2026 Wurst Brass Festival Emcee
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🎺🌭 Exciting News! 🌭🎺
Get ready to be dazzled at the 2026 Wurst Brass Festival as we proudly announce our guest Emcee: the one and only Kaj O'Mara! 🎉
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Kaj O'Mara is a band kid through and through. Growing up in Iowa City, he first started playing the trombone at Shimek School. Then, before you could blink, he was sitting first chair in the City High Wind Ensemble directed by Mr. Steve Stickney. Kaj played the trombone not only for band, but also City High's top ranked orchestra and show choir group 4th Ave Jazz Company. One of his final performances was in downtown Iowa City on a warm, humid, summer evening in 2003 as part of the unified jazz ensemble of City and West High when he and alto saxophone Chris Van Rybroeck (Ry-Breck) had an epic duel in a song called "The Chicken". The old brick fountain next to the venue just made it all that much better!
Fast forward to adult life. Kaj was a meteorologist at KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids, working primarily mornings. That means he got up when no human ever should. During his entire tenure, the morning show maintained its strong #1 rating, he published jet stream research, spoke at conferences, programmed thousands of weather radios and made over 500 personal appearances within classrooms all over eastern Iowa.
He left TV in 2023 when the schedule was simply too much and pivoted into forensic meteorology, a science which reconstructs prior weather events. He is now retained to help sort out the data, assisting lawyers and appraisers of weather-related claims and lawsuits. Kaj has worked everything from major truck crashes to slips and falls to simple cases such as "did it rain or not".
Kaj is a proud dad to two teenage girls and operates a free K-12 educational website called Kaj the Cloud Guy, for anyone interested in weather information.
Some odd stats for your next trivia night: Kaj is an advanced soccer referee with over 100 games under him and has officiated all the way at the high school level. Additionally, he learned to ride the unicycle in 2020 (what else was he to do...nobody could really ride along) and once ate his weight in watermelon in a single summer.
Don't miss your chance to experience the magic as Kaj O'Mara takes the stage, guiding us through a day filled with outstanding music, laughter, stories, and the unmistakable camaraderie that defines the Wurst Brass Festival.
Kaj isn't just a familiar face from eastern Iowa television. He's a lifelong band kid, trombonist, music lover, and proud graduate of the very programs that inspire young musicians today. From his days performing with City High's top ensembles to his years serving the community as a trusted meteorologist, Kaj has spent a lifetime connecting with audiences and sharing his enthusiasm with others.
Whether he's introducing performers, sharing a few memorable stories, or keeping the festival moving with his trademark energy and humor, Kaj brings the perfect blend of musical knowledge, stage presence, and hometown charm to the Wurst Brass Festival.
Mark your calendars and spread the word. The 2026 Wurst Brass Festival promises to be our biggest and best celebration yet, and Kaj O'Mara is ready to help lead the fun! 🎶🌟
Stay tuned for more exciting updates and get ready to join us for a day of brass band brilliance, German heritage, and Wurst-filled fun! 🎉🌭
#WurstBrassFestival #KajOMara #BandKidForLife #BrassBandMusic #CedarRapidsCommunity
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