ICC Vocal Jazz musicians on performing
The members of ICC Vocal Jazz earlier this semester / Photo: Courtesy of Julie Clemens
12/10/18 – East Peoria, IL – It’s been a bustling season for music at Illinois Central College. This semester has seen jazz groups, choirs, orchestras, and bands galore. Awhile back, I interviewed the director and members of ICC’s Vocal Jazz. They gave a brilliant performance on Thurs., Nov. 8, singing such tunes as Cloudburst, Havana, Smile, Route 66 and more. I asked them what they found invigorating and challenging about performing.
Singer, Jessie Lister, comments, “I think vocal jazz is really cool because it’s a group of diverse kids. We all get together and get really close based on the music that we learned and the stuff we do.”
Singer, Jennifer Williamson, comments, “It’s my favorite group here. I really like Cloudburst. I like the fast, group-scat stuff. I really like the challenging music we do.” She adds that rhythm can be challenging, and that, “Vocal jazz can be really fast. Those soloists had a really fast part to learn and that can be difficult. Sometimes the harmonies are just hard. Jazz harmonies are some of the hardest in music to learn.”
Bass player, Elliot Horsley, comments, “What I enjoyed was the rush—the rush that I got. The vocal jazz group is very intense with how they perform. To feed off of that was very much a wonderful thing.”
Horsley offers some advice: “Live it up when you’re playing music. If you’re a musician, live it up while you’re playing. That’s the reason we play music. It’s just to live it up in the moment. If you listen to music, live it up while you’re listening to it.”
Ian Molina is known for his signature beat-boxing. “We’re all really good friends here,” he says. He’s been beat-boxing since he was 14, inspired by performances on America’s Got Talent.
The group is comprised of performers from 18 – 34 years of age. Singer, Josiah Lohrer, had to leave school early when he was about 19. He’s been back at ICC for a couple of years. “Jazz is what I love; jazz is what I do,” he says. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity to sing again. It’s a great group of people—young and old. Everybody works really hard. I think it shows in the work we’re doing right now. Come see us next time. We’ve got some great stuff coming out.”
Singer, Jordan Boland, has been a performer her whole life. “I’ve been singing since I came out of the womb,” she reflects. “Having a crowd there and being able to put people in awe, to make people think, ‘Wow, that is a really great piece of music,’ or, ‘that’s a really great piece of art…’ I want people to appreciate the art that I’m doing, the music that I’m doing. It’s always been in my blood,” she says.
Boland’s family is musically inclined. She started singing in church, then did musicals in high school and sang in groups at Monmouth College before joining ICC’s music program. Her favorite song to perform was the Dear Evan Hanson Medley. “The way we put that piece together was so fun, and I knew my mom would just love my solo in that. I really do this for my mom. Seriously, she is my number one fan. I like the different mixtures, the different types of songs.”
The group is led by Julie Clemens. She comments, “These are some of the hardest working students that I have the pleasure of working with every semester. We are able to do some of the most challenging repertoire.” Clemens teaches music theory and appreciation at ICC.
Before joining the college’s faculty, Clemens was an adjunct professor, freelance musician and conductor. “Music has always been a part of my life,” she says.
She began playing the piano when she was four, but her parents didn’t let her take lessons until she was seven and knew how to read well. “A long time ago, you didn’t really learn how to read until you were in second grade,” she recalls. When she was young, her parents bought her a little toy piano. Clemens’ mom colored in the keys so that she could learn a song to the colors. Ever since those early experiences, Clemens decided she wanted to do music for the rest of her life.
Clemens comments that time management and making the most of rehearsal time is crucial. She says that rehearsal planning is the most challenging aspect of what she does. She adds, “ICC vocal jazz is one of the gems of Illinois Central College. I would love for everybody to have a chance to experience the music that they make and hear the music of their souls as they sing.” I heartily concur.
In addition to their concerts throughout the academic year, they can be enjoyed by scholarship recipients and donors during the Educational Foundation’s annual Community Celebration.
By Wes Brooks
- Facebook.com/ICCVocalJazz
- ArtsAtICC.edu