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The Black Hawk College Department of Art, Design & Performing Arts presents
Welcome Messages
Dr. Irene Apanovitch-Leites
Welcome! Thank you for sharing your evening with us!
We gather not only to enjoy the some of our favorite jazz music tonight, but to witness a unique, one-night-only kind of musical collaboration – a synthesis of amateur and professional musicians from across different walks of life and musical backgrounds, led by a fantastic team of guest artists. For the past 30 years, the BHC JazzFest has brought together students and guest artists to learn from one another through collaboration in performance. Our incredible students and community members have been preparing for this performance since January, working hard to master their individual parts, interpreting their roles in the larger ensemble setting, and finding ways to express themself musically. Our guest artists – Reggie and Mardra Thomas, Manuel Lopez III and Ron Wilson – augment these efforts by elevating us to higher musical ground and letting us experience jazz music at its finest. Each person on stage today brings something distinctive to the table. This evening, we get to indulge in a unique blend of voices and instruments as they blend into a beautiful fabric of collective music-making that can only be heard in this way tonight. I am grateful that each of you are here to witness it and for your support of the musicians on stage and our music program at large. As we close out the academic year, let us relish the present moment and truly enjoy the hard work and talent of our BHC students, faculty and guest artists tonight.
Dr. Irene Apanovitch-Leites
Co-Chair, Department of Art, Design & Performing Arts, Black Hawk College
Dr. Jeremy Thomas, President of Black Hawk College
Greetings from Black Hawk College!
As we gather to celebrate the vibrant rhythms and melodies of jazz, we also celebrate the spirit of learning and growth that defines our college community. At Black Hawk College, we are proud to be part of this transformative journey, offering students opportunities to excel academically and personally.
For more than 77 years, Black Hawk College has been a cornerstone of our community, providing students with pathways to success through transferable credits and career-focused programs. Our commitment to academic excellence and student success shines through in every classroom and program we offer.
Beyond academics, Black Hawk College thrives with a diverse array of student engagement opportunities. Whether it’s through our vibrant music program, student government, athletics or equestrian teams, students have ample chances to get involved and make lasting connections.
Today you will experience the warmth and energy of our college firsthand. I look forward to seeing you at many of our future events.
Warm regards,
Dr. Jeremy L. Thomas President, Black Hawk College
Programme
Welcome from John Castree, Dean of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Black Hawk College
Birdland ........................................................................................................................................J. Zawinul, arr. J. Nowak
Take the ‘A’ Train................................................................................................................... B. Strayhorn, arr. S. Zegree
Look to the Sky ................................................................................................................................................... A.C. Jobim
Guest Artist Quartet
Blue Skies/In Walked Bud .......................................................................................... I. Berlin, arr. S. Zegree/T. Monk
Summertime .................................................................... G. Gershwin, D. Heyward, R. Gershwin, arr. R. Robinson
Mardra Thomas, soloist
Corey Kendrick, piano
Guest Artist Quartet
Give Me the Simple Life ........................................................................................... H. Ruby, R. Bloom, arr. J. Barnes
Samantha Hofstetter & Hunter Smith, soloists
INTERMISSION
I Have a Dream ............................................................................................................................................. M. L. Williams
Guest Artist Quartet
Moonglow ............................................................................................. W. Hudson, E. De Lange, I. Mills, arr. T. Chinn
If Ever I Would Leave You ............................................................................................................ F. Loewe, arr. K. Shaw
It’s Only a Paper Moon .................................................................................................................. H. Arlen, arr. K. Shaw
Hannah Dochterman & Andrew Endress, soloists
Guest Artist Duo: Mardra & Reggie Thomas
Cheek to Cheek ................................................................................................................................ I. Berlin, arr. K. Shaw
Mardra Thomas, soloist
It Don’t Mean a Thing .............................................................................................................. D. Ellington, arr. M. Huff
Manuel Lopez III, drums
Biographies
Reginald ‘Reggie’ Thomas, piano
Reginald Thomas can be seen fronting his own groups (Mardra/Reggie Thomas Ensemble; OGD) on both piano and Hammond organ and as a sideman with great artists including Hamiett Blueit, Ann Hampton Callaway, and the Carl Allen/Rodney Whitaker Ensemble. He is often seen performing with the Legendary Count Basie Band as an accompanist for the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Reggie continues to appear as a guest artist at collegiate jazz festivals around the country including Lawrence University, the University of South Florida and Texas Tech University. He also has performed internationally in Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Macau, China; Jakarta, Indonesia; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Milan, Italy; Warsaw and Poznan, Poland; Senegal, West Africa; and London, England. Reggie has been awarded the Excellence in the Arts award from the Greater St. Louis Arts and Education Council and was named in the Riverfront Times 2005 “Best of St. Louis” issue as Best Jazz Artist. After almost 20 years as professor of music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and three years at Michigan State University as professor of jazz piano, Reggie Thomas is now leading the Northern Illinois University School of Music’s Jazz Studies Program. He is also a consultant/clinician for jazz at Lincoln Center working with the Essentially Ellington Program and Band Director Academy and has served on several summer jazz faculties across the country and abroad including the International Association for Jazz Education Teacher Training Institute; the Birch Creek Music Center; the Eastman School of Music Summer Jazz Camp; Summer Jazz Academy in Chodziez, Poland; and most recently, the Barbican Center in London.
Mardra Thomas, vocals
Mardra Thomas is known for her realistic portrayal of Billie Holiday in concert and on the theatrical stage. You will hear a true jazz vocalist with a voice well suited to showcase Holiday’s sculptured phrasing that stamped a signature style on jazz singing. Mardra’s music career was sparked in the St. Louis area when she performed for the opening of Dizzy Gillespie’s 70th Birthday Concert. Shortly thereafter she found herself trading scat solos with world-class trumpeter Clark Terry while performing with the East St. Louis Lincoln Big Band under the direction of renowned educator Ronald Carter. Curtains were opened for the theatrical stage when Mardra debuted in Unity Theatre’s Cotton Club Revue. She went on to deliver stunning interpretations performing in the roles of both Bessie and Sadie Delaney in Having Our Say, Lady in Green in For Colored Girls, Power Woman in Menopause The Musical, Billie Holiday in Lady Day at the Boston Bistro and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Mama/Mildred in Terry McMillan’s Mama at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston/Salem N.C., and in Sharon McGhee’s The Pocketbook Monologues. She most recently produced, directed and performed Sandra Seaton’s Chicago Trilogy at the 2015 Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. Mardra has presented voice workshops for schools throughout the country including Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Festival, Berklee College of Music-Boston, Birch Creek Music Academy-Egg Harbor, Eastern Washington University-Spokane, International Association of Jazz Educators-Toronto, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Educational Festival-New York, and Michigan State University-East Lansing. You will find Mardra’s voice center stage at music festivals all around the world. Whether you see her in Washington or Wisconsin, Atlanta or Amsterdam, expect to be allured by her acting and mesmerized by her music!
Manuel Lopez III is a gifted “first call” musician who has served as an invaluable musician and consultant for many bands and organizations in the arts and for the past 10 years, has served as the Polyrhythms musical director. Lopez showed interest in the drums at the age of 4, played his first gig at the age of 5, and over time came to discover that music would be his love and vocation. He has performed with countless artists in many different genres of music, including artists such as Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Willie Pickens, Bill Bell, Steffon Harris, Clay Walker and Father Stan Fortuna CFR. From jazz to country to hip-hop, Lopez has established himself as a sought-after musician for both local and visiting artists.
As a vocalist and composer, he sings with many groups in many different styles and has released 10 albums and counting of original material written and recorded mostly through his own recording studio, m3studios in Galesburg. An accomplished pianist, he currently plays keyboards with many fine groups as well as fronting his own musical projects.
Ron Wilson, bass
Ron Wilson has been a staple of musical knowledge and dependability to many acts and groups for more than 30 years in and around the Quad-Cities area. Coming from a musical family and following in the footsteps of his father, the bass has become a very special part of his life, and he relishes every opportunity to swing. Along with a special ear and groove that many have described as “tasty and smooth,” he is always one of the first call musicians for special shows that require and demand professionalism and execution. He has played with many of the legends of the QC area including trumpet master Manny Lopez and his Big Band, the late great Ellis Kell, and the Josh Duffy Orchestra. He currently resides in East Moline.
Corey Kendrick, Director, JazzFest
Corey Kendrick is a pianist, composer, recording artist and educator currently living in Davenport. Kendrick is director of instrumental music at Black Hawk College where he teaches music theory, aural skills, piano lab, music appreciation, directs the jazz ensemble and coordinates the annual jazz festival. Praised by Downbeat Magazine as a “very accomplished, highly gifted jazz pianist” with “a patient, maturing voice,” Kendrick has a skillful touch that is both immediately recognizable and deeply expressive. Kendrick has toured internationally with Etienne Charles’ Creole Soul, regionally with the Rodney Whitaker Quintet, and throughout the Midwest as leader of the Corey Kendrick Trio. As a Quad City Arts 2018 visiting artist, Kendrick performed educational outreach concerts for more than 1,500 K-12 students over a five-day guest artist residency. He earned a master’s degree in jazz studies from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Dr. Irene Apanovitch-Leites, Co-Director, JazzFest
Dr. Leites is the director of choral activities at Black Hawk College. Her responsibilities include serving as co-chair in the Department of Art, Design & Performing Arts, conducting the auditioned Chamber Singers and non-auditioned Concert Choir and Community Chorale, and teaching coursework in theory, music literature, applied voice and piano lessons. She earned a doctorate in choral music from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Alberta, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Toronto.
JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Connor Andersen, guitar
Andre Builta, piano
Victor Cardoza, flute
Nolan Cassini, guitar
Conner Catour, guitar
Jack DeBord, flute
CHAMBER SINGERS
Soprano
Hannah Dochterman
Em Foster
Arty Gunning
Samantha Hofstetter
CONCERT CHOIR
Soprano
Hannah Dochterman
Em Foster
Arty Gunning
Samantha Hofstetter
Kassandra Miller
COMMUNITY CHORALE
Soprano
Serina Allingham
Karen Hagerty
Cindy Kinkade
Jessie Madden
Wanda Malvik
Nancy McKinnon
Deb Robb
Cindy Terronez
Performers
Mya Diabira, flute
Evan Edgeworth, bass guitar
Colin Grennan, guitar
Elizabeth McDonald, bass
Kassandra Miller, violin
Aftyn Morris, drums
Alto
Taylor Bizarri
Kassandra Miller
Ehler Shee
Celine Suarez
Alto
Leah Carter
Kali Cochran
Katie Miller
Nyzaria Robinson-Wyatt
Heather Sagers
Alto
Elizabeth Carvey
Zelda Cowell
Amy Curtiss
Mary Dixon
Gwen Foulkes
Paula Gunning
Judy Johansen
Mary Knepp
Alice Maslanka
Lucille Perley
Dawn Pilichowski
CABARET
Rhythm Section
Andre Builta, piano
Elizabeth McDonald, bass
Aftyn Morris, drums
Tenor
Ruben Garcia
Elizabeth McDonald Hunter Smith
Travis Parker, drums
Bowen Sanders, vibes/drums
Carson Schar, drums
Hunter Smith, trombone
Ma Ner Soe, trumpet
Kamrin Varela, trumpet
Bass
Andrew Endress
Law Ger Htay
Ma Ner Soe
Tenor
Hunter Smith
Bass
Andrew Endress
Law Ger Htay
Vocalists
Taylor Bizarri
Hannah Dochterman
Em Foster
Arty Gunning
Samantha Hofstetter
Tenor
Pauline Andrew
Joan Beck
Cathy Decker
Elden Decker
Xochi Pannell
Bass
Dennis Dennhardt
Jerry Johansen
Thomas Myers
Jonathan Palomaki
Matt Wilcox
Brian Williams
Joshua Wright
Law Ger Htay
Kassandra Miller
Ehler Shee
Hunter Smith
Thank You
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the following ...
• BHC Foundation Board of Directors and Zenaida Landeros, Executive Director
• John Castree, Dean of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Black Hawk College
• R andin Letendre and Marcia Renaud, collaborative pianists for Community Chorale and Concert Choir
• All of the Cabaret performers for volunteering time outside of class to learn, rehearse and perform jazz tunes for this evening’s pre-concert.
• Brent & Sara Tubbs, Directors, The Spotlight Theatre
• Manuel Lopez, AV Technical Support
• M itchell Milani and Brenden Trout, AV Assistant Technicians
• Hunter Smith, for assisting with audio setup in rehearsals and tireless help with logistics.
• Gabriella Aguirre, Administrative Assistant to the Academic Deans, for scheduling rehearsal spaces and assisting us in logistics for this event.
• Kole Shuda, BHC Professional and Continuing Education
• Bob McChurch and BHC Facilities staff
• K ris Meyer and Holly Smith, BHC Marketing & Public Relations, for design of the concert poster and concert program
• Dr. Julie Clemens, Director of Choirs, Illinois Central College, for leading a vocal jazz workshop with the BHC Chamber Singers
Support our music program!
The music department supports a community band, choir, jazz and other general music initiatives as part of its operations. Every dollar contributed to any of our music funds goes directly to student learning experiences. Your support allows our musicians to participate in educational opportunities such as clinics and workshops, travel and have access to instruments and materials. All donations are tax-deductible through the Black Hawk College Foundation. Please consider donating today by scanning the QR code!
Wednesday, May 15 6-8 p.m.
Embark on a musical journey with guitar players of all levels! Improve your musical skills as you delve into the enchanting world of “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles.
Register for free in April as part of Community College Month!
Bring your own classical or acoustic guitar. Ages 14 years and older.
$25
Should you need accommodations or this information in an alternative format, please contact Disability Resources & Access at 309-796-5900. | 27040KM03/24 For
more information or to register: Professional and Continuing Education
| shudak@bhc.edu | www.bhc.edu/pace
309-796-8223
Strings in Sync: Community Guitar Workshop
Music at Black Hawk College
Program Offerings
Music at Black Hawk College Program Offerings
• Associate in Arts Degree with concentrations in music performance, music business, music education, and music therapy
– Total credits required to graduate: 60. This includes 37 general education credits and 23 elective credits.
• Associate of Arts Degree with concentration in Music Performance, Music Business, Music Education, and Music Therapy
– 23 elec tive credits comprise music courses such as music theory, class piano, music history, ensembles and applied lessons in voice, woodwinds, brass, strings (including guitar) and percussion.
o Total credits required to graduate: 60. This includes 37 General Education credits and 23 Elective Credits
– The cost of tuition per credit hour is $164 for in-district residents.
• Music Industr y Certificate Program
• 23 Elective Credits comprise music courses, such as music theory, class piano, music history, ensembles and applied lessons in voice, woodwinds, brass, strings (including guitar) and percussion
– The Music Industry Certificate (MIC) is designed to provide the basic tool set required for local, regional or national entry-level employment in a variety of music industry-related settings. Suggested courses include classes listed under the AA degree above, as well as electronic music, accounting, small business management and more.
o The cost of tuition, per credit hour is $164.
• Music Industry Certificate Program
– Minimum total hours required for certificate: 29
– The cost of tuition, per credit hour is $164 for in-district residents.
Ensembles
• Chamber Singers
• Community Chorale
Music Faculty
o The Music Industry Certificate (MIC) is designed to provide the basic tool set required for local, regional, or national entry-level employment in a variety of music-industry related settings. Suggested courses include classes listed under the AA degree above, as well as Electronic Music, Accounting, Small Business Management, and more.
• Community String Orchestra
o Minimum total hours required for degree: 29
• Concert Band
Ensembles
Dr. Irene Apanovitch-Leites
• Jazz Ensemble
Co-Chair & Instructor, Department of Art, Design & Performing Arts
• Concert Band
Director of Choral Activities
• Chamber Singers
Mitchell Carter, percussion
Corey Cochran, guitar
Arianna Edvenson, clarinet
Dr. Jim Fudge, strings
Music Scholarship Opportunities
• Concert Choir
• Jazz Ensemble
Corey Kendrick Instructor, Department of Art, Design & Performing Arts
• Concert Choir
• Community Chorale
Director of Jazz Studies
• Community String Orchestra
Dr. Tamara Fudge, voice and piano
Elizabeth Logan, cello
Erin Mahr, director of Concert Band
Paul Mizzi, flute
• Music Achievement Awards – tuition waiver of up to 12 credits for music courses
• Lucy Brandicon/Leon Dombrock/Donna Figle O’Meara Memorial Scholarship
• Roger A. Perley Memorial Scholarship
• Dr. Barbara Shellhouse and Wayne Shellhouse Memorial Scholarship
Apply today by visiting www.bhc.edu/music or by emailing to music@bhc.edu
Alexis Pal, piano
Dr. Crystal Rebone, music history
Lauren Shuda, music history
Dr. Xuesi Xu, Electronic Music