This brand-new program at Wharton Center allows both beginning and established songwriters the opportunity to expand and strengthen their skills in an individualized manner through the study of song structure, lyric development, and melodic ingenuity. Songwriter Morgan James and producer Doug Wamble seek to tap into the tradition of American popular song and folk tradition to nurture the next generation of songwriters. This program will culminate in a performance of the students’ work, followed by a concert by Morgan and Doug.

The weekend sessions will be held August 9-11:

• Friday, August 9, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Saturday, August 10, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Sunday, August 11, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

The program costs $285; the three-day retreat includes small group and individual instruction, as well as lunch all three days and dinner on Sunday. All sessions will be held at Wharton Center for Performing Arts (750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing 48824).

Morgan James is a New York-based soul singer, songwriter, and Broadway actress. She has three studio albums and an EP out, including ‘Hunter’, with her powerful rendition of Prince’s “Call My Name”. She has toured with viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox across the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Doug Wamble has been immersed in music his entire life. As a guitarist and composer, he has appeared on recordings and bandstands with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones and Steven Bernstein. Wamble is also a songwriter, and has several albums out ranging from all-acoustic vocal and guitar to a jazz record. He produced Morgan James’s album Hunter and co-wrote many songs on the album.

James and Wamble have been happily married as a talented duo since the spring of 2016.

REGISTRATION:   To register, please call Wharton Center’s Ticket Office at 517-432-2000. More information is found at www.whartoncenter.com/songwriters-sessions. Additional questions can be answered by Kelly Stuible-Clark at stuible3@whartoncenter.com or 517-884-3166. All paperwork and payments are due to Wharton Center by Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

Photo: Morgan James