Principal Bass
Jeffrey Kail
Jeff has performed as a guest musician at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Utah, Atlanta, Nashville, and Grant Park symphonies. He performed as a soloist in Mozart’s “Per questa bella mano” with the Kansas City Symphony on the Classics Uncorked Series in 2014. He gave the world premiere of Kerwin Young’s Concerto for Bass at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2013, where he served as an Adjunct Professor of Bass for ten years.
Jeff studied at Indiana University and attended the Verbier Festival in Switzerland for five summers and the Aspen Music Festival and School as an orchestral fellow for six summers. At these summer festivals, he first fell in love with the mountains. Jeff has summitted 56 of Colorado’s 14ers, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Rainier. And this May, Jeff is relocating full-time to Jackson, Wyoming, where his family is based.
Jeff is honored to have taken part in the Kansas City Symphony’s transformational growth over the past sixteen seasons by leading one of the finest bass sections in the country.
He will continue to perform as a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra and as a guest orchestral bass player. Looking forward, when Jeff is not with his instrument, he will happily be chasing his two boys, James (9) and Charlie (7), down a ski slope or up a mountain trail in Jackson Hole alongside his wife, Emma.
Jeff Kail joined the Kansas City Symphony in 2006 and has held the Principal Bass chair since 2008. His mentor, the late Ralph Jones, principal bass of the Atlanta Symphony, inspired him to become an orchestral musician and teacher.
Jeff has performed as a guest musician at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Utah, Atlanta, Nashville, and Grant Park symphonies. He performed as a soloist in Mozart’s “Per questa bella mano” with the Kansas City Symphony on the Classics Uncorked Series in 2014. He gave the world premiere of Kerwin Young’s Concerto for Bass at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2013, where he served as an Adjunct Professor of Bass for ten years.
Jeff studied at Indiana University and attended the Verbier Festival in Switzerland for five summers and the Aspen Music Festival and School as an orchestral fellow for six summers. At these summer festivals, he first fell in love with the mountains. Jeff has summitted 56 of Colorado’s 14ers, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Rainier. And this May, Jeff is relocating full-time to Jackson, Wyoming, where his family is based.
Jeff is honored to have taken part in the Kansas City Symphony’s transformational growth over the past sixteen seasons by leading one of the finest bass sections in the country.
He will continue to perform as a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra and as a guest orchestral bass player. Looking forward, when Jeff is not with his instrument, he will happily be chasing his two boys, James (9) and Charlie (7), down a ski slope or up a mountain trail in Jackson Hole alongside his wife, Emma.
My second earliest musical memory is listening to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” while my older brother attempted break-dancing.
My teacher in high school was Ralph Jones, the principal bassist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. For two years I had weekly lessons with him and attended many ASO concerts. It was his dedication to his students, and his enthusiasm about the orchestra that inspired me to be a musician.
The confirmation that people can undoubtedly achieve more by working together than they ever could on their own.
The most challenging piece I’ve played in recent memory is Avner Dorman’s “Lost Souls”, though Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 is no cakewalk either.
I’ve been into Richard Strauss’ Metamorphosen recently, as well the latest release by Big Boi.
Johannes Brahms. His music is incredibly beautiful, and the bass parts are definitely some of the best.
Being a part of a group that truly has momentum.
Performing Mahler’s 1st Symphony will always stick in my mind. This was my first time playing the prominent (and exposed) bass solo that begins the third movement, and it was my first year as principal bass with the KCS. It is eight bars that will forever leave you wondering how something that sounds so easy could be so difficult.
The Farmhouse! Incredible local food.
I hope my great accomplishment is yet to come, but with how difficult it is to win a job in a professional orchestra, I am very proud to be a member of the Kansas City Symphony.