Posts

Posted on

KCC to premiere first alma mater in College history at April 21 concert

KCC to premiere first alma mater in College history at April 21 concert

Original song “Alma Mater KCC” a collaborative creative endeavor

BATTLE CREEK, April 15, 2024 – Kellogg Community College this spring for the first time in the College’s nearly 70-year history has an official alma mater.

An alma mater – which in Latin means “nourishing mother” – is an official college song or anthem. KCC’s new alma mater, an original work aptly titled “Alma Mater KCC: Beacon of Hope,” was produced over the past several months, with words by KCC English professor Ronald E. Davis, music composed by Music Area Coordinator and Vocal Arts Director Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard, and arrangement by longtime KCC music instructor Dr. Mark Wells.

The song will be presented for the first time at the College’s upcoming “Singing in the Spring” concert, starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Battle Creek. It will also be sung by Case-Blanchard, accompanied by Nancy Brown on keyboard, at the College’s upcoming Commencement Ceremony May 9 at Kellogg Arena.

The lyrics – under wraps until the official premiere – focus on the concept of the College as a shining beacon on a hill, noting its ongoing service to community and legacy as an educational institution giving life to the dreams of generations of students. A strong refrain – “Alma mater, KCC” – is repeated throughout.

“Kellogg Community College has defined the learning and professional experiences of countless students,” author Davis said. “After more than 20 years of service to the College, I reflect upon the numerous individuals in Calhoun County who I’ve met and who have said they attended school at KCC and have appreciated the experience. Nearly all of them recount a favorite professor with a warm memory, or an expression of gratitude. With them in mind, and faculty with whom I’ve had the privilege and honor to work, I’ve channeled the words of this alma mater.”

The music presents an original traditional, yet elegant melody conceptually familiar enough for the layperson singing along to anticipate and participate in, yet regal enough in an institutional context to feel anthemically formal.

Composer and project coordinator Case-Blanchard said he sought to write something which “truly expressed from a musical standpoint the very elements that represent who we are as Bruins and our 100% commitment to our charge as an institution of higher learning.”

“I am so grateful to Dr. Paul Watson and the KCC Board of Trustees for placing their trust in me and my musical colleagues to produce a piece of music that would be truly reflective of who we are as a caring, nurturing, community-focused institution of higher learning,” Case-Blanchard said. “I believe we have created a final product that all Bruins, past, present and future, can celebrate and have a sense of pride in.”

Wells arranged Case-Blanchard’s work into a key functional for a variety of vocal abilities, arranging both for solo voice and choirs. Further instrumental arrangement by KCC Jazz Band Director Eric Campbell is also in the works.

“The harmonization seemed to reveal itself quite naturally in the process of thinking through the possibilities inherent in both the shape and structure of the melody,” Wells said. “Initially this melody was presented to me in a lower key. From the first copy of the melody that I saw, my thought was to raise the key to a higher one that would easier for more people to participate. As the vocal range of the melody was not too wide, this increased the range of possible tonal centers, so that the arrangement of the melody was neither too high nor too low for most singers.”

KCC President Dr. Paul Watson called the alma mater “a legacy achievement that presents the College as the pride and reflection of the communities it serves.”

“We’re thankful to our talented faculty for creating such an apt and beautiful statement that captures our strong community-focused tradition while also presenting a clear focus on our unwavering commitment as we continue ever forward,” Watson said. “Kellogg Community College has served as a true beacon of hope for generations of students, educating our Bruin family in humble pride. Yet as stated so well in the words of this new song, ‘Loyal scholars we march on,’ ready to serve generations more.”

Both the upcoming “Singing in the Spring” concert, where the alma mater will premiere, and KCC’s upcoming Commencement Ceremony are free events open to the public. For more information about each event, visit kellogg.edu/events.

For more information about “Alma Mater KCC” or the premiere of the song at the upcoming concert, contact Case-Blanchard at case-blanchardg@kellogg.edu or 269-565-7859. Author Davis can be reached for comment at davisr@kellogg.edu or 269-565-7870.

– # –

Posted on

KCC “Singing in the Spring” concert returns April 21

Concert to feature world-premiere of new College alma mater

BATTLE CREEK, April 9, 2024 – Kellogg Community College’s annual “Singing in the Spring” concert returns to Battle Creek this month with a musical celebration of springtime that will also include the world-premiere performance of the College’s first-ever alma mater.

“Singing in the Spring” will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at First Presbyterian Church, 111 Capital Ave. NE in Battle Creek. The event is free and open to the public, though a freewill offering will be collected to support future music programming and initiatives at the College, including a planned concert tour of the Baltics in June 2025 featuring performances in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

KCC Music Area Coordinator and Vocal Arts Director Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard said the concert repertoire represents music from many centuries, styles and genres as “a celebration of springtime” and the choral arts.

“Every concert is unique in its own right, but this one is special because I have selected music from our past,” Case-Blanchard said. “Many of these pieces were from previous concerts spanning our 68-year-long history and my 20 years of leading this program. What makes this concert even more special is that our choir along with invited alumni will present the world premiere of the College’s alma mater.”

The concert will open with remarks from the Rev. Lorenzo Small, pastor of First Presbyterian, and KCC President Dr. Paul R. Watson II, before the music begins with a faculty spotlight featuring coloratura soprano Betty Picard and trumpeter and KCC Jazz Band Director Eric Campbell, performing in a cantata accompanied by Nancy Brown.

Performances will follow with a program presented in four parts, performed by the KCC Choral Union directed by Case-Blanchard with accompanist Brown.

Part one, “Music for Sacred Spaces,” will feature Handel’s “Zadok the Priest,” Giuseppe Pitoni’s “Cantate Domino,” and “I Will Arise” by Kenneth Drake.

Part two will consist of student spotlight performances by saxophonist Chifumi Tsukagoshi, accompanied by Cynthia Garn, and pianist Zach Franklin.

The choirs will return for parts three and four, titled “Songs of Joy, Sorrow, Longing and Spirit,” and “Americana,” respectively.

Selections from part three include the traditional hymn “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal,” arranged by Alice Parker and sung by KCC student soprano India Carney-Wright and baritone Anthony Garn; compositions by Johannes Brahms; “In Song We Raise Our Voices,” by Dominic Dousa; the traditional Welsh air “All Through the Night,” arranged by Jeremy Rawson; and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Music of the Night,” from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Part four will consist of more modern compositions, including “Stomp Your Foot” (from “The Tender Land”) by Aaron Copeland; “Great Day,” arranged by Brazeal W. Dennard and performed by student soloist Franklin; and “The Battle of Jericho,” arranged by Moses Hogan and performed by student soloist Carney-Wright.

The concert will close with the world premiere performance of KCC’s brand-new, first-ever alma mater – official song – titled “Alma Mater KCC: Beacon of Hope,” with words by KCC English professor Ronald E. Davis, music composed by Case-Blanchard, and arrangement by longtime KCC music instructor Dr. Mark Wells.

Case-Blanchard said Davis’s words guided his hand as he worked composing the music, “which truly expresses from a musical standpoint the very elements that represent who we are as Bruins and our 100% commitment to our charge as an institution of higher learning.”

“I am so grateful to Dr. Paul Watson and the KCC Board of Trustees for placing their trust in me and my musical colleagues to produce a piece of music that would be truly reflective of who we are as a caring, nurturing, community-focused institution of higher learning,” Case-Blanchard said. “I believe we have created a final product that all Bruins, past, present and future, can celebrate and have a sense of pride in.”

For more information about the concert or other music programming at the College, contact Case-Blanchard at case-blanchardg@kellogg.edu or 269-565-7859.

About Music at Kellogg Community College

KCC’s Arts and Communication Department offers a robust Music Program including an Associate of Arts degree with a Music concentration and certificates in Music Enrichment and Sacred Music. Additional music opportunities for students and community members offered through the College include individualized voice and instrument lessons, master classes, student recitals, an annual Opera Workshop and other music initiatives, including youth performance camps.

The College also host three residential choirs, including the Branch County Community Chorus, the Concentus Vocal Ensemble and the Kellogg Singers – which perform together as the KCC Choral Union – as well as resident Concert and Jazz bands.

In addition to performing regularly in its home state of Michigan, the KCC Choral Union has performed nationally at major venues in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and performed international concert tours of Ireland and Italy in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

KCC choirs have opened for several internationally renowned musicians, including Grammy Award-winning musical groups Take 6 and Sweet Honey in the Rock, and regularly collaborate with major musical organizations including the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, the Haydn Festival Orchestra, the Monroe Community Chorale and Symphony and the Sacred Music Festival of Kalamazoo.

For more information, visit kellogg.edu/music.

- # –

Kellogg Community College, founded in 1956, serves approximately 5,000 students annually via five campuses, customized training and online coursework. The College offers customizable transfer pathways for students in addition to 39 associate degree programs, 29 certificate programs, seven categories of professional certifications and dozens of short-term, non-credit courses.

Media contact: Eric Greene at 269-966-4088 orgreenee@kellogg.edu.

 

Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.

Posted on

Schedule your audition today!

BATTLE CREEK, March 7, 2024 – Applications for Kellogg Community College Music Scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year are due Friday, March 29.

KCC Music Scholarships are performance-based scholarships that vary in size from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the scholarship, and are available through the KCC Foundation to current KCC students and high school seniors planning to attend KCC who exhibit outstanding vocal or instrumental promise.

In addition to applying, vocalists and musicians interested in applying for a KCC Music Scholarship must also complete an in-person audition.

Auditions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, and must be scheduled in advance by contacting Director of Vocal Arts and Music Program Area Coordinator Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard at 269-565-7859 or case-blanchardg@kellogg.edu. Alternative dates may be schedule for those who can’t audition at this time, but the audition must be completed before the April 3 deadline.

Applicants must fill out the KCC Foundation Scholarship Application at kellogg.academicworks.com and the KCC Music Scholarship Audition Application at https://forms.office.com/r/RhLxdzGNxZ. Applications must be submitted on or before the audition date.

Audition Requirements

Audition requirements for voice or instrumental students are as follows.

Voice: Two contrasting songs. Ideally one classical art song or aria in a foreign language and one song in English (classical or musical theatre). However, both selections may be in English and do not require memorization.

Brass: Two contrasting musical selections, which will successfully demonstrate abilities including phrasing, rhythm, sound, technique, lyrical playing, articulation, musical style and fundamental musicianship.

Piano/Harpsichord or Organ: Two pieces from different stylistic periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, 20th-21st Century, Contemporary, etc.)

Strings: Two or three contrasting pieces that offer opportunity for expressive content, technical achievement and a variety of musical styles.

Live-audition students may bring their own accompanist or request a staff accompanist for a $10 fee due at the time of service. Individuals requesting an accompanist should email their musical score and contact information to Cynthia Garn at cynleegarn8@gmail.com at least one week in advance of the scheduled audition date.

Available KCC Music Scholarships

The following KCC Music Scholarships are available for the 2023-24 academic year:

Edward Zentera Music Man Scholarship: The Edward Zentera Music Man Scholarship is awarded to a student studying music, preferably brass instruments, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 who resides in the KCC service area and exhibits financial need.

Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Scholarship for Fine and Performing Arts: The Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Scholarship for Fine and Performing Arts is awarded annually to a student in fine and performing arts with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

KCC Music Department Scholarship: The KCC Music Department Scholarship is awarded to a student studying music, upon recommendation from the Music Department faculty based on auditions.

KCC Visual and Performing Arts Department Scholarship: The KCC Visual and Performing Arts Department Scholarship is awarded to one student studying visual arts and one student studying performing arts, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Rincόn-McCaleb Family Scholarship: The Rincόn-McCaleb Family Scholarship is awarded to students who are studying language, creative writing, music, foreign language or reading who reside in Battle Creek, Albion or Athens who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

Wilda E. Brown Memorial Scholarship: The Wilda E. Brown Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student studying organ or piano music with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

William Brown Memorial Scholarship: The William Brown Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student studying music, preferably guitar, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

All KCC Music Scholarship recipients are required to take applied lessons on the audition instrument for at least one credit or participate in one of the major music ensembles (band or choir). The scholarship funds are designated for music course support, be it lessons, ensembles or a general music course.