Justin Binek
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- Olathe, KS
- Arranger
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Justin Binek is an internationally recognized jazz and classical singer, pianist, and clinician/adjudicator, as well as a prolific arranger and composer. A contributing author to Diana Spradling’s groundbreaking book, Jazz Singing: Developing Artistry and Authenticity, Justin has presented, directed, and performed many times at JEN, IAJE, and ISME Conferences. Justin is currently an at-large member of the NAfME Council for Jazz Education, and he has served on the boards of Pennsylvania-ACDA and the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education. Justin was a guest artist/clinician at the 2013 and 2016 Standard Bank (South Africa) National Youth Jazz Festivals, he served as the director of the New Jersey Honors Jazz Choir from 2007 to 2013, and he has directed numerous other state- and region-level honors choirs. Justin is also a featured in-app clinician on Michele Weir’s ScatAbility app for iOS. His published scholarly works include his 2017 dissertation, “The evolution of Ella Fitzgerald’s syllabic choices in scat singing: a critical analysis of her Decca recordings, 1943-1952,” and the original song “Oote” and the accompanying analysis, “Jan Hanlo’s Oote and Jazz Music: A Compositional Journey,” published in Ode aan Oote (Uitgelezen Boeken, 2016).
Justin currently serves on the faculty of Kansas City Kansas Community College as an Assistant Professor of Music specializing in Music Theory and Jazz Improvisation. He also serves on the faculties of the Halewynstichting Jazz Workshop in Dworp, Belgium, and the ProMusic Summer Camp in Tiffin, OH. Justin received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance with a Jazz Studies emphasis from the University of North Texas in 2017. Justin earned a Master’s Degree in Voice Performance from Western Michigan University, and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education, Saxophone Performance, and Voice Performance from the University of Mary.