonathan Batiste’s groups, including the “Stay Human” band, Kuehn has made several guest appearances on the Late Show with Steven Colbert.
Five of Kuehn’s arrangements for strings and choir appear on “Christmas with Jon Batiste.” Those arrangements have been featured on CBS, and the album placed No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz chart and No. 1 on the Heatseeker’s chart.
Kuehn’s bass playing was featured on Disney/Pixar’s Grammy/Oscar/Golden Globe-winning movie “Soul,” the soundtrack of which won a Grammy for Best Soundtrack, and he also recorded on Batiste’s Grammy-nominated album “Anatomy of Angels - Live at the Village Vanguard.” He has appeared on ABC’s “The View” with Tony Bennett, at the White House with Dr. Billy Taylor, with Anthony Hamilton at the Sundance Film Festival, and collaborated with Quincy Jones on an extensive arrangement of “Ode to Joy” for the Beethoven Orchester Bonn’s performance in Germany for Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary.
Kuehn completed a 24-song transcription portfolio of pre-1960 songs for Harry Connick, Jr. His research is featured in “Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz, Vol. 2,” compiled by Ronald Carter and Richard Miles. He also wrote a teacher resource guide on Duke Ellington’s Sepia Panorama, served as a clinician with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Program, as director of the Snow College Jazz Summit and Snow College Summer Jazz Workshop, as guest conductor for music education festival ensembles including local, regional and All-State ensembles, and as vice president of the Jazz Education Network - Utah Chapter.
