Kellogg Community College Choirs Union (Choir)

Founded: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Vocal Arts at Kellogg Community College (KCC)

Performance opportunities are abundant at Kellogg Community College (KCC). The music faculty plays an integral role in helping students find their best musical selves. Our students are instructed by professionally active artist faculty who have a passion for teaching voice. At KCC, the music program area offers studio master-classes, vocal workshops, audition opportunities, performance technique workshops, and a variety of choral performance experiences. In addition to lessons and ensembles, students gain valuable stage experience through recital performances and main stage opportunities in the fully-staged musical theatre and opera productions.

Vocal music training is an integral component of the performance curriculum at KCC. Under the artistic leadership of Dr. Gerald J. Blanchard, professor of vocal music and conductor of choirs, KCC continues its long tradition of providing opportunities for personal artistic expression, experiences and growth. The complete vocal musician is one committed to the pursuit of excellence in the fundamental areas of vocal technique, music theory and aural comprehension, music history, literature, language diction, acting and movement. At KCC, vocal studentS receive extensive training and opportunities in each of the previously identified areas.

KCC offers an outstanding opportunity for performance and musicianship through the applied music area. Our performance and practice venues provide a great educational opportunity for all desiring to study voice and other instruments on an individualized basis.

Kellogg Singers

A concert choir that gives students the opportunity to develop their vocal skills while performing challenging contemporary and traditional choral literature. The ensemble maintains an active performance schedule on and off campus.

Women’s Ensemble

An ensemble of female vocalists that emphasizes general musicianship and provides training in all musical styles of women’s chorus literature. Performances are presented on campus and in the community.

Branch County Community Chorus

A mixed ensemble that develops general musicianship and provides training in choral singing. Repertoire consists of a wide variety of music and styles, from traditional to multicultural. Performances are presented both on and off campus. The choir is based in Coldwater.

Concentus Vocal Ensemble

A small vocal ensemble which specializes in repertoire written for advanced ensemble singing. The group consists of singers who are selected through the annual choral audition process in the spring and fall of each academic year. Concentus repertoire focuses on madrigals, chanson, lied and works from the musical theatre and show choir genre. You must be a registered member of the Kellogg Singers for audition/membership.

KCC’s Choral Union

The Choral Union Touring Choir does not hold auditions, however standards of KCC choir singers sing at a concert in Coldwatermusicianship is very high. The ensemble is made up of existing members from one of the three residential choirs on the KCC campus (Kellogg Singers, Branch County Community Chorus or Concentus Vocal Ensemble). This organization is the touring arm of the KCC choral division. The KCC Choral Union has traveled throughout Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Indian, and Ohio. Most recently the chorus traveled to Ireland where they gave concerts in Malahide, Cork and in Dublin Ireland to great acclaim. Summer 2014, the chorus returned to Europe presenting concerts throughout the Amalfi Coast of Italy and Rome. Membership is limited to individuals who demonstrate excellent musicianship skills and are currently enrolled in one of the residential choruses.

Source: Kellogg Community College Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2015)

Gerald Blanchard: Short Biography | Kellogg Community College Choirs Union | Recordings of Vocal Works

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Vocal Arts at Kellog Community College