Harper College offices will be closed Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day.
Jazz Lab Band Director, Jazz Percussion Drummer and Percussionist Darren Scorza is a performer and educator with over 25 years of experience in the Chicago music scene. He has performed with jazz legends such as Bobby Enriquez and Eddie Harris; Jens Lindemann; in Chicago theater shows; with rock bands such as Cast Iron Skillet; and worship music at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. His recording credits include work as a drummer, percussionist, recording/mixing engineer, and producer. His drumming has been featured on recordings by Michele Thomas, Jeannie Tanner, Jeff Hedberg’s C11, Swing Forward, the Waystation, Keri Johnsrud, Ari Seder, John Elmquist’s Hard Art Groop and Margie Gibson. He also serves as drummer and music director for his wife’s “Michele Thomas & Soulmeme” project. He completed his undergraduate degree at Eastern Illinois University in 1994.
Scorza’s teaching approach combines academic pedagogy and practical experience aimed at the strengths of each student. He has taught drums and percussion at Maine South High School, Sears School, River Grove School District and was Percussion Director and Jazz Band Director at Notre Dame College Prep for 14 years. He has led clinics and adjudicated for IGSMA, ILMEA and IHSA.
Along with teaching Jazz Percussion and directing the Harper College Jazz Lab Band, Darren currently teaches drumset lessons and Jazz Combo at Musicians Institute of Chicago, online methods and technology courses for VanderCook College of Music/MECA and teaches Percussion Methods and is the Drumset instructor at North Park University.
