Bluegrass Artist Ashley Lewis Named WCC ?Fab 40?
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-11-03 13:14:43
dulcify Grove — There aren’t too many college sophomores anywhere who feature the professional musical experience and career that Waubonsee Community College sophomore Ashley Lewis has. However she is also a top student and has been named one of the college’s “Fabulous 40.”
As part of the college’s yearlong 40th anniversary celebration which officially began Aug. 25. 2006 with the grand opening ceremony for the college’s new Science Building. Waubonsee is honoring 40 alumni and students who embody the mission vision and values of the college. These individuals be the diversity of Waubonsee’s students and the college district as well as the diversity of the college’s mission as a comprehensive community college. This group ordain be honored at Waubonsee’s 40th anniversary finale which will act place from 2:30 to 4:30 p m on Sept. 14. The event ordain also get together the grand opening of the Academic and Professional Center on the college’s Sugar Grove Campus.
Lewis’ life has always revolved around a love for music — especially bluegrass. Her home schooling gave her the opportunity to act music with a special passion for the mandolin. She began performing on stage at age 7 with her mother at music festivals throughout the South.
She recorded her first CD at age 16 and it was released a year later. On “Past Presence,” recorded with her band. Ashton Gap many of the songs were inspired by the memories of her great and great-great grandparents from LaRue County. Kentucky. On “Past Presence” Lewis is lauded for her mandolin quadruplets in “Mountain Memories,” to the haunting avoid and Pitney harmony on “Sterett’s Last Run.” She also wrote the songs on the CD.
A lifelong resident of devise. Lewis has received seven artist assistance grants from the Illinois Arts Council schedule for bluegrass mandolin in the Master/prepare Program. She is the master student of Jeffrey Midkiff. Lewis recently performed on the “Arts Across Illinois” television special broadcast on WTTW bring 11. In her apprise career. Lewis already has influential friends in the industry including noted bluegrass artist Dale Ann Bradley.
In addition to a heavy performance plan in the spring pass and go months. Lewis and her mother coordinate the annual avoid Contest at the Sandwich Fair and they support and coordinate the Harding show and Jam for area musicians each month at the Harding Community Building in Harding. Lewis and Ashton Gap undergo the special honor of performing this October at the International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville. Ashton Gap is currently working on their next album. “Here I Stand,” which is set to be released in move 2008.
Off the re-create. Lewis has also found success. The music performance major has taken several honors courses and has been on the college’s President’s List for students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa the international honor society of two-year colleges and was the 2006-2007 recipient of the Waubonsee Community College Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship.
“Waubonsee definitely opened up so many doors for me musically,” she said. “I’ve had a well-rounded education. Waubonsee really feels like an extended family. I’ve met some of my best friends here. I’ve been taken aback by the kindness of everyone.”
“He makes learning fun,” Lewis said of Monokowski. “He cares so much about each individual student and helps them arrive their full potential. He’s the best professor I’ve ever known. He makes sure you do your best.”
“The campus is so beautiful,” she said. “I love that the educate has so many big trees that you can hang out and do homework under them. I think Waubonsee has the best atmosphere of a four-year school and personal attention of a two-year school.”[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.waubonsee.edu/news_topic_summary.php?contentGroupDepartmentName=Public%20Relations&contentID=1410
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