NASHVILLE (TSU News Service) – In the spirit of the Nashville songwriting community, students and faculty members from Tennessee State University will take part in the 5th Annual Songwriters in the Round, Tuesday, March 26. Free and open to the public, the event takes place in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall beginning at 7 p.m
Hosted by the Department of Music’s Commercial Music program, the concert will showcase the writing talents of student-singer songwriters, both currently enrolled at the University, and graduates of the program. Songwriters will share their inspiration behind the creative process of writing songs.
“The concert brings together past and present TSU music students who will perform and accompany themselves the songs they have composed,” said Dr. Mark Crawford, associate professor and coordinator of the commercial music program. “Concert attendees will experience pure music, no hype, while each student performs their original songs and play their own instruments.”
This year’s event will feature current student, senior Hunter Davis, and alumni of the commercial music program, Jonathan Boddie and Tish Spence.
Other featured artists include adjunct professors Thomas Cain, whose songs have been recorded for top artists such as Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Diamond Rio and Trace Atkins; and Joe Doyle, who has penned songs for Reba McEntire, Joe Diffie, Dan Seals, Daryle Singletary, Linda Davis, Martina McBride, and Alabama.
The Commercial Music program at TSU is first and foremost a music degree, in which students study various careers and business practices of the music industry. Upon completion of the program, students receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Music with a Concentration in Commercial Music.
Because it is a music degree, commercial music students study piano, music theory, music history, as well as enroll in private applied lessons, seminar, present a recital, and participate in one of the Commercial Music ensembles. The ensembles perform at local schools and various civic events throughout the Nashville area, and have even performed on the Bobby Jones gospel music television show.
For more information on the Songwriters in the Round concert, contact Dr. Mark Crawford, coordinator of the commercial music program, at 615.963.5210 or macrawford@tsntate.edu.
