Americana Project releases album: 'Under the Sun'

In the cozy, warmly lit space of "The Barn" on Friday, April 28, students of the Americana Project celebrated their newly released full-length album "Under the Sun."

This is the 12th album recorded by students of the Americana Project since 2003. The Americana Project is the educational outreach program of the Sisters Folk Festival.

The Barn was packed with chairs and the eager audience spilled onto floor and out door. The students performing were filled with enthusiasm and excitement as they stepped up to the microphone some of them for their first or last performances.

The performance began with a moment of silence for Lauren Berray, a former student and Sisters community member featured on the first album produced by the Americana Project, who passed away the day before the event. Brad Tisdel, executive director of the Sisters Folk Festival, reminded the audience that Lauren would want us to enjoy ourselves and celebrate the musical talent that has been cultivated in the Sisters community at the event. Although somber, the moment was a reminder of the legacy that the Americana Project has developed in the Sisters community.

Sisters High School (SHS) senior Lindsey Johnson knows intimately about the legacy of the Americana Project.

Before performing her song "You," which is on the album, she reminisced with the audience about her memories of wanting to be a part of the Americana Project from age 5.

Johnson remembers watching her older sister perform with the Americana Project and trying to sneak in the pictures of the musicians after the performances because she wanted to be involved in the program so badly.

Eventually, her own first performance with the Project at age 9 was at Angeline's Bakery & Café downtown.

For Johnson, the Americana Project has felt like home and has given her a new level of confidence in herself.

She hopes that she was an inspiration to other students who are interested in music and the Americana program just like her sister was for her.

Mike Patterson, another senior in the Americana Project, plans to spread his love of music worldwide when he takes off to New Zealand this week to teach music for a year. Patterson plans to continue to teach music after his year in New Zealand, next time in Greece, where he has family. Patterson estimates he has had the opportunity to perform over 50 times since he began with the Americana Project. Patterson performed his rousing song "Mr. S" at last Friday's show.

The influence of the older students is evident in the first year students of the Americana Project. Nina Horner, whose fresh talent shines on the album, began playing guitar, singing and writing music all just this year. Another newcomer to the Americana Project, Lily Greenstone (a freshman at SHS, also on the album) was in L.A. during spring break recording her own full-length acoustic EP. Both are excited to continue to be a part of the Americana Project both in and outside the classroom.

Brad Tisdel and teacher, Rick Johnson, are excited for the growth and continuation of the Americana Project next fall when the program will grow to the elementary and middle school.

"The Americana Project is something that makes the Sisters community truly unique," says Tisdel. "I am looking forward to more students joining the Americana Project at a younger age because that will only further allow them to grow in their music skills."

The young musicians of the Americana Project expressed their thanks for the community for coming out to the event and for even staying afterward to clean up and pick up chairs. They wanted to reiterate their gratitude for the ongoing support they have had from the community. They insisted that they couldn't do what they do without that support.

The album is available for sale for $15 and can be obtained by contacting the Sisters Folk Festival office: 541-549-4979 or [email protected]