The concert band at SCC is a college-based ensemble whose members include college students, community residents and high school students. We are always looking for new members and encourage any residents of the St. Charles and surrounding counties to join our ensemble. We are a full concert band with brass, woodwinds and percussion.

The concert band meets on Mondays from 7-9:50 p.m. during the regular college semester. We perform once at the conclusion of each semester.

The literature we perform is a variety of standard and newly written band repertoire. We try to include standard marches, short works from the great eras of the concert band (1950s and '60s) as well as more modern and even brand new works by national and international composers.

For more information, contact Jim Martin, at jmartin@stchas.edu or 636-922-8538 or in FAB 115C.

The Jazz Ensemble at SCC is a college-based group that is made up of college students, community members and high school students. Rehearsal time is spent not only on learning standard jazz repertoire in swing, Latin and fusion styles, but also on learning the skills necessary to function within a big band as well as smaller jazz combos. Topics such as jazz improvisation, song forms, accompaniment and critical listening are a large part of what students learn within the band.

The Jazz Ensemble at SCC concentrates on exposing its participants to a wide variety of jazz styles while emphasizing the standard repertoire one must be familiar with in any other professional or recreational jazz performance setting. Students in the Jazz Ensemble will learn a great deal about playing a wide variety of jazz styles.

The SCC Jazz Ensemble rehearses on Wednesdays from 7-8:50 p.m. Performances are held at the end of each semester.

The orchestra at SCC is a college-based ensemble that is made up of college students, community residents and high school students. They are always looking for new members, and encourage anyone from St. Charles County and surrounding counties to join the ensemble.

The orchestra rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:20 p.m. during the regular college semester. They have a performance at the conclusion of each semester.

The literature they perform is a variety of standard orchestra repertoire, currently focusing on various movements of symphonies, opera overtures and some arrangements of standard works. They also try to include newer works for orchestra and other more modern works by some of the greatest 20th century composers.

For more information about the SCC Orchestra, contact Mary Sweetin at msweetin@stchas.edu.

The St. Charles Community College Singers is a non-auditioned ensemble open to college and community residents who enjoy singing and sharing their talents with others. Members of the SCC Singers work on music of various styles and genres culminating in public performance at the end of each semester.

Each spring semester the choir rehearses secular and sacred college level literature and includes small ensemble and solo performance opportunities for its members.

If you would like more information about the SCC Singers, contact Ken Tucker.

The SCC Chamber Choir is an auditioned ensemble of mixed voices for up to 30 singers. Offered during the fall and spring semesters, the choir performs accompanied and unaccompanied chamber music and often joins with other choral groups on and off campus to perform literature for large ensemble.

Along with performances on campus, the group performs for social and community events in St. Charles County. Selected members of the Chamber Choir may also perform every four years with the All-State Collegiate Choir for the Missouri Music Educator's Convention.

Interested persons should register for the course and attend class the first week of the fall semester to learn the audition material. Auditions will take place at the end of the first week with a well-voiced and balanced ensemble being the goal. The class meets during the day multiple days a week, and attendance and participation requires a high commitment level from all ensemble members.

If you would like more information about the Chamber Choir at SCC, contact Becky Thorn.

The Music Department, in cooperation with the Theatre Department, offers courses in Music Theatre History, Music Theatre Appreciation (for those students needing to fulfill their humanities requirements) and a Music Theatre Workshop each semester.

During the fall semester, students enrolled in the history or appreciation course will study the origins of musical theater in America up through Rodgers' and Hammerstein's groundbreaking musical, Oklahoma. During the spring semester students will begin the semester with Rodgers' and Hammerstein's shows through the musicals of today.

Each Spring, the Music Department also offers a Musical Theatre Practicum where students meet twice a week to prepare a fully-staged program of musical theatre scenes. In this fun, welcoming environment students are challenged to hone their acting, singing, dancing, dialogue, character preparation, musicianship, memorization, and audition skills. All experience levels are welcome - no audition is required, however students who would like more involved scene assignments are encouraged to offer a short audition in the first week. This hands-on, ensemble class is open to both St Charles students and community members.

Each summer the Music Department in cooperation with the Center Stage Theatre at SCC presents a large scale production. Past shows have included Once Upon a Mattress, She Loves Me, State Fair, The Mikado, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Big River, The Music Man, Anything Goes and Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? Students working on the musicals may enroll and receive instrumental, vocal, theater or dance credit through their involvement.

If you would like more information about the Musical Theatre courses or the summer musical at SCC, contact Lynne Snyder. For information on the Musical Theatre Practicum, contact Anthony Heinemann. See more information on earning the Certificate of Musical Theatre.

The SCC Opera Theatre Workshop offers students an opportunity to learn and perform a fully-staged program of opera and operetta scenes. Selections in a variety of styles and languages will be chosen to suit the strengths of each individual student.

This is a great opportunity for a beginning student who is curious about opera to learn in a comfortable environment. More experienced performers are equally welcome. All will receive one- on-one attention to help hone their singing, acting, diction, and movement skills. This hands-on, ensemble class is open to both St Charles students and community members.

Offered during the Fall semester, the ensemble rehearses twice a week and performs with costumes, lighting, and piano accompaniment in the 400 seat theater. Members may not be required to attend every class period based on show casting, but are encouraged to practice music outside of class in order to make the most of time together. Rehearsal tracks will be provided.

Class members are encouraged to prepare a classical or folk song to offer for the first class. This low-pressure “audition” allows the instructor to select scenes that suit students’ strengths and provides a way for the class to get to know one other. Sing something you love!

If you would like more information about SCC Opera Theatre Workshop, contact Anthony Heinemann.