by Erin Turner | Apr 9, 2015 | News Slider
After several firsts, singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini visited the place where her country roots were nurtured. This former Lipscomb student headlined Student Government Association’s 2015 Spring Concert to a very familiar crowd Wednesday night in Shamblin Theater. “I always dreamed about being an artist and songwriter and doing it for a living, but did not know how to do it,” Ballerini said. But it didn’t take her long to figure out how, as she recently cracked the charts with her song “Love Me Like You Mean It” that debuted in November 2014. This Knoxville, Tennessee native moved to Music City to kick off her career when she was 15 years old, and she landed at Lipscomb several years later. “[Being at Lipscomb] was two of my favorite years of my entire life,” she said. “The whole time I would just go to school and then go to the writer’s round to co-write. I kept trying to do both at the same time until I found the right opportunity.” Just halfway through her sophomore year at Lipscomb, Ballerini signed a deal with Black River Publishing. Her career took off from there, as she debuted on one of country music’s most famous stages — the Grand Ole Opry. Ballerini said the last few months have been nothing but firsts. After hearing her own song on the radio, her music got in the hands of some of her biggest inspirations. “One of the craziest things that’s happening is people that I’m fans of are becoming friends and reaching out, and kind of speaking into my life and helping me,” she said. Most recently, this rising star...
by Colleen Casner | Mar 2, 2015 | News Slider
Months of hard work will soon pay off for students involved in Lipscomb’s 52nd annual Singarama, which opens this Thursday in Collins Alumni Auditorium. This year’s Singarama production is Ready, Set, Go! featuring groups led by student directors Anne Claire Smith, Carolanne Deaton and John Alex Foster. This year’s hosts and hostesses are Delaney Brown, David Austin Lowery, Michael Oruma, Caitlin Phelps, Tyler Russell and McKenna Smith. Aaron Sain is the host and hostesses director. “Go” is the story of a window washer who wants to enter the world of business. It features songs such as “Status Quo” from High School Musical, “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake and “You Can Go Your Own Way.” Clubs participating in “Go” include Delta Omega, Delta Sigma, Kappa Chi, Sigma Omega Sigma and Tau Phi. Delta Sigma member Laney Overton has especially enjoyed bonding with students from other social clubs. “Being in a social club you sometimes are confined to your social club, and Singarama’s a really great opportunity to branch out and meet new people from other clubs,” Overton said. Students have been working on their shows since January, often practicing five days each week. Frequent practices do not bother Singarama first-timer Tiffany Best, though. “Whenever I’m stressed or busy or upset I can just take my mind off of it and sing my heart out,” Best said. Anna Grace Wolfe of Delta Sigma has also enjoyed the practices but is especially enthusiastic about taking the stage at Singarama for the first time. “I’m excited to be on stage and the moment where we first walk onto the stage,” Wolfe said. Overton, who participated last year, is looking forward...
by Brianna Langley | Oct 7, 2014 | News Slider
Many dedicated Lipscomb University students endured the long trek across campus to Lipscomb Academy’s gymnasium in order to see the esteemed guest speaking at The Gathering this week. Renowned Christian author Francine Rivers spoke about her life, her Christian journey and her career as a writer. A number of committed fans even arrived early to ensure optimal seating. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a speaker at Lipscomb as I was for Francine,” said Lipscomb senior Hailey Parrott. “She just knows how to speak to people in different ways and put a story together that we can all understand.” Rivers, the author of Redeeming Love and The Last Sin Eater among many others, related her life story and explained how God had rescued her and given her a purpose and passion for fiction writing. She began by speaking about growing up under the guidance of church-going parents in a community that was largely non-Christian. Rivers then went on to talk about being a college student in the 60s and how she became involved in destructive practices such as free love, smoking and drinking. She spoke about undergoing an abortion at an early age, suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, marrying a young Vietnam veteran and going to work after graduation for men who had less education than she did. “I said I was fine, but I didn’t think I’d ever be fine again,” Rivers said. Rivers then began speaking about her career as an author. “I have always known I wanted to be writer, but I didn’t know what I wanted to write because I hated...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Apr 6, 2014 | News Slider
Entering the last show of the three-day production of Singarama’s On Fire, the “Stop,” ‘Drop” and “Roll” groups were all tied up with one win a piece. That changed when university president Randy Lowry announced the show “Just Drop It” as the Sweepstakes Award winner at Collins Alumni Auditorium Saturday night. The show, consisting of members from Sigma Iota Delta, Delta Sigma, Pi Delta, Kappa Chi and friends, made its way to the top, something that director and senior Aaron Joseph said was unforgettable. “It was a fantastic feeling,” Joseph said. “I’ll never be able to forget the feeling [of winning].” Joseph also spoke on one of the key elements of the production. “Scott Bledsoe and Rainey Lankford wrote the script for me, and they did a fantastic job,” Joseph said. “I think that’s what pulled the whole show together.” The story of “Just Drop It” is about a man named Dan, who is constantly assailed by his fear in life. Eventually, he drops his fear and becomes a happier person. The act won its first honor, the Theme Category Award, on Thursday. The “Drop” group sang and danced to “I’m So Excited,” “Bad,” “More,” “Love on Top,” “Higher and Higher,” “Any Way You Want It,” “I Know Where I’ve Been” and “Goodbye.” Joseph admits that he did not walk the path to success alone. “I got so much help from so many different people,” Joseph said. “I couldn’t have done it without those people.” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” directed by junior Makenzie Kanyuh, won the Music Category Award on Friday night. The show consisted of students from Delta...
by Brianne Welch | Apr 4, 2014 | News Slider
Lipscomb’s 51st edition of Singarama is in full swing, and the six hosts and hostesses are excited to share the hard work they have dedicated to the show. Senior Lincoln Mick, sophomore Michael Oruma, junior Caitlin Phelps, senior Lacey Printz, junior Tyler Russell and junior McKenna Smith are the hosts and hostesses of the 2014 Singarama. This year’s theme is Singarama’s On Fire. The show will consist of three different smaller themes that will be broken up by performances from the hosts and hostesses who vary in Singarama experience. Three have hosted the show before, and three are new to the hosting lineup. Smith and Oruma hosted last year, and Mick hosted his freshman year. “I’ve wanted to do it for the past four years, but because of track, I haven’t been able to because I’ve been competing, but since I’m injured, I have the opportunity to, and I’m just really excited about it,” Printz said. “This is my first year, also,” Russell said. I saw the show last year and loved it. “It just looked like so much fun, so I just thought I’d try out.” The hosts and hostesses’ job is to entertain the audience and keep the flow of the show going. “We kind of kick off the show, and then we help entertain the crowd in between social club shows,” Russell said. The group had been rehearsing at a recording studio away from campus, SIR Nashville. “It’s making it real being off-campus,” Printz said.”That’s such a cool environment with so many people that are so passionate about music. “It’s all business, too. We have a great...
