Will Kjeer began studying classical piano at age 6 and discovered his passion for jazz at 13. He attended high school at the Saint Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts, and soon began performing at mainstay twin cities jazz venues including the Artists’ Quarter, the Dakota Jazz Club, the Black Dog Cafe, and at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival with both youth and professional groups. Will spent two years as a member of the Dakota Combo before graduating from high school. He then had the opportunity to spend a year at Interlochen Arts Academy. Will recently completed his first year of college at the California Institute of the Arts, and will be transferring to McGill University in the fall to continue his degree in performance.

Raised in Hudson, Ohio, 20 year old jazz guitarist Lucas Kadish has been immersed in music for as long as he can remember. Currently residing in New York City, Lucas has won various awards in his musical career. He was named a National YoungArts finalist his senior year of high school where he was chosen as the one guitarist to be in the jazz combo that traveled to Miami for intensive master classes and performances. He was also named a semi-finalist in the United States Presidential Scholars of the Arts program along with two other jazz musicians in country. In 2015, Lucas was selected for the prestigious international Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Residency for composition. There he studied with Jason Moran, JD Allen, Eric Revis, Cyrus Chestnut, Carmen Lundy, Eric Harland, and Andre Hayward.
Although billed under Lucas’ name, the trio operates as a musical collective, playing original music by Lucas Kadish, Connor Parks, and Devon Gillingham. All students of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, the trio has been playing ever since they met in 2014. This Minnesotan stop on the tour is their second to last before they head up for a performance in Devon’s hometown, as part of the 2016 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.

Minnesota native Zosha Warpeha is a violinist and vocalist currently based in New York City. Inspired by music from many regions of the world, she performs a range of contemporary and folk styles on a 5-string violin, letting her voice weave itself in and out the music at will. Zosha is currently studying at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.