From the Director: What You Don't Know About Music Night
by Vince Durnan, director
Somehow this event always feels like an unintended secret. You've seen the posters, you noticed the links for tix in myriad messages, you felt a little curious, but other stuff pushed the thought into the "later" bin. Maybe now the time has come.
What is Music Night, exactly? In a very real sense, it's a gift we give ourselves in the USN community. Back in the 1990's, our creative predecessors, in the era that created Evening Classes and Artclectic, also imagined a chance to showcase the abundance of musical talent that walks the halls as parents here (and has since the Everly Brothers' day — even before that). What resulted, given the volunteer spirit and good nature of so many headliner performers, is an uninterrupted string of singularly cool evenings, a Nashville musical Who's Who. Just look at the posters in the USNA Office for a sample.
But we're still Nashville, meaning that there was, is, and will be a conspicuous risk that we miss the chance to appreciate something that the rest of the country would rush to claim. We prefer that superstars play in our living rooms, which is kind of what this night is supposed to be. And not to cast aspersions, but as smart as the people in the USN community are in so many ways, our musical IQ can, remarkably, leave something to be desired. And thus, the night can miss our attention despite being, pound for pound, about my favorite slice of life at USN.
Which brings us to this year, to the show now ten days hence. In the company of A-List musicians whose artistic gifts are rivaled only by their generosity of spirit, you'd find Gabe Dixon. He pitched in with fellow alum Shooter Jennings some years ago, then he led an all-star Centennial year group of our graduates in 2015, and when I asked him while on tour to feature this time around, he could not have been kinder in saying yes. And yup, he's a Lower School dad too.
You can look up his discography, you can sample his work — maybe you heard him at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center during the holidays even- — and you can appreciate how lucky we are. Then consider the favors Gabe is calling in from a band that he's assembling for this night only: USN uncle Viktor Krauss, guitar hotshot Stanton Edward, go-to vocalist Maureen Murphy, kindred spirit Jason Eskridge, and fellow alumnus Nick Buda. They made me feel a little out of the loop and helped me realize this is talent to which my Boomer demographic needs to get hip. And I can't wait.
Gabe rightly takes his place this year in a sequence that includes John Prine, Take 6, Dierks Bentley, Maura O'Connell, Trigger Hippy, Ben Folds, Junior Brown, The Long Players, and last February the incomparable Wooten Brothers. It's gonna be one of those nights. If you're reading this column, you're already pretty dialed in. Don't miss the window to witness another dimension of what makes USN what it is. And please tell your well-intended but less informed pals by forwarding this link.
A few more things: the food is always great, as is the beverage selection. The USNA superstars always see that it's so. But come for the music, OK? You even get to check out what has to be the best faculty band at any school, anywhere, as an opening act — The K-12 Situation — I defy you to find its rival. And not to be lost in the conversation, this is a fundraiser, remember? All the proceeds go to projects at the River Campus. Please tell me you've been there, and if so, you see the vital role those 80 acres play in USN outdoor activities.
Thanks for reading this through. In truth, what I shared only scratched the surface. If wearing a sandwich sign on 21st Avenue would help to get this word out to our busy constituents, I'd probably do it. Music Night is that cool.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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USN graduates 98 plus 1 during Commencement
Seniors turned their tassels and graduated from University School of Nashville on Sunday, May 17, on the Back Lawn. Visit usn.org/classof2026 for more highlights from their last year on Edgehill and to learn what they will do next.Read More -
Spring sports season ends with podium finishes, trophies
The girls lacrosse team ended its season in overtime to become state runner-up. Tennis players Carter Kojetin '29 finished as a state quarterfinalist, Sophie Oliver '26 and Mary Kate Adler '28 finished as state semifinalists, and Veer Kodali '29 and Max Parker '29 finished as state champions. Meanwhile, eight runners competed at the state track and field meet in Knoxville, where Griffin Davidson '27, Caleb Freifeld '28, Drew Zwerner '28, and Jack Fruin '27, sprinted to first in the 4x800m relay and Jack also placed first in the 800m dash.Read More -
USN creates the Juliet Douglas Endowed Fund for Student Success
For the entire USN community: an invitation to give in gratitude, in celebration, and in honor of the woman who has given so much to our school. Make a gift at usn.org/giving to support students with needs beyond tuition and honor Interim Director Juliet Douglas.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.