Laurentians are no strangers to the arts. Whether in fine and visual arts, time-based media, creative writing, or performing arts, each generation has their breakout stars.
Country Music Singer/Songwriter
Blaine Holcomb ’14 | Nashville, Tennessee
In October 2020, as the pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the lives of many Laurentians, Blaine Holcomb ’14 performed a live-streamed concert on the St. Lawrence Facebook page to help lift people’s spirits and share his music with Laurentians in lockdown. Raised on country radio and the words of George Jones, Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, and Daryle Singletary, it only made sense when Holcomb first picked up a guitar at age 11. “Mama Tried” was one of the first songs he learned to play. “I’m a big fan of traditional country music as well as ’90s country, and I think my writing style reflects a sort of new ’90s country vibe,” Holcomb says. “When you mix that with a production that feels modern and fresh, the result is a sound unique to my influences and roots.” Holcomb is based in Nashville, where he continues to record new music and perform with some country music legends in the vibrant Nashville scene. You can listen to Holcomb’s music at blaineholcomb.com or revisit @StLawrenceU on Facebook and search for Holcomb’s October 2020 concert.
Latin Music Artist
Gabriella “Gaby” Ferreyra ’22 | Bolivia
The most recent graduate in our collection is Gabriella “Gaby” Ferreyra ’22. While working on her double major in government and music, Ferreyra was also busy writing music and creating music videos for her independent YouTube channel. She has acquired a growing fanbase through her social media platforms. By January 2022, Ferreyra’s collaboration “Borracha,” featuring Bolivian artists, was trending among the top 10 in several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Peru, and Chile, with over a million views on all platforms. Seven months later, she has more than 4.4 million views, with several other music video collaborations exceeding 2 million views each. Ferreyra is exploring live performance opportunities at music festivals and continues to write and collaborate on music videos with her growing community of artists in Bolivia.
More Young Alumni at Work
- Meet some Laurentian researchers
- Learn about alumni in traditional and new media jobs
- Check out a few of our Laurentian entrepreneurs
- Laurentians taking the lead on money management
- Boat captains to soil saviors, read more about the next generation
- Read about alumni making good things happen
- Learn more about two alumni working in sports
