Kevin Guess

I have been a professional musician for nearly 30 years and a piano teacher for just a few years less. I earned B.M. & M.M. degrees from the University of Houston, where I had the distinct privilege of studying piano & composition with the Pulitzer prize winning opera composer and former concert pianist, Carlisle Floyd. His musical understanding overflowed, and his knowledge of piano technique was a blessing. As a collaborative pianist, I have been working since graduate school with vocalists & instrumentalists in concerts, recitals, and opera & theater productions. I have collaborated with Houston Ballet Academy, Opera to Go!, Orchestra X, Opera Rediviva (now Opera in the Heights), San Jacinto College, HITS Theatre School, Lone Star College and with various individual musicians and groups. As music director for HITS I also taught music to students, arranged abbreviated musicals for keyboards and drums, played for class shows & fundraisers, and prepared the chorus and orchestra for full scale musical productions at Miller Outdoor Theater.

At Lone Star College North Harris, I played for the Jazz Choir, for students & faculty in recital and for many musical productions. I also taught music theory & ear training, developing an approach that enabled students to better connect theory with their own musical experiences and to better use it in their own musical endeavors. In addition, I served as music director for the theater department’s 2013 production of Godspell. 

In 2007 I began to pursue what had become a growing interest in Jazz. Over the next few years I had the privilege of studying with noted Houston jazz pianists Joe LoCascio, Paul English and Bob Henschen. I have played with many people around the Houston area including the Houstonian Big Band, The Dirty Jazz Players, Ermelinda Cuellar, Richard Cholakian, Thomas Helton, Woody Witt and the late Sebastian “Bash” Whittaker.  

Currently, I teach privately and perform in various capacities. For more performances go to the Music.