From the Classroom to the Stage

By Gary Vaughn for Texas Tech University | November 27, 2007

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Her love for music was born in her church and hearing her dad play the guitar at home — today, music has become her passion.

Born and raised in Odessa, Texas, Tatem Brown knew she wanted to come to Texas Tech, but wasn’t always sure what she would study. People around her would tell her to study music performance because she loved being on stage. However, she wanted something that would give her roots.

“I eventually want a family and children,” she said. “I’ve always wanted kids. I need a concrete job to support that role and touring on the road is not for me.”

She hasn’t abandoned the stage altogether.  Tatem was the understudy in Texas Tech’s fall production of “Grease,” learning the lead part of Sandy. To watch her sing on stage, you might ask yourself why she didn’t choose performing or why she hasn’t tried out for American Idol.

“Oh, I love to perform and I’m trying out for the new fall productions,” she admitted. “But, I didn’t want to lock myself into a performance degree. I really leaned toward education.”

Tatem, a freshman music education major, is the recipient of the Rushing Voice Award and the Mozelle Rushing Voice Scholarship at Texas Tech.

“I am so thankful for the scholarships,” she said. “I’ve also had the wonderful opportunity to meet the donor and both have been a blessing to me.”

Tatem comes from a long line of Red Raiders. Her grandparents, James and Suellis Bryant graduated in the ‘60s and her parents, Terry and Shelly, are both alumni.

This summer Tatem plans to go to Italy with some of her high school alumni as part of a reunion choir trip to tour and sing in different cathedrals. Apparently, you don’t easily lose the “Mojo” that Odessa Permian students feel.

“I would love to get my master’s degree and eventually be the head choir director at Permian,” she said, referring to her high school. “I would want to apprentice under the director first because you learn so much from great teachers.”

Her long-term goal is to pursue a doctorate in music and return to Texas Tech as a professor. “I love Texas Tech,” she said. “This first year has been so much fun. Singing at the Carol of Lights was just amazing!”

Tatem has a wide range of singing ability from country music to opera.

“I sing in a band made up of Texas Tech students called No Fences,” she said. “And it’s a country band, but I’ve had opera training and I really enjoy performing opera.”