The Hip Hop Ensemble and The Gospel Band: Showcase in Concert

Columbia College Chicago's unique student ensemble courses offer essential curricular opportunities for Music majors to collaborate, hone their talents, and perfect their musical mastery.

The hip-hop ensemble performs a wide variety of music drawn from across hip-hop history, including the work of such artists as The Roots, Kendrick Lamar, Common, A Tribe Called Quest, and other hip-hop legends. The ensemble includes a live band and vocalists including singers and MCs. The group strives to include material that is socially relevant and challenging. MCs collaborate with the class and develop their writing style and musicality. Instrumentalists develop musicianship, improvisational and collaborative skills, while creating a cohesive performing unit. The Gospel band features instrumentalists and vocalists and explores both theory and performance techniques within the context of gospel music and the African-American church tradition. Students learn and perform challenging and rewarding gospel repertoire, ranging from “the roots” music of the early 1900s to the contemporary hits of today. Ear training, “ear trusting,” improvisation, and artistic freedom are valued and emphasized as central principles within the gospel music tradition.

Free!