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There is exceptional music overflowing from the Arts and Communications building at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Yet, even with all the talent and music spilling out from the building and its programs, students and faculty, it’s a good bet many in Oshkosh and the surrounding region who host special events, parties, weddings – you name it — sometimes overlook the resource they have in their backyard.

Thanks to music Professor Chmura-Moore, UW Oshkosh’s fine musicians are poised to get a few more gigs.

UW Oshkosh has created and launched a new, online Music Referral Service (MRS) that can connect the community with talented musicians from the University. Musicians are standing by to offer classical, jazz, rock and other musical styles for any occasion. The new referral service’s page is now up and operating HERE (http://www.uwosh.edu/music/music-referral-service).

“There are great things happening here and we want to get the word out, so the community doesn’t take us for granted,” Chmura-Moore said. “From this, we should have better recruitment and networking that can showcase the talent we have here at UW Oshkosh.”

The idea for the Music Referral Service came to Chmura-Moore as he was pursuing his masters at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. The Conservatory has a referral service, called “Music by NEC” that Chmura-Moore thought could be easily adapted to Oshkosh.

“Currently there is nothing like this in the Fox Valley,” he said. “It was a void that needed to be filled. UW Oshkosh has great and talented students.”

Quality musicians galore

The MRS factors and features the available talent of music majors, students enrolled in private lessons, anyone that a professor recommends and specific alumni. Faculty sponsor the member-artists’ memberships.

Chmura-Moore

Chmura-Moore’s intention with this service was to make it possible for UW Oshkosh music students to get work without having it rely solely on who they knew.

“We currently have Titan Jobs where students can find jobs on and off campus, but it is not tailored to anything musical,” he said. “I know that students need to find work, but most music jobs have been about whom you know.”

Music Composition major Nick Gutierrez is in perfect harmony with the new system. He agrees with Chmura-Moore: There needs to be more opportunity for students who produce quality music. They need the public/client-connection to land valuable – and educational — gigs.

It’s good for the community. It’s outstanding experience for students.

“This program will give an opportunity for people to take advantage of more talent and is a good segue into the professional life,” said Gutierrez, who will be graduating this May. “This program will help get the UWO music department out to the community. We don’t interact with them as much, so this would be a good hybrid.”

Diverse music, talent at the ready

Gutierrez said he can’t wait for the community can take greater advantage of the University’s wealth of musical talent.

“We’ve had some newer faculty come to UWO in the past few years who are advocates of a more modern type of music,” he said. “They have pushed us in that direction, which is beneficial, seeing how Oshkosh doesn’t receive the type of exposure that, say, Madison or Chicago would.”

Gutierrez said he is confident that any kind of specific song or genre that the community would want to feature at an event is available, simply by getting in contact with a group of musicians through the referral service and providing some practice time. UWO carries musicians of all skill levels, styles and interests.

Trombone performance and music business major Matthew Bragstad said UW Oshkosh continues to provide great opportunities for students to develop into the best musicians they can be.

“All of the students push each other to succeed, and the new students are always learning from the old,” Bragstad said. “Add the Grade-A roster of instructors to the mix, and the doors of opportunity start flying open.”

 

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