By Kallie Berens
Ten thousand students at Laurentian University, from all around the world, have different interests and hobbies.
One common past time of students is music – whether it be listening to an album while studying or playing an instrument with a group of friends it can be found all around campus if one looks hard enough. Students listen to music while working out in the gym, countless studies have been made proving that listening to music while studying can help improve focus and memory, different genres of music – such as country – dictate themed pub nights and on the Internet people exchange Youtube videos of songs that they like with their friends. Music, to many, is a unifying force that can bring people together.
Kristine Cornejo is a first-year student living on residence who plays piano and sings. After performing at LU’s Got Talent – and winning first place with the group she played in – she performed at the SGA Charity Ball in February. Cornejo, a fan of R&B, met fellow group members Dylan Bakhuis and Kelsey Anthony in September after discovering that they had a mutual interest in performing together. Their “sound” involves beat-boxing, singing, a guitar and rapping.
Fellow group member Kelsey Anthony has been playing guitar since grade five, at first taking lessons but then discovering that her love for music was “slipping.” She has been writing her own material and singing since high school, playing talent shows and youth coffee house events in her hometown of Orangeville.
When asked what her favourite part of playing music was, Anthony said “the fact that people appreciate it. I don’t think I would continue playing music if I didn’t get the positive feedback that I get now. I also think of it as an escape route – some people when they’re stressed out will write or play video games – and I find that music is my escape. When I get overwhelmed with things I just pick up my guitar and I feel better.”
