Kevin M. McManus holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Penn State University, a Graduate Performer’s Certificate from SUNY Purchase Conservatory, and a Masters Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. His primary teachers include Mark L. Lusk, Robert D. Hamrick, Matty Shiner, Jim Pugh, Dick Nash, Peter Sullivan, Murray Crewe, James Markey, and Randy Purcell.
Mr. McManus has performed on Broadway in New York City and completed two First National Tours of the shows Urinetown: the Musical and Little Women the Broadway Musical. In the summer of 2009, Mr. McManus was a featured soloist in Pittsburgh’s Civic Light Opera production of Swing! Kevin was also featured alongside Dick Nash, Bill Watrous, Bill Tole, George Roberts, and Harry Betts at the 2009 NAMM show in Anaheim, California. He has performed with such artists as Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Josh Groban, Clay Aiken, Wayne Newton, Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons, Aretha Franklin, Pattie LaBelle, Glen Campbell, Maureen McGovern, Isaac Hayes, Lou Rawls, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Don Rickles, Regis Philbin, Joan Rivers, and The Manhattan Transfer. He has performed with the Pittsburgh and Wheeling Symphony Orchestras, Pittsburgh Opera Theatre, the Pittsburgh Ballet, and the River City Brass Band.
Mr. McManus is the founder and leader of The Bone Forum, a jazz 10 trombone ensemble with rhythm section; The Kevin M. McManus Jazz Octet, a swingin’ eight-piece jazz ensemble; and The Pittsburgh Trombone Project, one of America’s premier chamber music ensembles. He recently performed at the American Trombone Workshop in a new collaborative project with Matt Niess and the Capital Bones entitled “Pennsylvania Roots.” Kevin can be seen and heard internationally on PBS’s My Music and American Soundtrack Series, with the latest show being Engelbert Humperdinck Live in Hawaii. He has an active touring schedule and can frequently be heard across America with The Four Tops, The Temptations, and The Latshaw Productions Pops Orchestra.
In 2011, Mr. McManus gave the world premiere of Todd Goodman’s Concert for Trombone and Piano. The Goodman Concerto was written for Kevin and has since won first prize in The British Trombone Society’s 2012 Concerto Competition. In 2013, a new trombone sonata, The Storr of Trotternish, was written for Kevin by composer Dr. Daniel Perttu. In 2016, Kevin premiered Andrew Kohn’s Finney’s Birthplace for Trombone and Chamber Orchestra with Maestro Roger Zahab and the University of Pittsburgh Orchestra.
As a writer and arranger, Kevin has written for many organizations including The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The McKeesport Symphony, The New Trombone Collective, and Bo Wagner’s “Rat Pack.”
Mr. McManus is currently an elementary general music teacher in the Plum Borough School District and on the faculties of Seton Hill University, Messiah College, Westminster College, Westmoreland County Community College, and The Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. Kevin has also served on the faculties of Waynesburg and Frostburg State Universities and taught elementary instrumental music in the Gateway School District.
In 2014, The Kevin M. McManus Excellence in Jazz Scholarship and Award was established in perpetuity at Westminster College for outstanding undergraduate music students. His extensive knowledge of ensemble playing, repertoire, and rehearsal techniques for groups of all ages have brought Kevin invitations to appear as guest conductor and clinician throughout America. Kevin is proud to be a member of The Pittsburgh’s Musicians’ Union, Local 60-471, where he has served as a member of The Finance Advisory and Price List Committees. Kevin is currently serving as the Jazz Content Area Representative for the Pennsylvania Music Education Association. Mr. McManus is an artist for the Edwards Instrument Company.