About me
Kevin Struthers '89 has a M.A. in Arts Management from The American University; and a B.A. in Music (Independent Major in Music, Emphasis on Musicology) from W&L. He is the senior director of programming for Jazz and Special Concerts at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He is responsible for the artistic programming and day-to-day direction of the jazz program, and a variety of special concerts from classical to country at the Kennedy Center. Highlights of Struthers’ thirty-year Kennedy Center tenure include production and presentation of: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Jazz Masters Tribute Concerts of 2016- 2019, and 2022-2024 honoring jazz artists with the nation’s highest recognition in music; the creation of the interdisciplinary Jason + series, showcasing jazz pianist Jason Moran with artists and companies of varied genre; “Ellington 125” marking the 125th anniversary year of the birth of Duke Ellington with events of multiple genre over several months; the “Blue Note at 75” celebration of the iconic record label’s diamond anniversary; the “Jazz in Our Time: Living Jazz Legends” award ceremony and concert, honoring over thirty international jazz icons; concerts marking the careers and birthdays of James Moody, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Taylor, Jimmy Heath and Benny Golson; the implementation of international public diplomacy “Jazz Ambassador” tours with the U.S. Department of State; production of commercially-released Kennedy Center compact disc recordings and terrestrial-, satellite- and online-radio programs Jazz Night in America, JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Taylor’s Jazz at the Kennedy Center, NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz, and Toast of the Nation.
