SUMNER ACADEMY
DIRECTOR of BANDS
Sumner Academy of Arts and Science is a nationally ranked magnet school in Kansas City, Kansas which prepares students for high-level academic and creative pursuits. Named for abolitionist Charles Sumner, it started in 1905 during a period of racial tension as a segregated school, which offered vocational training, but emphasized college-preparatory training. Located at 1610 N. 8th Street, the current architecturally significant complex began with its Art Deco core in 1937, but has been repeatedly expanded. The segregated Sumner High School closed in 1978, converting at that time to its present high-challenge magnet program. Sumner typically ranks high in national ratings of secondary schools.
Sumner Academy maintains high behavioral and academic standards for its students. Students must receive a letter of acceptance before enrolling at Sumner Academy and once enrolled are required to maintain GPA of 2.5 or higher to continue to attend.
One factor responsible for Sumner Academy's rigorous academic standing is its participation in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program which is based on a 5.0 scale. Sumner began offering students the opportunity to participate in the IB program in 1987. The academy offers 20 different IB classes and over one-third of the faculty have received extensive IB training. Although only juniors and seniors are eligible to take IB classes, the effect of the IB program permeates the Sumner Academy curriculum at all grade levels. Ninth and tenth graders often take pre-IB courses with the anticipation of enrolling in future IB work. Students have the opportunity to take International Baccalaureate coursework and exams. The IB participation rate at Sumner Academy of Arts & Science is 97 percent. The student body makeup is 41 percent male and 59 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 79 percent. Sumner Academy of Arts & Science is 1 of 6 high schools in the Kansas City.
Dr. Daniel Kirk is the Director of Bands at Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences in Kansas City, Kansas. In this position, he conducts the Sumner concert and athletic bands and teaches courses in IB Music and Music Appreciation.
Prior to his appointment at Sumner, Dr. Kirk served as the Director of Instrumental Activities at Reinhardt University in Atlanta. At Reinhardt, he conducted the Wind Ensemble, taught courses in Conducting and Music Education, as well as oversaw all ensembles, teaching, curriculum, and operational aspects of the instrumental program. Dr. Kirk has served as a guest conductor for numerous high school honor band clinics and festivals across the country.
From 2008 to 2013, Dr. Kirk taught in the Blue Valley School District of Overland Park, Kansas for five years. As the Director of Bands at Blue Valley West High School he managed all aspects of the wind band program, which included conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and instructing the nationally renowned Red and Silver Brigade. The Blue Valley West Symphonic Wind Ensemble was awarded Highest Kansas State Level Honors by the National Foundation for Music Education; this ensemble was also selected to appear in honored performance at the 2013 Kansas State Music Educators' Convention. Kirk was nationally awarded the George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award by National Association for Music Education (NAfME) in 2012.
Dr. Kirk holds degrees from Missouri Western State University (Music Education and Piano Performance, 2007), Northwestern University (Wind Conducting, 2015), and Michigan State University (Wind Conducting, 2017). He credits his teachers and mentors Avian Bear, David Bennett, Jane Wheat, Mallory Thompson, and Kevin Sedatole. His professional affiliations include CBDNA, NAfME, NBA, GMEA, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.