Introduction
What are you looking to study? The SCC Music Department has a lot to offer! From Afro-Latin percussion to jazz big band to orchestra, we have an ensemble for any instrument. All our ensembles perform at least once per semester. The SCC Night Jazz Band performs at The Nash, in downtown Phoenix, and the Community Band performs at locations across Scottsdale.
Click the headings below to learn more about each ensemble.
Ensemble Names
The Scottsdale Concert Band, sponsored by Scottsdale Community College, is an adult community band established in 1977. The Scottsdale Concert Band is the longest-standing ensemble at SCC. It was a small group at the band’s inception, and today has over 60 members. Membership in the band is by audition only—the members of the band range from teenagers to retirees. The Scottsdale Concert Band's repertoire includes marches, overtures, show tunes, jazz, seasonal and holiday music, and much more!
For information about joining or supporting the ensemble, contact Dr. Jeff Quamo.
SCC offers two flute ensembles open by audition to advanced high school, college, and community flutists. Members possess advanced rhythmical, technical, and reading abilities and perform with a well-developed tone. The ensembles perform at least four times per academic year. For information about joining, contact Carol Mellis.
Flute Choir | MUP181 Rehearsals: Mondays, 7:00-8:45 pm, at Scottsdale Community College.
Flute Ensemble | MUP181 Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7:00-8:45 pm, at Scottsdale Community College.
The SCC guitar ensembles focus on group performance through jazz, classical, popular, and world music repertoire. These groups give students an opportunity to explore structured improvisation and part reading. Both classical and jazz performance etiquette is covered and utilized. Additional off-campus performances are offered in addition to the end-of-semester concert. For information about joining, contact Dr. Alex Zawilak.
Guitar Ensemble | MUP 181 Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 5:00-7:00 pm, at Scottsdale Community College.
Fretboard Harmony | MUP 181 Rehearsals: Thursdays, 5:30-7:15 pm, at Scottsdale Community College.
The SCC Jazz Combos are small groups intended for instrumental music majors as well as some community members. The instrumentation for these groups is Guitar and/or Piano, Bass, Drum set, and one to three horns. All Jazz Performance Majors are required to participate in one of these groups.
The Jazz Combos perform a broad variety of styles and genres of music, from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles. Combos are consistently performing around campus as well as off-campus. They participate in festivals, record CDs and attend visiting artist’s clinics.
Rehearsals are held one day a week, and visitors are welcome! For information about rehearsals or joining a combo, contact Eric Rasmussen.
The SCC Jazz Ensembles are intended for instrumental music majors as well as some community members. The instrumentation for this ensemble is 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drum set, and an occasional vocalist. All Jazz Performance Majors are required to participate in this ensemble.
The SCC Jazz Band performs a broad variety of styles and genres of music, from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles. Members participate in a minimum of four concerts per year, participate in festivals, and attend visiting artist’s clinics.
Rehearsals are held one day a week, and visitors are welcome! For information about rehearsals or joining an ensemble, contact Eric Rasmussen.
This is a Jazz Ensemble intended for community members with vast amounts of performance experience. The instrumentation for this ensemble is 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 5 trumpets, Guitar, Piano, Bass and Drum set. The SCC Jazz Band performs a broad variety of styles and genres of music from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles.
Rehearsals are held one day a week, visitors are welcome! For information about rehearsals or joining, contact Eric Rasmussen.
The SCC Community Orchestra is a community organization sponsored by Scottsdale Community College. The orchestra rehearses from 7:15 pm to 10:00 pm on Thursday evenings, beginning in August and continuing through the academic year into May. Members include advanced high school students as well as adults. Free-to-the-public performances are held on the college campus each semester. In addition, off-campus rehearsals/performances may occur in Scottsdale and surrounding communities.
The quality of music performed by the orchestra dictates a minimum level of instrument mastery and general musicianship. Additionally, a high level of commitment in terms of preparation and attendance is expected. The purpose of the interview/audition is to determine if the prospective member can meet these requirements. At the same time, the prospect can determine if the orchestra will meet his/her expectations. Membership should be mutually rewarding.
The orchestra is now accepting members in all sections. Music scholarships are available. For more information, contact Eileen Wright.
The SCC West African Drum Ensemble (WADE) is a learning as well as a performing ensemble. Recent semesters have focused on Sabar from Senegal, but the style and region of musical focus may vary from one semester to another. Appropriate drums are provided, and prior experience, either in reading music or playing an instrument, is not required for this course; the only prerequisite is a desire to understand the music and recreate it as faithfully as possible.
Emphasis is on developing memory, observational, and aural skills to learn the music, as well as on acquiring coordination and correct technique for playing the instruments. The music is taught as it would in the culture, that is, through oral tradition: students learn by watching, listening, following, and repeating. Students are strongly encouraged to use memory to retain the rhythms, songs, spoken word, folklore, historical development, and origins of material as it is presented.
Additional off-campus performances are offered in addition to the end-of-semester concert. Rehearsals take place on Thursdays, 5 - 7 pm, at Scottsdale Community College. For information, contact Dr. Sonja Branch.
The Scottsdale Community College Woodwind Quintet is a chamber ensemble open by audition to college students, community members, and advanced high school students. Free-to-the-public performances are held on the college campus each semester. In addition, off-campus rehearsals/performances may occur in Scottsdale and surrounding communities.
Rehearsals take place Saturdays from 2pm - 4pm at Scottsdale Community College. For more information, contact Carol Mellis
The Scottsdale Community College Clarinet Ensemble is a chamber ensemble open by audition to college students, community members, and advanced high school students. Free-to-the-public performances are held on the college campus each semester. In addition, off-campus rehearsals/performances may occur in Scottsdale and surrounding communities.
Rehearsals take place Saturdays from 1pm - 2:45pm at Scottsdale Community College. For more information, contact Dr. Julia Lougheed.
The Scottsdale Community College Trombone Ensemble is a chamber ensemble open by audition to college students, community members, and advanced high school students. Free-to-the-public performances are held on the college campus each semester. In addition, off-campus rehearsals/performances may occur in Scottsdale and surrounding communities.
Rehearsals take place Wednesdays from 5 - 6:50 pm at Scottsdale Community College. For more information, contact Dr. Matt Lennex.