Vincent Sneed, who will graduate from Southern Arkansas University with a finance degree in August, realizes that life is just like your portfolio, it is best to diversify.
That is why Sneed is heading to Boston on July 10 to spend five weeks studying at the Berkley College of Music. After this five week period, he will have the chance to audition for an opportunity to attend the school to receive an education in music.
The competition will be stiff.
“I think an average of about 3,000 try out, so it’s around the size of SAU,” Sneed said. “The school is world renowned, so people are trying to get in there day in and day out.”
Sneed was named 2005 Mulerider Idol at SAU. He participated in the contest that gives SAU students the chance to compete against their peers just like American Idol. The song he performed was an original called “That is the way it is.” Sneed said he wrote the song about a guy whose life was impacted just because he got in a friend’s car and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The song is just one of several Sneed has written and produced on a CD. When he is not creating new music, he is planning what songs are the best to worship to at the Full Gospel Holly Temple Church in Magnolia where he unofficially heads the church’s music department.
Sneed said if he is accepted into Berkley, he would like to pursue a music degree from the university and work at a music company like Sony after he graduates. With this job he hopes to combine his talent as a performing musician as well as a producer, something he has learned from experience of putting together tracks for events such as the Miss SAU Pageant.
“I would eventually like to have my own small scale company, and I would like to bring something back to Magnolia,” Sneed said.
But first thing is first. And right now Sneed hopes his next four-year stop is Berkley.
