Trevecca Nazarene University announced a new initiative called Trevecca Collective focused on developing the gifts and talents of student singer/songwriters. Trevecca Collective will draw together an elite group of student songwriters, creating community, fostering creativity, and inviting collaboration among them.

The initiative will also allow the university to partner with student singer/songwriters in a new way.

“This is an effort to help our student musicians succeed,” said Dan Boone, Trevecca president. “Trevecca is home to some incredibly talented singer/songwriters. There’s no better place to pursue music than the heart of Nashville.”

Trevecca Collective grew out of the university’s desire to nurture creativity among its students. The partnership between selected student songwriters and Trevecca will also allow the university to better connect students with industry professionals and appeal to a wider audience.

Trevecca's degree programs in music and music business, as well as the presence of the National Praise and Worship Institute on campus, all combine to create an atmosphere of creativity. The Music Department recently created a songwriter advisory board in preparation for a proposed songwriting certificate program.

“Great songs are born out of community and collaboration, making Nashville and Trevecca the perfect place to hone songwriting skills,” said Dean Diehl, senior vice president of Provident Label Group and director of Trevecca's Music Business program. “Trevecca Collective is one of many ways we are attempting to go beyond the classroom in providing meaningful experiences for our students.” 

One of the first artists taking part in Trevecca Collective is Jake Neumar, a Trevecca senior majoring in organizational communications with a minor in music business. A native of Wayne, Pennsylvania, Neumar has been interested in music since he was 6 years old and has been writing songs since he was 9.

Neumar recently recorded and released his first music video, produced with the help of the Trevecca Collective. Watch it here.

“I chose Nashville because it seemed to be the best location for me to start making my dream a reality,” Neumar said. “Trevecca has provided the best personal attention from industry professionals.”

University officials are excited to begin partnering with more students. Another student video is in the planning stages, and a compilation CD featuring the best of Trevecca’s student singer/songwriters is already in the works.

“It’s an exciting time to be a singer/songwriter at Trevecca,” Boone said. “We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

--Trevecca Nazarene University