“The Ghosts of Gardner Village,” a musical concert created by four award-winning songwriters based in Utah, will be presented Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall on the Brigham Young University campus.
The brainchild of songwriter/producer Clive Romney, the program consists of songs that recreate the history of a Utah pioneer village. Romney will be joined in the production by Nancy Hanson, Sam Payne and Tammy Simister Robinson.
“It’s a unique opportunity to hear an evening of great songs, stunningly presented, and all written by specific assignment is something unusual,” said BYU songwriting instructor Ron Simpson.
While BYU music majors and Faith-centered Music Association members traditionally attend this event free of charge, audience members are encouraged to obtain a temporary Utah Pioneer Heritage membership available for $10 at upharts.org.
“The cost of mounting this event at BYU is substantial,” said Simpson, “and we are hoping our audience will help defray the costs in this manner. After all, it’s only like $2.50 per songwriter.”
Producer Clive Romney is the founder of the band Enoch Train. He has produced more than 100 albums and has taught songwriting and music industry subjects at BYU, the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College.
Hanson has won both the Telluride Troubadour Contest and the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival. Her song “Drops in a Bucket” also won the 1998 Fast Folk Café songwriting contest.
Payne has developed a strong following as a writer of story-based songs with driving, rhythmic accompaniments. He is also a Utah radio personality.
Robinson, trained as a music educator, has worldwide credits as a singer and songwriter. Her song “May I Serve Thee” was sung in both 1998 and 2002 BYU Women’s Conferences and appeared in the 2004 Ensign. She has won four Pearl Awards.
The Invitational Songwriter Showcase is an annual event at BYU, co-sponsored this year by FCMA as part of its annual workshop, by Tantara Records, an enterprise center at BYU, and by the Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts Association, which originally commissioned “The Ghosts of Gardner Village.”
For more information, contact Ron Simpson, 801-422-6395 or 801-422-2563
Writer: Angela Fischer
