Choral Ensembles
The primary choral groups representing the music department are the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and the BHC Community Chorale. Faculty member Jon Palomaki directs all the choral ensembles. He can be reached at palomakij@bhc.edu or 309-796-5478.
The Concert Choir is a mixed chorus of 20-40 singers. It meets each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Building 4, Room 115 at the Quad-Cities Campus. One college credit hour is given for participants. Sign up for MUSC 107. No auditions are required.
The Chamber Singers is a select, mixed group of 10-20 singers meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 12:50 p.m. in Building 4, Room 101 at the Quad-Cities Campus. One college credit hour is given for participants, and this is an auditioned group with tryouts at the beginning of each semester. Sign up for MUSC 109 to save your spot in the tryouts.
The Community Chorale is a mixed choir of 20-40 community and student members. It is a true community group comprised of local people ranging from high-school-aged students through senior citizens who love singing together. This group meets weekly on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:20 p.m. in Building 4, Room 115 at the Quad-Cities Campus. The cost is only $15 to join for the semester through Continuing Education: CMUS 995. College credit is also offered through MUSC 109. If you are interested in joining us, please sign up, or just come to the first rehearsal and see how you like it! No auditions are required, and you can register at the first rehearsal for your convenience.
Instrumental Ensembles
The BHC Jazz Ensemble is an award-winning jazz band that has played with many jazz greats over the years as part of the BHC Jazz Festival held each spring. Jazz standards as well as contemporary jazz offerings are part of the band’s repertoire. This group is a two-credit experience. One credit, MUSC 102, is for the rehearsals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., and the second credit, MUSC 103, is the culminating, weekly, Thursday-night performance at a club or eatery in the local area. Dr. Edgar Crockett leads the jazz program at BHC.
The BHC Community Band is directed by Jim Crowder. It is also a true community group comprised of local people ranging from high-school-aged students through senior citizens who love playing together. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:20 p.m. in Building 4, Room 115 at the Quad-Cities Campus. The cost is only $15 to join for the semester through Continuing Education: CMUS 990. It can also be taken for college credit through MUSC 101. If you are interested in joining us, please sign up, or just come to the first rehearsal and see how you like it! No auditions are required, and you can register at the first rehearsal for your convenience.
The BHC Bass Ensemble is our newest group led by bassist and adjunct faculty member Don Gustofson. This is a unique ensemble for electric and upright bassists to work together on various transcriptions and original works. The course is listed as MUSC 145 or MUSC 245 and does include a lab fee of $150. Meetings are once a week scheduled as students are available.
