Chris Burnett is an alto-saxophonist and composer, as well as a recording artist, artist, and educator. He began his active career when he was 18 years old, when he was accepted by audition to be a performing artist in the US Army Bands Career Program. There, he performed for audiences at various locations throughout the United States and abroad. Over the next three decades, Burnett continued to be a life-long learner and has performed professionally in music for more than 30 years. After his parents had taken him on numerous trips throughout childhood, Burnett was raised in Paola. James R. Fuchs, a clarinetist, was the first to help him in his studies of instrumental music. He was also the school band director at his local school. He introduced him to professional saxophone players such as Charles Molina, Gary Foster and Gary Foster in those early years. Many notable teachers have taught him, including at the Armed Forces School of Music and Webster University, Columbia College and Berklee College of Music. He was the former director of Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Jazz Ensemble Program (formerly University of Missouri Rolla). He also served as the director of NATO Jazz Ensemble. Burnett was also a featured performer in the Faculty Jazz Ensemble of Armed Forces School of Music, which was led by Maurice Williams, Jr., the former leader of Army Blues Jazz Ensemble. For his original arrangement and composition for big band, Daedalus, Mr. Burnett was the National Federation of Music Clubs’ 1995 5-Star Award of Merit winner. Daedalus was recorded initially by the Engineer Center Jazz Ensemble. It was published on the highly-acclaimed compact disc recording of the 399th US Army Band called “Essayons”. This recording was also the first CD release in the history of that military band. Chris Burnett is a respected jazz artist in Kansas City and has a solid reputation as an alto saxophonist. Two commercial CD recordings of Burnett are available on Artists Recording Collective. His professional memberships include the American Federation of Musicians (Kansas City, Local 34-627), The Recording Academy(GRAMMY(r), and US Army Career and Alumni Programs (ACAP). He is a member the Kansas City Youth Jazz Advisory Council and was elected to the Board (At-Large), of Kansas City’s historic Mutual Musicians Foundation. Since 1984, Mr. Burnett is a writer-affiliate to Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
