Midwest Rhythm Summit returns to Terra State after two-year hiatus
FREMONT — Ottawa County native Crystal Bowersox highlights a full lineup of performers and top-flight musicians for the 2022 Midwest Rhythm Summit, which returns to Terra State Community College's campus for the first time since 2019.
COVID-19 safety concerns forced the cancellation of the annual event in 2020 and 2021.
Michael Czeczele, Terra State's director of musical arts and technologies, said the two-day event will be held April 8 and 9 on the college's Fremont campus.
Czeczele said the event is as much about education as it is entertainment, with a schedule filled with seminars geared toward helping students mixed with live performances.
"We're bringing these educators in that have a lot of experience that can teach people in the area. That should be our focus," Czeczele said Monday at his Terra State office.
Up to 400 people expected to attend rhythm summit
The Terra State musical arts director said he expects about 300 to 400 people to attend the summit, a number similar to 2019's attendance.
The event was created by Czeczele and Tom Bowlus in 2018.
In addition to Bowersox, featured performers and musicians who will appear at this year's summit, according to its website, include:
? Justine Blazer, a Nashville producer, singer, songwriter, composer and recording artist.
? JB Eckyl, a California-based musician, composer, vocalist and producer who has carved out a singularly diverse career embracing rock, funk, reggae, Latin, electronic and Global music.
? Allen Salmon, a professional songwriter from Nashville with more than 20 years under his belt in the music industry as a producer / songwriter.
? Chanda Lynn, an artist who has amassed more than a million followers across her social media platforms. Lynn started in music by putting her poems to music and quickly blossomed into a songwriter, all while tallying tens of millions of streams from her music and videos.
Tomaselli has played bass with many top famous bands
? Pancho Tomaselli, renowned bass player that has performed acts such as War, Tower Of Power, Rex Brown, Eric Burdon, Dos Lobos, Tricky and Nelly Furtado.
? Paul Gonzalez, a Los Angeles-area drummer and percussionist that is active as a performer, studio musician, and composer.
? Tom Lees, an Ohio attorney and active musician, he focuses his current law practice on client counseling regarding U.S. and foreign patent matters, with an emphasis on patentability, infringement, clearance and validity opinions.
? Jerimae Yoder, a music manager currently employed by RSK Management in Nashville. Yoder spent his early years in the music industry as a touring artist resulting in a record deal, his experiences manifested into a passion for developing new talent.
? John Montalbano, a New York City bass player, performer, songwriter and composer.
? Doug Johns, a bassist/composer/performer.
? Sunni Brandon, a Fremont native who graduated from Fremont Ross High School and Terra State. Brandon is a songwriter, composer, and live musician that lives in Fort Wayne, Ind. and works at Sweetwater.
? Sean Fairchild, a six-string bass wielding singer/songwriter, Bass Gear Magazine staff reviewer and session collaborator.
? Rick Dejonge, a film conductor, orchestrator and composer. Dejonge has conducted his own scores at Paramount Studios, Fox Studios, and Firehouse Studios in Pasadena, Calif.
Czeczele said the Midwest Rhythm Summit's concerts are finally worked out now, with the Together Band opening up for the New York City band, My World, on April 8
On April 9, Fremont's Stranger than Fiction from Fremont is scheduled to open up for the Los Angeles Band Dig Infinity, followed by the main artist Bowersox.
Plans still being finalized, including possible High School Day
Czeczele said the slate of performers has been finalized, but organizers are still working out some of the summit's final schedule details this week.
He said he hopes to do a High School Day at the summit on April 8 in the morning where high school students can come in and hear from performers on how they made it in the music industry and what it takes to make a career.
"You're not always going to become a star. But if you want to make a living, it's possible," Czeczele said.
This year, most of the summit panel discussions will be in a centralized area, Czeczele said, with most events being held in Terra State's recital hall in Building D.
Information on this year's summit can be found at midwestrhythmsummit.com.
419-334-1046
Twitter: @DanielCarson7
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Midwest Rhythm Summit returns to Terra State after two-year hiatus
