ĐăÉ«app journalism student Erik Urycki, and alumnus Pat Hawkins, together with other members of their Kent-founded band, The Speedbumps, are scheduled to perform with the Canton Symphony on Oct. 26, at 8 p.m.
Hawkins, who is the bandâs drummer, graduated in 2007, and Urycki, who is a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist, graduates in May. Urycki worked at WKSU in the past and has helped with the recording of the Canton Symphony.
The Speedbumps have been together for seven years and have a number of accomplishments under their belts. The band has released two albums with the current band members and in 2011, they won an Independent Music Award for Best Adult Contemporary Song of the Year for their song âI Come From A Town.â
âNow we are in the process of writing our next album, which I think could catapult us into greater opportunities to grow,â says Hawkins.
This growth, Hawkins mentions, recently manifested itself as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: a performance with the Canton Symphony.
Last year, friend of the band Steve Welsh brought the Canton Symphonyâs executive director Michelle Mullaly to a Speedbumps show.
âWe were listening to them play at Paniniâs in Canton and [my husband] said, âYou know, these guys would be great with the symphony,ââ says Mullaly. âThat put the idea in my head. Iâm so excited to have them perform with us.â
Hawkins expressed his excitement for this rare opportunity.
âWe are so excited, nervous, scared all wrapped up in a tortilla,â says Hawkins. âItâs one of our dreams to have a whole symphony performing all of our music with us.â
The Speedbumpsâ bass player, Kevin Martinez, worked very closely with the symphony, says Hawkins.
âHe wrote out all the music for the musicians in the Canton Symphony for our show on the 26th,â says Hawkins.
This night is even more special for The Speedbumps because they have decided to dedicate it to a very important person.
âIt will be a special evening for me and my family, as well, because we are dedicating this show to my father, Joe, who passed in January,â says Hawkins. âI grew up in Canton, so there will be a lot of my family and friends there to share this special night. In fact, we wrote a song called âBig Joe,â which the symphony will be performing with us. There probably wonât be a dry eye in the building.â
For more information and tickets for the performance, visit call the box office at 330-452-2094.
Kent State Student, Alumnus to Play With Canton Symphony
ĐăÉ«app journalism student Erik Urycki, and alumnus Pat Hawkins, together with other members of their Kent-founded band, The Speedbumps, are scheduled to perform with the Canton Symphony on Oct. 26ĐăÉ«app journalism student Eri
POSTED: Monday, October 22, 2012 12:00 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 3, 2022 01:02 AM