The GCSU Max Noah Recital Hall hosted “Songwriters of GCSU II” on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. This event allowed undergraduates, master’s students and alumni to present their original compositions in all manner of musical genres and styles in front of a live audience. 

The event was presented for free with voluntary donations, the proceeds of which benefit music scholarships and the GCSU Department of Music. The event was generously attended by a lively audience of friends, family and supportive student body.

“I thought the performances were really impressive,” said Kelsey Foster, a senior music therapy major who attended the event to see her best friend perform. “It’s a lot to be vulnerable with songwriting so seeing some of the works put out tonight was cool.”

Foster believes those starting in the music industry need to be heard. Musicians are a vulnerable group of people, and the fact that they are willing to share their music is a privilege for the audience.

To open Songwriters of GCSU II, coordinator Dr. Robert Allen Stewart performed a prelude on electric guitar before opening the stage to seven other musicians who performed their original compositions. 

Lilly and Emma Kevers performed three original duets with voice, guitar and piano, Tanner Vorse performed voice and guitar for his song “Snow” and Jim McKenny performed two original songs on guitar, “Make a Choice” and “Le Sommeeil Lent Profond.” 

For a change of pace, Joey Johnson performed his multi-instrumental piece called “Silver Sky” with Lindsey Blevins on violin, Cameron Sparks on drums, Jim McKenny on bass and himself on voice and piano. Johnson said he composed the song to, for a lack of better words, ‘capture the vibe’ of nature on a rainy day. 

The two final performances were GCSU Graduates Campbell Ransom and Erin Kelly. 

Campbell performed her song “Vertigo” about moving out of her childhood home and “Upside Down” about the most recent California wildfires. Kelly performed her two compositions “Better Portion” and “All Free” written about her marriage and her faith.

Kelly graduated with her bachelor’s degree from GCSU in 2022, and with her masters in 2024. She now holds a temporary position as the clinic coordinator for the music therapy clinic on campus, which offers free music interventions to improve mental wellbeing. 

Before Songwriters of GCSU II, Kelly had only ever performed in theatre and recitals growing up. She had never performed her original music for an audience.

“Honestly I was really terrified,” Kelly said. “Dr. Stewart asked me to do it and I actually said no. But I think this was a step that I had to take”

Kelly said her primary motivator for writing music is her faith. She considers her composition process a unique way to take everything that life throws at her and look at it through the lens of God’s plan. 

Kelly thinks everyone who has a song to share should find a way to share it. 

“Find a safe and encouraging space to just do it,” Kelly said. “This was that for me. These are my coworkers, my friends and students that I work with. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to share and feel that encouragement. It will encourage you to keep going.”

Steward, the coordinator of Songwriters of GCSU II, expressed his belief that sharing music with an audience is extremely important to musicians. He cited musicians like Buckethead, the Beatles and even Taylor Swift as artists with massive discographies. 

“There’s so many artists that just have so much music out there,” Steward said. “I don’t think there’s any harm in trying and you never know who you might connect with.”

Steward thinks putting together Songwriters of GCSU speaks to the heart of what music is all about: performing original music for a group of willing listeners. 

“Typically music students only have the opportunity to play at recitals and things like that, music that has been written by dead composers hundreds of years ago,” Stewart said. “I just think that having a formal opportunity for them to show their original music is a really wonderful thing.”

Songwriters of GCSU II was an inspiring success, giving GCSU students and alumni the ability to present their original compositions and providing the student body with a novel musical experience.