Lincoln College students participate in Music Industry Conference and Career Fair
Diversify the Stage grants two students invitation to attend Rock-Lititz

 

[November 18, 2021]   Two Lincoln College music students, Katie Benson and Dajaun (DJay) Stewart participated in the Rock Lititz Live Event Career Exploration Conference in Lititz, PA November 10-12.

Students participated in immersive music event demonstrations and made career connections with music industry leaders.

During the conference, “The Life Cycle of a Tour,” Stewart and Benson gained insight from top music industry sound engineers, production managers, media designers, automation and pyro designers who have worked with some of music’s biggest stars including Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator, Travis Scott, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, and more. Lincoln College Music students met in panel discussions and one-on-one break-out sessions with experts and tech innovators offering pathways to career opportunities and industry advice.

“We’re learning so much about how live touring operates, in addition to meeting so many interesting people,” said Benson, a senior in the Lincoln College music program. “The biggest takeaway from the conference was hearing and confirming that there is no right time to follow your passion and that you can only learn more through the experience you endure, even if it leads you down a path that you never saw yourself taking.

Also, learning that connections and impressions are important when coming into this industry, an industry that is forever changing,” added Benson.

The sponsored invitation for Lincoln College students was made possible by the generosity of Noelle Scaggs and her team at Diversify the Stage, an organization working to establish more inclusive hiring practices and equitable opportunities in live music, events, and touring industries. In order to foster this mission, Diversify the Stage selects twenty-five students from across the nation to attend the Rock Lititz Conference.

Stewart, a senior in the music program, felt that attending the conference was inspiring. “I’m networking with professionals who will prepare me for career opportunities right after graduation from Lincoln,” said Stewart. “The advice I’m getting here is invaluable. Ultimate gratitude. It’s amazing to take what we’re learning from the classroom and applying it to real life. Of course, always big thanks to God for everything.”

Rock Lititz is a 96-acre state-of-the-art campus 90 minutes west of Philadelphia hosting production rehearsal facilities, vendors, and a hotel.

For more information on the Lincoln College music program, visit lincolncollege.edu.

[Lauren D. Grenlund]