Curtain Call Award
Emmanuel Echem, 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
Something Better
Afro-Blues
Flow
State of Mind
Closure
Live Performance
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
7:30 P.M.
Massey Concert Hall
Emmanuel Echem, trumpet & flugelhorn
Mark Hartsuch, alto saxophone & tenor saxophone
Marlon Patton, drums
Brian Allen, upright & electric bass
Alex Murphy, piano & keyboard
Alex Graham, alto saxophone
Artist Interview with James Wigginton
Question and Answer Session with James Wigginton
About the Recipient
Emmanuel Echem is a trumpeter, composer, and arranger living and working in Nashville, TN. A native to the area, he picked up the trumpet at the age of eleven on a whim, not yet aware of what opportunities awaited him both in Nashville and beyond. Echem quickly showed a high level of natural ability on the horn, particularly in the areas of jazz lead playing and improvisation, and was frequently recognized both locally and regionally in his early years, most notably holding the soloist/split lead chair in the 2012 Tennessee Music Education Association All-State Jazz Band, directed by renowned pianist/composer Shelton "Shelly" Berg. He also was a recipient of the coveted Louis Armstrong Jazz Award that same year.
In the fall of 2012, Echem moved down the road to attend Belmont University in Nashville, having been admitted on a full tuition academic and music scholarship. Studying under such great musicians and educators as Joel Treybig, Alex Graham, Bruce Dudley, Mike Casteel, Tyler Mire, and Steve Patrick, it was during his time at the university that Echem began to accumulate a wide range of performance experience, namely, being featured alongside virtually every commercial, vocal, instrumental, and theatre ensemble in the School of Music. He was also a three-time participant in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Showcase Series, and appeared twice – in 2013 and 2015 – on the nationally televised production of Christmas at Belmont at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, in addition to performing regularly in and around Nashville with other students and faculty. Echem once again received recognition on a national level when he was selected for the 2nd/split-lead chair with the prestigious 2015 Disneyland Resort All-American College Band in Anaheim, CA. During this summer on the West Coast, he broadened his educational and industry networks working with top studio musicians, performers, and clinicians in LA and beyond, such as Wayne Bergeron, Sal Lozano, Ron Carter, and Rex Richardson, in addition to an intense performance schedule in the parks.
Since completing his B.M. in Commercial Music and Music Technology in 2016, Echem has firmly established himself within the Nashville music community as a capable lead and section player, as well as an adept soloist with a unique and soulful improvisational style which frequently draws comparisons to trumpet masters such as Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Hargrove. The sound of his trumpet has been heard at venues and festivals around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and more, in addition to a number of televised performances that have aired nationally and internationally on PBS, CBS, NBC, ABC, Late Night with Seth Meyers, the JUNO Awards, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Marilyn Denis Show.
His list of performance and recording credits span a wide range of genres, and include artists such as Boyz II Men, Patti Labelle, Dolly Parton, Justin Timberlake, Sister Sledge, Kirk Franklin, Brett Eldredge, Ledisi, Charlie Wilson, Dan + Shay, Carrie Underwood, Lady A, John Oates, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Leslie Odom Jr., Maren Morris, Frankie Negron, Jeff Coffin, Dumpstaphunk, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, and the Nashville Symphony. In addition, Echem has toured both nationally and internationally with a number of bands and artists including the Nashville-based fusion collective Dynamo, Alanna Royale, Denver & the Mile High Orchestra, Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Joss Stone, JUNO Award winning country music artist Johnny Reid, Grammy Award winning contemporary Christian artist Lauren Daigle, and, most recently, chart-topping country music superstar Eric Church.
Echem's compositional style combines a jazz musician's sensibility of melody and harmony with an intensely groove-oriented approach to rhythm, exploring Black American musical styles such as funk, rock, hip hop, and neo-soul, as well as West African afrobeat, traditional New Orleans
music, and AfroLatin dance rhythms. In January 2025, he released his first ever recording of original music, People of the Light, a collaboration with longtime friend and local pianist and composer David Rodgers. This album features four original songs by Echem, ranging from brilliantly complex, energetic melodies to bold, explorative improvisation, all wrapped up in the meditative, hopeful sound of piano/flugelhorn duo. Also included is a stripped-down reimagination of Rodgers' powerful composition "Say Her Name," a song that was previously released on Rodgers' 3rd studio album, Home, which also features Echem on several tracks.
Find Emmanuel on Instagram @emmanuelechem and listen to his latest album release, People of the Light on Bandcamp: https://emmanuelechem.bandcamp.com/album/people-of-the-light
Special Thanks
Dr. Stephen R. Eaves, Dean, College of Music and Performing Arts
Alex Graham, Coordinator of Commercial Music James Wigginton, Interviewer
Jason Miller, Production/Facilities Associate
Bret Bell, Production/Music Facilities Manager Belmont University School of Music Production Crew
About the Curtain Call Award
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 Chris Rodriguez
1996 Tammy Rogers King
1997 Gordon Mote
1998 Josef Nuyens
1999 Melodie Crittenden
2000 Fleming McWilliams
2001 Will Denton
2002 Jill Phillips Gullahorn
2003 Ginny Owens
2004 Josh Turner
2005 Denver Bierman
2006 Dan Muckala
2007 Melinda Doolittle
2009 Bernie Herms
2010 Chester Thompson
2011 Tim Lauer
2012 Tad Wilson
2013 Russell Terrell
2014 Danny Wells
2015 Geoff Koch
2016 Brandon Fraley
2017 Akil Thompson
2018 Brett McLaughlin
2019 Jonathon Long
2020 Alvin Love & Dwan Hill
2021 n/a
2022 Russell Dickerson
2023 Cody Fry
2024 Sara Davison
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Belmont University String Chamber Orchestra & University Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, February 6, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Guest Theory Presentation: Dr. John Covach
Analyzing the Music of the Beatles
Friday, February 7, 10:00 a.m.
Hitch 130
Faculty Jazz Group
Saturday, February 8, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Jazz Small Group I & Jazz String Septet
Monday, February 10, 7:30 p.m.
Harton Recital Hall
Composition Honors Recital
Tuesday, February 11, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Join Belmont University’s College of Music Arts for Sounds of Belmont: The 35th Annual President’s Concert & Reception on Saturday, April 12th in the Fisher Center at Belmont University. Experience an evening of stories and songs to support our talented students. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a festive dessert reception for all guests and performers. The purchase of a ticket to this concert and reception will benefit endowed music and theatre scholarship funds for students in the college. Premier works from the College of Music and Performing Arts Fall 2024-Spring 2025 performance season will be showcased. This concert and reception is celebrating its thirty-fifth year (formerly the President’s Concert and Reception).
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
