Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash
By Vivianna Couchara, Contributing Writer
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, students in the arts have experienced a dramatic shift in the quality of performance opportunities available to them.
Junior Shannon Eaton, has been working closely with members of WQSU, including sophomore Andrea Repetz and general manager Dawn Benfer to better these circumstances by organizing the WQSU: Fall Music Series.
“I wanted to make a way for our student musicians to showcase their art, music and talents,” Eaton explained, “Because of [COVID-19], a lot of students aren’t able to perform for the public, so I wanted to offer a platform for them to do so safely.”
To kick off the series, Eaton featured two students in front of the Degenstein Campus Center on Oct. 2 in celebration of College Radio Day, a day when hundreds of college radio stations encourage those who do not usually listen to radio to celebrate the medium with them.
Sophomore Kelsey Rose Fiore has been performing live since she was 8-years-old and was excited to take up this opportunity to reveal her passion for music to her fellow students. She did so by covering a collection of songs on her guitar, varying from Fleetwood Mac, Maren Morris, One Direction, Phil Collins, Little Big Town and – a popular songwriter of the night – Taylor Swift.
“She always sings to me, so it’s nice to see her getting out there playing,” Fiore’s best friend, sophomore Melania Amato shared.
The second act of the early evening was sophomore Tabitha Gonia with the stage name of Tabitha Gray, who has been performing for about six years and even has her own YouTube channel dedicated to music. She showcased her talent with a set varying from covers of artists like Taylor Swift, Cavetown and Dodie Clarke, to some original songs of her own.
The WQSU: Fall Music Series hosted another event on Friday, Oct. 9 and they plan to bring similar events to the campus every other Friday and Saturday in the future.