Kevin Brunkhorst's first memories of music included seeing the Beatles play ‘Hey Jude,’ which was aired on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 15, 1970. He received his first guitar for Christmas that year. When the local high school band director tested everyone for musical aptitude, he came in second and was steered toward the clarinet. (The promised switch to the saxophone later on never happened.) From the Beatles, his musical diet expanded: Led Zeppelin, Yes, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Genesis, Miles Davis, Weather Report, and Pat Metheny.
 
He attended the University of North Texas 1983-87 (Bachelor of Music, Composition) and 2001-04 (Master of Music, Jazz Studies). In between those stints, he worked in the music industry. He was a member of UNT’s renowned One O’Clock Lab Band (1986, 2002-2004), studied jazz guitar with Jack Petersen and Fred Hamilton, and composition with Martin Mailman, Larry Winsor, and Cindy McTee.
 
He started at StFX in 2004, teaching jazz guitar, jazz composition and music technology. In subsequent years, he also taught courses in music theory, modern jazz history, history of popular music, and The Beatles. He also leads the Guitar Ensemble, in which guitarists learn a very high standard of performance and reading skills.
 
He has released four CDs as a leader or co-leader (on Armored Records), produced recordings for several others, and written about 100 charts for guitar ensemble, many of which are published by the UNC Jazz Press.

Kevin stood as Chair of the Music Department from 2014-2021.

Education

M. Mus., University of North Texas, TX

Recordings

CDBaby
iTunes
Spotify

Guitar Ensemble Charts, published by University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press

Guitar Studio

Videos