"Kids ought to be exposed to music early and often," says Michael Chapey, a Wilton High grad. "And since they have to go to school anyway, they might as well rock out when they're there."
Chapey, a freshman at the University of Southern California, is one of the 29 Wilton High attendees who were able to "rock out" at Wilton schools and who perform on Acoustic Wilton's CD "Play it Forward."
Chapey is not only a performer he is also a songwriter. His song, "Keeping Me Up," debuts on the new CD.
"'Keeping Me Up' is really a breakup song. It wasn't really based on any personal experience per se, but I'm a big believer in that Oscar Wilde quote, 'Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.' So I recognize that on some level it's a song about me and my many romantic shortcomings," said Chapey. "I tried to keep this song vague so that people could take away whatever they want." His song is one of three on "Play it Forward" written by current Wilton High students or recent grads.
"Zimbabwe," written by Colin Cooper, is another student-written song on the CD. "This song speaks to giving back to the community community on a global level," said Scott Weber, founder of Acoustic Wilton. "It is a pretty profound song."
A police car's flashing lights inspired the song, "Police Car," written and performed by Wilton-based student band Heatherbird. According to member Austin Schaefer, the band does not try to force meaning into its songs and strives for a lighthearted sound.
These student songwriters and the rest of Acoustic Wilton will pay their talents forward to future Wilton student by donating the proceeds from this CD and an upcoming concert to the Wilton Education Foundation.
"The money will go to the music departments at each of the four schools in Wilton," said Weber. He and the rest of Acoustic Wilton want to make sure Wilton music departments don't struggle as a result of budget cuts.
"Play it Forward" will be released April 6 and will be available at acousticwilton.com, Village Market and other local locations. The CD will also be sold at an April 10 concert at Wilton High School Little Theater from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Are you a musician in Wilton? I would love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected].
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