ALEXIS SEBRING
Life Assistant
Whether he performs a simple scale or a self-composed song, Rob Shogry’s talent is making its way far beyond Pepperdine’s campus.
This freshman is a multitalented musician. He has played the piano for 13 years and the guitar for eight months. He also sings and plays the harmonica.
Shogry is experienced beyond his years. He has played at the Malibu Inn and will soon perform in Ventura.
He is taking his musical ability and passion one day at a time, and enjoying every bit of it. It is apparent in his voice and his music that he loves to compose and perform.
His parents took him to Billy Joel and Elton John concerts when he was younger, which shaped much of his path as a musician.
Shogry is dedicated, driven and strives to impact his audience as much as he can. On that note, let’s take a listen to his musical journey.
What’s your favorite instrument to play?
“Each one has its own purpose. There are things I can do with the piano that I can’t do with the guitar. At the same time there’s a certain sound that only a guitar can make. Sometimes a song is better played on guitar than piano.”
When did you start playing piano?
“I started piano when I was in second grade. I saw my elementary school teacher playing and I thought it was really cool. I took piano for six years and I did a lot of classical training, then I stopped taking lessons and taught myself to play Elton John and Billy Joel by listening to the music.”
How did you get to play at the Malibu Inn?
“I’ve played there twice. A woman I knew was putting a show together. One of my friends told her about me and she gave me the chance. I didn’t even have a band when she told me about the gig so I got it together.”
Who’s in your band?
“I’ve got a guitarist, violin player, a bass player and a drummer. Emery Davis is definitely my solid guitar player. He’s a junior and he’s been so humble and helpful and friendly. I’m an underclassman ands he’s older, but he’s always been really great at playing the music that I’m looking for.”
Do you get nervous when you play on stage?
“I don’t know if I’d call it nervous, it’s just focus during the weeks leading up to a big show. But once I get on the stage the nerves kind of go away and I start to have a lot of fun. Then I can forget about all the work and it becomes fun.
We pray, honestly, before every performance. We’re all Christians. God is behind all of our lyrics. The audience that I’m trying to reach is a kind of audience who doesn’t know the Lord. I want to show them the Lord behind the music.”
When did you realize that music would always be part of your life?
“I kind of always knew since I was in second grade that I’d always play piano for the rest of my life. A year and a half ago there was a school shooting in Bailey, Colo. There was a girl killed, Emily Keyes, and I wrote a song about her. That’s the first song I ever wrote, it was in the fall of my senior year. Watching people respond to the song, like tears and everything, I knew it was my job to do that. I feel I can make the biggest impact through music. I wake up every day and I just want to write music.”
Is your family musical?
“My mom’s a good singer and my sister Madison is only 11 and is really talented at piano. She has a beautiful voice, too. My family is good at listening to music.”
Do you have any upcoming shows?
“I’ve got one this weekend at the Ventura theater. There’s going to be 700-800 people there, which is exciting. We’re doing a really great show at Pepperdine on April 10 at the amphitheater –– it’s a charity concert.”
What is an important thing to know about music?
“You should never underestimate how much work goes into writing a song. Songwriting is not easy work by any means. Sometimes you really have to sweat over the lyrics. Keep your eyes on the Lord and try to make good music.”
Shogry willingly shares his music with audiences who want to listen. He says he writes music that is important to him and what he thinks will impact his listeners.
To hear to some of his music, locate him on Facebook. The videos of him playing at the Malibu Inn portray much of his great talent.
03-27-2008
