The award-winning KCKCC Vocal Jazz Program takes pride in performing collegiate and professional-level vocal jazz ensemble literature. The students in the vocal jazz program learn jazz education through a variety of methods. First of all, several of the students take private vocal jazz coachings weekly. They also perform music by professional vocal ensembles, arrangements by well-known vocal jazz educators, and learn jazz and popular music standards (both through the ensemble and within the private coachings).
"The Standard" Vocal Jazz Ensemble
The Standard, the award-winning contemporary vocal jazz ensemble from Kansas City Kansas Community College. They have been invited to perform at the national conferences of the Jazz Education Network, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Education.
The Standard has also been selected to perform at the Southwestern Divisional Conference of the American Choral Directors Association, Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop, the New York Voices Jazz Festival, and the Real Group Festival, and the New York City Jazz Festival at Jazz at the Lincoln Center. The Standard received a number #1 rating at the University of Northern Colorado/Greeley Jazz Festival. Within the last five years, members of The Standard have won twelve DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards for Outstanding Performance, Live Engineered Recording, Studio Engineered Recording, and Outstanding Soloist in the Community College category. The most recent DownBeat awards included being the 2020 Community College Winner for Blues/Pop/Rock Ensemble and the 2020 Community College Co-Winner for Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
In December of 2018, The Standard released their first studio recording, Feelin’ Good, and the album has been played on radio stations throughout the Midwest. In September 2020, The Standard has digitally released their first single recording of Justin Binek’s composition, Reparations. In June 2021, the ensemble will release their second studio album, entitled Coal and Diamonds. The group has shared the stage with such highly acclaimed artists as Take 6, New York Voices, m-pact, Carmen Bradford, Dianne Reeves, and Marilyn Maye.
Fusion Vocal Ensemble
Fusion is an auditioned vocal jazz group that is in its 6th year of existence. The focus of the ensemble is to study performance practice of blues, rock, and soul music. Fusion received a number #2 rating at the 2015 University of Northern Colorado/Greeley Jazz Festival. They have also performed at the Millikin University Vocal Jazz Festival, the North Central ACDA Vocal Jazz Festival, and the The Real Group Festival at Southwestern Community College.
Professional Music Ensemble (Directed by Dr. Justin Binek)
Our Pro Music Ensemble is designed for to combine both student instrumentalists and vocalists to study and perform together a different style of music every semester. The focus of this ensemble is to explore different styles including latin, funk, rock, blues and hip-hop.
Summer Jazz Choir
Summer Jazz Choir is our community jazz choir that meets for eight rehearsals every summer and presents one performance in early August. Open to members of the community wishing to sing in a choir once a week. Ages range from high school upperclassmen to older adults.