MCC-Penn Valley Music Faculty Member Featured as Guest Conductor at Performing Arts Institute

MCC faculty member Clarence Smith was a guest conductor at the Performing Arts Institute, a summer camp held at Wyoming Seminary, a college prep school in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  During the week of July 11-15, 2011, Mr. Smith conducted the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo at the camp.  He also lectured each day on the history of Kansas City jazz for the music topics series.

Mr. Smith currently serves as the coordinator of music at the Penn Valley campus while also teaching jazz at the Lonview and Blue River campuses.  Congratulations on your magnificent accomlishment, Mr. Smith!

MCC-Penn Valley to serve as home to KC Youth Jazz

For 10 years, Kansas City Youth Jazz has preserved the city's rich jazz legacy by offering music instruction and technique to area youth. The organization will call MCC-Penn Valley home effective June 1, thanks to Penn Valley Music Instructor Clarence Smith. Smith will also assume the role of musical director of KCYJ -  following in the footsteps of renowned jazz educator, Leon A. Brady.

“I have revered Mr. Brady since I started teaching 25 years ago,” Smith says. “He is one of Kansas City’s jazz icons; a man who is legendary because of his dedication to kids and desire to keep jazz alive by inspiring the youth of our community. KCYJ is a remarkable program that has impacted the lives of so many young people in Kansas City. It is a privilege to step into a leadership role and carry on the legacy that Mr. Brady started.”

The move to the Penn Valley campus provides KCYJ with a strong ally as the organization continues to grow.

“The majority of our participants attend suburban schools,” Smith explains. “We’d like to attract more students from the urban core, and Penn Valley has programs in place that will help with that effort. At the same time, KCYJ students and parents will learn about Penn Valley and all that MCC offers the community. The collaboration between KCYJ and the college is a win-win for all sides.”

KCYJ’s summer session begins June 4, with a concert scheduled for July 31. That event will include a 10-year anniversary celebration and special recognition of Brady as the organization’s founder.

To learn more about Kansas City Youth Jazz, click here.

MCC-Penn Valley to host African American History Month celebration

MCC-Penn Valley will present a broad range of events and activities to commemorate African American History month.

Activist Alvin Sykes will kick off the campuswide commemoration with a poignant presentation on the “Assassination of Leon Jordan” on Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. in ST 101.

Next is “Soul Sessions” – a fusion of spoken word, hip hop & jazz. This event featuring Spoken Word Artists Simeon Taylor, Camiele & DJ Skeme will be held on Feb. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Upper Level Cafeteria

On Feb. 11, students will spend some “Time on the Vine.” Participants will enjoy the ultimate 18th & Vine Jazz District experience including visits to the American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Blue Room.

Interim President Joe Seabrooks will keep things rolling when he and DJ Hank present “All About The Benjamins: Hip Hop’s Influence on Consumer Trends.” The event will be held on Feb. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Upper Level Cafeteria.

The critically-acclaimed documentary “KC Murder Factory” will be shown on Feb. 17 at 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. in ST 101.

More events will be announced. All events are free and open to the public.

Penn Valley instructor receives jazz award

MCC-Penn Valley Music Instructor Clarence Smith was recently awarded the First Ahmad Alaadeen Award for Excellence in Jazz Education. The late Alaadeen was a Kansas City legend and saxaphonist. His widow, Fannie, will attend the Penn Valley Jazz Ensemble's winter concert on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater.

Selected jazz standards include works from the Hard Bop era as well as music from Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Donny Hathaway and a moving selection written by Alaadeen.

Congratulations to Smith and let's get in full swing with the holidays at the concert!