Kevin Heathwood
Artistic Director & Conductor

Kevin Heathwood was one of the founding members of the Bushwick Big Band when it was formed back in 2021 and served as lead trumpet until February 2023 when he was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor.

 Kevin was born and raised in Long Island, NY where he studied trumpet with Ken Sepe before attending the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and majoring in Music Education. While at Indiana, Kevin studied trumpet with former Maynard Ferguson lead trumpet player Joey Tartell, performed in several IU Jazz Ensembles, and studied Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Pedagogy with David N. Baker. In addition to his jazz exploits, he was also principal trumpet in the IU Concert Band, studied instrumental conducting with Paul W. Popiel, and was an undergraduate assistant and soloist with the 2007 Sudler Award Winning Indiana University Marching Hundred.

 After graduating from Indiana Kevin moved back to New York, moving to Harlem in 2011. He received his Master of Arts degree from Columbia University and has been teaching in the New York City department of education since 2011 with his current position being the director of bands at Townsend Harris High School at Queens College. At Townsend he conducts their Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Concert Band, and Jazz Ensemble while also teaching modern band and music technology. In September 2022 he was also appointed as an assistant conductor of the Dept. of Education’s “All City” Concert Band, an eighty-piece auditioned honors ensemble that meets weekly and comprises some of the top high school aged musicians from across New York City.

 As a performer Kevin plays trumpet with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, is the lead singer, emcee, and guitar player of several rock bands, and engages in various other performing opportunities throughout the city. He still lives in Harlem with his wife Haftam and enjoys cheering on the New York Yankees and Tottenham Hotspur, travelling, and is a karaoke aficionado.