Sierra College Music at Nevada County Campus in Grass Valley is currently enrolling students for Spring 2026 Music Courses.
This spring, we’re offering five different classes: Jazz Ensemble, Guitar, Voice, Concert Choir, and Music Appreciation.
Chamber Singers will be directed by Ariel May, a Grass Valley-based classical mezzo-soprano, jazz vocalist, conductor, and educator who is also the current director of the Music in the Mountains Chorus.
Sierra College’s Jazz Ensemble director is Justin Purtill, a Grass Valley local, Berklee School of Music alumnus, jazz guitarist, bassist, and composer who has toured with the Grammy-award winning group Residente.
Our Voice class is taught by Dorla Menmuir, a passionate music educator who has been a member of the Sierra College Music faculty and an integral part of the Nevada County music community for decades.
Music Appreciation will be taught by Lauren Poluha, an ethnomusicologist, classical pianist, and chair of the Sierra College Music Department.
Sierra College Music offers positive, supportive spaces in which our students improve their technique, performance, and score reading skills; learn music theory; and build their musical skills, confidence, and community. While proficiency on an instrument is required for jazz ensemble, we heartily welcome new musicians and singers to join our Voice and Guitar classes, as well as Concert Choir and Music Appreciation.
Sierra College Music courses are open to all: high school students, current and new college students, and community members. The credits you’ll earn are CSU/UC transferable, and our courses are affordable — tuition is just $46/credit.
All classes are taught at the beautiful Sierra College NCC Campus in Grass Valley: 250 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945.
