Posted on Friday, February 28, 2020
Babbie Mason, one of the most renowned singer-songwriters in Christian music, is bringing her years of expertise to LaGrange College by teaching a songwriting course and working with four applied music students.
Mason is the winner of two Dove Awards and has received 11 Dove nominations, as well as several Grammy nominations and Stellar Awards recognition. She was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
Dr. Toni Anderson, Coordinator of Music and Co-Coordinator of Musical Theatre, said she and Mason have known each other for decades.
“I first met Babbie when I taught at Morris Brown College,” she said. “She invited several of my students to sing backup on a couple of her albums and in some of her live performances. I’ve been a big fan ever since.”
When Dr. Anderson learned that Mason has been teaching at Lee University in Tennessee and online at her alma mater, Spring Arbor in Michigan, a light bulb went off.
“Up until recently, our composition students showed great interest in film scores, as well as traditional and experimental music,” she said. “But recently we’ve seen an increase in students who want to learn songwriting. I knew Babbie would be a perfect fit.”
Mason grew up in a home filled with music. The daughter of a pastor, she started taking formal piano lessons at the age of 6. That training soon came in handy when the pianist at her father’s church resigned.
“I became the church pianist at age 9,” she said. “In the church where my father was pastor, the church and the choir sang everything by ear, so that environment provided great ear training for me.
"Having a classical piano teacher and playing by ear in the church has allowed me to enjoy a diverse background of experiences and prepared me for the music career that I am now enjoying."
She taught middle school for eight years until she realized singing was beginning to interfere with her “real” job, so she quit teaching to focus on her music. She attended songwriting conferences and workshops to hone her skills.
“I have a love for words and melody, especially that marriage between music and lyrics that stirs emotional expression,” Mason said.
Although she is busy performing and leading workshops and conferences, working with young musicians is still close to her heart.
“I always tell my students that songwriting is one part inspiration and another part perspiration,” she said. “I love teaching, especially that moment when the light comes on in a student’s eye and you know they’ve got it.”
Mason’s LC students say she is already making her mark.
Music minor Simmerly Hardage said her experience with Mason has been “awesome.”
“She doesn’t hold anything back; she tells it like it is,” she said. “Her experience in and enthusiasm for songwriting is incredible, and that shows in her interactions with her students.”
Simmerly said she’s been working for four weeks with Mason on one her compositions.
“It is amazing to see the amount of growth I’ve had in just four weeks,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what we end up with.”
Sociology major Elijah Robertson and Political Science majors Tia Braxton, Porter Law, Natalie Glass, Payton Smith, Caleb Tyler, Ben Womack, Andrew Valbuena, and Jaydon Parrish presented their poster “Should Ex-Felons Be Allowed To Vote” Tuesday at the Georgia Capitol as part of the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference. They presented to state House and Senate members, as well as other attendees. Political Science majors Olivia Hanners and Thomas Bird also attended, and Melanie Chambers was a researcher who could not attend. Their professor sponsor was Dr. John A. Tures, Professor of Political Science.
Congratulations to the senior cohort of the Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars for receiving the 2020 Troup County Certified Literate Community literacy award.
The Black Student Union will host the Ebony Ball at 7 p.m. Saturday in Dickson Assembly Room to honor the first African American students of LaGrange College. Tickets are free. For more information, contact dcarlyle@student.kongtiao11.com
The annual Go Global Study Away Fair will be held at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday in Dickson Assembly Room. The event provides students with an opportunity to meet one-on-one with faculty and affiliate partners to discuss the study-away programs being offered in the 2020-2021 academic year. Information on the travel voucher and the travel scholarship for transfer students will also be available.
Next weekend is the 24th annual Azalea Storytelling Festival, featuring nationally acclaimed tellers Michael Reno Harrell, Andy Offut Irwin, Bil Lepp and Kim Weitkamp. Carol Cain '85 will serve as emcee. For more information, visit www.lsparts.org/azalea/2019%20ASF%20Festival.html
Want a chance to win up to $7,500? The LaGrange College Panther Club is hosting a golf-ball drop on March 6 to raise funds for student-athletes. Coinciding with the first home beach volleyball game, the event is set for 1:30 p.m. at Nick Allen Pavilion on Panther Way. To enter, visit kongtiao11.com/golf-ball-drop
Don’t forget to sign up for next week’s Service Saturday. It will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. March 7. To register, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ServiceSaturdaySpring2020
Tuesday
Thursday
Golf
The LC golf team opens its 2020 spring schedule at the Callaway Invitational. The two-day event will be played at Callaway Gardens’ Mountain View Golf Course in Pine Mountain, Georgia, on March 2-3.
Baseball
The Panthers (6-4) defeated Oglethorpe 15-4 for their fifth-straight win Wednesday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. McKinley Erves had four hits, including a triple, and four RBIs to lead LC.
Men’s Tennis
The Panthers (2-2) did not lose a set in sweeping Louisiana College 9-0 last Sunday. Caleb Edde did not drop a game in winning 6-0, 6-0 at #3 singles.
Softball
The Panthers opened their 2020 season by going 2-2 at the Millsaps Invitational. Freshman Abbey Gardner batted .500 with a home run and was 1-0 pitching in the four games.
Men’s Lacrosse
The Panthers (1-4) lost 11-8 at Oglethorpe on Wednesday. Tareyon Delgado led LC with a game-high four goals.
Men’s Basketball
Junior Julian Cameron was selected to the USA South All-Conference second team and sophomore Porter Law was the team’s representative on the All-Sportsmanship team. The Panthers (7-18) ended their season last Saturday with a 75-71 loss to Maryville in Mariotti Gym.
Women’s Basketball
Junior Jahpera McEachin was named to the USA South West Division second team. McEachin averaged a team-leading 10.6 points per game during the season.
Friday, Feb. 28
Men’s Lacrosse vs. Tennessee Wesleyan, 6 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Saturday, Feb. 29
Men’s Tennis at Huntingdon, 11 a.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Softball vs. Greensboro (doubleheader), 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Baseball vs. University of Dallas (doubleheader), 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Sunday, March 1
Baseball vs. University of Dallas, noon, Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Monday, March 2
Golf at Callaway Invitational, Mountain View Golf Course, Pine Mountain, Georgia
Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. Pfeiffer, 3 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Softball vs. Averett (doubleheader), 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Tuesday, March 3
Golf at Callaway Invitational, Mountain View Golf Course, Pine Mountain, Georgia
1 – Lee Davis
Samuel Miller
Maranah Sauter
3 – Molli Newman
8 – Adam Roberts
9 – Lee Buchanan
11 – Katie Vautier
13 – William Paschal
14 – Laura Faulkner
16 – Stacey Wilson
28 – Jasen Jonus
Jack Slay
Barbara West-Stemple
30 – Jana Austin
Senior nursing major Chloe Battle's interest in medicine was inspired by the premature birth of her own twin brothers. She completed a four-year degree in hospital management in Atlanta, but realized that her heart was calling her to take advantage of the high touch/high tech program offered in LaGrange.
Panthers open conference schedule – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 21, 2020
LaGrange College sweeps conference series – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 25, 2020
Local artists chosen for exhibit – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 25, 2020
LaGrange College’s musical theatre to premiere ‘Urinetown’ Feb. 19 – LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 7, 2020
Category: Community, Faculty, Academics
Keywords: music songwriting Babbie Mason
