Kurt started playing drum in middle school and was surrounded by many fine musicians in Bloomington IN. In high school continued he studies with Steve Davis (Drum Set) and Robert Stright (Vibraphone). He matriculated to the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and was awarded the Kenny Arnoff Percussion Scholarship and the Undergraduate Dean’s Award. While at IU he was able to perform with locals such as Mel Rhyne, Rob Dixon, and Al Cobine. After graduating he moved to Chicago IL and began working in the city’s Jazz, Blues and Pop music scenes. One of his earliest mentor was the great altoist Richie Cole. Kurt performed regularly with Richie’s Alto Madness Orchestra and Quartet around the Midwest including a special performance with Ben Sidran at the Madison Jazz Festival. He recorded the incidental music for the Steppenwolf Theatre premier of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, August Osage County. Today Kurt can be found teaching a large private lesson studio, conducting clinics at high schools and university and playing with some of Chicago’s finest musicians including Frank Catalano, Abby Riccards, Tim Fitzgerald and Stephanie Browning.