MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Ma - Contemporary Music Center (CMC) alumna Tina Parker had something to celebrate at this year's 49th Annual Grammy® Awards.  Multi-million-selling rock band Third Day went home as winners in the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category for Wherever You Are, thanks in part to the work of Parker and a talented team of management, label and agency executives.

 

"The band poured their hearts and souls into the creation of this album," says Parker, "and I couldn't be more excited to see them win a Grammy for their work."

 

Parker attended the Contemporary Music Center, a BestSemester program of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), while a student at Warner Pacific College (OR), taking courses in Artist Management, Record Company Operations and Marketing. "When Tina came here as a student, we knew she had the stuff to be a brilliant music industry executive," reports Warren Pettit, director of the CMC. "Her combination of creative vision, hard work and attention to details obviously contributed to her early success."

 

"I've been so fortunate," says Parker. "In less than a year after attending the CMC I was able to land a dream job working with one of music’s most successful bands, Third Day.  To have been a part of the team that helped them win a Grammy is so gratifying."

 

Parker worked on the road with Third Day before being invited to join their management team at Creative Trust in Nashville. As Brand Coordinator, she worked on many of the day-to-day aspects of the band's career, specializing in live events and tour marketing.  

 

"I remember a class at the CMC where Executive Track faculty member Tom Willett was stressing that it takes a huge team of people to make and market an album,” recalls Parker, “and I certainly found that to be true in my work with Third Day.   I was fortunate not only to work with such a great band and management company, but also amazing partners at Provident Label Group, Creative Artists Agency, and the band’s tour sponsor, Chevrolet.  It was thrilling to work with these people and dream of all the possibilities for this album and then watch it take off." 

 

Reflecting on her time at the CMC, Parker adds, “The CMC set the foundation for me personally and professionally to dive into the music industry knowing who I am and what I wanted to achieve. A semester there integrates an education in the industry with an exploration of creativity and spirituality that is nothing short of life-changing."

 

For further information on the Contemporary Music Center, visit http://www.myspace.com/contemporarymusiccenter, or to apply online, go to http://cmc.bestsemester.com.

 

The Contemporary Music Center is one of 12 semester- or summer-long student programs offered by the CCCU. The programs are categorized as either culture-shaping programs or culture-crossing programs. Culture-shaping programs are: American Studies Program (Washington, D.C.); Contemporary Music Center (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.); Los Angeles Film Studies Center (L.A., Calif.); and Washington Journalism Center (Washington, D.C.). Included in the culture-crossing programs are: Australia Studies Centre; China Studies Program; Latin American Studies Program; Middle East Studies Program; Programmes in Oxford; Russian Studies Program; and Uganda Studies Program. All programs undergo regular site visit evaluations by the Student Academic Programs Commission (SAPC).

 

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of 182 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 105 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 72 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.

 

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voice: 202.546.8713 ext 327