Joseph Jennings

The USC Aiken Music Program will welcome Joseph Jennings, Artistic Advisor of the two-time Grammy-winning ensemble, Chanticleer, as its new Artist-in-Residence.

Jennings will work alongside the USC Aiken women’s ensemble, Canticum Novum, collaborate with Assistant Professor of music Dr. Joel Scraper for the Masterworks Chorale, and be a master class clinician for high schools throughout South Carolina and Georgia.

The Augusta, G.A. native became involved with Chanticleer as a countertenor in 1983 and moved up to Music Director soon after.  During his time with the ensemble, he provided the group with some of its most notable compositions.

Chanticleer produced 30 acclaimed works under the supervision of Jennings including the Grammy-winning songs Colors of Love, Magnificat, and Lamentations and Praises.  Jennings has also done performances at some of the most prestigious venues such as the Salzburg Festival, the International Josquin Symposium, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and many others throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Jennings acquired his Master’s degree in Conducting from Colorado State University at Fort Collins along with his Bachelor’s degrees in music education and piano at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, O.H. Some of the other musical groups he has worked with were the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Phillip Brunelle’s Plymouth Music Series, the GALA V Festival Chorus, the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, the Dale  Warland  Singers, the Phoenix Bach Choir, and Los Angeles Vocal and Instrumental Ensemble.

USCA will welcome its new faculty member at an invitation-only reception on Jan. 28.