Voice Over Artist
Success Through Failure in Nashville
Alex Rose 鈥22, a music major from, Anna, Ohio, plans to move to Los Angeles and continue a career as a voice over artist that they began in their final semester of college. It鈥檚 a path Rose feels prepared for thanks to the growth they鈥檝e gained at Bluffton and Nashville鈥檚 Contemporary Music Center, where they spent the fall 2021 semester.
鈥淓ach week was spent writing a new song, revising the song and performing the song at a concert. The grind was insane,鈥 explained Rose. 鈥淚t was trial by fire. There was a lot of failing, but that鈥檚 not a bad thing. The CMC lets you fail in a safe, enclosed environment.鈥
The CMC experience, offered to Bluffton students through a partnership with CCCU Global Education, includes three tracks of study鈥攁rtist, business and technical. Rose chose artist and earned college credit to write, record and gain real-world experience while learning from music industry professionals.
鈥淎ctively working with other artists, you grow by leaps and bounds because you are surrounded by people who have a similar passion,鈥 they said.
The final exam is a weeklong tour where students gain experience on and off stage. Rose, who performed in front of tour crowds, was also in charge of the team who put up and tore down the lighting fixtures.
鈥淎ll throughout the experience, the big thread was about community and relationships,鈥 explained Rose. 鈥淲hile the program is through the lens of music and the performing arts industry, it鈥檚 also about shaping people.鈥
At Bluffton, Rose worked as a tech assistant in Yoder Recital Hall. They also sang in all of Bluffton鈥檚 choral groups and were a member of Brave Space.
Rose initially had ambitions of attending a large university. However, they learned about Bluffton through a high school class which required students to visit multiple colleges. So, Rose visited Bluffton.
鈥淵ou know that feeling you get when you are comfortable somewhere, but you can鈥檛 explain it?鈥 asked Rose. 鈥淚 immediately felt like Bluffton was somewhere that could be home.鈥