Teton Music School (TMS) celebrates its fifth year with a special treat for Taylor Swift fans.
“Meet Me at Midnight (TMS Version)” is a live tribute concert led by TMS teacher and singer/songwriter Missy Jo (aka Melissa Elliott). Elliott will be joined on the Center for the Arts stage by a band of Teton Music School faculty and students to perform a myriad of Taylor Swift favorites.
“Meet Me at Midnight” is the first of five events planned throughout the year to celebrate the school’s anniversary with a focus on bringing people together through music.
TMS Executive Director Amand Flosbach said future events will include a New Orleans style second line parade, a rock n’ roll pizza party, an aged 55 and up ukulele concert and a screening of the classic mockumentary “Spinal Tap” followed by a live performance by local rockers 86.
“We are so many different pieces of the community,” Flosbach said. “Our entire faculty are professional performing musicians who are dedicated to helping people explore their musical dreams, ambitions or hobbies. What we have planned [this year] kind of covers the full gamut of who we are and what we do.”
‘I knew the chords!’
TMS teacher and singer/songwriter Missy Jo (aka Melissa Elliott) said she draws an immense amount of inspiration from Taylor Swift, so to share the pop star’s music with the local community is a full-circle moment for her.
Elliott grew up in Jackson and had a ‘eureka moment’ with Swift’s music at a young age that propelled her into the career she’s enjoying now.
“I had been teaching myself guitar for a couple of years and I realized I could go online and look up the chords of Taylor Swift songs and I knew the chords!” Elliott said. “That was the biggest influence on my music-making.” – Melissa Elliot on learning to play the guitar through Taylor Swift songs.
Live on the KHOL airwaves, Elliott performed a cover of a Taylor Swift favorite, “Dear John,” and also an original song of hers called “Snow in Wyoming.” Her original song grapples with the abrupt changes in season and the sudden return of winter, a sentiment many can relate in Jackson.
“It was my second winter back [from college] and it was snowing in October. I was feeling kind of buried in it,” Elliott said. “Being from here, I feel like I didn’t get to choose to live in the snow and now I’m learning to love it. I have this line in [the song] that maybe I’m resistant to change and exploring. Like, what is lying deeper under the surface? Do I not like it when the weather changes or is it the things that are changing in my life? What am I resisting?”
Saturday night’s festivities offer a unique opportunity for people of all ages to come together, wear sparkly clothing and enjoy singing along together to their favorite Taylor Swift songs. And Floschbach said it’s a way for the community to connect in the name of music, something that Teton Music School strives for.
“Everyone’s involved. [People in the] community making the show, [people in the] community attending the show. And that’s really, as far as I’m concerned, what TMS is all about. Building community through music,” Flosbach said.
Teton Music School presents “Meet Me at Midnight (the TMS Version)” on Saturday, Jan. 13 at The Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson. Doors at 6 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m.
There will be pre-show activities, including bracelet-making and a selfie photo booth as well as a special appearance by Dancers’ Workshop’s Junior Repertory Company during the show. All ages are welcome. More information at tetonmusicschool.org.
Listen above for KHOL’s full conversation with and performances by Teton Music School’s Mellissa Elliott (aka Missy Jo) and Amanda Flosbach.
