"Whitacre is that rare thing, a modern composer who is both popular and original"
- The Daily Telegraph, London

Eric has inspired millions as composer, conductor, innovator, broadcaster and charismatic public speaker. His compositions rank among the most popular and frequently performed of the early 21st century, their reach broadened since 2010 by the extraordinary success of his online Virtual Choir project. Light & Gold, his first album as composer and conductor, won the 2012 Grammy® Award for Best Choral Recording and instantly topped the US and UK classical album charts.

Born in Nevada, he discovered a passion for choral music while studying at UNLV and he began composing soon after. He went on to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York under John Corigliano. Many of his choral compositions, Cloudburst, Lux Aurumque and Sleep among them, have entered the standard choral repertoire and his orchestral music has been performed by some of the world’s most distinguished orchestras both sides of the Atlantic. Eric is currently Composer-in-Residence at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, UK.

A distinguished speaker, Eric has been invited to address the UN Leaders Programme, give the closing plenary at Davos World Economic Forum and to speak for UNICEF and Google among others. He has appeared twice on the main stage at the global TED conference in Long Beach CA, earning standing ovations on both occasions. Recent Virtual Choir projects include ‘Glow’ written for the Winter Dreams holiday show at Disneyland© Adventure California and the Virtual Youth Choir, in association with UNICEF, which premiered at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Broadcast live to 119 countries worldwide, Eric made his iTunes Festival debut with his professional choir in 2014, inviting multi award-winning composer and conductor Hans Zimmer to join him on stage. The performance was consequently released as a live album. Eric returned to the Minnesota Orchestra for a second residency in 2015 culminating in three performances at Orchestra Hall.


Torey Smart - Vocals, Keyboard
Luke DeWitt - Vocals, Guitar
Craig Watkins - Drums, Vocals

FOR BOOKING, PLEASE CONTACT: OfCourseNotBooking@gmail.com

Does a good band need to have the same look that the other bands have? Does a good band need to sing the same songs that the other bands sing? Does a good band fit into the same mold that all the other bands do? Of Course Not.
	Of Course Not satisfies your hunger for alternative rock with big portions of catchy melodies, clever lyrics, tight harmonies, and high-energy concerts! This Joplin, MO-based band combines a wide range of sounds from different genres. Some of the band’s influences include The Beatles, Weezer, Four Year Strong, and Frank Sinatra. 
	The band’s current line-up assembled in December of 2011, with Torey Smart on lead vocals and piano, Luke DeWitt on lead vocals and guitar, and Craig Watkins on drums. After only a few months of performing, they began to steadily work their way in the SE Kansas and SW Missouri music scene. Of Course Not has performed at many different venues with many notable bands, including Romance On A Rocketship, The Rocket Set, Burnham, Last Chance Casanova, I Fight Dragons, and Never Shout Never.
	Of Course Not is currently writing new material and has music available for free on their Facebook band page at Facebook.com/OfCourseNotMusic. For press or booking information, contact OfCourseNotBooking@Gmail.com.  

Reviews and Recommendations:

Of Course Not plays with an energy that moved us as listeners. Great vocals and lyrics, this band is above-average and is on its way to bigger things.
    									           -Hello Music Online Review

"Of Course Not" is an awesome band, offering many layers of musical excellence! I've hired them for several performances and gladly recommend them. Not only are they instrumentally talented, but the quality of the vocals is superb. They offer a unique sound with varying styles of music. "Of Course Not" has a great onstage presence, and they're wonderful to work with offstage as well.
   					                        -Michelle Murray – Southeast Kansas Event Coordinator

OCN brings a wide array of talent and sound to the stage every night. This four-piece band has bass, guitar, keys, and drums that all mesh into a unique sound when backed by vocalist Luke Dewitt (guitar) and Torey Smart (keys). Their harmonies make OCN a force to be reckoned with as they can captivate any audience with ease. The big stage is where these guys belong. They sing their hearts out every night for crowds and always bring a high-energy show! 
 									       -Alex Fuhr – touring musician



One Grump interviews another Grump about their life leading up to the moment they joined the Game Grumps. WHOA

Official Website:

http://jakerunestad.com


About Jake:

Award-winning composer Jake Runestad (b. 1986) is noted for his versatility and wide range of expressive capabilities with music driven by soaring melodies, driving rhythms, and lush textures. Considered “highly imaginative…with big ideas” (Baltimore Sun) and “stirring and uplifting” (Miami Herald), Jake has received commissions and performances from leading ensembles such as Seraphic Fire, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, VocalEssence, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Cantus (Minnesota), and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

Jake Runestad holds a Master’s degree in composition from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where he studied with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts. He has also studied extensively with acclaimed composer Libby Larsen. Mr. Runestad currently lives in Minneapolis, MN and his music is published by Boosey & Hawkes and JR Music. Find out more at jakerunestad.com

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