NW Valley Times

The recent Songwriters Showcase at Grand Canyon University's Quad saw students performing their original music, with Hayden Conway and Kate McIntyre among the participants. Despite chilly weather, the event maintained a warm atmosphere, particularly for Conway and McIntyre, who recently got engaged.

Conway proposed to McIntyre the day before the showcase. Reflecting on her engagement, McIntyre shared that it helped ease her nerves during her performance. "I haven’t had a chance to be nervous because I’m giddy and excited," she said.

McIntyre performed solo for the first time with her song “Thank You Jesus” and also played alongside Conway in “Abba.” She described overcoming cold temperatures as a personal victory. "It was hard. I couldn’t really feel my fingers because it was so cold," she remarked.

Both McIntyre and Conway are junior Worship Arts majors, performing live for the first time at this event. Conway mentioned that he decided to propose just days before the showcase but wrote his song “The Throne” quickly.

This year’s showcase marked Moises Felipe's debut as director of GCU’s Center for Worship Arts. Felipe praised the importance of songwriting in 2024, emphasizing themes like love and joy. He stated, “God is Love.”

GCU recording studio manager Eric Johnson expressed gratitude to all student performers during his closing remarks. Among them was Jonathan Raingruber from Modesto, California, who played multiple roles throughout the night and highlighted collaboration within the Worship Arts program as one of its best aspects.

Angelina Olson also delivered a noteworthy performance with her song “What A Love.” Despite feeling cold on stage, Olson said her experience exceeded expectations: "It went way better than I was hoping."

Vanessa Torres and Noa Paape co-hosted the event, introducing various artists throughout the evening. Torres noted how rewarding it felt to present friends' work publicly: "To be able to introduce my friends...is such a beautiful thing."

Other notable performances included Melody Henry’s songs "Sing to The Lord" and "Doing Something New," Neveah Watkins’ piece "Your Presence," and Jaylin Draper’s track "Words Fall Short."

Mark Gonzales from GCU News reported on these musical highlights.