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Keith Pitner

About Me

Studying music since the age of 10, trombonist Keith Pitner has been described by the Dundee Weekly Journal as “...technically astounding and musically refreshing.” He won the Illinois High School Association's Best Trombonist award two years in a row in high school and also played in the All-State Honors Jazz Band in those two years. Originally from Algonquin, IL, Keith now studies and performs in Champaign, IL, attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in pursuit of a Music Education degree and studying trombone under Jim Pugh. At the University of Illinois he was the recipient of the Doris Vance Harmon scholarship, the School of Music's only four year full-ride scholarship. He has played at jazz clubs, malls, weddings, funerals, church services, hotels, and many other places where music is appreciated. He has shared the stage with great musicians such as Maynard Furgeson, Marvin Hamlisch, Monica Mancini. He also teaches private lessons to young trombone students in hopes to help kids of all ages learn how much fun and rewarding playing a musical instrument well can be. He also leads the jazz groove band The Hatters Mad, which has put out two albums, Commence the Jigglin' in 2006 and A Change in Color in 2008.