The Showcase, happening today and Friday at Decker Auditorium, will feature selections from the Iowa Central Jazz Band, Pop Voices, Triton Singers, Brass Ensemble, Concert Band, and the Encore Singers.

“Our students and their amazing talents will be our showcase,” said Iowa Central Instrumental Music Director Paul Bloomquist. “I have some amazing sophomore musicians in both Jazz Band and Concert Band. It is nice to work with their abilities to find a piece of music that features them.”

The Jazz Band will open the Showcase with the song “Wade in the Water” with the Pop Voices collaborating on the song.

“It’s always nice when our students combine forces,” said Bloomquist.

-Submitted photo
The Iowa Central Community College instrumental and vocal students will perform a variety of musical numbers at the annual Spring Showcase concert today and Friday evenings at Decker Auditorium in Fort Dodge.

Sophomore clarinet player Sarah Cummins, will be featured on “Begin the Beguine,” a song written by Cole Porter and made famous by Artie Shaw. Then sophomore Nick Ross will pay tribute to Bix Biederbecke with “In Memory of Bix.” Sophomore bass player Kaleb Ries is also featured on the electric bass on “Whatever You Want.”

“Kaleb really blossomed as a bass player over his two years at Iowa Central,” said Bloomquist.

The Pop Voices, under the direction of Interim Director of Vocal Activities Amaia Walsh, will open with “The Music of the Night” and then collaborate with the Brass Ensemble in “Lovely Day.”

“I am really excited for the choirs to collaborate with the band,” said Walsh.

The Triton Singers will open their set with the Carly Simon favorite “Let the River Run” which features percussionists Samuel Odendahl, Luke Royster, and William Wright. The Singers will also perform “Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord” featuring Rhonda Auradou and Jacob Carman, and close with “Across the Vast Eternal Sky” featuring Bill Sergeant on violin and Royster on keyboard.

-Submitted photo
The Iowa Central Community College instrumental and vocal students will perform a variety of musical numbers at the annual Spring Showcase concert today and Friday evenings at Decker Auditorium in Fort Dodge.

“The variety and skill of the music that we are performing is exceptional and exciting,” added Walsh.

The Encore Singers will perform choral highlights from the Broadway musical “Mama Mia,” featuring soloists Lundyn Jones, Kloee Jones, Dayshon Jennings, Dustin Coyle, and Elle Clark.

The Brass Ensemble will also perform “The Third Second Line” featuring Darien Walsh on tuba.

Iowa Central’s Concert Band will open with a Karl L. King march and play selections from the Broadway musical “Wicked,” but according to Bloomquist, the songs that follow are ones that he hopes will create emotional responses from the audience.

“We will play three songs that give honor to all of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust,” said Bloomquist. “The Holocaust and World War II ended 80 years ago. There are three songs that establish a mood of darkness and evil, depressive tones of what the children endured, and then through faith, a celebration of remembrance. As dark as the Holocaust was, it is a testimony of the resilience of mankind that we persevere.”

-Submitted photo
The Iowa Central Community College instrumental and vocal students will perform a variety of musical numbers at the annual Spring Showcase concert today and Friday evenings at Decker Auditorium in Fort Dodge.

The musicians will close the Showcase with “Baba Yetu,” which is the Swahili adaptation of “The Lord’s Prayer,” featuring Bryce Walker and Aliyah Henry.

“Our students have worked very hard throughout the year and have learned so much,” said Bloomquist. “We are proud to present the Showcase to our students, family members, and to the community.”

Iowa Central Spring Showcase

7 p.m., Today and Friday

Decker Auditorium