MANSFIELD — Two local students got a taste recently of what it’s like to record music professionally.
Quaylynn Madden, a sophomore at Ontario High School, and Donavon Duncan, an eighth grader at the Richland School of Academic Arts, each recorded one song with the O’Keefe Music Foundation on separate albums.
Last November, Duncan, 13, recorded a Rock ‘n Roll version of “The Pot” by Tool on a battle record — a record where artists record the same song and battle to create the best version — that features 19 youngsters across the country and also in Great Britain.
The winner will be voted upon in April after the students’ songs are released on YouTube.
“The experience was definitely one to remember,” Duncan said after spending about eight hours in the studio.
“I did not realize how much time and effort was put into (recording),” he said.
At the end of the day, his voice was “shredded.”
“It was exhausting, but in the end I believe it was a good investment,” he said.
Madden could relate.
“We recorded so many times, probably over 100 times,” she said. “There was a lot of water involved.”
The 15-year-old recorded a country/bluegrass version of “See All You Were” by Danzig earlier this month for a record that is slated to be released sometime later this year.
“She never realized how much work went into creating an album,” her mother, Kimberly Madden said.
Madden studied at the Richland School of Academic Arts from fifth to eighth grade. She credits the school with helping her break out of her shell and feel more comfortable performing in front of an audience.
“I used to be really shy,” she said. “I still am, but I’ve been working on my confidence.”
Both Madden and Duncan studied under Richland School of Academic Arts Music Director Chesley Talisse.
“I am so fortunate to have worked with Donavon Duncan and Quaylynn Madden for five years since I moved to Mansfield to start these music programs,” Talisse said. “When you work with students as much as I do you really get to know them, and you get to watch them grow as both musicians and people.”
She worked with the duo in her advanced ensembles: A Cappella Choir and Rock Ensemble.
“What I love about these young professionals is that when either one of them take the stage, they completely own their performance. They perform with their whole heart and speak to their audience through their music. These kids are great,” she said.
“It is most inspiring to see how uninhibited they are; they are not stiff, nor uptight. They sing to express what they feel – not just with their voices, but with every fiber of their being.”
When Talisse heard about the O’Keefe Music Foundation and the recording opportunity, she said several students came to mind.
“I submitted their applications and within days I heard from Aaron O’Keefe,” she said. “I was so excited to hear that these students were able to have this opportunity. I’m sure their experience was one they will not soon forget.”
Duncan and Madden praised Richland School of Academic Arts for its support.
“The teachers always encourage us,” Duncan said. “They’re always on our side.”
Madden said Condrea Webber, who works at Richland School of Academic Arts and recently starred in the Renaissance musical “Sister Act,” is an inspiration to her.
“She sings amazingly,” Madden said. “She’s helped me audition and given me tips.”
Madden has also found support at Ontario High School from her choir teacher April Furr and her peers. She said principal Chris Smith sent her a letter, telling her how well she did on solo performance during a choir concert.
In addition to singing, both Madden and Duncan play musical instruments. Madden plays the drums, guitar and piano. Duncan also plays the drums and dabbles in piano and guitar, he said.
They said they would like to pursue a career in music, but they also have “backup” plans.
For Madden, that’s a career in the medical field, and for Duncan, it’s a job as a history teacher.
Duncan said he’d like to be a rapper, drawing inspiration from artists like Tupac Shakur and Run DMC.
“But I’ve realized there are other jobs in the world that can have the same impact on people just in a different way,” he said.
He encouraged folks to chase after their dreams.
“For people out there who have a dream to be an artist in the music department, then they should definitely go find different people to help them with either the recording process, writing lyrics, things like that because there are very few opportunities that people can get to be an artist in any sort of genre,” he said.
“Chase after the opportunities that are given to you and if you’re not given any opportunities, go find some.”
