Music Department Events
The Coe College Music Department hosts a variety of events throughout the year that students from elementary, middle and high schools around the state can attend! Below you can find one space for all of the department events!
To see a full schedule of all department events,
Eastern Iowa Flute Workshop
September 21, 2025
Hosted by Coe College Flute Instructor Rose Bishop and the Coe College Music Department.
For more information, visit the Eastern Iowa Flute Workshop page!
Join us for classes for all ages and skill levels on the All-State and Honor Band Auditions, Performance Anxiety, Alexander Technique, Practice like a Professional, Flute Choir, a Presentation from Flute Authority, and chance to try new flutes and piccolos and more! Band directors are welcome to join and play flute in all of the classes as well. Additionally, students have the option to participate in the Solo Competition for a chance to win several exciting prizes!
Coe All-State Workshop: Woodwind, Brass & Percussion
September 28, 2025
Marquis Hall, Coe College
Are you preparing for Iowa All-State or the Southeast Iowa Honor Band auditions? Join the Coe College faculty as they help students prepare for these auditions through warm ups, scale preparation, solo repertoire, and detailed work on each etude.
Schedule
Group 1: 1:00-2:45pm
Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Euphonium, Tuba
Group 2: 3:00-4:45pm
Tenor Saxophone, Bari Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Percussion
Any Questions? Email Dr. William Carson at wcarson@coe.edu.
All-State Choral Workshop
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 9:30am - 2:30pm
Coe is offering a one-day All-State Choir Workshop on Tuesday, October 14th from 9:30-2:30 pm. There is no fee for this workshop, although we ask for a commitment (this form filled out) from you regarding attendance two weeks in advance - September 30th. Participants will have large group rehearsal and clinics, as well as individual entry mock audition opportunities. Large Group Clinician: Luke Lovegood (Coe) & Mock Audition Clinician: Chris Nakielski (Cornell).
Music Department Extravaganza: Winter@Coe
December 6, 2025 at 2 pm, Sinclair Auditorium
The Coe College Music Department presents "The Music Department Extravaganza: Winter@Coe!" An event to bring the campus and community together and celebrate the end of the semester and the upcoming holiday season.
In conjunction with the Office of the President and Friends of Music at Coe, this event will feature all of the music ensembles performing contemporary music and even some holiday favorites. There will be delicious treats to enjoy following the concert in the Sinclair Lobby!
This event is free and open to all of campus and the community! We hope you can join us!
Vocal Jazz Summit 2026!
February 23, 2026, in Sinclair Auditorium
The Coe College Music Department is excited to present its 4rd annual Vocal Jazz Summit! To learn more about the event or register your group, visit here: Vocal Jazz Summit
Coe College Jazz Summit
Middle Schools (and comments only high schools) - February Feb. 24 - 25, 2026
High Schools (and comments only middle schools) - February Feb. 26 - 28, 2026
Grand Finale Concert, Saturday, February 28, 2026, 7:00 pm, Sinclair Auditorium
featuring Catie Hickey, trombone
Learn more about Jazz Summit:
Held annually the last weekend in February, the Jazz Summit features appearances by jazz musicians from throughout the nation and has even, on four occasions, attracted international artists (2000 - Delbert Bernabela, Ivan Quandus; 1994 - Jim Mair, Canada; 1995 - Delbert Bernabela, Ivan Quandus, and Carlos Bislip, Aruba and Victor Mestas, Venezuela; 1996 - Ignacio Berroa, Cuba). School jazz bands and enthusiastic jazz aficionados from throughout the Midwest flock to Coe College to get clinics from the guests and to hear them perform. The Jazz Summit was founded in 1992 and continues a tradition of jazz festivals at Coe College that stretches back to the 1970's. During this period, the festival has grown from an afternoon event with an evening concert, to a three-day festival encompassing clinics, workshops, a jazz band competition which accommodates almost 2000 musicians from ninety different high school and middle school jazz bands, an awards ceremony and the Grand Finale concert featuring the jazz ensemble from Coe College and performances by the guest artist.
The predecessor of the Jazz Summit was called the Horizons Jazz Festival and featured artists ranging from Ed Shaughnessy and Count Basie to John Scofield and Rich Matteson. Coe also has a long history of hosting jazz events in a concert setting. Guests have included Danny Barber, The Motion Poets, Richard Stoltzman, The United States Army Jazz Ambassadors, The Either/Orchestra, Bobby Shew and Chick Corea with Bob Berg, John Patitucci and Gary Novak. And it's been a few years, but even the great Louis Armstrong has graced the stage of Sinclair Auditorium.
Coe College Festival of Bands - April 12-19, 2026
The New Horizons Band of Cedar Rapids and the Rockwell Collins Band, Tuesday, April 14 at 7pm
The Kirkwood Community College Concert Band and the Coe College Jazz Band, Thursday, April 16 at 7pm
The Festival also features guest composer and arranger Adrian Sims in the following concerts:
Elementary Honor Band: Saturday, April 18
Junior and Senior Honor Bands: April 19
The Gala Concert with the Coe College Concert Band: Saturday, April 18
Spring Choral Showcase 2026
Saturday, May 2, 2026
7:00 PM Concert | Sinclair Auditorium
Join us on Saturday, May 2nd for the 3nd Annual Spring Choral Showcase with the option to sing one song with our current choir students. Coe Concert Choir, Coe Sho Cho (Coe's new iteration of show choir) and A-Coe-Pella (student-led ensemble) will come together for the Spring Choral Showcase. There are several ways to be a part of this exciting event and reconnect with old friends!