Music Students to Participate in Songwriter's Expo

Mesa Community College students are polishing up their songwriting skills to participate in a nationally acclaimed songwriting conference in Tucson next month. The 11th Annual Durango Songwriter's Expo is a combination of workshops, listening sessions, panels, showcases and open mics. More than 40 music industry pros and hit songwriters will participate.

Registration is still available and open to any songwriter in the community. A special discounted price of $200 has been arranged for Maricopa County Community College students.

Alexandra Perdue, MCC Music Business Faculty, has been working with event organizer, Jim Attebery, to also secure a limited of student internships for the event. Interns will help support the event organizers in exchange for free registration.

Perdue said the expo is a fantastic opportunity for music students and songwriters.

"Durango Songwriter's Expo provides participants a great opportunity to network and showcase their talent to A&R executives from major labels," Perdue said. "The intimate, low-key atmosphere of the event allows participants the chance to meet other songwriters who are producing number-one hits."

Perdue, a former vice president of AOL Music, said songwriters can pre-register to showcase their talent in front of major music industry decision-makers, representing all genres of music. In past years, new artists/writers have been signed to deals at the expo and two number one songs have been written there by participating songwriters.

Special guests include Jill Sobule ("I Kissed A Girl"), Matt Scannell from Vertical Horizon, budding Nashville songwriter, Kylie Sackley, BMI Songwriters of the Year, Big Al Anderson and Chuck Cannon, Gary Baker, Walt Aldridge, and a who's who of music industry pros.

The expo takes place Oct. 4-6 at the Esplendor Resort in Rio Rico, AZ, 45 minutes south of the Tucson airport.

To register, visit www.durango-songwriters-expo.com/. To receive the discounted MCCCD price, contact Jim Attebery at (970) 259-9747. For those interested in internships or traveling to the expo as a group, email Perdue at musicbiz@mail.mc.maricopa.edu.