THE LOVELL SISTERS: EDUCATED, INSPIRED & APPLAUDED

By Tracy Batchelor

“Well, we’re here in Branson, Missouri, at the Silver Dollar City Theme Park playing a whoppin’ three shows a day. It’s been real fun so far, and the shows have gone well. Good times. As far as rides—it is a theme park after all—my favorite is “Lost River” ..... As you can guess from the title, it involved fast-flowing water and an easily flood-able raft. We definitely had to change clothes afterwards. Hah.”
- From Megan Lovell’s “Notes from the Road” Lovellsisters.com Online Forum

Megan’s reflections aren’t exactly from a typical 17-year-old’s experiences. But neither is being the first female and youngest musician to win the MerleFest International Mandolin Competition as her 15-year-old sister, Rebecca, did in May of this year. In fact, “typical” doesn’t describe any aspect of the Lovell sisters; their “innovative fusion of country, folk and contemporary acoustic music” is one of a kind. Besides, typical musicians don’t win National Public Radio’s (NPR) National Teen Talent Competition, which the group did in 2005.

“When we found out that we were to compete as finalists, we were walking on air,” recalls 20-year-old Jessica. “4.1 million listeners had heard our music,” Jessica explains. “Our touring continues to increase; we now have more than 80 gigs in 23 states. Nobody anticipated this, but we’re having a great time.”

Even before their February 2005 national debut on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor,” the Lovell sisters had gained a foundation preparing them for unbelievable success.

The three sisters from Calhoun, Ga., credit their home school background as a primary factor that allowed them to develop and pursue their musical passion. “Home schooling allowed us to learn beyond the assignment. We were building more than a transcript; we were developing into well-rounded people,” explains Jessica. “We began lessons in classical violin and piano at age 5; home schooling made our schedule more flexible.”

When the time came for Jessica to select a college, she didn’t have to look very far. Less than an hour away in Rome, Ga., Shorter College stood out because of its warm campus environment, helpful staff and challenging coursework.

“I loved the feel of the campus,” Jessica says. “More and more today, home school students are being recognized for their academic rigor and extracurricular activities. Shorter College definitely recognized and appreciated this quality in me, of which I’m incredibly grateful.”

Shorter College is a Christian college committed to excellence in education. Consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the South’s best colleges focusing on bachelor’s degrees, the college bases its educational program on the belief that the real value of a college education is the person a student becomes because of that education. Shorter salutes Jessica Lovell and the Lovell sisters and continues to be one of their biggest fans. To learn more about Shorter’s opportunities for home school students, visit www.shorter.edu or call 1-800-868-6980.

For The Lovell Sisters’ complete tour schedule, as well as access to sound and video clips from recent performances, visit www.LovellSisters.com. Here you can also log on to their online forum to contact Jessica, Megan or Rebecca and find out more about their home school and touring experiences.

Tracy Batchelor is the Assistant Director of Institutional Relations at Shorter College