Family Weekend Concerts to Feature Kyle Athayde Dance Party

On Saturday, Sept. 27, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will host the Kyle Athayde Dance Party in double-header concerts and a masterclass as highlights of the University’s Family Weekend events on campus.

All events are open to the public and will be held in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center (Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue). Admission to all events is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

• The main evening concert, presented with funding support from Family Weekend, begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include an appearance by the University of Scranton Jazz Band.
• A children’s concert will be held at 1 p.m.
• Masterclasses with members of KADP will take place at 2 p.m. and are open to woodwind, brass and rhythm section musicians ranging from 16-year-old students to adult teachers and professionals. (Student musicians under age 16 are welcome to attend accompanied by a parent, guardian or music teacher.)

The San Francisco/New York-based big band is an 18-piece group of traditional big band instrumentation that is anything but traditional. Acclaimed for its versatility in the wide scope of styles it performs, KADP boasts an impressive roster of accomplished young jazz virtuosi and a genius composer and arranger in its leader and founder, Kyle Athayde, a San Francisco Bay Area-based composer, arranger, performer, teacher and bandleader. Athayde’s writing and programming draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, from video games and internet memes to jazz and classical masterworks. In addition to original music, Athayde also writes arrangements of well-known and popular songs of all kinds, while still retaining the unique sound and excitement for which the Dance Party is known. KADP comes together from the four corners of the U.S. to tour just a few times a year and has performed in a wide variety of venues ranging from Sitka and Juneau, Alaska, Jazz Festivals to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

KADP’s one-of-a-kind children’s jazz concerts offer something for everyone. Built around imaginative, jazz-infused arrangements of beloved children’s songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “The Wheels on the Bus,” and “Five Speckled Frogs,” the show is a celebration of music that is fun, thoughtful and accessible for audiences of all ages. Through thoughtful programming, Athayde strikes a rare balance — creating music that delights young audiences, educates newcomers to jazz and satisfies even the most seasoned listener. Each tune is treated with care and creativity, turning familiar melodies into vibrant, jazz experiences that introduce kids to rhythm, improvisation and musical storytelling. Whether you’re a toddler, a jazz-curious parent or a lifelong music lover, this is a show where everyone walks away with something — joy, discovery and a deeper appreciation for jazz.

For additional information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email [email protected] or visit the Performance Music website. For more on the Kyle Athayde Dance Party, visit its website.

If You Go:

EVENING CONCERT

• What: FAMILY WEEKEND CONCERT featuring Kyle Athayde Dance Party with an appearance by The University of Scranton Jazz Band (with support from Family Weekend)
• When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton
• Admission: Free

AFTERNOON CONCERT

• What: CHILDREN’S CONCERT featuring Kyle Athayde Dance Party!
• When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, 1 p.m.
• Where: Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton
• Admission: Free

MASTERCLASSES

• What: Woodwind, brass, and rhythm section masterclasses (ages 16 and older)
• When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, 2 p.m.
• Where: Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton
• Admission: Free