A native of Pennsylvania, Curtis first came to Ohio to study music at Kent State University. While studying at Kent State, he participated in multiple ensembles as both a trumpet player and a piano/keyboard player in everything from athletic bands to jazz bands and combos to symphonic wind ensembles, chamber groups and orchestras. A few highlights from his college career include being accompanist for the Kent State Gospel Choir’s Eastern European Tour and a featured soloist for KSU Jazz Ensemble 1 at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival.
Since college, Curtis has been an active performer and instructor, mainly in the pop/rock and jazz areas, performing with the band Winslow, The Kyle Magilavy Quartet, Dorianne Denard, and Zach and the Bright Lights. While performing, Curtis has had the privilege of playing in backing bands for Helen Welch, Bobby Selvaggio, and both Steve Turre and Christine Ohlman of NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band and has appeared in bands that have opened for Earth Wind & Fire, Incubus, OAR, Lupe Fiasco, Robert Randolph, and several other nationally known performers. In May 2021 he completed a master’s degree program at Azusa Pacific University in music entrepreneurship.
As a teacher, Curtis has been with Canal Fulton Music since 2023 and has students in the Akron area. Previously, he was also an instructor at the Aurora School of Music as well as multiple camp settings.
