Music Center of South Central Michigan

General information

The Music Center is the result of a merger in 2000 that brought together three established arts agencies, all former member agencies of the United Arts Council: the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra and its Community Music School; the Battle Creek Boychoir and Girls’ Chorus; and the Community Chorus. It was the ultimate collaboration, allowing for the sharing of not only human resources, programming, and equipment, but also the new facility at KCC, and the only one of its kind in the state of Michigan. The facility was developed in partnership with the college and opened in September of 2003.

The Music Center has developed four new programs since the merger: The I.M.P.A.C.T. Program, Inner-city Music Proving Arts Can Teach, which includes the Sojourner Truth youth gospel choir; Ars Voce (the art of the voice), a select adult choir specializing in a cappella works from early music to modern day composers; and expansion of the Community Music School to include branches in Hastings and Marshall.

The activities of the various programs include: local concert series encompassing both orchestral and choral performance; outreach programs for schools in the Battle Creek and surrounding communities; private individual instrumental and vocal instruction; group lessons in music and dance; choral training; additional private and community performances locally; performance tours; and several special events and fundraisers throughout the year.

The Music Center serves all of Calhoun and Barry Counties, as well as portions of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, and Kalamazoo counties. Spanning the cultural and economic spectrum, the Music Center provides programs for every stage of life.