By Melissa Wagoner
Since opening its doors in 2015, SoundStream Music – which offers a variety of music and theater instruction to students of all ages in Silverton – has helped fund student scholarships with the ticket sales from an annual performance.
“We usually have three to five students throughout the year who end up needing financial help,” owner Corey Christensen said of the impetus for the fund, which peaked at $1,000 last year thanks to a sold-out Instructor Showcase event.
This year Christensen wanted to try something new. So, beginning Feb. 3, SoundStream will kick off a month-long Songwriter Series that will highlight four unique performers – all members of the talented staff.
“The events will be small, with limited seating of 15 to 20 tickets sold for each…” Christensen said, “so it will have a cozy living room atmosphere.”
Located in the Hartman Building’s Studio 14B, each event will include an assortment of appetizers catered by Little Leaf Café, beer from Silver Falls Brewery and wine.
“We are excited and thankful to be working with other amazing local businesses,” Christensen said.
The shows start off with Christensen himself – under the stage name Corey Emil – on Feb. 3 “Playing” a wide range of acoustic/electronica alternative rock, Americana, folk, bluegrass, and punk… Corey draws his songwriting experiences from love, loss, and digging deep into the meaning behind it all,” Christensen said.
Also featured in the series are pianist, Nate Deshler, on Feb. 10; guitarist, Michael Paul Reed, on Feb. 17; and poet musician, Ed Kopp, on Feb. 24.
“Ed Kopp will be performing original songs from his upcoming memoire musical ‘Backpacker Poetry’, which documents his life-altering experience backpacking through Europe in 1995,” Christensen described. “The songs will be an eclectic mixture of folk, pop and blues and Ed will also be reading short sections of the book that precede each song.”
Tickets are priced at $40 (age 21+) and will include appetizers and two drink tokens (available at soundstreammusic.org).
“[The Songwriter Series] will be enjoyed by most anyone who loves music, and perhaps a couple who wants an intimate atmosphere where they feel the artist is playing just for them,” Christensen said. “We intend to lower the lights, set the stage, and put on some really great shows.”
Songwriter Series
214 S. Water St., Silverton
Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24, 7 to 8 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $40, includes appetizers and two drinks. 21 and older
More info & tickets at soundstreammusic.org
Proceeds will help fund SoundStream Music student scholarships.
