ABOUT US

The Mile High Community Band (MHCB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded almost 100 years ago, in 1937. Since then, our band has served as a gathering place for musicians of all ages and skill levels to share a love of music and perform for local Colorado communities.

MHCB is made of three bands: Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Jazz Combo. We employ a small (but scrappy) staff, including our conductors, and we are governed by a Board of Directors. Meet the people who make MHCB possible below!

Staff

Jason U’ren

Born and raised in southwestern Wisconsin, Jason developed a deep love for music at an early age. As a student, he participated in numerous honor bands and drum and bugle corps, experiences that shaped his passion for performance and music education.

Jason earned his Associate of Arts degree from Waldorf College in 1995, followed by a Bachelor of Music Education from Simpson College in 1998. He began his teaching career in Iowa public schools, where he taught for five years and built a strong foundation as a music educator. In 2005, he completed his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at the University of South Dakota, further refining his skills as both performer and teacher.

Since 2005, Jason has served as Director of Bands, Orchestras, and Drumlines at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College in Denver Public Schools. Under his leadership, the program has continued to grow. In addition to his full-time teaching role, Jason performs more than 100 shows each year with over a dozen bands across Colorado.

He currently serves as Interim Director of the Denver Citywide Marching Band and Interim Director of the Mile High Community Band. Jason lives in Brighton with his wife, Tara, their daughter Annika, and their two dogs, Hazel and Hercules.

Interim Concert Band Conductor

Tom Ball

Dr. Tom Ball lives in Westminster with his family and is the proud father of six children ranging in age from 23 to 1. He has been actively involved in music education since 1998 and brings decades of experience as both an educator and performer.

Throughout his career, Dr. Ball has taught at the University of Colorado, the University of Northern Colorado, Adams State College, and the University of Denver, in addition to serving in three different public school districts. He currently serves as Performing Arts Director and music teacher at St. James School in Denver, where he leads a dynamic and growing program.

In addition to his work in education, Dr. Ball is much in demand as a performing and recording artist on trombone. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, he also performs on euphonium, tuba, trumpet, piano, and several other instruments. His jazz euphonium album, The Tom Ball Quartet: Fishleather Jacket, is available on iTunes and Spotify and showcases both his artistry and creativity.

Outside of music, Dr. Ball enjoys repairing automobiles and visiting national parks with his family. Whether in the classroom, on stage, or in the recording studio, he brings energy, skill, and enthusiasm to every endeavor.

Jazz Band Conductor

Kristen Horner

Operations Manager

Kristen Horner’s connection to music began in 5th grade band class, when she first picked up the saxophone. A dedicated band student, Kristen spent her high school years immersed in marching, symphonic, and jazz bands, including serving as Drum Major for three years.

Her love of music continued at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she marched with the renowned Pride of Arizona Marching Band and found community as a sister of Tau Beta Sigma, the National Honorary Band Sorority. While at Arizona, Kristen earned her degree in Nutritional Sciences.

After college, Kristen stepped away from performing for about ten years while focusing on her career. She moved to Colorado at the end of 2019 and, eager to reconnect with music, joined the Mile High Community Band in 2022. Kristen joined the band’s Board of Directors in 2024 and was appointed Operations Manager in 2025, where she helps support the organization’s growth and day-to-day operations. By day, Kristen works as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at Denver Health. Outside of music and work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, volunteering outdoors, and planning her next travel adventure.

Kristen is excited to be part of the leadership of the Mile High Community Band and is honored to contribute to such a vibrant musical family.

Librarian

Kathryn Edom

For Kathryn Edom, music has always been a family affair. Raised in Elk Grove, California, she spent her childhood attending football games, basketball games, and many music events at Sacramento State University, where her father worked as the Director of Athletic Bands. He went on to take the Band Director position at Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove —Kathryn’s alma mater — where he still teaches and hopes to retire.

After graduating from Laguna Creek, Kathryn earned a Bachelor of Music Composition from Sacramento State, where she also studied percussion and hand drums. She later earned a Master of Music Composition from the University of Oregon and a Master of Library Science with a specialization in music from Indiana University. In 2023, she relocated to the Denver area after accepting the position of Branch Operations Manager of the Howard B. Waltz Music Library at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she currently works. Seeking a community where she could keep making music with others, Kathryn joined the Mile High Community Band shortly after.

Kathryn has been a member of a wind band program at various institutions for almost 17 years and hopes to never stop. She is delighted to bring her two areas of expertise together in her responsibilities as Librarian for the Mile High Community Band.