This is the first year at Northeast Community College for new director of instrumental activities, Kevin McLouth.  McLouth was a graduate of Circle High School in Circle, Montana and then earned his bachelor of science degree in music education from Dickinson State University and his master’s degree in music from the University of South Dakota.  He served as band director at Shelby High School in Shelby, Montana and most recently was band director at Bon Homme Public Schools in Tyndall, South Dakota.

McLouth is in charge of rehearsing a jazz ensemble of students that go out and tour the area every spring in an effort to recruit students, as well as show off the college to students that may not know about the programs at Northeast. He also rehearses a concert band that is made up of college students and community members that performs four concerts a year . The Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble (NAJE) is also under his direction and this group performs at functions around the area and is made up of primarily community members, but will sometimes use college students. McLouth also teaches Foundations of Theory and Introduction to Music and all instrumental lessons on the campus except guitar, piano, and strings.

Having college degrees are not the only part of McLouth’s musical career.  He has played the trumpet since the 5th grade and said, “I have a wide range of experiences that have included: Playing in churches, playing in an oldies Rock and Roll band, playing in small and large jazz ensembles, and even singing in an R&B/80’s band called ‘The Usual Suspects’.”

Kevin McLouth has taken over the director of instrumental activities position from Dr. Randy Neuharth who retired last fall after 13 years at Northeast.