Curtain Call Award
Emmanuel Echem, Honoree
Introduction and Presentation of the Curtain Call Award
Stephen R. Eaves, Dean, College of Music and Performing Arts
Alex Graham, Coordinator of Commercial Music
Belmont University School of Music
Something Better
Afro-Blues
Flow
State of Mind
Closure
The Line
Live Performance
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
7:30 P.M.
Massey Concert Hall
Emmanuel Echem*, trumpet & flugelhorn
Mark Hartsuch, alto saxophone & tenor saxophone
Jordan Perlson, drums
Brian Allen, upright & electric bass
Alex Murphy, piano & keyboard
Alex Graham**, alto saxophone
*School of Music Alumnus
**School of Music Faculty
Artist Interview with James Wigginton
Question and Answer Session with James Wigginton
About the Recipient
Emmanuel Echem is a trumpeter, composer, and arranger living and working in Nashville, Tennessee. A rare native to the area, Echem has firmly established himself in the music community as a capable lead and section player, as well as an adept soloist with a unique and soulful improvisational style which frequently draws comparisons to trumpet masters such as Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Hargrove.
The sound of his trumpet has been heard at venues and festivals around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and more, in addition to a number of televised performances that have aired nationally and internationally on PBS, CBS, NBC, ABC, Late Night with Seth Meyers, the JUNO Awards, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Marilyn Denis Show.
His list of performance and recording credits span a wide range of genres, and include artists such as Boyz II Men, Patti Labelle, Dolly Parton, Justin Timberlake, Sister Sledge, Kirk Franklin, Eric Church, Lauren Daigle, Brett Eldredge, Ledisi, Charlie Wilson, Joss Stone, Dan+Shay, Carrie Underwood, Lady A, John Oates, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Maren Morris, Frankie Negron, Dumpstaphunk, the Nashville Symphony, and the Nashville Jazz Orchestra.
Echem's compositional style combines a jazz musician's sensibility of melody and harmony with an intensely groove-oriented approach to rhythm, exploring funk, rock, hip hop, and neo-soul, as well as West African afrobeat, traditional New Orleans music, and Afro-Latin dance rhythms.
Special Thanks
Dr. Stephen R. Eaves, Dean, College of Music and Performing Arts
Alex Graham, Coordinator of Commercial Music
James Wigginton, Interviewer
Jason Miller, Production/Facilities Associate
Bret Bell, Production/Music Facilities Manager
Belmont University School of Music Production Crew
About the Curtain Call Award
The Curtain Call Award was created in 1995 to honor a School of Music alumnus for achievement in the field of commercial music. The award is presented each spring and is followed by a concert by the honoree. The Curtain Call has been presented to a variety of alumni in a range of music professions including songwriters, instrumentalists, vocalists and music industry leaders.
Curtain Call Award Recipients
1995 Chris Rodriguez
1996 Tammy Rogers King
1997 Gordon Mote
1998 Josef Nuyens
1999 Melodie Crittenden
2000 Fleming McWilliams
2001 Will Denton
2002 Jill Phillips Gullahorn
2003 Ginny Owens
2004 Josh Turner
2005 Denver Bierman
2006 Dan Muckala
2007 Melinda Doolittle
2009 Bernie Herms
2010 Chester Thompson
2011 Tim Lauer
2012 Tad Wilson
2013 Russell Terrell
2014 Danny Wells
2015 Geoff Koch
2016 Brandon Fraley
2017 Akil Thompson
2018 Brett McLaughlin
2019 Jonathon Long
2020 Alvin Love & Dwan Hill
2021 n/a
2022 Russell Dickerson
2023 Cody Fry
2024 Sara Davison
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Join Belmont University’s College of Music
Arts for Sounds of Belmont: The 35th Annual President’s Concert & Reception on Saturday, April 12th in the Fisher Center at Belmont University. Experience an evening of stories and songs to support our talented students. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a festive dessert reception for all guests and performers. The purchase of a ticket to this concert and reception will benefit endowed music and theatre scholarship funds for students in the college. Premier works from the College of Music and Performing Arts Fall 2024-Spring 2025 performance season will be showcased. This concert and reception is celebrating its thirty-fifth year (formerly the President’s Concert and Reception).
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
