Popular Music Ensemble
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6 pm
Popular Music Ensemble is one of the featured performing groups in South Mountain Community College’s Music program, bringing students together to perform music inspired by rock, pop, and other contemporary styles. The ensemble provides students with valuable experience in collaboration, rehearsal, stage presence, and live performance, helping them grow into confident and versatile musicians. Tonight’s performance celebrates the dedication and talent of our students while highlighting the exciting momentum of SMCC’s Popular Music program. Guided by Noah Guttell, Music Program Coordinator, whose leadership and commitment have helped shape a dynamic, student-centered program, SMCC Music supports aspiring performers, songwriters, producers, and creators as they build artistic and professional skills for the future.
For more information about the program, please speak with Noah Guttell or email [email protected].
SMCC Guitar / Bass Department Concert – Students of Phillip Zweig, D.M.A.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 7 pm
SMCC Guitar and Bass students will perform their semester concert showcasing the music they've been preparing for this term. The program includes music of the classical, jazz, rock, blues, country, and metal genres, reflecting the wide range of interests of our students. Students will be performing as soloists, duos, and in small ensembles. Come support and enjoy these young musicians on their musical journeys.
Faculty Bio
Phillip Zweig, D.M.A. has been adjunct music faculty at SMCC since 2016, teaching guitar, bass guitar, music theory, and music humanities. He completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance from Arizona State University in 2022, and has studied with notable artists including Rene Izquierdo, Ricardo Iznaola and Ted Greene. He is currently furthering his studies, pursuing a master’s degree in music education from the University of Florida. He also performs and composes in a variety of projects and genres throughout Arizona.
OPERA AT THE MOUNTAIN
A FREE CONCERT ON MAY 6 AT THE PAC FROM 7-8:30 PM
MUSIC FROM OPERA, MOVIES, BROADWAY, AND POP.
Faculty Bio
Isola Jones is internationally recognized as an extraordinary artist. Making her professional debut in the Verdi Requiem with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Jones within two years made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the role of Olga in the opera Eugene Onegin. She has been paired with the great international artists Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose’ Carreras, Leontyne Price, and Joan Sutherland.
Ms. Jones has the honor and distinction of being the only African-American artist in history to sing over 500 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and the first and only African American featured artist to sing in 10 “Live from the Met” Great Performances telecasts.
Ms. Jones was presented with the prestigious Merit Award from her Alma Mater, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She earned a Master's Degree of Science in Education from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Musical Arts from Providence College in Rhode Island.
On March 25th 2012, Ms. Jones was honored as one of The 48 Most Intriguing Women of Arizona which is now part of the Centennial Celebration of the state of Arizona under the auspices of the Arizona Historical Society. Among the honorees are Cindy McCain, former Senator Gabby Giffords, the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and Governor of Arizona, Rose Mofford.
Ms. Jones is now Dr. Isola Jones having earned the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University on May 9, 2016.
Dr. Jones is singing a recital on May 22 nd at the Marc A. Scorca Hall at the National Opera Center in New York City, where she will also give a Master Class and will be the subject of a documentary on her career at the Metropolitan Opera.
South Mountain Latin Jazz Band
May 7 at the Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free!
The South Mountain Latin Jazz Big Band plays Latin Jazz focusing on rhythms from Cuba, Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. The band has 21 musicians that will play the following Latin rhythms; mambo, guajira, bolero, and salsa fused with Jazz. And to quote the great Gloria Estefan “The rhythm is going to get you”. We will see you on May 7!
Disfruta de la música!
Student Piano Recitals
May 8 at the Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free!
Dr. Qingqing Ye presents piano recitals at SMCC: A Night of classical piano repertoire from easy to hard, Chopin to Scriabin.
Featuring Spring 2026 piano students from MUP 152, MUP 101, MUP 102 and MUP202 at SMCC.
| Aasiya Muhammad-bey | Dantay Nelson | Jarron Deng |
| Jessica Frolov | Kosmo Star | Oscar Chavez |