Recording artist (singer/songwriter on piano); founder, Colorado Artist Network
Greater Denver Area
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- Recording artist (singer/songwriter on piano) at Melissa Axel
- Education
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- Nova Southeastern University
- Berklee College of Music
- University of Florida - Warrington College Of Business
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Melissa Axel’s Summary
Centered on themes of love, humanity, and metamorphosis, Melissa Axel's music has been described as "heartbreak, hope, and transformation distilled through gorgeous piano and a fearlessly intimate vocal." At just eight years of age, she was writing songs about the bittersweet journey of life, love, struggle, and inspiration—and not much has changed since.
This proverbial "girl and a piano" follows in the heady footsteps of fellow redhead Tori Amos's early work, fusing a myriad of contemporary influences with her own strengths as a singer/songwriter to transform life experience and emotion into songs that express the fear, joy, pain, and love that connect us all.
Axel studied at Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music and went on to earn her master's degree in Interdisciplinary Arts at Nova Southeastern University. She was recently awarded a scholarship to WOMAD Summer School (World of Music and Dance, founded in 1980 by Peter Gabriel) in the UK, where she studied songwriting with Belfast troubadour Andy White and African music with N’Faly Kouyaté of Afro Celt Sound System.
Co-host of the Colorado Songwriters' Workshop at Boulder's Coupe Studios and co-founder of the non-profit Colorado Artist Network, Axel balances community arts work with showcase performances of her original material, often accompanied by her husband James E. Jacoby on tuba and other special guest musicians. They are currently working on her first full-length album, on the heels of 2009's EP Transition.
Melissa Axel’s Experience
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Recording artist (singer/songwriter on piano)
Melissa Axel
(Music industry)
May 1998 — Present (11 years 3 months)
• Singer/songwriter (piano) – composer/lyricist, recording artist, performer
• Select venues: Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, NSU Performance Theatre, The Thomas Center, Berklee College of Music, Zeitgeist Gallery, Habitat Gallery, Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, Dazzle, Swallow Hill, Hoy Como Ayer, Boulder International Fringe Festival
• Vocalist (background, choral, voiceover): Black Sea Salsa, Nova Singers, recording sessions for independent and commercial releases, PSAs/promo spots for public and community radio
• Workshop facilitator/guest speaker: Colorado Songwriters’ Workshop, Colorado Artist Network community music workshops, Music Independence Summit Connection, Create Denver Expo (Denver Office of Cultural Affairs Building Creative Businesses Expo)
• Judge: John Lennon Songwriting Contest, USA Songwriting Competition, Berklee College of Music Career Expo
• Board of Directors (2004–2006) and script/songwriting assistance, Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts
• Founder, Colorado Artist Network (CAN) – music/arts non-profit presenting events and workshops (visit http://www.coloradoartistnetwork.org for info)
• Nominated for 2007 Denver Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts
• Awarded scholarship to WOMAD (World of Music and Dance Foundation) songwriting and African music workshop in Bath, UK
• New EP Transition released 2009; sold out limited edition debut EP Free Time (MP3s on iTunes)
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