Ken Ebo

Education

University of North Texas, DMA
University of South Carolina, MM
Indiana University, BM

Courses Taught

Survey of Jazz
Applied Jazz Improvisation Lessons

About

Dr. Ken Ebo recently retired from serving as the Music Placement Director for the US Marine Music Program in the Southwestern United States. He is the former head of the Instrumental Division at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, where he also served as trombone faculty and jazz improvisation instructor. Ken also served as the lead trombonist/musical director of the Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra. While completing his doctorate at UNT, Ken was the lead trombonist for the One O’Clock Lab Band and also the director of the Four O’Clock Lab Band. An active clinician, performer, educator, and adjudicator, Ken is an adjunct jazz faculty member at both Texas Christian University and UNT and the Musical Director of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra Jazz program.

As a clinician and guest artist, Ken has traveled to many programs across the country for presentations and performances to students of all levels. He is a recipient of the Musician of the Year Award from the U.S. Marine Corps. He has presented clinics and performed nationwide with the Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra at venues such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, the Lakeside Jazz Festival, Interlochen, and the Eau Claire Jazz Festival. His compositions and arrangements have been featured in USMC national recruiting efforts and performed by numerous ensembles. He is the author of Common Sense for Comeback Chops, published by Mountain Peak Music. Ken has performed with many artists in both military and civilian settings, including Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, and Frank Sinatra, Jr., among others.

Ken’s military awards and citations include multiple Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Expert Rifle and Pistol Badges, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Ken directs his own jazz orchestra in an annual series of benefit concerts for Toys for Tots in Baltimore, MD, with concerts also in Virginia Beach and, recently, in Fort Worth. Ken enjoys time with his wife, also a professional musician, and their two college kids (TCU & UNT) – who all avoid trombone, and collectively sing and play trumpet, harp, piano, ukulele, drums, and other instruments at every opportunity!