I was lucky to photograph amateur and professional musicians for festivals, shows, and concerts while working for the Mount Vernon News. I've seen and heard it all, from classical to marching to full-fledged rock and roll.
I chose to present these photographs in black and white because I wanted to test how they would look without their digital color.
Here are a handful of my favorite music photographs over the past 17 years.
Wynton Marsalis performs at Mount Vernon High School on May 18, 2019. Marsalis gave a masterclass after speaking at the commencement at Kenyon College.
Gary McCutcheon performs Amazing Grace at the 2016 Veterans Day ceremony on the Public Square in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Students warm up before the annual Christmas program at Mount Vernon High School on December 13, 2016
A guitarist practices before competition on the south stage at a music festival in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Country music star Lee Greenwood performs as the headline perform for the annual music festival in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
The Centerburg Marching Band takes to the field prior to the start of a high school football game.
Tony West and drummers perform on the stage of the Memorial Theater in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
A harmonica player performs at Flappers Bar and Grill before Shirley King took to the stage.
Shirley King, daughter of blues legend B.B. King performs at Flappers Bar and Grille in Mount Vernon.
Shirley Manson, lead singer of the band Garbage performs at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus Ohio on May 9, 2005
Derrick Dzormeku, a Mount Vernon Nazarene University student from Ghana performs during the annual MLK Breakfast held at Kenyon College.
Ginny Cameron performs on the bagpipes in the Mount Vernon Public Square on April 10, 2020. Drivers stopped and pulled into parking spots and people sat on the benches to listen.
A banjo player begins her selection during the Picking Contest in Mount Vernon Ohio.
Grammy winner David Holt and Josh Goforth perform on the opening night of the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon.
Country and bluegrass singer Kathy Mattea performs on the stage at the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
University of Washington band director and Centerburg graduate Dr. Brad McDavid (right) prepares the Huskies pep band for a 2019 NCAA basketball game in Columbus.
Phil Dirt and the Dozers begin a three day music festival in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Guitarist Jose Madrigal performs on the main stage during a music festival in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Jazz musician Vaughn Wiester performs on the stage at Ariel-Foundation Park on September 1, 2019
The Mount Vernon Marching Band horns perform during the Yellow Jacket Showcase on September 19, 2019
Carol McCutcheon performs on the stage of the Woodward Opera House on Valentines Day in 2019
Paul Smith performs on the ukulele at Ariel-Foundation Park.
Brad Oviatt warms up before performing on Kokosing Gap Trail on July 9, 2020.
Dave Suver participates in a fiddle contest during a music festival in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Kay Lorson warms up her violin under the shade of the trees on the Mount Vernon Public Square.
