February 20, 2008

Spotlight on an OWU Songbird

Robyn Leah Case ’08 will open for Matt Wertz next Wednesday, February 27 in the Benes Rooms.

An English major with a double minor in music and psychology, Case entered Ohio Wesleyan four years ago looking for the liberal arts experience. She lived in the dorms during her first two years on campus, and blended in as a “traditional” student.

“It’s been strange, but I don't think of it most of the time,” she says, noting that it’s always funny when her classmates discover she was married for five years.

Case will showcase her talent as the opening act for next week’s concert featuring Matt Wertz. The February 27 show—which kicks off at 9 p.m. in the Benes Rooms in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center—is free to Ohio Wesleyan students. Other guests will be admitted for $5, with all proceeds to benefit the Mocha Club, a faith-based organization that supports humanitarian efforts in Africa.

“Those [charity performances] tend to crop up because I care a lot about social justice issues,” says Case, mentioning that some of her previous performances have been tied to Amnesty International, Planned Parenthood, and the Ghana Student Organization.

While she decided not to pursue a major in music because she was afraid it would stunt her enthusiasm for the art, Case plans to continue performing after graduation. Her tentative plan is to pursue a graduate degree and become an English professor.

“I really, really value the teachers here,” says Case, who says she’s been inspired by the liberal arts setting. “You can have conversations with teachers outside of class, and class time is so discussion-oriented.”

She also intends to remain an independent musician, writing her own music and recording independently rather than signing with a record label, although she would like to eventually find a booking agent.

“I like the flexibility in doing my own thing and being able to abandon a project if I’m not feeling it,” she says. She credits much of that artistic freedom to the Internet and Web sites for independent musicians like www.emusic.com and www.pastemusic.com.

To hear samples of Case’s music and find out about her upcoming performances, visit her Web site.

– Ann Marcum