By Julie Ives Lemke
Students in the Young Adult Program at the Booth Tarkington, Civic Theatre were invited to the pre-concert sound check for Amy Grant at the Palladium in the Carmel Center for the Performing Arts. The six-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Christian pop star conveyed the same humble warmth in her rehearsal and concert.
YAP is a comprehensive theatre encounter created to identify, educate and inspire young talent. The current young adults attend 13 Indy metro high schools. Experiencing this pre-concert process expanded upon the teen guests’ earlier research at The Feinstein Foundation archives and inspired them with a live version of performance preparation. An ideal mentor, Grant acknowledged her guests during the rehearsal by detailing what the band was doing and why, then shared personal tidbits about the music. She revealed that her song writing is a personal expression and when singing there are times she has to really concentrate to avoid getting emotional because singing the song “takes her back” to a special place where she was when she wrote the piece. In fact, Grant has composed some music she thinks is too personal to record.
Following the rehearsal, Grant engaged the students by asking them about their experiences and encouraging questions. Grant shared that she borrowed a guitar at 13, owned her first one at 14, then wrote her first song at 15. Urging the kids to inscribe their music if they hear it, she applauded them for immersing themselves in opportunities to grow in performing. Hearing the students hadn’t performed on “this awesome stage,” she offered them the opportunity to get up there and sing.
When asked what her favorite performing venues are, Grant replied the most important thing to her is to have a connection with the audience. She loves to feel like she is singing to people in her living room.
