Phil Burkhead
Phil Burkhead
Adjunct Professor
Jazz Keyboard, Jazz Combos, Faculty Jazz Ensemble
Office: FA 369
Phone: (859) 572-5375
E-mail: burkheadp1@nku.edu
- Louisville, KY native Phillip Lee Burkhead began teaching himself to play piano at the age of eight by emulating pop and jazz artists. In 1979, he began his formal training at Bellarmine College as a piano and voice major. Studying under John Craig, Kay Lawrence and Steve Crews he was awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for academic and performance excellence.
- Mr. Burkhead was the holder of a four year Honors Scholarship in the Jazz and Studio Music program at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. In 1989 he was chosen to receive the Dino Santangelo Annual Award, and the Presser Scholar Award for both academic and performance achievement. Phillip was also awarded Best Keyboard Artist by Cincinnati Magazine, the University of Boulder Jazz Festival Soloist Award while a member of the CCM group, Jazz Hates Johnny, which was voted Outstanding Combo in the USA and Canada by Downbeat Magazine. Mr. Burkhead earned a Vocational Teaching License and a Master of Education from Wright State University in 2003.
- Mr. Burkhead has taught at Miami University, Central State University, the CCM College Preparatory Program, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and will begin a new position this fall as the Adjunct Jazz Piano Professor at the University of Dayton. He taught music in Cincinnati's Catholic school system; from 1993 to 2005 Phillip was an instructor at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. During his time at SCPA he taught Piano, Theory/Composition, Improvisation, Music Technology, Jazz Ensemble, and was the Musical Director of The Book of Five Rings, which toured Gifu, Japan in 1999. He has been included in the "Who's Who of American Teachers" four times.
- Currently Phillip performs weekly at the Dee Felice Cafe and is very active as a freelance musician.