ACM@UCO planning prospective student mixer tonight

Posted by brandy

on March 13, 2009M at 12:03 pm

devin-derrick

Devin Derrick

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.

UCO music academy plans first recruiting event

EDMOND – A British folk-pop singer-songwriter and Oklahoma country vocalist will perform this weekend at the first student recruiting event for the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The ACM@UCO Prospective Student Mixer will be from 7:30 to 10 tonight at the Evans Hall Great Room on UCO’s Edmond campus. The event will give students who are interested in attending the ACM@UCO a chance to learn about the new school, interact with the staff and hear live music.

UCO will open the first authorized U.S. version of Britain’s acclaimed Academy of Contemporary Music in the fall in the Oklahoma Hardware Building in Bricktown.

The mixer will feature performances by Rokhsan, an indie-pop musician/singer/songwriter who graduated from the British ACM, and Devin Derrick, an Edmond country singer and ACM@UCO ambassador.

The school has dubbed local professional musicians including Derrick, Colourmusic and The Flaming Lips AMC@UCO ambassadors because of their support for the new venture, said Susan Wortham, ACM@UCO chief operating officer.

“The local music community, we appreciate their interest and assistance with the school,” Wortham said. “They’re supporting the school … and appreciating what the school is there to accomplish, which is to teach students the skills they need to be employed in the music industry.”

The Flaming Lips, who are managed by school CEO Scott Booker, were on hand at last year’s ceremony announcing the launch of the ACM@UCO.

Along with performing at the mixer, Derrick donated a song for the school to use as backing music on a promotional DVD. Stillwater alt-pop band Colourmusic also lent a song for the rock version of the promotional video.

The Getaway Team, at student band at the British ACM, provided a track for the pop version of the promo.

Though it has been nicknamed “the school of rock,” the ACM@UCO will cater to aspiring musicians in a variety of contemporary genres, said Adrienne Nobles, UCO director of communications. Some of the ambassadors will teach master classes at the school.

“It’s a way of showing students that these professional musicians believe in this program,” Nobles said. “We are grateful to those like The Flaming Lips, Colourmusic and Devin Derrick who are supporting and promoting the ACM@UCO.”

The Prospective Student Mixer is only for prospective students and up to two guests, preferably parents or other family members. It isn’t open to the general public. Registration is required and space is limited, Wortham said.

The school’s goal is to enroll roughly 150 students for the first year. The staff has received more than 5,000 inquiries about the innovative music program.

To more information or to register, call 974-4700 or e-mail get.info@acm.uco.edu.

-BAM

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