In addition to performing throughout the year – including free summer concerts and a jazz festival in the park – the Kicks Band is dedicated to jazz arts education. That’s why they started offering High School Artist Residencies in 2014 to high schools around the region and organize the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo All-City High School Jazz Band Festival. The Residencies include small group master classes and side-by-side playing with the Kicks Band musicians, while the Festival allows each city’s high schools to show off their musical talent.

Founded in 1975 by Edward Christianson, the organization was created so that musicians could enjoy music socializing, playing great big band literature and improvising jazz. They met on a Saturday morning, once a month – just for “kicks.” Since 2014, the Band’s focus has shifted towards performance and jazz arts education. Today the 17-member band roster includes professional musicians and music educators, all dedicated to performing and performing America’s original art form, jazz.