Ozone Music Education Foundation & Festival

WRITTEN BY KIM BERGERON PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY SANDS

IT’S BEEN SAID that everybody has a story to tell. Some of those people set their stories to music. They are the singer-songwriters, the storytellers, whose methodical and melodical rhythms and rhymes can transport us to another place and time. They are the inspiration for the Ozone Songwriter Festival.

The annual event is presented by Ozone Music Education Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide music education, support, and mentorship to those wanting to learn the music industry and develop skills and knowledge as songwriters and musicians.

The organization and its events were founded by award-winning musician and composer Greg Barnhill, who hails from Slidell but currently lives in Nashville, singing, writing and producing music with some of the most celebrated artists from “Music City” and beyond. The festival began in 2018 as a single-day event held in Mandeville but has since grown to a three-day celebration.

Day One kicks off with a Friday night Songwriter Showcase featuring local musicians, plus renowned superstars. This event is ticketed and usually sells out far in advance. The 2023 headliners included Jason Scheff, longtime lead vocalist for Chicago, singer/songwriter Mark Mackay, and three finalists from The Voice – Morgan Myles, Kim Cruse, and Gabriel Thomas Broussard. Prior showstoppers have included Survivor and The Ides of March vocalist and guitarist Jim Peterick, best known as co-writer of the Rocky III anthem “Eye of the Tiger”; Journey keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jonathan Cain; country music singer/songwriters Gary Baker and Frank Myers, whose Grammy Award-winning song "I Swear" has sold more than 20 million copies; actor and country music singer John Schneider, best known for his role of “Bo” Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard TV Series; award-winning songwriter Anna Nalick, whose single “Breathe (2 a.m.)” was a platinum hit; and Dennis Matkosky, co-writer of the Academy Award-nominated “Maniac” featured in the movie Flashdance.

Day Two of the festival brings morning Songwriter Workshops which draw curious beginners to seasoned pros. The 2023 workshop featured Barnhill along with all the headliners from the Friday night Showcase. Over the course of three hours, the event focused on principles and techniques practiced by experienced songwriters, including communicating through lyrics and adding power and emotion to songs. Attendees then broke into small groups, paired with mentors, and were given assignments to put their newly acquired skills to use.

This year, a second workshop was offered the morning of Day Three. The two-hour Home Studio and Professional Production Workshop featured a comprehensive demo of PreSonus Studio software offered by Greg Bieck. The 2023 workshops were ticketed events, with one ticket providing admission to both of the sessions.

The Ozone Music Festival performances take place on Saturday and Sunday, with four stages and more than 140 performances of original music. Hosted at the Mandeville Trailhead, the event is free and open to the public.

“One of the biggest challenges in producing this festival is creating a schedule that matches singersongwriters that complement each other for the performance rounds,” says Christine Barnhill, Board Director and sister of the event founder. “That, combined with finding ways to best utilize stages and space so that we provide as many opportunities as possible for the artists to perform, learn, and connect is a daunting task. We have been fortunate to have two dedicated board members—John West and Randy Russell—rise to the challenge.”

Beyond the festival, Ozone Music Education Foundation hosts songwriter nights bringing

local musicians together to collaborate, share their creations and hone their crafts, which culminate into songwriter showcases, an opportunity for the public to enjoy the results of these efforts. At present, these are offered monthly in Mandeville, New Orleans, and Slidell.

With its ongoing commitment to education, the organization’s popular Ozone Music Gifting (OMG!) program provides loaner instruments and music lessons to students ages 10 to 18. Students who successfully complete 10 lessons and participate in an OMG group event qualify for transfer of ownership of the instruments. This program is funded by sponsorships and private donations.

“The festival is really our signature event, bringing awareness to all that we do” says Greg. “The goal is to continue to grow this into a stripped-down version of Jazz Fest, with a focus on the songwriters and the heart of the music. It’s what we’re all about.”

The next Ozone Songwriter Festival will take place Nov. 1 – 3, 2024. Additional information about the organization can be found at OzoneMusic.org