Entrigue Magazine December 2014 February 2014 | Page 13

musician. I don’t want to remind a person of
someone else when I play. I want them to hear my
music and know that it’s me! Of course I have
many musicians that I admire and love to listen
to, but I don’t strive to be like them or sound like
them. I do take their creative energy and wisdom
though and turn that in to my own masterpiece.
DB: Are you still Chair of the Music Department
at the Alabama School of Fine Arts? Tell us about
that and the years as an educator.
KS: Yes, I absolutely love my job! I’ve been a
music educator there for 14 years and I believe
it’s one of the most rewarding things I do in
my life. Working with young aspiring musicians
and imparting what I’ve learned gives me so
much gratification! I want them to do amazing
things....but they have to be prepared for that, and
that’s a big part of my job.....getting them
prepared! I’ve been Chair of the Music Dept.
there for 7 years and can’t think of leaving
anytime soon. I conduct the symphony orchestra
there; teach applied flute and a music theory class.

DB: Your debut album “Crossing Over” from
2011 has done extremely well and early in 2013
you released “Rite of Passage”. How successful
has this album been and what are the fans and
industry people expressing about it?
KS: Thank you so much! I was blessed to release
a very successful independent jazz album in 2011
as the “new kid on the block”. I know how hard
that is to do and to have been received with so
much enthusiasm and support is amazing to me.
“Rite of Passage” has surpassed my expectations
even more. The first single, “Golden”, was the #1
track added/played on national radio the day of its
release and is still going strong! The industry has
been talking about how authentic it is and I hear it
popped up on the pre-Grammy
nominations list. Next record, I hope and pray to
be on THE Grammy nominations list!
DB: “Rite of Passage” is an album I really
enjoyed. I really enjoyed the track “Sweet
Obsession”. Will there b