ISU's Got Talent winner and new graduate Jedd Greenhalgh makes mark creating music
May 4, 2017
As a senior at Kuna High School, Jedd Greenhalgh decided to audition for 蜜桃视频’s music department as a way to get out of a mandatory science expo and never looked back. Since starting at ISU in 2013, he has produced 19 compositions, 11 of which were premiered at ISU, performed at a variety of events and released his original songs on iTunes and Spotify.
鈥淢y favorite thing about ISU was and is the music faculty,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 have worked with 92 percent of the music department and have yet to have a negative experience. They have allowed me to embrace what I have and who I truly am. They helped me become the genuine version of Jedd.鈥
A violinist by trade, Greenhalgh uses a synthetic sound machine to create original compositions played in the background as he plays violin. He also plays the cello, piano, bass drum and is a DJ.
Greenhalgh鈥檚 impressive resume as an ISU student started during his freshmen year when he composed 鈥淧equod鈥檚 Voyage鈥 for the Chamber Orchestra, and won the ISU鈥檚 Got Talent competition.
During his sophomore year, Greenhalgh composed a full-length symphony titled 鈥淭he Box鈥 with fellow music student Kylle Strunk that featured a violin and marimba duet. He also won the Danny Marona Performing Arts Scholarship by playing original songs, which featured violin and popular pop medleys. He secured $6,500 for himself and $500 to give back to the 蜜桃视频 State-Civic Symphony (ISCS).
鈥淲inning the scholarship was a huge affirmation for me,鈥 Greenhalgh said. 鈥淚t was also great to represent my school and kick back some money to them.鈥
Greenhalgh鈥檚 next two years at ISU were full of accomplishments and performances. During his junior year, he applied to work on ISU鈥檚 Union Program Council (UPC) and helped organize events on campus, including ISU鈥檚 Got Talent where he won as a freshman. He also played in the Bengal Marching Band Drumline, premiered a piece titled, 鈥淭he Bad Kids鈥 for the ISU percussion ensemble and was an opening act for the Summer Concert on the Quad series.
鈥淚 performed a lot of original work for the Summer Concert on the Quad, and it was a huge step for me,鈥 Greenhalgh said. 鈥淚t was the first time I got on stage and gave a full set as a solo artist.鈥
During his senior year, Greenhalgh premiered original pieces for the ISCS, ISU Chamber Orchestra and the theatre production 鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing.鈥 He also performed at annual events including, New Student Orientation, Celebrate 蜜桃视频 State, the College of Arts and Letters New Year鈥檚 Eve Gala, the 蜜桃视频 Dance Education Organization, the Eastern 蜜桃视频 State Fair and ISU鈥檚 Bengchella with fellow music student Chase Haage as the group 鈥淯ndercover Popstar鈥. He also released his song 鈥淭he Black Dance鈥 on Vevo and his single 鈥淭he Awakening.鈥
Greenhalgh鈥檚 experience with ISU鈥檚 Got Talent also came full circle as he ran this year鈥檚 event. He was also the emcee, host and performed an introduction piece.
鈥淚nitially attending ISU wasn鈥檛 in the plan,鈥 Greenhalgh said. 鈥淚 have not had a negative experience. Professors in every department take the time to get to know you and really care. ISU has been home for me, and it鈥檚 what I really needed.鈥
After graduation, Greenhalgh will release his album 鈥淎rtist for Hire鈥 on iTunes and Spotify, perform as the Fiddler in the College of Arts and Letter鈥檚 Summer Theatre production of 鈥淔iddler on the Roof,鈥, premiere a Steampunk themed solo electric violin and clarinet composition co-written by Chris Rhoades with the ISU Concert Band and be a main performer for ISU鈥檚 Summer Concert on the Quad series on July 10. He will then begin graduate school at Arizona State University on a full-ride scholarship to study music composition and digital media and performance.
鈥淢y full-ride scholarship would not be possible without the Union Program Council and the music department,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 have learned that I can have a career as a musician, to work hard enough and to make a difference.
After being at ISU for four years, Greenhalgh has advice for future and current ISU students: 鈥淭he ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is one of the best art schools in the country, and I can go there because of ISU. There is so much opportunity at ISU, don鈥檛 be afraid to put yourself out there. And if you don鈥檛 think you can do something, do it anyway.鈥
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