ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS DEGREES

KCC’s Associate in Fine Arts in Music degree program offers individual curriculum specializations in Instrumental, Piano or Voice areas. Program curriculum provides a comprehensive foundation of music study including essential performance, studio and foundation courses.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the courses within the Associate in Fine Arts in Music degree:

1. Students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in performance across various musical genres, including (but not limited to) classical, jazz and contemporary, showcasing technical skills and expressive interpretation on the primary instrument.
2. Students will exhibit mastery in music theory and aural skills, including the ability to analyze complex musical forms, sight-read music and identify various musical elements such as harmony, rhythm and texture.
3. Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of musical terminology and concepts, enabling them to articulate and apply these concepts effectively in both written and verbal communication about music.
4. Students will apply creative and analytical skills to organize musical ideas and critique compositions from various styles and genres through written and verbal analysis.
5. Students will integrate their musical knowledge and skills into broader educational and cultural contexts by designing and implementing music-based educational projects.

KCC’s Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts degree program offers individual curriculum specializations including animation, fine arts, graphic design and photography, depending on the student’s transfer goals. Additional options include 3D art, ceramics, drawing and illustration, digital art and videography.

Students can focus on one area or multiple mediums, depending on their goals.

The AFA in Visual Arts is a comprehensive degree allowing students to transfer the bulk of their art classes on top of the Michigan Transfer Agreement. Students will earn up to 30 credits in the arts in addition to completing the minimum 30 credits required to complete the MTA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the courses within the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts degree, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate technical capabilities and understanding of traditional studio art foundations.
2. Analyze and interpret historical and contemporary art movements and connect these to current studio art and design practices to demonstrate an understanding of visual literacy.
3. Exhibit competency in the creation of cohesive projects using a broad range of traditional to contemporary media skills.
4. Demonstrate foundational skills and knowledge required for success in the field of art and design, or entry into a range of studio art and design baccalaureate programs.

Every spring, KCC Art, Graphic Design and Photography and Multimedia program students from the current academic year are invited to submit up to four entries for consideration for Student Art Exhibition awards.

A faculty committee reviews and organizes all submissions and the bulk of the work is juried independently by an art professional chosen from outside of the College, with select works exhibited in the College’s Eleanor R. and Robert A. DeVries Gallery.

The juror (or jurors) selects major media category awards and honorable mentions from exhibit works, with cash prizes made possible through a generous donation made to the KCC Foundation by artist Kimiko Petersen and her husband Sherman Petersen.

Learn more and view art exhibited in the most recent Student Art Exhibition on the exhibit website at rosep9.wixsite.com/kccstudentartexhibit.

Select arts programs at KCC offer students opportunities for paid or unpaid internships that lead to valuable hands-on experiences in their field and robust portfolio development and networking opportunties. Contact the program coordinator or professor of your respective discipline to inquire about internship, student worker or other professional arts-related opportunties for program students.

KCC’s Music Program offers choirs, bands, opera theatre, musical theatre and much more, all of which provide ample opportunties to perform publicly, including via biannual internaional choir tours. Learn more at kellogg.edu/music.

Kellogg Community College Choral Union

The choirs of Kellogg Community College have performed throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts. The KCC Choral Union has performed at major venues throughout the U.S., Ireland and Italy. The ensemble regularly collaborates with major musical organizations such as the Sacred Music Festival in Kalamazoo, the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, Haydn Festival Orchestra and the Monroe Community Chorale and Symphony. Although no college credit is currently available at this time, the KCC Choral Union (also known as the Touring Choir) is open to any current member of one of the three residential choirs (Branch County Community Chorus, Kellogg Singers or Concentus Vocal Ensemble) at Kellogg Community College.

Women’s Chorus (MUSI 103/103C)

A combined student and faculty/staff choir that rehearses two hours a week. They sing music for women’s voices from all eras, from medieval chants to contemporary music, spirituals and world music. This wonderful and fun group is open to everyone from beginners to experienced choral musicians. No audition required, just a love for singing.

Branch County Community Chorus (MUSI 104/104C)

A non-auditioned, mixed ensemble whose members are drawn from Coldwater and the surrounding areas. This ensemble seeks to explore repertoire not accessible to the average church choir. A wide range of choral music is prepared for performance in the Branch County area. If you enjoy singing and are looking for a pleasant atmosphere in which to experience challenging choral literature, this is the choir for you! Everyone is welcome in this ensemble, which can be taken for enrichment or for academic credit. You may register online or visit the Grahl Center campus in Coldwater to register.

Kellogg Singers (MUSI 105/105C)

This is a non-auditioned, mixed ensemble based out of the Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Center on KCC’s North Avenue campus in Battle Creek. The Kellogg Singers prepare high-level choral music for performances on the KCC campus and in the community. An effort is made to expose the members to “need to know songs” from every style in choral music repertoire. Music from Renaissance madrigals to spirituals, Baroque masterworks to music of living composers and everything in between is presented in concert. Everyone is welcome in this ensemble, which can be taken for enrichment as well as for credit.

Concentus Vocal Ensemble (MUSI 109/109C)

A small vocal group that specializes in repertoire written for advanced small-ensemble singing. The group consists of singers who are selected through the annual choral audition process in the spring and fall of each academic year. Concentus repertoire focuses on madrigals, chanson, lied and a variety of vocal works from the musical theatre and show-choir genre. You must be a registered member of the Kellogg Singers for audition/membership.

Music Theatre Ensemble

An enjoyable way to expand your musical and theatrical horizons, music theatre at KCC is open to anyone in the community. Both lead roles and chorus parts are available during the run of each musical in the spring semester. Although no college credit is currently available at this time, the music theatre ensemble is a fun way to enjoy new experiences and meet new people. Come join us!

Concert Band (MUSI 160/160C)

The KCC Concert Band is dedicated to the performance of fine instrumental concert literature. The aesthetic aspect of the music is stressed and special emphasis is placed on musical style. This ensemble presents concerts on campus and in the surrounding community.

Jazz Band (MUSI 161/161C)

The Jazz Band affords students the opportunity to develop performance skills in contemporary and traditional jazz music. Performances are presented on campus and in the community and include music from all areas of jazz and various rock idioms.

Opera Workshop (MUSI 297/297C)

The Opera Workshop introduces all aspects of the art form to its participants, including acting, vocal technique, language and stage movement. Other areas of focus include audition techniques, scene study, musical collaboration and much, much, more.

Recent Opera Workshop presentations have included works such as “Amahl and the Night Visitors” (Gian Carlo Menotti), “Trial by Jury” (Gilbert and Sullivan), “Dido and Aeneas” (Henry Purcell), “The Marriage of Figaro” (W. A. Mozart), “The Student Prince” (Sigmund Romberg), “Die Fledermaus” (Johann Strauss), “Hansel and Gretel” (Humperdinck) and the Michigan premiere of Karen Phipps’ “Snow White: The Opera.”

KCC students have the opportunity to contribute work — including written and visual art — to The Bruin News, Kellogg Community College’s online student news platform. View The Bruin News online at thebruinnews.com.

Also view:

• The Bruin News on Facebook
• The Bruin News on Instagram
• The Bruin News on Twitter
• The Bruin News on YouTube

Bruin News content is produced and managed by students under the advisement of KCC staff. The editor can be reached at bruinnewseditor@gmail.com. KCC Marketing Director Simon Thalmann, KCC staff advisor to The Bruin News, can be reached at thalmanns@kellogg.edu.

Submissions

Bruin News bylines offer students valuable publication experience that looks great on resumes, and several KCC Journalism alumni have won awards for their work in the annual Michigan Community College Press Association awards competition.

The Bruin News is always looking for student writers, photographers, videographers and other content creators to produce news, social media or other content. Inquiries about working for The Bruin News should be directed to KCC staff advisor Simon Thalmann at thalmanns@kellogg.edu.

Press releases, letters to the editor or other inquiries should be sent to The Bruin News editor at bruinnewseditor@gmail.com.

Bruin News History

KCC’s first student newspaper was published as The Triad beginning in 1956, the year the college was founded as Battle Creek Community College. The newspaper continued in print under a handful of names and through various publication schedules until the summer semester of 2018, when The Bruin, as it was then known, ceased print and became the online-only The Bruin News.

View more in the article “Turning the page: After more than 60 years, KCC’s student newspaper goes digital as The Bruin News,” by Bruin News writer Mackenzie Ryder.

Archived editions of the print version of The Bruin from November 2013 through February 2018 are available online at https://issuu.com/kccbruin.

Bruin News logo designed by student Maggie Wood.

The KCC Postcard Project started in January 2024 and continues through the present, highlighting the work of three student artists and placing hundreds of original student art prints into the community every month.

Each month, KCC visual arts faculty choose a piece of art created by one Art, Graphic Design and Photography and Multimedia student and the College’s Marketing and Communications Department produces postcards featuring their work. The postcards are free for the taking and can be found around campus as well as at community locations across the KCC service area.

Mosaic is Kellogg Community College’s student art and literary journal featuring art and writing created by KCC students and published annually once or twice per year. Learn more and see current submission guidelines at kellogg.edu/mosaic.

Each issue is designed by KCC Graphic Design students, with cover and inside art Mosaic Recognition Awards awarded each spring at the College’s annual Student Art Exhibition award ceremony.

Mosaic History

The earliest mention of a KCC literary journal is in the September 1964 issue of the student newspaper, which announced a call for submissions to a College literary magazine then called Perhaps.

The title of the magazine changed to Perigree during the 1984-85 academic year, and to Mosaic in 1999.

In addition to academic, performance and professional development opportunities, arts students at KCC can join any one of several arts-related registered student organizations, including:

• Art League
• Crude Arts Club
• Encore Theatre Club
• Film Club
• And more!

RSOs are a great way to network with like-minded peers, enjoy making and experiencing art, and even gain valuable leadership experience for those interested in taking on various officer positions within their respective groups. Visit the RSO web page at kellogg.edu/rsos for more information about each group.

Arts instruction at KCC is offered primarily in the Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Center on KCC’s North Avenue campus in Battle Creek.

For the visual arts, the Davidson Center houses 2D art (drawing and painting) and ceramics studios, multiple photo-developing darkrooms and lighting studios, robust Mac labs with scanners and wide-format printers, printing and presentation facilities and more. The center also includes the College’s Eleanor R. and Robert A. DeVries Gallery, which displays several student and community art exhibits each year.

For music studies, the Davidson Center houses the choir and band rooms, piano lab, private lesson studios and the Davidson Auditorium, a theater space that seats more than 100.

In addition to hosting several internal College and community events each semester, the theater space and lobby of the center are available for rental for use by the public. Learn more at kellogg.edu/binda.