Music

Northwest Mississippi Community College Department of Music

The NW music department offers advanced instruction in vocal and instrumental music. Many students who are passionate about music choose to enrich their collegiate experience at NW by participating in one or more of the choral or instrumental ensembles offered through the music department. *See the choir and band sites for more detailed information on music ensembles and how to audition.

Students who wish to pursue a career in music may begin that journey at NW.  The music degree pathway (major) is a comprehensive two-year plan designed to prepare students to graduate and then transfer into a college or university program where they will complete the final two years of an undergraduate degree in Music Education, Music Performance, Entertainment Industry Studies (music business/industry), or other music-emphasis degree of their choice.

Northwest Choirs
The vocal department at Northwest Mississippi Community College incorporates multiple ensembles, including the mens and womens choirs which employ all the singers at the college, and the audition-only Chamber Choir. The Northwest Entertainers is an elite pop vocal group.  The Northwest Choirs regularly perform throughout the year; both locally and regionally.  The vocal music department also offers applied instruction for major and non-major voice.  Our vocal ensembles perform regularly at campus and community events as well as collegiate festivals.

Northwest Bands
The Band Department at Northwest Mississippi Community College incorporates multiple ensembles. The Ranger Marching Band employs all instrumentalists as well as the color guard and dance team. Within the instrumental music department students can participate in smaller ensembles such as the Northwest Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Jazz Quintet, Steel Band, Percussion Ensemble, Brass Ensembles and Woodwind Ensembles.  In addition to many public performances and concerts, the instrumental music department offers applied instruction for major and non-major lessons for all woodwind, brass, percussion instruments and piano.

Scholarships

• Scholarships are available for both instrumentalists and vocalists. 
• For information on vocal audition requirements click here.
• If you have any other choir-related questions contact: 
  Reese Norris, Director of Choral Activities  Phone: (662) 562-3337  
• For information on instrumental audition requirements and any other questions contact:
  Tim Garrett, Director of Bands  Phone: (662) 562-3336 

NWCC Music Faculty

Jeff Triplett, District Director of Fine Arts Instruction, Coordinator of Entertainment Industry Studies
Phone: (662) 562-3922  Email: jtriplett@northwestms.edu 

Dr. Saundra Bishop, Director of the Entertainers, Piano, Music Theory
Phone: (662) 562-3333  Email: sbishop@northwestms.edu

Tim Garrett, Director of Bands, Applied High Brass Instructor
Phone: (662) 562-3336  Email: tgarrett@northwestms.edu

J Reese Norris, Director of Choral Activities
Phone: (662) 562-3337  Email: rnorris@northwestms.edu

John Ungurait, Assistant Director of Bands, Applied Percussion, Jazz and Steel Bands
Phone: (662) 562-3335  Email: jbungurait@northwestms.edu 

Jennifer Whitehead, Applied Woodwind Instructor, Music Theory
Phone: (662) 562-3346  Email: jwhitehead@northwestms.edu

Dr. Stellah Mbugua, Assistant Choral Director
Phone: (662) 562-3329  Email: smbugua@northwestms.edu

Lacey Halley, Adjunct Applied Voice Instructor
Phone: (662) 562-5356  Email: lhalley@northwestms.edu