Did you know that MATC has a music program? If you didn’t know, it’s true. MATC has a program called Music Occupations.
“There has been a music presence since the beginning at MATC,” said Robbi Heighway, music instructor/department chair of Music Occupations. The program has been at MATC for at least 40 years.
The location of Music Occupations is on the first floor of the C-Building in the downtown campus. This is where the program has most of the meetings and rehearsals.
The program also has rooms in the Main Building for classes involved in the program as well as an audio room in Room M170 in the Main Building.
You can also find them presenting concerts in the C-Auditorium, performing a wide variety of genres of music.
Heighway mentioned that the program focuses on a variety of music genres such as gospel and jazz. “We do all kinds of music, for instance, this semester we’re doing a choral version of “Bohemian Rhapsody”… we do very classic hits,” said Heighway.
Students can join the program by attending classes involved in the program, signing up online, or by calling one of the instructors. Students who don’t have a major could also join the program. “If somebody has had choir in high school or sings in their church choir that’s a great way to get a little music,” said Heighway.
Heighway also pointed out that there are plenty of benefits from joining the Music Occupations program. “It’s great fun to be a part of music,” said Heighway. “It’s great fun to be a part of a choir and an ensemble.”
Finishing the program can help lead you to becoming a professional musician. Heighway said that one of the graduates of this very program was Hal Leonard, vice president of the world’s largest music publisher in Milwaukee.
She also noted that a student who graduated the program ended up becoming a blues musician and opens for B.B. King.  “We have people all over doing stuff,” said Heighway. There are a lot of benefits for joining this program.
The Music Occupations program is a great program to be a part of. It is also one of the best kept secrets in the college. There is also an Audio Production program that ties in with the Music Occupations.
The program has future performances coming up mid- semester in the C-Auditorium. This program is ready to receive more recognition from the student body and faculty of the school. For more information, contact a music instructor or search for the program online.