Clark College music program holds first live concerts in almost two years      

When the Clark College Jazz Band holds its fall concert this Saturday, November 20, it won’t just be celebrating the work of modern composers and swinging tunes; it will be holding the college’s first live, in-person music performance in almost two years.

“It is so exciting for the musicians to be rehearsing in person again after an 18-month-long hiatus,” said music professor and Jazz Band director Dr. Doug Harris. “We’re looking forward to performing some great jazz tunes for an in-person audience!”

The performance is only the first of a whole series of fall concerts: The college’s string orchestra, chorale, concert choir, and concert band all will be performing live during the first week of December.

Each performance will include enhanced safety practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Guests will need to wear masks, follow social distancing guidelines, and provide information to a contact-tracing form.

When the college moved to remote operations in March 2020, faculty had to get creative to make virtual classes that worked for what is traditionally an in-person learning experience. They rallied to the challenge, but one thing they couldn’t provide was the experience of performing together before a live audience.

Music department chair Dr. Don Appert said that it was important to get students back to performing onstage as soon as it was safe to do so. “Music is a shared experience between the performers and the audience,” he explained. “There is no substitute for live music-making, and concerts are the culmination of the preparation by the musicians.”

All concerts are free and open to the public. Donations to the college’s music program are accepted at the door.

To see a full roster of Clark College music events, visit www.clark.edu/cc/music.