Kurt Kilgus
Visual Instructor
Kurt's enthusiasm for music began in middle school. He first played the Clarinet, later the Tenor Sax, in the Wind Ensemble and after-school Dixieland jazz band, Razzberry Blues.
Kurt graduated from Canyon Springs High School (Moreno Valley) in 2002. For four years, he was a loyal member of the Cougar Marching Force (Tenor Sax, Baritone, and Mellophone). He played the Tenor Sax in the Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble all four years, and spent three years in the Winter Drumline (Cymbals and Bassline). He was the Assistant Drum Major his senior year. Kurt developed a particular passion for marching. Although he excelled at some sports in his youth (Soccer, Baseball, and Karate), Kurt found his real athleticism in marching. For Kurt, marching band (and all Pageantry) isn't just art, it's sport.
After high school, Kurt attended Riverside Community College to get his General Education. From 2002 to 2005, he was an exceptionally dedicated Baritone player in the Marching Tigers. He also played the Alto Sax in the Jazz Ensemble and French Horn in the Wind Ensemble. RCC led to many unique travel and performance opportunities for Kurt. He has traveled to and performed in Hawaii, Scotland, England, Spain, and soon Italy, and can be seen in much of the Marching Tigers' television and film work. He still plays Baritone with the Marching Tigers/Pep Band.
Kurt marched Mellophone, Baritone, and Euphonium for Pacific Crest from 2001 to 2005, and applied his strong sense of devotion to that organization. When he aged-out in 2005, he was named the corps' Outstanding Brass Performer, and represented Pacific Crest in the DCI Honor Corps. He also won a DCI Individual and Ensemble gold medal for Mixed Ensemble.
In 2005, Kurt graduated from Riverside Community College with his Associate of the Arts degree. He is currently unsure of where he wants to transfer and what he wants to major in.
From 2003 to 2005, Kurt was the head Visual/Marching Instructor for his alma mater, Canyon Springs, helping with musical instruction when needed.
Kurt's love of drum corps has never been about winning. Drum Corps is about people. It's about building relationships, and discovering who you are and who you want to become. Kurt lives in Moreno Valley, and enjoys consuming immense amounts of spaghetti, playing Euchre, watching movies, and going to Angel games when he's not with Pacific Crest.
2009 will be Kurt's fourth year teaching at Pacific Crest.
