SWCC music department plays on

Southwestern Community College is warming up its music program for this year.

SWCC music instructor Dr. Jeremy Fox said the college will have tentpole performances such as the music in the courtyard and a special performance Tuesday by acclaimed singer-songwriter Chad Elliott. Fox also said the music department is looking increase their exposure to bounce back from last year.

“This past year was such a burden, having to perform only on campus and only in safe conditions,” he said. “Music in the Courtyard was one of our ideas to allow our students to breathe some fresh air last year, and we’ve kept it up this school year. Every Thursday from 12:15 to 1 p.m., our students will perform in SWCC’s courtyard in the center of the instructional building, all different styles of music according to each students’ interests.”

Fox also said Music in The Courtyard sprouted from pandemic improvisation and opened the doors for established artists to come in and impart their wisdom onto the students.

“In spite of the turbulent times last year, we managed to plant some important seeds this last year, like creating that weekly Music in the Courtyard performance opportunity,” he said. “We also created new avenues for singer-songwriters at our music program, offering private remote lessons to our music majors with award-winning songwriters in the Los Angeles, New York and Nashville areas,” he said

The new school year and additional faculty offers a clean slate and the opportunity to expand.

“With the prospects of a fresh start of this school year, and with a new fantastic full-time teaching colleague named Tobi Crawford, we made it our goal to begin performing more for and in the community, to build more bridges with our friends in Creston and the surrounding areas,” Fox said.

SWCC’s music program will soon also get exposure beyond Union County borders.

“We’re even performing at Des Moines’ premiere jazz club called Noce at the end of October,” Fox said.

The music program also won national praise, which boosted student morale.

“We’ve had plenty of exciting news to help us rebound from the pandemic,” Fox said. “This last May, our top vocal group called First Take was named by Downbeat Magazine as the top vocal group in the nation in the Community Choir category.”

This summer also juiced up the students as they were awarded the opportunity to perform with musicians from around the world.

“This last July, we were only one of a handful of collegiate groups to have been selected and invited to perform in Dallas at the huge Jazz Education Network International Conference,” Fox said.

Still, the SWCC music program performs in Creston for local businesses.

“We were grateful for our students to have been offered seven hours to perform as individuals and duos at the new Creston Arts Center for the arts festival last weekend,” Fox said. “And we are starting a weekly music series where our music majors will perform at Hot Air Brewing each Friday night from 6-8 p.m.”

One need not be a SWCC student musician to enjoy the offerings of the program.

“Next week, we’ve brought to Creston an amazing singer-songwriter named Chad Elliott to perform for our music students, and decided to open it up to the community. Chad will be performing with one of top-call violin/fiddle players in the state of Iowa, and also a member of our music faculty named Kathryn Fox.”

Upcoming events include...

• Songwriting and the Music Business with Chad Elliott, Tuesday, Sept. 28

6:30-7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center Theater. This is a pre-concert discussion about songwriting and the music business with Chad Elliott. Elliott has a huge following in Iowa and throughout the midwest. His recent 2021 “Singing River” album release made it to #9 on the Americana country charts of the Roots Music Report and #11 on the country list. The cost to attend the pre-concert discussion is $10.

• Chad Elliott and Kathryn Fox Performance, Tuesday, Sept. 28

7:30-9 p.m., Performing Arts Center Theater. A duo concert of singer/songwriter Chad Elliott and Southwestern’s very-own Kathryn Fox. $15 admission, $5 for students and seniors, and SWCC students free.