Music
Press
http://rocloop.com/articles/arts-entertainment/8408-fall-coffeehouse-series-begins-roberts-wesleyan
Fall coffeehouse series begins at Roberts Wesleyan
posted by Leah Stacy on 09.09.08
Leah Stacy
For most people, finding a purpose and passion in life is a long search. For others, purpose and passion are like food – necessary to their lives.
Tiffany Robison, a 2007 Roberts Wesleyan graduate, has not only found her passion, but she is using it to give those around her purpose and inspiration. On Friday, September 5, Robison was the first to perform in Roberts Wesleyan College’s fall coffeehouse series, where she shared her story with students.
What began as a young girl playing piano in church became a bachelor’s degree in music and over 100 original songs. Robison’s songwriting inspirations come from life around her: family, friends, and her work with teenage girls.
At the age of fourteen, Albany native Robison was volunteering with Alpha Pregnancy Care Center and speaking about abstinence in area schools. This experience showed Robison the challenging world of a pregnant teenager.
Years later, Robison became involved in beauty pageants, using music as her talent platform. She began to write songs for the hurting girls she encountered.
After a bad relationship during her college years, Robison battled for affirmation and self-confidence, channeling her emotions into song and realizing her feelings were shared by many girls.
“My heart has always been working with teens, which may sound weird because I know I’m only 22 – not far out of my teens,” Robison said. “But I see so much brokenness in this generation and it kills me and inspires me to be an example for others.”
Out of this inspiration was born Robison’s message of encouragement for girls. Called “The Insatiable Quest for Beauty,” the campaign encourages inner beauty, rather than outer beauty.
“I know that girls need to hear the message that they don’t have to be perfect, which is good because none of us are,” said Robison. “They are loved [by God] regardless.”
Since the vision of “The Insatiable Quest for Beauty” began, Robison has traveled to schools, churches, teen conferences, crisis pregnancy centers, and coffee houses sharing her message of confidence.
“I feel like it’s what I was created for,” Robison said.
Robison currently works at Nazareth College as an area director. She plans to continue working on her music and is currently compiling a book containing her message to teenage girls. For now, her music can be found online at www.myspace.com/tiffanyrobison.
Opening for Robison was a newly formed musical duo, David Stacy (cousin to the author) and Krysta Cagwin. Stacy and Cagwin started dating in the spring of 2008 and shared a common love of music from the start – music major Cagwin was Stacy’s music theory class tutor. Cagwin says their relationship gave birth to the music they now write and perform.
“We kinda decided that hey, we like each other and we both play stuff,” said Cagwin.
Stacy added that as they played their original work for each other, they realized their styles were similar.
“Krysta just started doing these great harmonies in my songs,” said Stacy.
Since writing over ten original songs (with the occasional cover, such as Sara Bareilles’ ballad “Love Song,” thrown into the mix), Stacy and Cagwin have played at weddings and talent shows but the gig at BT’s Café was their first official show.
Robison and Cagwin, former roommates at Roberts Wesleyan, kept in contact and when Robison needed an opener, she called Cagwin.
Though distinctly different in sound and dynamic, the evening’s performers shared a common goal: to encourage fellow students through a passion for music and God.
Leah Stacy is a English/Theater major at Roberts Wesleyan College in the class of 2008
© 2008 The Loop (used with permission). All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service - The Loop
http://rocloop.com/articles/arts-entertainment/8408-fall-coffeehouse-series-begins-roberts-wesleyan
Fall coffeehouse series begins at Roberts Wesleyan
posted by Leah Stacy on 09.09.08
Leah Stacy
For most people, finding a purpose and passion in life is a long search. For others, purpose and passion are like food – necessary to their lives.
Tiffany Robison, a 2007 Roberts Wesleyan graduate, has not only found her passion, but she is using it to give those around her purpose and inspiration. On Friday, September 5, Robison was the first to perform in Roberts Wesleyan College’s fall coffeehouse series, where she shared her story with students.
What began as a young girl playing piano in church became a bachelor’s degree in music and over 100 original songs. Robison’s songwriting inspirations come from life around her: family, friends, and her work with teenage girls.
At the age of fourteen, Albany native Robison was volunteering with Alpha Pregnancy Care Center and speaking about abstinence in area schools. This experience showed Robison the challenging world of a pregnant teenager.
Years later, Robison became involved in beauty pageants, using music as her talent platform. She began to write songs for the hurting girls she encountered.
After a bad relationship during her college years, Robison battled for affirmation and self-confidence, channeling her emotions into song and realizing her feelings were shared by many girls.
“My heart has always been working with teens, which may sound weird because I know I’m only 22 – not far out of my teens,” Robison said. “But I see so much brokenness in this generation and it kills me and inspires me to be an example for others.”
Out of this inspiration was born Robison’s message of encouragement for girls. Called “The Insatiable Quest for Beauty,” the campaign encourages inner beauty, rather than outer beauty.
“I know that girls need to hear the message that they don’t have to be perfect, which is good because none of us are,” said Robison. “They are loved [by God] regardless.”
Since the vision of “The Insatiable Quest for Beauty” began, Robison has traveled to schools, churches, teen conferences, crisis pregnancy centers, and coffee houses sharing her message of confidence.
“I feel like it’s what I was created for,” Robison said.
Robison currently works at Nazareth College as an area director. She plans to continue working on her music and is currently compiling a book containing her message to teenage girls. For now, her music can be found online at www.myspace.com/tiffanyrobison.
Opening for Robison was a newly formed musical duo, David Stacy (cousin to the author) and Krysta Cagwin. Stacy and Cagwin started dating in the spring of 2008 and shared a common love of music from the start – music major Cagwin was Stacy’s music theory class tutor. Cagwin says their relationship gave birth to the music they now write and perform.
“We kinda decided that hey, we like each other and we both play stuff,” said Cagwin.
Stacy added that as they played their original work for each other, they realized their styles were similar.
“Krysta just started doing these great harmonies in my songs,” said Stacy.
Since writing over ten original songs (with the occasional cover, such as Sara Bareilles’ ballad “Love Song,” thrown into the mix), Stacy and Cagwin have played at weddings and talent shows but the gig at BT’s Café was their first official show.
Robison and Cagwin, former roommates at Roberts Wesleyan, kept in contact and when Robison needed an opener, she called Cagwin.
Though distinctly different in sound and dynamic, the evening’s performers shared a common goal: to encourage fellow students through a passion for music and God.
Leah Stacy is a English/Theater major at Roberts Wesleyan College in the class of 2008
© 2008 The Loop (used with permission). All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service - The Loop
Discography
Singles: Empty Hands and Mask
www.myspace.com/tiffanyrobison
Photos
Bio
The first song Tiffany ever wrote was in her Grandma's kitchen. To make her siblings believe that she had learned a song in Sunday school that morning, she started singing her own catchy tune on the spot - "Strawberry Patch". Her siblings fell for the practical joke, but little did she know the joke was on her.
As a young teenager the image of Rebecca St. James as a role-model, rather than simply a musician, was a profound influence on Tiffany. The music of Vicky Beeching, Brooke Fraser, Misty Edwards, Shane and Shane, and Starfield was like a piece of heaven on earth to Tiffany. Corinne Bailey Ray, Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, and Missy Higgins also inspired Tiffany through the beauty and quality of their music.
Over ten years after Tiffany wrote "Strawberry Patch", Tiffany graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College with her bachelor of arts in music and a certificate in piano pedagogy. She had taught piano lessons for several years, and was writing music prolifically, but she never once considered music as the way she would reach out to her world. Shortly after her graduation from college, people from a variety of places began to ask her to speak with their youth, play at their church, or perform at their conference. As she began to accept the invitations, she discovered what she was created for.
The thing that sets Tiffany apart from other bands is quite simply her heart to know and love Jesus. She strives for openness, honesty, and vulnerability with the people she comes in contact with - before, during, and after her concerts. To her, music is not a show - it is a way to reach out in love and make a difference in her world.
Links
