Bluesfest School of Music and Art wants to Rock ‘U’ in 2015!

Following a successful inaugural year of arts education, the Bluesfest School of Music and Art’s sophomore year is ramping up with a new program called ROCK ‘U’. The program will give musicians a chance to work on a set of tunes by their favourite classic rock band—i.e. Van Halen, Journey, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin—to perform at the 2015 edition of the RBC Bluesfest. Rock ‘U’ stems from the concept popularized by Jack Black in the movie, School of Rock. The program will teach budding musicians to take the stage with confidence and perform a live set that has been honed by weekly rehearsals and hands-on training from a group of professionals.  At Rock ‘U’, musicians of all ages will meet, rehearse and get extra coaching and private lessons on their respective instruments.  All participants will have access to highly experienced musicians and performers. The program will be open to newly-formed and existing bands. “This is an opportunity for musicians to work with others to nail down a set of popular rock music to play at Bluesfest” says RBC Bluesfest’s executive director Mark Monahan. “We’re starting to see growing interest on the part of adults to get involved in something like this as well. Seems like many of them have harbored the idea of one day being in a band, but never had the opportunity. That’s why we’re going to open up Rock ‘U’ to adults as well as teens. The ultimate goal is a performance on-stage at Bluesfest.” There will be an initial meet and greet at the Bluesfest School of Music and Art, 450 Churchill Avenue in Ottawa on Saturday, January 10 at 2 p.m. to introduce bandmates and coaches. Formal rehearsals start Saturday, January, 17, 2015. The program includes 12 weekly two-hour rehearsals with a band coach and one private lesson per week on instruments of choice. Who knows who may graduate from Rock ‘U’ and wow the crowd at this year’s RBC Bluesfest? It could be you! For complete details, including how to sign up: bsoma.ca/classes/rock-u-classic-rockBSOMA Contact(s): Kate Ritchie, BSOMA School Manager, 613-627-2762, kritchie@bsoma.ca Alan Marsden, RBC Bluesfest Community Program Manager, amarsden@ottawabluesfest.caRBC Bluesfest Media contact: AJ Sauve, Director of Media Relations (613) 247-1188 ext. 229 | ajsauve@ottawabluesfest.ca