|
The Department of Music at Cowley constantly
strives for excellence, and there are many opportunities for students
to experience the magic of making music. Serious music students
receive outstanding instruction in music theory, ear training/sight
singing, and individual lessons. This quality instruction enables
these students to successfully transfer to any four-year institution.
Vocal music opportunities include two
auditioned performance groups. Students must be a member of the
Cowley Concert Choir in order to audition for a spot in the prestigious
Cowley College Singers, which have established themselves as a
highly visible and entertaining performance ensemble. The
Cowley Concert Choir rehearses three days a week, and the Cowley
College Singers have three rehearsals a week with one of those
being a “Dance Lab” with our professional choreographer/dance
instructor. The educational focus for both performing
groups encompasses a wide range of vocal literature and each group
performs on campus as well as at many other venues throughout the
state. Vocal students also have an opportunity to participate
in Cowley’s large scale, professional -quality stage musical,
which is produced each school year.
Music is an extremely important force at Cowley College and the
gifted music faculty, each in their own right an accomplished artist,
is dedicated to providing students the highest quality education
possible. Many awards and honors have been received by the
Cowley Music Department throughout the years and the Concert Choir
received one of the state’s highest awards by being selected
to perform in the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) annual
convention at Century II in February of 2002 and then again in
2005. On April 27, 2003 the Choir performed with the
Kansas State University Concert Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York
City and in the spring of 2007, four vocal students were selected
by audition to perform in the ”Two-Year College Honor Choir” at
the National American Choral Directors Convention held in Miami,
Florida.
The Vocal Music Department also has a rich history of being an
advocate for the arts throughout the community and surrounding
area. In the spring of 2009 the Concert Choir performed
with the Winfield Oratorio Society for their Fifty-ninth performance
of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and in previous
years, students within the Concert Choir have also had the opportunity
to sing in a Community Chorus of approximately 50 members ranging
from 16-80 years of age for the area Prairie Fest Celebration and
in a scholarship benefit concert for Cowley music students.
Students interested in continuing their love of singing will definitely
find a program to suit their needs at Cowley College!
Students interested in singing will
definitely find a program to suit their needs at Cowley. Participation
opportunities include large and small groups, individual lessons
and classes in music theory. A wide range and variety of music
allows the student many opportunities to perform on and off campus,
as well as in events across the state.
Concert Choir
The Cowley Concert Choir is featured throughout the year at concerts held on
campus and is a vital part of the Cowley Fine Arts Department.
Click
here for sound clip. |
 |
| |
Sound clips from the May 4, 2010 concert:
|
|
|
|
|
C.C. Singers
The C.C. Singers are a highly visible and very entertaining performance
ensemble. Students must be a member of the Concert Choir in order
to audition for this very prestigious group and auditions are held
at the beginning of every fall semester. The C.C. Singers perform
many times throughout the year on and off campus and plan a tour
each spring.
Click
here for
sound clip.
 |
CC Singers 2011-2012
- Rebekah Anliker, Scott City
- Dylan Berry, South Haven
- Anthony Calera, Derby
- Alexis Denoncourt, Whitewater
- Devin Dice, Arkansas City
- Brittany Dunn, Udall
- Megan Hamlett, Derby
- Rebecca Munoz, Garden City
- Lane Russsell, Arkansas City
- Benjamin Stranghoner, Douglass
- Bryce Sund, Salina
- Kristan Wiedemann, Derby
- Kyle White, South Haven
- Jason Williams, Scott City
|
Click here to view photo galleries.
 Connie
Donatelli - Director of Vocal Music
Connie
Donatelli has been a very active vocal music educator in the state
of Kansas for more than 25 years, including 14 years at Cowley
College.
The Cowley Concert Choir received one
of the state’s highest awards by being selected to perform
in the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) annual convention
at Century II in Wichita, Kansas in 2002 and again in 2005. Another
highlight in Donatelli’s career at Cowley was the April 2002
Concert Choir performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Before
coming to Cowley, she taught elementary vocal music at Holton,
and middle and high school vocal music at Remington, Circle and
Winfield unified school districts. Her groups have performed
for many other statewide organizations as well as being the featured
guests at several National Conventions.
She is often asked
to judge vocal contests and has been a featured guest director
for various high school vocal festivals as well as the Southwest
KMEA, South Central KMEA and the North Central KMEA District Honor
Choirs. Donatelli is also highly respected by her colleagues
at Cowley as she was named the college’s third Endowed Chair
for Teaching Excellence and Student Learning.
In 1994, she
was presented a Master Teacher Award. Her professional quality
performance groups are highly sought after and serve as Cowley’s
finest ambassadors. Her passion and trademark enthusiasm
is an inspiration and generates an electric atmosphere that is
contagious in the classroom as well as to concert audiences.
She
is often asked to judge vocal contests and has been a featured
guest director for various high school vocal festivals as well
as the South East KMEA, South West KMEA, South Central KMEA, and
the North Central KMEA District Honor Choirs. Donatelli directs
the Concert Choir, Cowley College Singers, teaches Applied Voice
Lessons, and Music Appreciation.
Transfer Options
The Music Program at Cowley has established transfer articulation agreements
with most four-year colleges and universities. This is designed to give the
music major a solid background in all of the core music classes, enabling the
student to successfully transfer to a four-year institution.
Financial
Assistance
Students may audition for a vocal
music scholarship,
this
is for in-state students only. This scholarship can include up
to full tuition and books. A live audition must be set up through Connie Donatelli.
Students must fill out an application form and also submit two letters of reference.
Several special scholarships are available. The Fostine Moncrief Scholarship,
which offers several awards with stipends ranging from $100 to $500 per year,
and the Arkansas City Music and Dramatics Club Scholarship, which offers two
scholarship of $250, are available to music majors only, and are decided through
competitive auditions in September, April and May.
Music majors also are encouraged
to apply for other types of grants or loans through government student aid
programs that are offered at Cowley.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Connie Donatelli
Cowley County Community College
125 S. Second
Arkansas City, Kansas 67005
620.441.5288 or
800.592.2222 ext. 5288
|
