Clarence Smith is an instructor of music and Music Coordinator who has been teaching for twenty years, the last four here at Penn Valley. He is Coordinator of the MCC-Penn Valley Jazz Band, and strives to keep the band performing as well as possible.

Smith, who says he absolutely loves jazz, wants the band and the Music Department to grow. His main concern is bringing in more students who plan to receive degrees in music at four-year colleges. Currently, many of the students who take music classes are doing so only to fulfill other degree obligations.

There is also a choir starting at MCC-Penn Valley. The choir is open for all students and faculty members who want to join. For more information, contact Tony Fishback or Doug Helvering, the two teachers in charge of the choir.

The Jazz Band is a growing program, made of MCC-Penn Valley students as well as community members who just like to play. One of Smith's main goals is more student involvement; he'd love to recruit more band members.

In alliance with the Duke Ellington Legacy, the Jazz Band will send a Penn Valley student to the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Conference, to be held this year in New York City. According to the IAJE website, their mission is to ensure the growth and development of jazz, so the Conference is for musical minds to come together for renewal and rebirth.

The Duke Ellington Legacy seeks to inspire people in jazz, and to remember Duke Ellington. "Duke Ellington was the most prolific American composer," Smith explained. The Legacy works with about nine colleges in the nation besides Penn Valley. They donate musical charts (sheet music) and help music departments financially.

Since coming to Penn Valley, Smith has helped the Jazz Museum hold a local competition between local high school jazz bands. The high school bands pay to compete, be ranked, get some criticism, and get help on how to grow.

This year the festival will present six high school bands from across the metropolitan area to play charts donated by the Duke Ellington Legacy. The final six have yet to be selected, but they'll be the best. Smith is really excited about the program and hopes it is a huge success.

Smith is also a percussionist who has a lot going on personally. He performs every weekend in one of his many bands, playing soul/gospel at churches, jazz with The Joe Athon Group, as well as plenty of other live music, occasionally with local singer Toni Gates.

Besides performing, Smith conducts jazz workshops and clinics at area high schools. He was selected to be Guest Conductor for the West Central Missouri All District Jazz Band, Which Smith says is "pretty cool!"

Recently, Smith was selected as a Judicator for Bands Across Kansas City, a contest for bands to compete at venues across Kansas City. For more info, the website is http://www.bandsacrosskansascity.com/

Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College