JWCC Music Groups

The John Wood Community College Concert Choir (JWCC), Vocal Show Ensemble and Jazz Band from Quincy, IL, will present a concert at Southwest Tennessee Community College on April 19, at 1 p.m. The concert will be held in the Farris Auditorium on the Macon Cove Campus.

The public is invited to attend the performance free of charge. The concert is scheduled in conjunction with JWCC’s spring tour to Memphis which also includes performances at the Redbirds’ AutoZone Park and the Center for Southern Folklore. This is the groups’ fourth trip to Memphis, where they have also performed at the Stax Music Academy and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This year’s program will include traditional choral literature as well as pop, rhythm and blues and jazz numbers such as “Summertime” by George Gershwin, “Artza Alinu,” an Israeli dance song, “Jonah” by Rollo Dilworth, a novelty arrangement of Mozart’s “Turkish March,” “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Need You Now,” as recorded by Lady Antebellum, “Mean” by Taylor Swift, a medley of Temptations hits, “Birdland” by Joe Zawinul, and “Brass Machine” by Mark Taylor.

JWCC and its music program are both relatively young with the college celebrating its 35th anniversary this academic year. The college was founded in 1974 through the “common market” approach of utilizing instructors and facilities at area colleges. In 1991, the board made the decision to break away from that concept, hiring instructors to build its own staff and curriculum on its own campus. Since that time, a fine arts department and comprehensive music program have been an integral part of JWCC’s mission.

The tour format includes concerts at high schools in the community college district as well as performances in major metropolitan areas. In past years, JWCC groups have performed in Nashville, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Chicago and Branson.

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Brenda J. Rayner, (901) 333-4247 bjrayner@southwest.tn.edu, Farris Bldg., Room 1002, 5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, TN 38134