Belmont Vision Multimedia. (Zach Watkins) Across the city, groups of gamers and developers huddle in coworking spaces, coffee shops and office buildings. Rather than being led by AAA studios worth millions of dollars, the digital medium’s highest scorers in town are hobbyists, independent developers and all-around creatives who channel various artistic disciplines into a single interactive experience. From game jam winners to massive projects years in the making, the gaming i

Belmont Vision Multimedia. (Zach Watkins) Welcome back to another edition of “Perfect Pitch,” a series where members of the Belmont Vision review the latest releases in music and look for the next big thing.  This week we’ll be discussing the newest studio album, “COSMIC OPERA ACT 1,” from British producer, songwriter and recording artist Labrinth. Known for his hit song “Mount Everest” and the work he has done for the soundtracks of both seasons 1 and 2 of HBO’s “Euphoria,”

Belmont Vision Multimedia. (Zach Watkins) The third episode of American Idol released on Monday, featuring the first auditionee from Belmont University. In this episode, host Ryan Seacrest along with Belmont alum and American Idol season six top three contestant Melinda Doolittle searched Belmont's campus, asking students to sing in between classes in hopes of finding the next American Idol winner. After mini a cappella performances from multiple students, including an appear

The Superstation (Jerrod McBrayer, Oscar Velez, Sonny Harding and Ian Campbell) pose for a picture after their hour-long set of classic TV theme songs. (Zach Watkins) Tawny suede cowboy boots gently tap to the beat, as the man with a white Buffalo Bill mustache hunches over a metal chair in a nearly forgotten corner of the room. He’s only here because the band needed his roughed-up public address system. He’s not a part of The Superstation, though; he gave up touring when he

Violet Hansen performing a poem. Photo courtesy of Hansen. Speaking at the 62nd Metro Address is nerve-wracking for anyone, especially when you have a physics test in the morning. But that's exactly what makes Violet Hansen stand out. She is 17, soft-spoken, and still figuring out the parts of herself that most people don’t even realize have names yet. At the same time, she’s standing behind podiums, speaking to city leaders and nonprofit boards about empathy, mental health,

Belmont Vision MultiMedia. (Zach Watkins) Created by a Belmont professor of music and director of choral activities, “Requiem of Colour: A Journey Through Lament and Joy,” received five MidSouth Emmy nominations. The piece by Dr. Jeffery L. Ames, sponsored by the Creative Arts Collective, had its first television recording on PBS Nashville. Featuring over 200 singers from multiple institutions, the production combined genres in Western classical, jazz, R&B and gospel. The cat

Carlisle Wright performing at Country Showcase. (Haley Ramsey) Despite a week of icy weather, the Fisher Center radiated warmth as Country Showcase gathered fans for a night of shared songs and country tradition. The four performers, rae, Sage Autumn, Solo Lowit and Carlisle Wright took the stage Saturday, competing for a spot in the Best Of The Best Showcase and a chance to perform at CMA Fest in the summer. rae performing at Country Showcase. (Haley Ramsey) For the performe

Belmont Vision Multimedia, Zach Watkins Opening with a moving shot across Belmont’s main lawn, a new season of “American Idol”   officially began as the judges welcomed a fresh class to “Idol University.” The Season 24 intro featured Belmont’s band, orchestra and students cheering as the judges walked down Freedom Plaza, with much of the season filmed on campus and the lobby of the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts serving as the backdrop for this season’s auditions. The

Diana Akin Scarfo talking to BUPA members about her career. Photo taken by Ava Gorney. Remixes of Tyla and Michael Jackson, The Weeknd and Radiohead or Sabrina Carpenter and Noah Kahan may not sound like perfect matches, but some Belmont students brought them together. BUPA is a collective of student producers, songwriters, and other creatives who gather once a week for events such as beat battles, challenges and seminars featuring industry professionals. Singer Maddie Barric

“The Barricade” - Christian Mark Gibbs as Enjolras and company in Les Misérables, Matthew Murphy Filled with passion, power, and top-tier production, “Les Misérables” takes the Tennessee stage. A Broadway and West End classic, “Les Misérables” came to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, reminding audiences why the production has remained a defining force in musical theater. Based on Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, the musical explores redemption, justice and moral responsibility

Collaborators and founders come together to celebrate the opening of Rock Nashville. Photo taken by Nick Rampe. Nashville’s music scene just got louder with Rock Nashville’s grand opening. The 55-acre property, with over 610,000 square feet of rehearsal, vendor, and production space, serves as the home of more than 30 vendors specializing in touring live events with Soundcheck Studios, a backline equipment rental service, acting as an anchor tenant. “This entire campus is des

Skaters performing at Bridgestone Arena as part of Scott Hamilton’s fundraiser performance, Rachel Suggs Several world-class figure skaters took to the ice on Nov. 23 at Bridgestone Arena for the ninth annual Scott Hamilton and Friends show. The show is a fundraiser for the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which funds advanced cancer research. “It brings me so much hope that we’re going to get closer and closer and closer to a day that’s going to happen in my lifetime—and I’m

Sidestage Showcase at EXIT/IN, Nick Singer Friends, family and fans filed into EXIT/IN on November 15th for Sidestage Showcase’s blend of rock, indie, alternative and pop music, highlighting student leaders from Belmont.  “There is so much creativity and beauty to music and Nashville is always under the impression of country music. And we hope to bring a night where people might fall in love with a different aspect of music, that there's so much effort and love behind,” said

Belmont Vision Multimedia, Haley Ramsey Welcome back to another edition of “Perfect Pitch,” a series where members of the Belmont Vision review the latest releases in music and look for the next big thing.    This week, we’ll be discussing “EUSEXUA Afterglow”, the fourth studio album from British singer-songwriter and dancer Tahliah Barnett, known professionally as FKA Twigs. This album is a sequel to the initial “EUSEXUA,” which was released in January and nominated for Best

Christmas at Belmont Performance, Zach Watkins Holiday spirit filled the Fisher Center this weekend for the annual performance and beloved tradition Christmas at Belmont.  Although the three performances were not filmed and aired like last year, the production still showcased over 600 students of 14 different groups, ranging over several genres and varieties, bringing Christmas festivity to Belmont.  “This year was a lot more relaxed and less stressful because we weren't film

Belmont Showcase wrapped up its stretch of events for the semester with the Fall Writer’s Showcase on Saturday night in the Johnson Large Theater. Sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the showcase adopts a more intimate approach to production, featuring songwriting from eight contestants, which is twice the standard number. The first round included performances from Isaac Hallal, Kristen Noble, Noah Clifton and Elisheva, with Milla,

Belmont Vision Multimedia, Haley Ramsey Perfect Pitch: “The Art of Loving”  Welcome back to another edition of “Perfect Pitch,” a series where members of the Belmont Vision review the latest releases in music and look for the next big thing.    This week, we’ll be discussing the second studio album, “The Art of Loving,” from London-based singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.  Dean’s earlier work includes her debut album, “Messy,” released in 2023 and collaborations with Ezra Collect

Photo by Emily Garver Cassie Donegan, a musical theater performer, Belmont alumna and daughter now has another title to add; Miss America. Donegan participated in a panel at the Massey Performing Arts Center that showcased her childhood, the journey to becoming Miss America and what the future holds for her now. “Through sharing that story, she was able to show us that the things that make you, you …  it's something that the world needs,” senior commercial music major Evie Br

Jamie Wigginton, the director of PHNX performing alongside the group, Ava Gorney Belmont’s pop-rock ensemble, PHNX, held its fall semester performance Friday night in the Massey Concert Hall, energizing the audience with an electrifying show.  PHNX is one of Belmont’s music ensembles which features a six-piece band and eight vocalists. They sing popular classics as well as newer, trendy pop-rock hits. The show didn’t have a specific title, but PHNX director Jamie Wigginton ha

Of Monsters and Men Performing at The Pinnacle, Samantha Graessle An eager audience hummed with anticipation from the balcony to the floorboards of the Pinnacle, waiting for Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men to step into the spotlight on Monday night. Fourteen years after their debut album “My Head is an Animal,” the indie-folk group is traveling across North America and Europe, performing songs from their entire discography. Kicking off Oct. 28 in Toronto, “The Mouse Parade