Music
Schoolhouse Rockers
The Tri-C High School Rock Off is a teachable moment for local musicians.
by Dillon Stewart | Jan. 19, 2015 | 5:00 AM
By February, most high school students are singing the blues, with winter vacation only a memory and spring break too far off. But the Tri-C High School Rock Off finalists, chiseled down from 75 musicians, are singing rock 'n' roll as they study for the Final Exam Feb. 7.
Started as a way to draw people to the Odeon Concert Club during the slow winter months, the first Rock Off in 1997 had only four rounds and 30 bands total. As acts were added, it moved to the House of Blues and became a whirl in the spotlight that young artists hadn't experienced. "There's thousands of other people there," says Frank Imhoff, director of special events for Live Nation. "There's kids from other high schools, your family and friends, it's almost like a sporting event." Now at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and six rounds, it draws locals and out-of-state bands to vie for a cash prize and free professional studio time.
And for these five musicians, the Rock Off has also been a source of some of the best lessons their high school years had to offer.
Jesse Bryson
Qwasi Qwa guitarist and vocalist, first place in 1997
Kira Leyden Andrea
Steve Orlando
Ray Flanagan
Holly Camp
Dillon Stewart
Dillon Stewart is the editor of Cleveland Magazine. He studied web and magazine writing at Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and got his start as a Cleveland Magazine intern. His mission is to bring the storytelling, voice, beauty and quality of legacy print magazines into the digital age. He's always hungry for a great story about life in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
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