Professional musicians conduct master class

Citrus College music major Melissa Mujica was one of the nearly 200 students in attendance at the "Master Class on the Music Business" event on Nov. 20.

Held in the Haugh Performing Arts Center, the session featured a panel of recording artists, including Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sam Phillips, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and producer Joe Henry, composer and string arranger Eric Gorfain and A and R executive and author Tom DeSavia, who shared their stories and imparted invaluable advice to Citrus College students hoping to break into the music industry.

Ms. Mujica listened intently to the many do's and don'ts, weighing them against her own thoughts and ambitions. When it came time for the question and answer segment, Ms. Mujica was the first to pose a question: "How do you preserve your independence in an industry that is infamous for owning so much of what an artist creates?"

The question sparked a lively dialogue with the panel, with each member eager to respond. When the class ended, students were invited to meet the musicians and continue the conversation.

An aspiring folk and jazz artist, Ms. Mujica was thrilled to meet folk virtuoso Joe Henry, who recently produced his 15th solo album, "The Gospel According to Water." She explained that her conversation with Mr. Henry validated and reaffirmed her desire to pursue a career as a recording artist.

"Special events such as this master class are what make Citrus College a unique place for future artists to receive training and guidance before launching their careers," said the college superintendent/president. "Special thanks to Lucinda Over, the Citrus College counselor who coordinated this helpful and highly successful session for our students."

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This article originally appeared in the December 2019 edition of the Citrus View.