Kevin Nortness

Kevin Nortness is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and audio engineer.
He studied composition at Cornish in Seattle and Portland State University, completing his training as apprentice to the legendary composer/pianist Andrew Hill.

Kevin has been an active contributor to Seattle's performance arts community since 1993- working as a composer, arranger, collaborator, instrumentalist, music director, and sound engineer for theater, dance, film, studio, and concert productions. Most notably, Kevin contributed ten years as a resident composer and performer with the internationally acclaimed The Degenerate Art Ensemble. Other notable contributions include Teatro ZinZanni (2007), the Moisture Festival (2010-2015), the 1448 Festival (1998-2016), musical director for Vashon Youth Theater (2013-2016), and instrumental instructor and sound engineer for Seattle Drum School (2006-2012).   

He has received grants as a composer or collaborating composer from The Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, Artist Trust, The Poncho Foundation, Meet the Composer, the NEA, the Jack Straw Foundation, and The Nesholm Family Foundation.

In 2021, Kevin started the Orbit Afterschool band drop-in club for aspiring high school musicians on Vashon Island and ran the program with co-director Kenny Alton for two years.

The result of a year and a half of planning, in January of 2025, Kevin launched the nonprofit Sustainable Music Northwest for which he is executive director. The organization aims to enrich northwest communities by presenting neighborhood based live music events that are designed to use the power of live music to help bring neighbors together. The initiative has been was a joint effort between Kevin and the Musicians’ Association of Seattle Local 76-493, and Sustainable Music Northwest has gladly promised to strictly follow union pay scale in their hiring of musicians.

Kevin regularly performs, teaches, and records on the following instruments: Saxophone, Upright Bass, Clarinet, Piano, and Trumpet.