Music Ensembles

Learn more about JJC's many music ensembles, which are open for community members to join:

• Community Band

  The Joliet Junior College Community Band, conducted by Professor Charles Morgan was established by Mr. Jerry E. Lewis in 1979.This 90-member band is made up of residents from JJC District 525.

  The band rehearses on Monday evenings from 7:00-9:40 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters and performs three to five concerts annually. The band may be taken for credit on a tuition basis or for non-credit, with no charge. The Joliet Junior College Community Band is open to all musicians who desire to perform the best of the symphonic band repertoire.  

  For further information, contact the Fine Arts Department at 815-280-2223 or email Director Charles Morgan at chmorgan@jjc.edu

• Jazz Band

  The JJC Jazz Band, directed by Professor Rich Moore, is a community jazz band with a wide range of ages and skill levels including JJC students and semi-professionals, and participation is open to all residents of District 525 who play a typical jazz band instrument.

  The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. each semester. The class may be taken for credit or non-credit, and non-credit community members may join free of charge. For further information, contact the Fine Arts Department at 815-280-2223 or email Director Rich Moore at rmoore@jjc.edu.

• JJC Chorale

  The JJC Chorale, conducted by Dr. Annette Oh, is a larger non-auditioned community choral ensemble open to singers of all ages.  The choir sings one major concert on campus each semester, as well as several additional performances out in the community for civic organizations, senior residences, schools, etc. At the end of the fall semester, the Chorale has presented an annual holiday concert, Carols and Chocolate, for the past seventeen years.  

  In the spring semester, the Chorale combines with the JJC Chamber Singers to present a Choral Masterworks Concert, including one or more major choral works.  Nearly every year, members of the Chorale have also performed in large choral festivals, either at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center in New York City, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Orchestra Hall in Chicago, or in the Illinois-ACDA Two-Year College Choral Festival.

  For further information, contact the Fine Arts Department at 815-280-2223 or email Director Dr. Annette Oh at annette.oh@jjc.edu.

• Chamber Singers

  The JJC Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Annette Oh, is a select smaller choral ensemble open by audition to singers of all ages.  The chamber choir sings one major concert on campus each semester, as well as several additional performances out in the community for civic organizations, senior residences, schools, etc.

   At the end of the fall semester, the Chamber Singers have presented a madrigal concert at JJC for over 40 years. New in 2018, the concert will instead be one of vocal jazz and world music for the holidays.  

  In the spring semester, the Chamber Singers combine with the JJC Chorale to present a Choral Masterworks Concert, including one or more major choral works.  Nearly every year, members of the Chamber Singers have also performed in large choral festivals, either at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center in New York City, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Orchestra Hall in Chicago, or in the Illinois-ACDA Two-Year College Choral Festival.

  For further information, contact the Fine Arts Department at 815-280-2223 or email Director Dr. Annette Oh at annette.oh@jjc.edu.

• Jazz Combo

  The Joliet Junior College Jazz Combo, directed by Professor David Nuccio was established in 2016. The combo may consist of as many as eight performers per semester and is offered during the fall and spring semesters, one credit hour per semester. The personnel consists of traditional and continuing education students. Rehearsals take place every Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m. 

  The combo performs approximately six to eight events per semester at various venues for both on and off campus events.  The Jazz Combo is open to all musicians who desire to create and perform musical arrangements of small jazz ensemble repertoire.  For further information, contact the Fine Arts Department at 815-280-2223 or email Director David Nuccio at dnuccio@jjc.edu.

• Percussion Ensemble

  The JJC Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Adam Cowger, is comprised of music majors, non-music majors, adult community members and advanced high school students. The ensemble performs several concerts per semester both on campus and out in the community. Those interested in enrolling in the group should have some previous musical experience and possess and intermediate level of music reading skills. The ensemble meets on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

  The ensemble performs several genres of music ranging from classical, contemporary, ragtime, popular, rock, jazz, Latin, world and more. The group recently had the honor of performing at the 2016 Illinois PAS Day of Percussion held at Moraine Valley Community College.

  Several guest artists have been featured performers with the ensemble including: Ruben Alvarez (Afro-Cuban percussion), Mike Blake (jazz vibraphone and improvisation), Dr. Matt Jacklin (marimba), Mike Mixtacki (Afro-Cuban percussion), Projeto Acromusical (berimbau ensemble), Quey Percussion Duo (contemporary classical ensemble), Jamie Ryan (Eastern Illinois University), Brad Stirtz (jazz vibraphone) and many others.

• Guitar Ensemble

  The Joliet Junior College Guitar Ensemble consists of student guitarists and bass guitarists, performing at the end of each semester in concert during finals week. Students learn and rehearse a wide variety of styles, including jazz, classical, folk, blues, and rock.

  Directed by Adjunct Professor Adam Roth, the ensemble rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7-9:45 p.m. The ensemble is a for-credit class, and open to all JJC students who play guitar and can read music.

  For more information, contact the Fine Arts Department at 815-280-2223, or email Director Adam Roth at aroth@jjc.edu.

• JJC Steel Band

  The JJC Steel Band, directed by Professor Adam Cowger, is a student and community-based ensemble stemming from the musical traditions of Trinidad and Tobago. The ensemble performs on authentic oil drums that have been meticulously tuned and crafted by hand. Styles of music performed range from calypso, soca, reggae, Latin jazz, rock, classical and more. The group is open to any student or community member interested in joining. Previous experience reading music is highly encouraged.
   
  The class meets on Thursday evenings from 7:00 until 9:40pm. The course can be taken for credit or non-credit (free of charge). For more information, please contact Adam Cowger at acowger@jjc.edu or Fine Arts secretary Carol Foote at 815-280-2223.