By Caroline Ponseti ’15
From Elvis Presley and Otis Redding to the North Mississippi All Stars and Lucero, the Memphis area is renowned for its cultivation of musical talent.
Due to the efforts of the Mike Curb Institute for Music, these unique sounds will extend beyond downtown into the heart of Midtown Memphis. This Thursday, February 21, Rhodes students will be able to participate in a singer/songwriter showcase. Rather than cover the works of established musical artists, participants will have the opportunity to play pieces of their own creation.
The event takes place at 5:30 p.m. in the pub of the Lynx Lair, which mirrors the atmosphere of the Memphis club scene. Participants will have the opportunity to perform their original pieces for an audience of students and community members.
“The thing I am most excited about is getting to hear my friends′ songs in a performance setting,” says Matt Everett ’15. “I think this event will be helpful in building a stronger songwriter′s community here at Rhodes.”
The songwriting showcase is part of the Curb Institute’s wider goal of fostering students’ individual creativity and musical talent by exposing them to unique musical opportunities in the Memphis community.
"Curb′s given me an opportunity to combine my musical creativity with real-world recording techniques and state-of-the-art equipment,” says Evan Katz ‘15, a Curb fellow. “I′ve been able to use the Curb program to help bring my musical interests to fruition."