August 26, 2003
Daytona paper spotlights Belmont student/country singer
The News-Journal in Daytona, Fla., recently published a long profile of Belmont University student Dustin Seymour, a Daytona-area resident who is starting his sophomore year at Belmont majoring in vocal performance.
Inspired by such idols as RandyTravis, Trace Adkins, Phil Vassar and [Belmont alum Brad] Paisley, Seymour decided to attend Belmont University after graduating from Deland High School in 2002. While Belmont offers various degrees in its commercial music program – management, producing, music business administration – Seymour is majoring in vocal performance.He's quite aware that some say music – at least country or pop music – isn't something you can learn in college. Instead, som say, a wannabe country star must hone his craft by slogging through the clubs and the pubs and the dives.
"That's definitely true – I feel that way," Seymour says. "But Belmont teaches you a lot about music theory, gives you a better background. It'll help you when you record in studios. It'll make your time a lot shorter. I've seen so many stars since I've been there. They come to the school. We had the Oak Ridge Boys.
"I just think if you're constantly around music … I mean, you can only sing at clubs and bars at night, but you can go to school during the day and it can help you out."
The university already has paid one tangible dividend. Shortly after Seymour and his friends were rubbernecking at the CMA Awards after-party, the chorus of Belmont University, including Seymour, was invited to sing behind Alan Jackson during the taping of the country superstar's TV Christmas special. Seymour even saw himself get some camera time when the special was aired repeatedly last Christmas season on CMT, the country music television network.
The full story, which ran on the front page of the paper's D-section on August 8, is located in the online archives of the Daytona News-Journal, accessible for $2.95 per story.
- For more stories from the Archive, click here.
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Greg Pillon: 615.460.6645
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For more information visit www.belmont.edu
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