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Saxophonist, composer, and educator John Kocur is Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at �鶹��Ƶ where he directs the Jazz Workshop and teaches jazz history and improvisation. He previously taught at Northern Virginia Community College. He serves as saxophonist with the 257th Army Band of the D.C. National Guard, “the Band of the Nation’s Capital.” 

With Dr. Charles Ciorba, Kocur published an improvisation method book titled Straight from the Source: A Tune-Based Approach to Learning Jazz Improvisation. He has presented at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Annual Conference and U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. Kocur has also served as guest conductor for the VBODA District XVI District Jazz Band, Albemarle County All-District Middle School Jazz Band, and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Jazz Farm event. He has adjudicated for the Chantilly Jazz Festival, Festivals of Music, and Maryland All-State Jazz Band auditions. Kocur founded and is the current president of the Loudoun Jazz Society, a chapter of the Jazz Education Network (JEN). The society presents monthly jam sessions, concerts, and masterclasses in Loudoun County, VA. 

As a bandleader, Kocur has released two albums of original music that received reviews in national media outlets. The John Kocur Quartet has performed at Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, Strathmore, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and the DC Jazz Festival. As a sideman, Kocur has performed with GRAMMY-nominated artists Jamie Cullum and Christylez Bacon, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Maria Schneider and Christian McBride, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, bluegrass duo Herb & Hanson, Indian Classical violinist Nistha Raj, and the Virginia Grand Military Band. He has performed overseas at the Jazz Ascona Festival in Switzerland, the first annual Nagano Jazz Festival in Japan, and Jazz Days in Differdange, Luxembourg. 

Previously, John was selected for the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency program at the John F. Kennedy Center, where he worked with jazz legends such as Curtis Fuller, Dr. Billy Taylor, Carmen Lundy, George Cables, and Winard Harper. John was also selected as an Artist-In-Residence at Strathmore Performing Arts Center in Bethesda, MD, through which he presented a series of solo concerts and lectures. 

Assistant Professor of Music 

• MUSI 389, Jazz Workshop Ensemble
• MUSI 311, Jazz Studies
• MUSI 107, Jazz & Blues in America
• MUSI 464, Instrumental Music Methods I (Jazz) 
• MUSI 215, Theory for Pop and Jazz

Degrees

• B.M. Instrumental Music, �鶹��Ƶ 
• M.M. Jazz Studies, Howard University