June 19
Youth, talent and musical acumen – that’s Academy 4.
The quartet of singer-songwriters bring a unique and refreshing sound and demeanor to the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell during a June 19 show that’s part of the weekly Concert in the Park series. The music begins at 7 p.m. in the lovely outdoor amphitheatre located in the St. Johns City Park; there is no admission charge.
Academy 4 is Elaina Burress, Katie Larson, Savannah Buist and Taylor Fernandez – four young artists who met at Michigan’s Interlochen Arts Academy in the debut year of the prestigious art school’s Singer-Songwriter program that included a national talent search and performances of their original material and instrumentation.
Together the talented ladies play a combined 13 instruments, have over 30 credits on iTunes and have played hundreds of live shows, radio, and television. As individuals, their styles and influences are very different.
Katie, who hails from the Traverse City area, is a junior in the IAA singer-songwriter program. She has studied cello for five years, taught herself to play guitar for Traverse City West High School’s top jazz band and played in the pit for many musical productions.
Savannah – better known as Seavé – dates a love of music to her infancy that began on a tour bus when she was three months old. Surrounded by musicians and mesmerized by anything with strings, it really wasn’t a question of “would she play” but “what” would she play. Now the question is “what doesn’t she play?” Seavé writes most of her songs on acoustic guitar and ukulele and “colors” them with her fiddle (violin ) or viola.
Taylor has been performing all over Michigan for festival audiences since she was 11 years old. Her style mixes all genres of rock/country/indie/pop that are heard in the soft, sweet lyrics of Ingrid Michaelson, as well as belting out her take of the Guns & Roses classic, “Sweet Child of Mine.”
Elaina is from Muskegon, but her Southern roots are in Ozark, Ala. She has a voice that captivates audiences with its sultry innocence and natural purity, while her songs are whimsical with lilting melodies. Elaina’s voice brings back the nostalgia of yesterday and gives listeners hope for a beautiful future.
Academy 4 will perform original songs including “Poison,” “Try for More,” “Paper Love” and “The Coldest War” along with covers of songs from various genres. Check out the music at www.facebook.com/AcademyFour or http://www.reverbnation.com/academyfour.
Concert in the Park is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council and the city of St. Johns, with support from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Concerts are held each Wednesday evening at the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell. The St. Johns Lions and Lioness Club staff a concession stand that offers light refreshments. All concerts are held rain or shine.
For information on Concert in the Park call the Clinton County Arts Council, (989) 224-2429.