BELMONT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Curtain Call Award Sarah Davison, Honoree Introduction and Presentation of the Curtain Call Award Stephen R. Eaves, Dean, College of Music and Performing Arts Alex Graham, Coordinator of Commercial Music
Belmont University School of Music
WEDNESDAY, JANUAR 31, 2024 7:30 P.M. Massey Concert Hall
Live Performance Sarah Davison, piano and vocals with special guests
Artist Interview with James Wigginton
Question and Answer Session
About the Recipient Ask Sarah Davison what her favorite Bible verse is, and she’ll immediately quote Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” It’s a scripture that has accompanied the acclaimed singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist through life’s highs and lows, and one she hand-copied—in a flowery cursive script—from her grandmother’s Bible. “That verse has been with me from my Iowa hometown of one hundred and fifty people to Nashville, going after what I feel called to do, trusting that He’s leading me down the right road,” she reflects. It’s not only a scripture that beautifully encapsulates Sarah’s own journey, but the ordained path of her Grammy nominated band that she formed in 2011, HighRoad, as well. A gifted pianist, vocalist, and Piano Performance graduate of Belmont University’s School of Music, Sarah often lends her talents to a veritable who’s-who of leading country artists. She toured with iconic Country Music Hall of Famer George Jones’ band on his final tour of Canada, she performs regularly on the Grand Ole Opry with ACM Award-winner and Opry member, Mark Wills, Emily Ann Roberts, Grand Ole Opry members, the Isaacs, and toured on the 2023
Blake Shelton Tour. Sarah has written choral pieces performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and co-wrote High Road’s #1 Gospel Charting Song, Christ My Hope, My Glory, performed with Grammy and Dove winner, Jason Crabb. She has been the pianist for Gaither Homecoming series tapings featuring Bradley Walker and actor, Dennis Quaid. She was the musical director for the Dove Awards segment last year tributing women in Gospel music, arranging the old spiritual song, Working on a Building, featuring twelve ladies of varying Christian music genres. Since the group’s genesis, Sarah and bandmates have already garnered a Grammy Nomination for the album, "Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout," the Singing News New Artist of the Year, two Dove Award nominations for Bluegrass/Roots Album of the Year, and Singing News Band of the Year for 2022. They regularly perform at leading country and Gospel music events including 40 Days at the Ark Encounter, Singing In The Sun, Women of Joy, The National Quartet Convention, Dollywood, and more. With a fanbase easily canvassing an array of genres—from country, to bluegrass, to Gospel, to contemporary Christian—the ladies of HighRoad combine grassy instrumentation, lush harmonies, original songs, and gentle nostalgia-laden melodies harkening back to their roots. In 2024, they will release a much anticipated project alongside Grammy winning producer, Ben Isaacs, and their record label DayWind Records. This album will feature a duet with Ricky Skaggs, Scotty Inman, The Isaacs, and more as well as original songs from this acclaimed group of ladies. Bio courtesy of www.highroadmusic.com
Special Thanks Dr. Stephen R. Eaves, Dean, College of Music and Performing Arts Kathryn Paradise, Professor of Commercial Voice, Curtain Call Event Coordinator Alex Graham, Coordinator of Commercial Music James Wigginton, Interviewer Brett Bell, Production/Music Facilities Manager Jason Miller, Production/Facilities Associate Belmont University School of Music Production Crew
The Curtain Call Award was created in 1995 to honor a School of Music alumni for achievement in the field of commercial music. The award is presented each spring and is followed by a concert by the honoree. The Curtain Call has been presented to a variety of alumni in a range of music professions including songwriters, instrumentalists, vocalists and music industry leaders.
Curtain Call Award Recipients 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009
Chris Rodriguez Tammy Rogers King Gordon Mote Josef Nuyens Melodie Crittenden Fleming McWilliams Will Denton Jill Phillips Gullahorn Ginny Owens Josh Turner Denver Bierman Dan Muckala Melinda Doolittle Bernie Herms
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Chester Thompson Tim Lauer Tad Wilson Russell Terrell Danny Wells Geoff Koch Brandon Fraley Akil Thompson Brett McLaughlin Jonathon Long Alvin Love & Dwan Hill n/a Russell Dickerson Cody Fry
Upcoming Concerts and Events Composition Honors Recital Wednesday, February 7, 7:30 p.m. McAfee Concert Hall Piano Concert Series—Chih-Long Hu Friday, February 9, 7:30 p.m. McAfee Concert Hall
Bass Ensemble Wednesday, February 14, 10:00 a.m. Massey Concert Hall
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.