Teniya Evans ’25 is poised for an exciting future in the music industry. This spring she has an internship with A Jam, a home for creative artists in the global music industry with a focus on Afro beats, hip-hop, R&B, dance, pop and rock.
Having honed her musical skills and business savvy at Berry College, Teniya is grateful for the faculty who guided her to this point and for the opportunities Berry afforded her.
She learned about Berry from other musicians who had graduated from her high school and who praised their experience in the Berry music department. At first, she pursued a music education major. After taking courses, however, she realized that she enjoyed sharing music with others but was not as interested in teaching. After much discussion with her advisor, Teniya decided the music business major was a better fit because she was more fascinated by the live music industry.
“When I was trying to decide whether or not to switch majors, I was off and on, hot and cold, and just generally conflicted,” says Teniya. “But my mentor, Dr. Alyssa Grey, asked me what excited me about my future. She said that it was ultimately my decision, and I should do what would make me happy. She was a good listener and helped me reach my decision in the end.”
Inspired by this professor, Teniya became a freshman mentor in the music department. Calling the role extremely rewarding, she witnessed firsthand how a freshman’s first moments could help give them a strong foundation for their next four years.
She says, “Surrounded by talented people, many students question themselves. I enjoyed helping students see that they belong. I knew from experience that a mentor could have an impact on a student’s mindset.”
Teniya notes that her music classes tended to be individualized. She also appreciates that the ensembles are made up of a variety of majors, not just music students. To broaden her skills and knowledge, Teniya took bass lessons, joined a jazz ensemble and fell in love with live performances.
Her music interests dovetail with her A Jam internship: “I’m especially interested in music copyright, recording and publishing, topics connected to legal matters and entrepreneurship in the music industry."
Teniya’s business classes, although initially a little intimidating, surprised her as she found them engaging, insightful and highly applicable. For example, the information from her marketing research course easily translated to promoting musicians and bands, and she enjoyed giving a presentation on social media's role in music promotion. Personal finance gave her confidence as she learned the ins-and-outs of budgeting and investing.
Teniya says, “Berry College is unique because it is designed to help students form connections easily, no matter their major. Although the campus is big, students continue to see each other because the school community is smaller. Berry does a really good job of offering a group or something for everyone. I love this school because there are so many opportunities to find your place.”
