With over two decades of teaching experience and dozens of musical honors achieved by his past and present students, Kevin Coltri is a household name when it comes to woodwind instruction in South Jersey. Inspired by his high school saxophone instructor, Bill Garton, whose former students include a "who's who" of professional musicians in the area, Kevin got into teaching as a way to pass on his knowledge and love of music as well as to inspire and be a mentor for the next generation of young musicians, much like how Mr Garton was to him.
A very active east coast performer and recording artist, Kevin can be heard as a featured soloist playing tenor and soprano sax on jazz vocalist Laranah Phipps Ray's critically acclaimed 2023 album "Game Changer", and alto sax on Philadelphia/NYC R&B Artist Suzanne Christine's 2022 single "Favorite Time." Kevin can also be heard playing Soprano sax on multi instrumentalist Mike Ian's 2019 jazz fusion album "Big Bang Volume 3". In addition to various freelance performances, Kevin is currently a member and can be heard playing live with Countdown to Ecstasy, Steely Dan tribute; Forever Tina, Tina Turner tribute; Will Power, Tower of Power tribute; Kenny Curcio band; Vahe Sarkissian group; and the legendary Trenton based funk/disco group Instant FUNK.
Kevin began his collegiate studies in 2002 at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD and majored in Jazz Saxophone Performance. He studied saxophone and flute under Jazz legend Gary Thomas and completed 4 semesters before transferring to The New School University in New York City. At The New School, Kevin studied saxophone with a diverse group of musicians, including Greg Osby, George Garzone, Billy Harper and Dave Glasser. He also studied clarinet with doubling virtuoso Tim Price. While at the New School, Kevin performed in ensembles coached by Reggie Workman, Jane Ira Bloom, Andy Milne, Harel Shachal, Billy Harper, Joanne Brackeen and Bobby Sanabria. Kevin graduated from The New School in 2007 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Jazz Saxophone Performance.
In 2008, Kevin enrolled in the Master of Music program at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and studied under Philadelphia saxophone heavyweights Ben Schachter and Ron Kerber. For Kevin's Master's Thesis, he wrote an elementary saxophone method book designed to be used by elementary band directors who aren't saxophonists. In his research, Kevin intensely studied the teaching methods of some of the most successful saxophone pedagogical figures and incorporated many of their methods into his own teaching. He graduated from The University of the Arts in 2010 with a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies.
A native of Medford, NJ Kevin graduated Shawnee High School in 2002. While attending Shawnee, Kevin was a regular member, on alto and tenor sax, of the SJBODA All South Jersey Wind Ensemble, NJIAJE All South Jersey Jazz Band, NJIAJE All State Jazz Band, and The Wind Symphony of Southern NJ. Kevin was a recipient of numerous best overall soloist awards at local Jazz Festivals, as well as a recipient 1 of 5 outstanding musicianship awards out of a hundreds of participants at the 2001 Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival.
Saxophone and clarinet lessons with Kevin are available on Wednesday and Thursday.