For the fourth year, professors Nick Bacon and Charmion Gustke took students enrolled in “The Mind and Body Connection” to David Dailey’s Real Food Farms in Franklin, Tenn.   The purpose of this field trip was to introduce students to a biodynamic farm, giving them a first-hand look at the challenges and benefits of sustainable food practices. Free from pesticides, genetic engineering and chemical fertilizers, Real Food Farms is a wonderful example of a local solution to the global health concerns facing our students. During their most recent trip, students played with piglets born the previous day, planted garlic, built tomato cages and enjoyed a freshly prepared lunch created by Belmont nursing student Robin Queen, a trained chef  and passionate foodie. The menu included local cheeses, barbecue farm-raised chicken, organic salad, homemade cornbread and chocolate-mint cookies served with farm fresh milk.  After lunch, students enjoyed a question-and-answer session with Dailey discussing current trends in food production, eating healthily and supporting local farms.

The Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business hosted the first of this year’s American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Writers’ Nights on Oct. 8. The evening began with the presentation of the 2013-14 ASCAP Foundation Songwriters Scholarship at Belmont University to junior songwriting major Alysa Vanderheym. This $2,000 award, made possible by The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund, will support Vanderheym’s academic endeavors while she is, in her words, “evolving as an individual and as a writer so that I may realize my potential to write hits and fulfill the world’s need for great songs as well as my own personal dream.” Vanderheym is the seventh Belmont songwriting student to receive The ASCAP Foundation Songwriters Scholarship since its inception at Belmont in 2008.

The ASCAP Foundation’s ongoing gift builds on a tradition of ASCAP support for student songwriters at Belmont.  For the last eight years, ASCAP has sponsored a Writers’ Night Series hosted by the Curb College in the Curb Café, a student run venue.  Produced by Belmont students, the series consists of two shows each semester that feature four Belmont student writers performing in the round and judged by professional publishers and writers along with ASCAP Nashville Membership co-head LeAnn Phelan and ASCAP Creative Manager Ryan Beuschel.

After the scholarship award presentation, selected Belmont songwriters Bryce Merritt, Hannah Rand, Kel Taylor and Andrew Tufano played to a full audience at the Curb Café “Bluebird style,” performing in the round. Guest judge publisher Travis Gordon of Universal and guest ASCAP songwriter Matt Warren, artist and staff songwriter for Amylase Entertainment/Warner Chappell Publishing, along with Phelan and Bueschel, chose Hanna Rand as the winning writer.

“The long-running relationship between the Curb College and ASCAP has made a significant difference in the lives of our students,” said Lucas Boto, CEMB coordinator of sound reinforcement & live events. “LeAnn Phelan and Ryan Beuschel have added greatly to ASCAP’s consistent financial support by generously giving their time, energy, expertise and advice to our students.  We are so thankful to have ASCAP as a partner for our writers’ night showcase series.”