Kamstra Trio Featuring Scott Betts

Darin Kamstra, DMA, is a professor of music at Colorado Mesa University, director of Jazz Studies and Percussion and head of the Department of Music. Kamstra teaches percussion ensemble, percussion lessons, percussion pedagogy, jazz improvisation and advanced music technology. He believes in fostering students with diverse abilities so that they can adapt to a wide variety of musical opportunities in the future.

Kamstra currently serves as principal timpanist/percussionist of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, performs on drum set with the Grand Junction Rockestra and CMU Faculty Jazz Quintet, and appears frequently as a percussion and jazz clinician and recitalist regionally and nationally. He served as principal timpanist of the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with professional orchestras, jazz groups and music theater companies throughout Colorado, Illinois and the Pacific Northwest. Darin is also a compser and arranger. Check out his YouTube channel: Darin Kamstra Music

Timothy Emmons is an instructor of jazz bands; lecturer of history of popular music, music in world cultures, music and human communication and beginning jazz improvisation; and is the director of commercial music combos. He is also a member of the bass section of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra.

He is an active freelance musician in Los Angeles, California and a veteran of more than 300 film, record and television scores. An eclectic musician, Emmons has played Contrabass on recordings for Stevie Wonder and Beyonce, Barbara Streisand, Josh Groban, Justin Timberlake, Michael Buble, Kenny G, Andrea Boccelli, young opera phenomenon Jackie Evancho, as well as Katherine Jenkins and Paul Potts and pop singers Rufus Wainright, Brandy, John Tesh, Celine Dion and Toni Braxton.

He has performed live with a diverse array of artists including Natalie Cole; jazz guitar virtuoso Joe Pass; rhythm and blues pioneer Bo Diddley, master jazz saxophonist Art Pepper; Motown artists Mary Wells and Martha Reeves; swing-era staples Lionel Hampton and the Glenn Miller orchestra.

Tim Fox graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Music Education. He has played trumpet and/or piano in the Chicago area, around Colorado's Western Slope, and on the road, with the likes of "The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra," under the direction of Buddy Morrow, "The Temptations" and "The Four Tops," Eric Alexander, Ed Soph, Ernie Watts, Red Skelton, Barbara Eden, Connie Francis, Mitzi Gaynor, and with many more. He is currently a freelance musician, regularly collaborating with musicians from Denver to Grand Junction, a member of the Colorado Mesa University Faculty Jazz Quartet, and a member of the Josefina Mendez Jazz trio. Tim also facilitates, with the generous support of Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Roaring Fork Jazz Workshop.

Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, Scott Betts earned his Bachelors in Music Education with an  instrumental emphasis in 1977 and a Masters in Music Education in 1984 at the University of Northern  Colorado. He then moved to the Grand Valley where he has taught at Central High School, Bookcliff  Middle School, Palisade High School. In the Spring of 2014, he retired after 22 years at Redlands  Middle School where he taught orchestra and choir. Scott performs as a trumpeter and vocalist with  numerous organizations and at solo engagements. He also sings and plays guitar with his jazz quartet,  Hot Tub Jazz. Since the summer of 2008, Betts has been the conductor for the High Desert Opera. Scott  is the 2021 recipient of the Central City Opera Guild’s Educator of the Year award. Besides making  music, Scott’s hobbies include exercise and dancing the Argentine Tango with his wife Alice.  Check out his YouTube Channel: Scott Betts Music