Musical Ensembles

Find your voice

All Lewis and Clark ensembles are open to students and the community for credit or non-credit. The ensembles work in conjunction with Lewis and Clark's Associate in Applied Science in Music Production degree. As students learn to produce music, they also build a basic understanding of how music is put together and performed in a band setting. Ensemble participants choose the tunes to learn and then practice throughout the semester with a video shoot and concert at the end of each semester. Contact the Music Department for more info.

Ensembles

Explore this American popular music genre through hands-on rehearsals and live performance. Explore the roots of rock and roll while building your musical skills and bringing iconic songs to life. Open to students and community members, this collaborative ensemble welcomes musicians who want to learn, play, and share the sounds that shaped American music.

Build your skills while playing classic and contemporary blues and exploring its rhythms, styles and expressive techniques. With a collaborative approach, this ensemble offers students and community members the opportunity to build musicianship, play together and experience the rich history and lasting influence of the blues firsthand.

Jazz Ensembles covers preparation, exploration and performance of music representing the various jazz styles. Participants must be able to read music but improvisation experience is not required. Enrollment is by audition or consent of the instructor.

The Percussion Ensemble provides students with experience through preparation and performance in a variety of percussive ensemble settings, including but not limited to classic/orchestral, world/ethnic, novelty/non-traditional and mallet/keyboard literature.

The Alton Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Lewis and Clark Community College, offers orchestral experience for qualified players. All members of the orchestra must be able to read music and prior experience as an instrumentalist in school, municipal or professional orchestra is desirable. Enrollment is by audition or consent of the instructor.

Concert Choir prepares singers to perform a variety of choral literature, including spirituals, opera, Broadway and other choral literature representing major style periods.

In a continuing effort to promote the performing arts and enhance the music instruction provided by the public school systems, the Lewis and Clark Community College Music Department works in conjunction with the following youth organizations:
- Alton Youth Symphony
  
  The Alton Youth Symphony was founded in 1969 and has grown to include as many as 90 members. It is the only youth orchestra in the region that does not charge a membership fee for students and offers scholarships for private lessons and music camps for deserving members. The AYS was formed to further musical opportunities for youth in the greater Alton area. Its members are young musicians in sixth-eighth grades who play string, wind and percussion instruments in a full symphony orchestra setting. Each year, the symphony performs two free public concerts and tours area schools each spring. For more info, contact Caitlyn Peach at (618) 792-8540.