Kirkwood Jazz Concert
Kirkwood's Ending to Jazz Week
Kirkwood Community College’s school of music hosted their formal concert at Ballantyne Auditorium on Sunday November 16th at 2:00PM. The concert was the final event of Kirkwood’s Jazz Week celebration which began on Tuesday November 11th with the Jazz Jam Sessions on the Iowa Hall stage. Kirkwood Community College’s music program is NASM (National Association of School and Music) accredited, and has a Triple A degree program available to students wanting to go to a four year school for music or directly into the music industry after graduating from Kirkwood. The music program at Kirkwood will also be hosting a Choir and Jazz Choir concert at 3:00PM this Sunday November 23rd at Ballantyne Auditorium.
A crowd gathers at Ballantyne Auditorium on Sunday November 16th to listen to the music of both Kirkwood’s pop ensemble (Kirkwood Groove), and Cedar Rapids community music group the CR Jazz Big Band.
Avery Kepros performs as one of the vocalists with Kirkwood’s pop ensemble (kirkwood Groove). Kepros has been singing for Kirkwood’s music program for the last year.
Liam McGovern plays the bass guitar while performing with Kirkwood Groove. Several alumni of Kirkwood’s music program are currently working professionally in the music industry including Garret Forbes, Jacob Sivils, and Rick Romero.
Bridge Womachka (right) watches as band mate Santiago Kaiz-Vera sings and plays his guitar for Kirkwood Groove. Kaiz-Vera has been playing guitar in Kirkwood’s music program for the last two years.
Kirkwood’s Pop Ensemble performs as the first of two acts during Sunday’s performance at Ballantyne Auditorium. Members of the band include Santiago Kaiz-Vera on guitar, Liam McGovern on Bass, Samuel Schuessler on drums, Pianist Evan Solberg, and vocalists Avery Kepros and Bridge Womachka.
Pianist Denny Redmond (right) performs with the CR Jazz Big Band during the performance at Ballantyne Auditorium on Sunday November 16th. The groups associated with Kirkwood’s music program include a Concert Band, Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Transit, Chamber Singers, a Concert Choir, and Cedar Rapids community music groups the CR Jazz Big Band and the Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra.
(left to right) Kelley Kirtz, Tye Male, and Doug Larison play their saxophones during the CR Jazz Big Band’s performance at Ballantyne Auditorium on Sunday. The CR Jazz Big Band was the second of two bands to perform during the jazz concert on Sunday.
Kirkwood’s Director of Instrumental Music Christopher Navarrete plays the Trumpet with the CR Jazz Big Band. Prior to accepting the position at Kirkwood Navarrete earned degrees in Music Education, Performance, and Jazz Studies from California State University Chico. Navarrete has also performed with the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra, Hunter Fuerste and His American Vintage Orchestra, Orquesta Alto Maiz, and the Blake Shaw BIG(ish) Band.
Aaron Pinegot plays the Baritone Saxophone for the CR Jazz Big Band. The CR Jazz Big Band is a community orchestra located in Cedar Rapids.
A crowd watches and listens to the performance of the CR Jazz Big Band at Ballantyne Auditorium on Sunday November 16th. The CR Jazz Big Band consists of three alto saxophone players, one tenor saxophone player, one baritone saxophone player, four trumpeters, four trombone players, one pianist, one bassist, and one drummer
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