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Reinhardt
College Student’s Songs are Published by Gospel Heritage Music
Elizabeth Gibson, a
Reinhardt College sophomore from Tate, Ga., has written the
music and lyrics for two gospel songs that have been published
by Gospel Heritage Music (GHM). Her song “Talk” was published in
the songbook Freedom, and her song “Just Rely on God”
will be published this month in the songbook Journey.
Gibson takes inspiration from her life when writing songs.
“For ‘Just Rely on
God,’ I got inspired by my life experiences,” she reveals.
“Relying on God has helped me through balancing two majors at
Reinhardt—sacred music and biology, working at Tate United
Methodist Church as a pianist and part-time organist, and
spending time with family and friends.
Music has always played a major part in Gibson’s life, as it was
introduced to her at an early age.
“My
dad is the one that got me started in music,” she explains. “At
3 years old, he let me bang on the piano while he played the
guitar. He started teaching me how to read music when I was 6.”
When she attended the North Georgia School of Gospel Music,
housed at Truett-McConnell College, Gibson developed skills in
writing her own music. During her three years at the school, she
took songwriting classes, and the teacher of the class, a
founder of GHM, discovered her strong writing abilities. He
encouraged Gibson to present songs to him that he could take
before the review board at GHM. “Talk” was her first song to be
selected for publication.
Gibson's
Music Mentors
Gibson credits the late Judith MacMillan, a Reinhardt professor
of music for almost 33 years, as a mentor in musical performance
and writing.
“She was always a positive influence,” says Gibson. “She was a
church musician, so when I took organ from her, she always tried
to show me the ‘church’ way of playing.”
Along with MacMillan, Gibson has received encouragement from
Susan Naylor, Reinhardt associate professor of music. She took
piano lessons with Naylor a year before starting school at
Reinhardt, and she has continued to turn to Naylor for help in
all things musical.
Why She
Chose Reinhardt
The
music professors are just one of the many reasons that Gibson
decided on Reinhardt for her college experience.
“I
looked at several colleges, but everyone here was just so nice,”
she explains. “The campus tour gave me a true sense of what
people at Reinhardt are like—friendly and caring, and devoted to
making your experience a memorable one.”
Where does she hope that her talents will take her? Gibson
plans on being a full-time director of music or musician at a
church, as well as teaching chemistry in a local high school.
Until then, Gibson says she will continue to write music and
serve as Reinhardt’s Campus Ministry intern and Chapel piano
player.
For more information
Office of
Marketing and Communications
top floor of Burgess Administration Building
media relations Lauren Thomas (770)720-5514
LHT@reinhardt.edu
marketing
Marsha White (770)720-5512
MSW@reinhardt.edu
graphic design Amanda
Brown (770) 720-5907
ALB@reinhardt.edu
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