Commercial music students perform powerful covers, original songs in fall showcase

On Tuesday night, students from Liberty University School of Music’s commercial music program performed a mixture of pop, jazz, country, instrumental music, and more as part of the fall Commercial Music Showcase, where they presented original songs and covers they have been working on since the summer.

“The purpose of (this showcase) is to give students a chance to really use their gifts the Lord has given them in various styles,” said Professor and Coordinator of Commercial Music Dr. Mindy Damon, who directed the event, presented by Liberty’s Michael W. Smith Center for Commercial Music. “It’s a really great résumé piece.”

The students went through an audition process where faculty evaluated them on technical excellence, delivery, and stage presence. Out of the pool of students who auditioned, 17 were selected to be part of the showcase.

Each performance was preceded by a video testimonial from the student on what the song means to them. With a mix of both secular and Christian songs, each student discussed how their song choice reflects biblical values and beliefs.

Junior Nicholas Brueggeman shared that his cover “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift reflected his family’s experience of recently adopting a baby boy and how it caused him to reflect on the fleeting, tender moments in life. During the bows, he held his brother, Noble, on stage with him and waved to audience members.

Sophomore Marlee Lawhon’s dynamic rendition of “Feeling Good” (by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly) reflected her journey of realizing that she has the power to choose joy in Christ.

“I used to be a person who struggled to find joy in everyday life,” she said in the video. “But then one day the Lord woke me up and revealed to me all the things that He placed in the world for me to enjoy.”

Almost all of the performances were accompanied by a live band and instrumentalists, like junior Ashley Miller’s enchanting cover of “The Mountain Song” (by Joseph Larson), which featured a solo on the fiddle by junior Lachlan King.

Junior Solomon Rivers got the audience on their feet during his energetic, original rap song “Take My Thoughts Captive,” which Damon said is the first time a rap song has been featured in a Commercial Music Showcase. Rivers was not the only student to bring a new genre to the stage, as junior Corey DiLilio’s elegant rendition of “My Favorite Things” (from “The Sound of Music”) and sophomore Cristalle Canino’s perfectly timed fall tune “Sweet Pumpkin” (by Ronnell Bright) marked the first times jazz has been incorporated in the event.

Along with Rivers, a few other students featured original songs. Sophomore Joshua Biery’s beautiful vocal and piano performance of his original “Silver and Gold” had audience members standing on their feet in applause, and senior Kylee Cowart had her hands lifted in worship during “Offering of Praise,” a song written by herself and junior Luke West.

Senior Kastien Chambliss showcased her original song “Honestly,” a testimony to her journey of finding peace in God’s sanctification process.

“It’s beautiful that the Lord is willing to teach us what it looks like to walk in the image of Christ, and sometimes it’s frustrating because, as somebody who loves God and wants to fully reflect Him every day, that isn’t always the case,” she said. “This song is about wrestling with those frustrations but choosing to keep pressing onward and trusting that He knows what’s best in the learning process.”

Chambliss had the opportunity to record her song with Nashville musicians, who the School of Music regularly welcomes to campus for workshops and recording sessions with students through the Michael W. Smith Center for Commercial Music.

“It gives (us) the experience of an organic kind of studio session and what it’s like to record a song in that setting,” Chambliss said. “They are excellent musicians, and it was an amazing experience.”

Chambliss was invited to perform her song at Convocation on the Vines Center stage the next morning.

Senior Mackenzie Lawhon closed the showcase by singing her original song “Testimony.” Her emotional performance had some guests in the audience raising their hands in praise.

“I went through a period of time where I was really struggling to write music and was just drawn back to what the Lord has done in my life, and the fact that I have a testimony means it is my job to proclaim that,” she said. “After six months of not writing music, I wrote this song just declaring truth that this is my testimony, and it’s yours as well because God is faithful, and He’s consistent.”

Mackenzie said the showcase was a great opportunity to expand her horizons as an artist and to add to her portfolio. She credits Liberty’s commercial music program with giving her the skills necessary to perform on stage.

“The commercial music performance major is amazing simply because it is a major that is custom fit to the musician,” she said. “Being able to learn so many different aspects of the artistry world, the touring world, the concert world, and everything in between has just been an awesome opportunity that I feel like has benefited me not only in my walk with Christ and as a musician, but also in equipping me to step into the world and pursue a career in the music industry, feeling educated on every edge of the spectrum.”