User:Meganbirdsall

At home on stage and in the spotlight from a very young age with an innate love and talent for music and singing, Megan began performing as a dancer, and the world of dance brought her first taste of national recognition. Repeated national wins in song and dance competitions took her to Hawaii at age 15 where she danced in the nationally televised Hula Bowl.

Her experience with commercials starting at the age of 7; her first movie, “My Antonia”, at age 14; and her ongoing dance training set the stage for a rich repertoire of leading roles and theatrical experiences while attending high school. Upon graduation she was one of three winners of the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City. She was also the recipient of a very selective national scholarship in the category of vocal jazz through the National Association for the Foundation of Arts.

She attended The Boston Conservatory, a sister school to The Berklee College of Music, for two years with a triple major in dance, theatre and voice. By age 20 she had studied with Anne Reinking and Gregory Hines, and was offered a Broadway Tour with the musical “Rent”. The Conservatory experience caused Megan to focus heavily on jazz music and she returned to Kansas City to begin building her career in jazz.

Home in Kansas City, Megan was soon featured with Greg Richter and David Basse at The New Point; Dan Doran at the Phoenix; Rob Whitsitt at Jardines Jazz Club; and she sang the blues with the Nortons. For a time, she fronted her own jazz trio called Birdsong, and she is deeply grateful for the ongoing support she receives from Kansas City clubs including Café Trio, Jardines, 12 Baltimore, and The Phoenix.

Megan feels very blessed to be accepted at such a young age into the community of immensely gifted musicians. Her passion is to help “carry the torch” for the heart and soul of jazz; not only by carrying forward the great standards, but also by bridging that tradition to other forms of musical expression, creating new statements and keeping jazz alive for today’s world and for generations to come. Her loyalty to Kansas City Jazz, the music, and the passion of the performance craft at its heart will be what drives her for years to come.