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Colin O'Brien

Composer; Musician; Musician: String; Singer; Songwriter

NASHVILLE SCENE SEPT. 9 2012 After a Song (Bottled Lightning) Here’s a guy who plays the banjo and the fiddle and the guitar, and he wears a derby hat and does solo shows that include a healthy number of John Hartford songs. Got him pegged, right? Well, not quite. Colin O’Brien’s show impressed Hartford String Band veteran Larry Perkins enough that he wound up co-producing O’Brien’s latest, After a Song. Yes, there’s a Hartford tune or two on the album, but that’s not exactly the point. O’Brien has made an album that sounds like what might have happened had Hartford brought some of his old buddies into the studio to make a Colin O’Brien tribute — an album that more than occasionally bottles the lightning that was Hartford’s engagingly off-center songwriting, without settling for simple imitation. He’ll be accompanied by Hartford sidekicks Matt Combs (fiddle) and Mike Compton (mandolin), along with the always reliable Mike Bub on bass. It ought to be a treat. — Jon Weisberger

Jay & Mark O'Shea

Musician; Singer; Songwriter

With their seamless harmonies, eclectic country-soul sensibility, and clever Aussie charm carrying them into the top five of the hit CMT TV Series, Can You Duet, husband and wife duo O’Shea were welcomed wholeheartedly onto one of country music’s most prominent stages. “The show really opened a massive door for us, no bones about that,” says Jay O’Shea. Husband Mark agrees, “It was an incredible opportunity to meet America.” And while Can You Duet offered America its first introduction to O’Shea, the show in fact represents merely a single step in this talented duo’s nearly 20-year musical journey. Individually, Mark and Jay O’Shea have an impressive string of writing and artist credits that span the globe; while Mark has won multiple CMAA awards (the Australian equivalent of our CMA Awards), Jay has penned a #1 pop song in Europe and toured as a backing vocalist for rock legends, INXS. Between them, the couple has opened for Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Switchfoot, Hall & Oates, and America. Together, Mark and Jay make a highly dynamic duo—and they’re just getting started. The youngest of nine musically gifted children, Mark was raised in the remote bush country of Queensland, where he was educated in a Catholic boarding school and trained on the piano from a young age. By 13, he had started a band with two older boys, who made their public debut at a local bar. “We learned 8 songs for that gig,” Mark recalls with a laugh, “and ended up playing the same set three times that night.” Still, they were a hit, and soon became a regular attraction. Eventually, Mark won a talent competition at one of Australia’s biggest country music festivals (The Gympie Music Muster), which opened the door to a solo record deal that he signed at age 17. His debut album earned Mark two Golden Guitar awards for Best New Talent and Best Video from the CMAA. Jay grew up in the working class suburbs of Adelaide and made her first television appearance at age 12 after calling up her local station and asking to sing an Olivia Newton John song on their variety show. Also a talented dancer, Jay toured the UK and Europe with the Australian Dance-Drill Team at age 15. By high school graduation, she was performing with local bands, and soon afterwards moved to Sydney to pursue her singing career. “One of the things I love about Australia is that there’s no such thing as just being a recording artist there—you really must do an apprenticeship, doing a million gigs in smoky bars and clubs. Performing live is so important to your growth and discovering who you are musically.” It was, in fact, in one such smoky bar where she first met Mark, who asked her to sing back-up for an upcoming TV appearance. They’ve been together ever since. Shortly after getting engaged, Jay and Mark’s careers took them to different parts of the world. Jay won the Australian Open Singing Championships, the $75,000 first prize allowing her to relocate to London, where she soon signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell. Mark had taken time out from his solo career and formed a rock/pop band that signed with LA based label, Trauma, (No Doubt, Bush). They released a single in Australia that went top 20, although “If you’ve seen Spinal Tap, you know what happened to the band,” Mark jokes. Despite these ups and downs, Jay and Mark’s time apart only strengthened their relationship. “It was really hard being apart,” Jay explains, “but it was really good for us at the time because we were both so devoted to our music. We just had to give it everything we had.” But it wasn’t until marrying and moving to Nashville in 2007 that the couple ever considered making music together. “Five years ago, we never could never have become a duo, because musically we were so far apart,” Jay says. The pair’s weekly gig at Nashville’s Blue Bar, however, helped to bridge that gap. “We had forgotten how much fun making music could be,” Mark says, “until we started performing together. Becoming a duo suddenly felt really natural.” O’Shea’s spontaneous, fun-filled shows, eclectic style, and unpredictable set lists spanning Aretha Franklin, Sting, Dolly Parton and everything in between, have helped them cultivate a loyal fan following. Since appearing on Can You Duet, O’Shea has continued to pack out the venue, where they recorded their current EP Live At The Blue Bar Version 2.0, while also traveling the States to open for Phil Vassar, Jimmy Wayne, Sara Evans and the Oak Ridge Boys to name a few. Though Australia will always be home, O’Shea have planted roots in Music City, and good things are beginning to grow. Jay and Mark continue to write songs individually and as a duo, co-writing with hitmakers including Dave Berg, Tim Nichols, The Warren Brothers, and Shawn Colvin, and they have recently scored cuts by such up-and-coming artists as Emma Mae Jacobs and Dan Evans. “I love how creative this community is here, and I feel like I can’t really get that anywhere else in the world,” Jay says. “The road had been winding,” Mark adds, “but always leading to Nashville.”

Rachael OBrien

Actor; Stand-up Comedian

Rachael OBrien: Rachael O'Brien is a stand-up comedian and actress who has performed stand-up in seven countries in the most prominent comedy clubs and has done two USO military tours, for our troops overseas. Rachael has made a splash in the comedy scene, sharing the stage with household names like Bill Burr, Judd Apatow, Whitney Cummings, David Spade, Ali Wong, and many more. An Oregon native, Rachael moved to West Hollywood, CA to pursue her acting and comedy career after graduating from the University of Oregon at the young age of 20. She then completed the screenwriting program at UCLA. Her talent has caught the attention of many industry executives. Rachael recently starred in a film at The Tribeca Film festival alongside Cedric Yarbrough. Her hosting credits include a game show pilot for FOX, ESPN, and FUSE. Rachael is a Second City Hollywood conservatory grad and also performs on the main stage. Currently, Rachael can be seen on Bravo's hit TV show Vanderpump Rules, which is airing it’s 7th season. Her popular podcast, "Be Here for A While", is a comedic look into the world as seen by Rachael and her notable comedian and entertainment industry friends. Featured guests include Jim Jefferies, Bryan Adams, Stassi Schroeder, Heather McDonald, Spencer Garrett and more!

George Oeser

Photographer; Visual Artist: Digital Art

George Oeser was born and raised in the Nashville area, and has lived in several other places including the Pacific Northwest, on the Appalachian Trail, and, from 2013 to 2016, in Tilburg, a working class city in The Netherlands. Throughout his life he has been highly interested in subjects including politics, economics, psychology, the arts and architecture. He holds a deep love for all things abstract and avant garde while still appreciating art that is more representational and classical in nature. While in high school George started taking photographs with old, often times unusual, and practically obsolete cameras (110 cameras, Minox spy cameras, toy cameras). He taught himself the basics of photography and darkroom technique and developed a love for uncommon processes (cyanotypes) and types of film (infrared, instant, etc.). His relocation to Europe offered him a wide variety of new and unusual subjects to photograph and reignited his interest in modern art and architecture. The move also gave him the time to really explore and experiment, to find the special in the mundane, and to simply learn to see in a more complete way. It allowed him to dive more deeply into the world of digital image manipulation and from this came a style that focuses less on arriving at a technically perfect image and more on finding some level of emotion in his images.

Madison Oleson

Dancer

I'm from Denver, CO. I moved here to Nashville to be a part of The Dance Theatre of Tennessee last year so this will be my second season with the company.

Tim Oliphant

Educator: Adults; Educator: Teens; Educator: Youth; Visual Artist; Visual Artist: Book Arts; Visual Artist: Drawing; Visual Artist: Illustration; Visual Artist: Murals; Visual Artist: Sculpture; Writer

Been a professional cartoonist since 1983. Have been a "teaching artist" since 1987. My cartooning and humorous illustration work have appeared in such magazines as the Saturday Evening Post, Woman's World, Highlights for Children, Boy's Life, American Legion and many teacher and church related magazines. Have worked with many advertising agencies mostly in Nashville and area. Have been working as a "teaching artist" through the Tenn. Arts Commission, Young Audiences of Atlanta, Springboard of St. Louis, the Miss. Arts Commission, The Alabama Arts Council, Huntsville Alabama, South Carolina Arts Commission, as well as doing classroom work in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia. Born on May 5, 1961 in Nashville, moved to Lewisburg, TN when I was 12. Live on a 12 acre farm and draw with my shelter dog laying beside me. If you'd like to see more of what I do and more resume' and bio info please visit my web site at; www.mrolliefeatures.weebly.com I'm a member of the National Cartoonists Society since '84. Have won a School Bell Award from the Tenn. Education Assoc. for editorial cartoons concerning educational issue. And from the Tennessee Arts Commission was awarded the Outstanding Artist in Residence.

Sheri Oneal

Educator: Adults; Photographer; Songwriter; Visual Artist; Visual Artist: Book Arts; Visual Artist: Digital Art; Visual Artist: Mixed Media; Visual Artist: Photography; Writer

Sheri is a commercial photographer by trade and a freelance mixed media artist. Her world of art revolves around words, images, texture and found objects. She creates her art by reconditioning old things...wire, chipped paint on wood, rusty metal, string, and items that have interesting shapes and angles into unique visual art. Often she will incorporate one of her photograph's in the assemblage of mixed media. Each piece of art comes from a memory or a concept that is always deeply thought out in the beginning stages but often takes on a flight of its own once put into motion. Her work is an extension of her personality, each piece contains parts of her personal life experiences and beliefs and always incorporates a deep moral or idea. Sheri's commercial photography clients include Baptist Hospital, Boy Scouts of America, CBS, Darden Restaurants, Florida Sports Network, Gaylord Entertainment, Georgia Trust Bank, Harcourt Inc., Kodak, Lifeway Christian Resources, Mercury Outboards, Scholastic Book Fairs, The Discovery Channel, The National Arthritis Foundation and United Way among others. She teaches on occasion as an adjunct instructor at Nossi College of Art, is a writer for the introspective blog "Thinking Diva" and is the founder of a 2010 Nashville flood relief organization called "ReTune Nashville." Sheri is available for commercial/editorial photo assignments, for commissioned visual art pieces and small writing assignments.

Shuehli Ong

Composer; Educator: Adults; Musician; Singer; Songwriter

Shueh-li is an Australian-born Singapore recording artist, thereminist, synth-player, composer, producer. She resides in Nashville TN.

Shueh-li Ong

Composer; Educator: Adults; Educator: Teens; Musician; Musician: Electronic; Singer; Songwriter

Shueh-li Ong is an Aussie-born Singapore Thereminist, Synth player, Composer/Songwriter and Producer. The Daily Vault U.S.A said, “It is abundantly clear that Ong has many talents, a gift for sound, and the potential for greatness.” ThereminVox Italy, “An inspired artist who has brought fresh ideas in the theremin field.” Shueh-li was a student of Tristram Cary (co-founder EMS London), and Jeff Pressing (author of a monthly synth-technique series in Keyboard magazine). She studied piano and electronic music/music tech, with “Interactive Multimedia Performance Systems” as her area of research. This involved 2D-3D computer animation, generative music and extended synth techniques in live virtuosic performance. Currently residing in Nashville TN, Shueh-li presents an annual concert at the Steinway Piano Gallery, and also manages show design alliance, Electric Muse, for collaborative work. Shueh-li tours solo or with synthpop band, Xenovibes, and is often found at EM or ProgRock gigs. Shueh-li has produced four albums from her home studio to date, her arrangements creating sometimes poignant ballads other times luscious instrumentals. Shueh-li has also tracked theremin for an indie sci-fi film, a contemporary classical work, and albums from several rock bands. Artists whom Shueh-li has recorded on her albums &/or worked with on her shows include : Chris Currell (M.J.’s BAD tour/album), Dean Parks (Steely Dan), Curtis Randall (LeAnne Rimes), Tom Brislin (YES) and Eric Struthers (A Neville Quartet).

Kelsey Onwuzuruigbo

Actor; Educator: Adults; Educator: Teens; Educator: Youth; Singer

Kelsey Onwuzuruigbo is an American lyric-coloratua soprano that has a distinctive ability to personify the music in which she sings. Her introduction to the arts began in her church’s children’s choir. Throughout her school years, Kelsey played the French horn and keyboard before she finally focused on her voice. Her senior year in high school, she placed 2nd in the nation in the category of Vocal Classical Music at the NAACP ACTSO competition. Kelsey’s theatre experience includes ensemble work in “Ragtime,” the role of Lorrell Robinson in “Dreamgirls,” with Salama productions in Nashville, TN, the leading role of Adina in the opera L’elisir d’amore at the Opera Festival Di Roma in Rome, Italy and the role of “Nettie” in the Circle Players production of “The Color Purple.” This role earned her the First Night Robe honor by Nashville’s Broadway World and “Best Featured Actress” awarded by Circle Player Productions. She then went on to debut as Deena Jones in another production of “Dreamgirls” then shortly after appeared as Billie Holiday in Murfreesboro Performing Arts Center production of “Lady Day” where she became known in her profession as “Alexa Poitier”. Vocally, Kelsey can be heard on a nationally aired commercial as a voiceover and on the albums of recording artists such as: Kid Rock, Mandisa, Perry Danos, Jonny Lang and John Carter Cash. As a former member of the world renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, Kelsey has traveled throughout the U.S., Europe and Africa performing in prominent venues such as the White House, Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall. Kelsey Onwuzuruigbo resides in Nashville, TN where she produces and curates recitals and programming for local art galleries, schools and churches.

Greg Owens

Musician

Greg Owens Music Greg Owens could tell you all about the artists who influenced him and his music, but that’s not what counts the most. In between influences from classic rock, ‘90s alternative and outlaw country, Owens finds the inspiration for his music in everyday people, like himself. On his first proper album, Life, Love and Southern Sadness, Greg Owens and his band, the Whiskey Weather, perform songs for the people the world has left behind. Growing up, Owens fell in love with rock ‘n’ roll via a cassette copy of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” leading him to consume as many sounds of the decade as possible. As a teenager, Owens was introduced to outlaw country by his older bandmates, who would frequently incorporate covers of Merle Haggard and Nirvana in the same set. The deal was sealed for the Tennessee songwriter when he discovered Ryan Adams and Neil Young, which became the last key ingredient in his own musical output. Combined with a deep love for the people he meets in dive bars and small towns, Greg Owens continues the American tradition of telling real stories of real people. The songs on Life, Love and Southern Sickness are songs for people, not for algorithms or the radio. Despite accolades from outlets like American Songwriter, Owens cares more about connecting with listeners. He will do just that when he performs the album around Tennessee and surrounding states this coming spring, sharing the music with the people who inspired it. Press play on Life, Love and Southern Sadness and hear the stories that most of the world has forgotten.

Jessica Owings

Visual Artist

Born amidst the endless horizon of Central Illinois, I grew up riding horses and finding every excuse to be outside. At Bradley University, I stumbled into printmaking and continued the pursuit of artistic adventures during graduate school at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Most of my work is on paper, including prints, drawings, paintings, and book arts. Occasionally, I venture into the realm of sculpture, photography, and video. Community and collaboration are integral to my studio practice, and I have enjoyed priceless experiences at Cradle Oak Press, Yee-Haw Industries, the Women’s Studio Workshop, The Lawrence Lithography Workshop, the Kansas City Art Institute, Fair Share Farm, the INKubator PRESS, Nashville’s curatorial collective COOP, and currently with The State Park and Nashville’s Platetone Printshop. Currently, I spend my time as gallery director and adjunct instructor for Belmont University, dreaming and scheming in the studio at Platetone Printshop, mucking about as a lackadaisical gardener, and riding my bicycle. Generally my hands are stained with ink, soil, or bicycle grease. Language, landscape, and connections between people and places are thought-filled instances within which I situate my investigations. Resulting ideas and schemes are supplemented and informed by collaboration, compulsive collection, and random acts of giving. With experience in fine art and commercial printing, my endeavors merge artistic concepts with design constructs. Much of my work is presented as series or sequence, using these traditionally commercial aspects of printmaking to compose my studio work. The process of research is a point of departure for my ideas. Each project is a result of the process of looking, seeing, and re-presenting; artwork is the subsequent residue.