2015 1st Prize Jazz: Gunnar Gidner | VEA Competition

2015 1st Prize Jazz: Gunnar Gidner

gunnargidner

Click here to read the story “UMKC Jazz Student Comes Back From A Spinal Injury To Win National Competition”!

b. 1992, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Gunnar Gidner, professional saxophonist and clarinetist, began studying the Clarinet at a very young age, leading him to study the saxophone throughout his teenage years. While he was in High School, he was given the opportunity to participate in events such as the All-State Jazz Ensemble in Ohio as well as the Monterey Jazz Festival in California. Gidner also performed at the famous Blue Wisp Jazz Club every Friday night as part of “The Blue Wisp Young Lion’s Sextet”, whom the owner Ed Felson cultivated. Furthering his musical career after High School, Gunnar attended the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in pursuit of a Jazz Studies degree.  He currently resides in Kansas City, MO studying at UMKC under the instruction of Bobby Watson and Dan Thomas.