Kirby Fellis

Trombone | Palatine, IL

Kirby Fellis is a Chicago-based jazz trombonist, educator, and composer known for his dynamic artistry and deep commitment to music education. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University and his Master of Music from Northern Illinois University. Originally from South Florida, Fellis has spent more than a decade performing and collaborating with award-winning musicians across Florida, Michigan, New York, Illinois, and Indiana.

As a trombonist, Fellis has performed with leading organizations and festivals including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Jack Rudin Jazz Festival. His performance credits include collaborations with a wide range of acclaimed artists and ensembles such as Darius Rucker, Terell Stafford, Kurt Elling, Nate Smith, James Carter, Jennifer Hudson, Sean Jones, Johnny Mathis, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, and the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra.

An active and respected jazz educator, Fellis is a long-standing member of the Jazz Education Network, the International Trombone Association, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra, and he is a frequent performer and clinician at the Midwest Clinic. Mentored by distinguished educators including Rodney Whitaker, Reggie Thomas, and Christopher Dorsey, Fellis has developed a versatile and student-centered teaching approach through clinics, masterclasses, consultations, rehearsal preparation, and adjudication.

Kirby Fellis currently serves as a LEAD Faculty Fellow and Jazz Ensemble Director at Harper College, where he is a full-time faculty member dedicated to cultivating the next generation of jazz musicians.