The Mercer County Community College Jazz Band, directed by Scott Hornick, has been performing at area malls during the 2022 holiday season. This year’s Jazz Ensemble features Very Thompson and Matt Gargiullo on vibraphone, Jalen Johnson on trombone, Alina Mastrangeli on clarinet, Kayla Hawkins on flute, David Meriney on drums, Harrison Silverman on ukulele, Kyrie miller on guitar, Eddie Berkeyheiser on keyboard, CiCi Corriveau on keyboard, Maho Kurisu vocals and keyboard and Camryn LeCain, Ave Corbitt, Isabel Pluchino and Harrison Silverman vocals. Photo credit: Marcya Roberts

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- The Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Music Department will present free winter concerts featuring MCCC Faculty on December 13 and the MCCC Jazz Ensemble on December 14 at Kelsey Theatre located on the MCCC campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor. The public is invited. A third show will take place on December 21 featuring the Mercer County Symphonic Band. Admission is free but reservations are required.

On December 13 at 7:30pm, Mercer County Community College will present its annual Faculty Recital. MCCC faculty in conjunction with the MCCC Music Club will perform at Kelsey Theatre as part of a scholarship fundraiser for music students. Works will be performed by various artists. The event will be livestreamed and donations will be accepted both in-person and online. The livestream will be available here.

On December 14 at 7:30pm, the Mercer County Community College Jazz Band, directed by Music Department Coordinator Scott Hornick, will feature the college’s up and coming jazz students and vocalists joined by professional musicians from the tri-state jazz scene. The ensemble will cover works from Wayne Shorter, Erroll Garner, George and Ira Gershwin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Weill, Ringo Sheena and others. This event will also be livestreamed. The livestream will be available here.

MCCC music coordinator Scott Hornick expressed how he is especially pleased with the calibre of talent of the jazz band this year.

"So far this season our students have put on top-notch performances," Hornick said. "Our upcoming live show at Kelsey Theatre will be a night to remember."

Hornick explained that the MCCC jazz ensemble will be backed by seasoned jazz artists who will perform well-known jazz standards along with seasonal favorites.

"We are hoping for a good turnout for both the jazz event and the music recital," Hornick continued. "Both events are free, but if audience members can contribute something during the December 13 performance -- either in person or online --  those contributions will help fund much-needed scholarships for music students at the college."

Free of charge on December 21 at 7:30pm, is the Mercer County Symphonic Band Winter Concert directed by Dr. Lou Woodruff. This show will round off the 2022 winter music concert series at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre. The 45-member ensemble will present classics by Vivaldi, Sousa and Strauss, a variety of pops and seasonal favorites. A traditional holiday sing-along will also be orchestrated! Reservations are required. This event will also be livestreamed.

For information about these Mercer County Community College events and more, click here. For up-to-the-minute livestreaming information visit kelsey.mccc.edu close to the date of the event.

For details about joining the MCCC Jazz Band or taking music courses at MCCC visit this link.