Ithaca College

Five School of Music alumni—Brian Dozoretz (’94), Rosie Newton (’10), Jennifer Middaugh (’94), Matthew Saccuccimorano (’89) and Dana Billings—played on a recording recently nominated for “Best Song” in the Alt. Country category at the 12th Annual Independent Music Awards (IMAs). 

This year, submitting musicians for the IMAs—honoring artists who broaden the definition of commercial success and represent the diversity of the global Indie scene—will be judged by the likes of industry monoliths including Tom Waits, G. Love, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Judy Collins and many more.

One of five songs nominated in the Alt. Country category, the song “Poor Quentin” was written and performed by local singer-songwriter Bronwen Exter, appearing as the eighth track on her 2012 release “Junkyard.” Exter is an asset in the performance community of Ithaca, returning to her hometown of Newfield, NY to make music after a decade of living in New York City.

John Donohue, arts and entertainment writer for The New Yorker, has said her voice is "like a warm mist capable of obscuring all of life’s problems.”

Sharing in Exter's recent accomplishment, IC alumni were heavily involved in the instrumentation and arrangements on “Poor Quentin” and the album “Junkyard.”

Dozoretz, Manager of Recording Services at the School of Music and an active musician in the Ithaca community, played upright bass on the nominated track and did the entire record’s final CD mastering.

Featured on the song were Newton on violin, Billings (a SRT major) on drums and Middaugh on vocals. Saccuccimorano produced, recorded, and mixed the entire CD.

The IMAs are known for being the only international program that connects artists to new revenue opportunities and an audience of more than 1 billion music fans.

Created by Music Resource Group, publisher of the music industry’s trusted former print and current online contact databases, The Musician’s Atlas & AtlasOnline, The IMAs has unrivaled access to industry gatekeepers, performance, promotion & distribution opportunities.

The 12th Annual IMA winners for all categories will be announced in late April or Early May, 2013.

Wish this outstanding group of musical alumni luck in the competition!