HC: You graduated from the Music Performance program in 2019! Tell us what you have been up to since graduation?
JC: Since graduating from Holland College, I continued my music studies at Berklee »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵof Music. I graduated with a degree in songwriting, and have since moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I’ve been working as a full-time musician on Broadway!
HC: What led you down the path of music? Tell us more about your journey.
JC: For as long as I can remember, music has been the biggest part of my life. I was writing little songsand singing ever since I could make noise. My journey began early, and I kept myself immersed in musicand performing, which meant I had chosen my career path before I’d even begun to look at post-secondary options.
HC: How did your time at Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵhelp you fulfill this dream?
JC: Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵwas the perfect first step for me in achieving my goals! I was able to grow as amusician while also expanding my knowledge of the professional side of the industry. With theirconnection to Berklee, it was easy to continue that dream and feel ready to enter the professionalworld.
HC: What’s your favourite memory from your time at Holland College?
JC: A lot of my favourite memories happened during the week of our show cases! Spending the week intech rehearsals, spending time with everyone in the program, all focused on the performance aspect ofour studies, made for some magical moments. We got to perform and watch all our friends do the sameand show off what we’d all been working on the entire semester.
HC: Do you have a piece of advice you would give new alumni entering the workforce or hoping tobreak into an industry like the music industry?
JC: My advice is to remember to be as kind as you can to everyone you meet or work with. You can workas hard as you want and be the best musician in whatever direction you take, but if you aren’t kind oreasy to work with, I promise the call backs will be far and few between. Other than that, keep your headup, opportunity is in the oddest places!
HC: What are you doing now in Nashville? What are your next steps?
JC: Right now, I currently have weekly gigs downtown at a bar called Big Jimmy’s, and spots atMargaritaville on Broadway. I also take part in a writers round called Sippin’ and Pickin’ which is a greatshow to be a part of – I get to share my own songs and hear other artists original music. It’s a great wayto meet and collaborate with other writers!Next steps, as of now, is to get myself a more permanent visa, and continue to write and collaboratewith artists in the Nashville scene. It’s a warm and welcoming community, so I’m excited to continuedown this path!
