Judges: Winds & Percussion

Joseph A Straws III, born and raised in Wyandotte County, graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, and KCKCC with a degree in Audio Engineering, Joseph had been teaching and educating students for over 20 years in the inner city core, at the high school and middle school level. Owner of 2 the MAAXE Audio Video Solutions, he provides services that include music production, recording, vocal training, and performance coaching. He himself is an accomplished and published percussionist that has played Jazz Drums across the country for the past 25 plus years. His passions are the youth and the advancement of the arts back into the fabric of the inner city lives of kids, through dance, music, tech and more.

Ebonee Thomas is currently the Second Flute and Piccolo of The Dallas Opera. She has previously served as Principal Flute of the Knoxville Symphony, Principal Flute of the Florida Grand Opera, and Second Flute of the Houston Symphony. Ebonee spends her summers as a flutist with the Central City Opera in Colorado. She has also been guest principal with the Seattle Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and Santa Fe Opera. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University, her Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and completed a fellowship with the New World Symphony. In the Fall of 2021, Ebonee joined the faculty of the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory as Assistant Professor of Flute.