James Ward, a native of Kansas City, graduated with honors in 1992 from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee with a bachelor of arts degree in K-12 music education. Since, James has taught instrumental music, done motivational speaking based in music and performance theory, and served as instructor and director for many educational facilities, including: King Middle School and Westport Edison (Academy) High School Bands in the Kansas City, Missouri School District, and Orchestra, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and Instrumental Music at Arrowhead Middle School in the Kansas City, KS School District. James served four years as conductor and clinician for the All City Gold Stars Jazz Band where he improved the technical skill and performance of the band while raising the maturity level of the students. James serves as Director of Bands at Grandview Christian School, where he led the Clarinet Quartet to earn the highest score at the Fine Arts and Academic Festival 2019.
James teaches brass, woodwind, string instrument, and percussion in the Ivanhoe Summer Camp and After School Program where he serves as a Teaching Artist.
Angela Ward, Co-Founder, is known in the Kansas City Community as a music educator, classical, gospel, jazz pianist, and composer. Angela is a graduate of Florida A&M University where she majored in Computer Information Systems and minored in Music Performance. Angela writes and arranges for the internationally known JWB, also known as The James Ward Band. Angela served as International Ambassador to Chile while representing Women in Jazz during the 54th Semanas Musicales held in Frutillar Chile 2023. She was awarded Favorite Jazz Keyboard/Organ Player by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 2022. Angela served as Musical Director of the Sun Flower Music Festival in Topeka, Kansas honoring African American Composers and was featured with the City Light Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to Black Female Composers during Women in Jazz month. She currently serves as Executive Director and Teaching Artist for the Comprehensive Arts Institute with the mission to develop the next generation of youth with interest in music arts. While teaching at Grandview Christian, Angela was inspired to reach young aspiring musicians and bring them together for an annual Music Education Workshop entitled Show and Shed. This event has become an annual fellowship of aspiring and professional musicians of all ages. Angela performs regularly around the Kansas City Metropolitan area and is known for her magical sounds and timbres on her instrument. She has arranged and recorded two projects with The JWB entitled "In Perspective" and "Groove Axis", that both hit the top 20 of the Smooth Jazz Charts.
