A single chair sat next to a lone microphone stand in the empty Granville Center for the Arts performance space. Ava Schlotterbeck quietly walked into the room, set her guitar case down and claimed the spot at the front of the room, preparing to rehearse her set for a tiny concert set to take place April 27.
As a senior at Granville High School, Schlotterbeck is closing this chapter of adolescence with a concert showcasing her talent of turning emotion into art.
Raised on the echoes of acoustic guitar and hums, Schlotterbeck’s inspiration largely stems from her musical father, who produced an album in college. Schlotterbeck emulates the expression she learned as a result of listening to his recordings.
“It was sweet,” she said, “knowing I come from a place of love.”
Even in middle school, when the two lived states apart, Schlotterbeck would go for a walk, headphones in, and still feel connected to her dad through his guitar strums and lyrics of love.
During that same period in life, when the world stopped for the COVID-19 pandemic, Schlotterbeck immersed herself in the sonic universe of Phoebe Bridgers and Elliot Smith. Eventually it became clear to her that songwriters need their instrument. Schlotterbeck picked up a guitar and followed in her father’s footsteps.
And on Sunday, April 27, Schlotterbeck will be strumming original songs on her father’s guitar in a “tiny concert” at the Granville Center for the Arts, located at 119 W. Broadway in Granville.
The idea for the tiny concert – a 30-minute performance in the center’s gallery followed by a 30-minute “mix and mingle” – first came to Ryan McGuire, co-founder of Granville Center for the Arts, after Schlotterbeck attended one of the center’s crafting clubs.
“We love when young artists come to the space organically and say, ‘Hey, I want to do this,’” McGuire said, “and we say, ‘Yes! How do we make this happen?’”
The songs she plans to perform are a collection of pieces reflecting her emotional process through major life events like losing a best friend and her parents’ divorce. Along with her original work, she will perform covers like “Plans” by Dinosaur Jr., one of her father’s favorite artists.
Performing this tiny concert is a major capstone moment, rounding out Schlotterbeck’s original goal to produce an album by her senior year. The live performance satisfies her goal and wraps up her hometown journey before heading off to Earlham College in the fall.
The tiny concert is a testament to local talent, and Schlotterbeck’s performance is a strong foundation for future events at the Granville Center for the Arts.
Schlotterbeck’s performance will take place on Sunday, April 27 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Granville Center for the Arts. Admission is free and includes a 30-minute performance from Schlotterbeck followed by a reception with complimentary refreshments.
Anastasia Wood writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.