Arizona Western College Hosts Free Winter Concerts, Supports Music Scholarships

Arizona Western College’s Visual and Performing Arts department this month opened its doors to the community for a pair of free winter concerts intended to showcase student and community musicians while supporting music scholarships. The announcement issued on November 13 informed residents that the AWC Jazz Ensemble presented Blue November on November 19 at 7 p.m. in the AWC Theater, and that the AWC Community Band will perform Holiday Flourishes on November 24 at 7 p.m. in the 3C Schoening Conference Center.

The Jazz Ensemble concert took place on November 19, offering local listeners an opportunity to experience campus performances and gauge the department’s musical programming as the semester approaches year end. The Community Band event will follow just ahead of the holiday week, providing another free cultural offering for families, students, and residents who may be seeking community activities in Yuma County.

Both events were promoted as free to the public, with the department noting that donations would be accepted to benefit AWC Visual and Performing Arts scholarships. That dual approach addresses two priorities for local arts programming. Free admission removes cost barriers that can limit attendance, while voluntary contributions create a direct link between community attendance and financial support for students pursuing arts education at AWC.

The department’s announcement included program highlights and practical details to help potential attendees plan their visits. Contact information for the Visual and Performing Arts department and campus maps were provided to assist visitors with directions and parking. Those who attend the upcoming Community Band concert should consult those materials for the Schoening Conference Center location on the 3C campus.

For Yuma County residents, the concerts represent accessible cultural programming tied to a public community college that serves both educational and civic functions. Performances on campus provide students with experiential learning opportunities while helping to strengthen ties between AWC and the broader community. Donations directed to scholarships can expand access to the arts for students who might otherwise face financial obstacles to musical study.

As the Community Band prepares to perform on November 24, the college’s Visual and Performing Arts department is positioned to leverage public engagement into tangible support for student musicians. The sequence of concerts underscores the role that local institutions play in sustaining cultural life and in fostering pathways to higher education for aspiring artists in Yuma County.