About Us
Dr. Christopher Brellochs
Christopher Brellochs (saxophonist, composer and conductor) has performed in Paris, Germany and throughout the New York City metropolitan area including venues such as Birdland, 55 Bar, Cornelia Street Café, and Smoke to Carnegie Hall. Brellochs’ recordings include Quiet City (2011) which features the world premiere recording of Aaron Copland’s complete incidental music for Quiet City in its original instrumentation. Brellochs worked from the unpublished manuscript to bring this adaptation to life, which The Copland Estate and Boosey & Hawkes have embraced and published. The recording has received radio play on National Public Radio: Weekend Edition and Performance Today, and print reviews in Gramophone (Awards 2011) and Der Spiegel magazines. Other recordings include jazz album Torsion (2010) and classical CD Apotheosis of the Saxophone (2008). Brellochs is Chair of the Music Certificate Program at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
DCC Jazz Ensemble
The Dutchess Community College Jazz Ensemble is comprised of music majors, non-majors, high school students and members of the community. The group performs concerts and events at DCC, as well as throughout the community. Community performances have included the Dutchess County Jazz Festival, the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and The Derby with the Poughkeepsie Jazz Project. The group rehearses Tuesday evenings and students can earn college credit.
Alumni of the DCC Jazz Ensemble have transferred as music majors to prestigious colleges such as Ithaca College, SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Purchase, The New School, Western Connecticut State University, College of Saint Rose and William Paterson.
The DCC Jazz Ensemble is directed by Dr. Christopher Brellochs, who is also chair of the music program. In addition to being an educator, Dr. Brellochs is an accomplished saxophonist and composer whose recordings have been heard on National Public Radio. He recently returned from a tour which took him to Paris and Strasbourg, France where he performed at Selmer House, Vandoren and The World Saxophone Congress.
DCC offers courses in all styles of music including contemporary/pop, musical theatre, jazz and classical and are open to music and non-music majors. The college also offers an Associates in Performing (Music Advisement Track) and Music Performance Certificate. Students may take private lessons for college credit, and participate in large groups including the Jazz Ensemble, Chorus, Show Choir, Guitar Ensemble, and Orchestra.