Student Ensembles

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Community

The Music Ensembles at CRC offer more than an opportunity for musical excellence - they also provide an instant feeling of belonging, a chance to participate in some of the college's most popular classes and the opportunity to form life-long friendships. We offer the opportunity for students to perform before a live audience throughout the academic year. Ensembles at CRC are open to any CRC student or community member.

Auditions

We want you! Most ensembles are open to all students at all levels of playing and singing. Bring your energy and talent, and we will find the right ensemble for you. Some ensembles require a live audition. Audition requirements are listed in the course description, but please contact the ensemble director for more information.

Volunteers

While enrollment is required to participate in CRC music ensembles, students may volunteer to participate in any ensemble after taking the maximum number of repeatable sections of that ensemble.

For example, a student may volunteer to sing in Gospel Choir after they have enrolled in the course for four semesters.

To volunteer, simply complete the CRC Music Volunteer Form and email it to appropriate ensemble director:

Instrumental Ensembles Professor: Maxwell Kiesner - kiesnem@crc.losrios.edu
Vocal Ensembles Professor: Omari Tau - tauO@crc.losrios.edu

orchestra

The CRC Composer Ensemble has been serving the needs of students since 2009, providing weekly student instruction culminating in up to four public performances per semester. The CRC Composers Ensemble is the only ensemble in the California Community College District that presents public concerts comprised exclusively of student created works. The Ensemble assists students who are interested in composition and helps them to create a portfolio of individual compositions to use when transferring to four-year colleges and universities.

Our students write original music in a variety of styles - classical, pop, electronica, video game inspired, and even more boundary pushing avant-garde styles. Many of our CRC Composer Ensemble alumni have transferred to prestigious four-year institutions, with some currently writing music that shows up in major motion pictures and television shows.

CRC Composer Ensemble members have taken part in the Honors Composer Seminar at annual MACCC Conference (Music Association of California Community Colleges). Ensemble participants have also performed at assorted Cosumnes River College public and private events, including: Los Rios Community College District Board of Trustees Benefit (featuring our District Chancellor and Senators representing the California State Assembly), Patrons Scholarship Luncheon, CRC Foundation performances, and other assorted school functions.Print articles profiling the CRC Composers Ensemble have appeared in CRC school newspaper The Connection and in the Elk Grove Citizen.

The Ensemble has collaborated with both the CRC Theatre as well as the Radio, Television and Film programs. The CRC Composers Ensemble has hosted performer residencies with the following acclaimed Guest Artist performers: Ann Moss (soprano), Omari Tau (baritone), and Heidi Moss (soprano). The CRC Composers Ensemble plays an active and important role in the cultural life of the greater South Sacramento community.

Kurt Erickson, Founder and Director
ericksk@crc.losrios.edu