Treats Students to Master Class at the Otis Redding Foundation’s OMC 2.0
The latest version of Otis Music Camp, OMC 2.0 The Virtual experience, held June 8-12, allowed for a plethora of familiar industry faces to stop by and continue the mission of enhancing and motivating young minds in music and the arts. Just when campers thought the week couldn’t get any better, legendary DJ, Derrick “D-Nice” Jones, treated them to a surprise guest appearance.
D-Nice’s virtual “Club Quarantine” parties have been bringing millions of music-lovers, including Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna, Ellen DeGeneres, Lionel Richie, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, together.
“Having someone who is not only a prominent member of the music industry but also someone who is dedicated to bringing people together and lifting us up with music, is indeed an honor and a privilege for OMC 2.0,” says Karla Redding-Andrews, daughter of Otis Redding and VP/Executive Director of the Otis Redding Foundation. “The campers were tasked with writing songs around the themes of Ban Hate, Love All Over the World, and Empowerment, all of which are so prevalent in D-Nice’s messaging”.
“I do believe, especially for this age group that this was one of the most important lessons I ever learned in my life; I learned it at this exact age, 15 years old, learning about life, learning about music, and being creative and learning about community and being passionate and being true to yourself,” says D-Nice, speaking to the campers via BlueJeans. “Being able to speak to you guys and being able to share this story on what life could be, I don’t have the perfect life, but I have a life full of amazing experiences and it all started with music and community.”
Other presenters for OMC 2.0 included: Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls, songwriter Billy Mann, recording artist Alex Aiono, PR executives Isaac Hamm, Aliya Crawford (W&W PR) and Karen Lee (W&W PR), attorney Derek Crownover (Loeb & Loeb, Inc.), recording artists Bren Joy and Eric Burton (Black Pumas), Tom DeSavia and Michele Smith (Concord Music Group), Ron Andre Elvis Telford (Creative Titans Music), and Atlanta rapper Deante Hitchcock. Screenshots of the presenters speaking with the 25+ campers and 10+ coaches are attached.
