Taylor Begert

October 18, 2005 - Volume 96, Issue 5
Begert on his way to fame

By: Nicole Holland, Staff Writer

The roar of a sold-out stadium crowd, the flashing lights, the hard-hitting notes of a screaming electric guitar—these are all part of a young Whitworthian’s dream, one that may be realized sooner than he thinks.
Sophomore Taylor Begert knows he will be a rock star: it’s simply a matter of time. His love for the music goes back to when he was 10 years old and browsing through a Christian Supply store where DC Talk’s new album Jesus Freak caught his eye.
“I was listening to the song over and over again and dancing in the store,” Begert said. “It just struck something in me: the first time I heard it I just got so pumped up. I love the rush it gives me!”
Born in Portland, Ore. and raised near Seattle in Redmond, Wash., Begert is no stranger to the music scene. He first started playing the guitar in seventh grade after quitting the trumpet.
“My parents told me I had to play an instrument for band. I actually hated the guitar for the first eight months!” Begert said.
This all changed when Begert started to write his own music. To this day, he has about 40 songs in his collection that is always growing.
“My inspiration starts from God,” said Begert. “I pretty much pick an issue that’s bothering me and look at it through a God-shaped lens.”
At the beginning of his sophomore year in high school, Begert formed a band with some fellow classmates and decided to call it Serafym. They played shows all over Seattle, from downtown to the Eastside of Seattle. Like many high school bands, they fell apart at the end of senior year as the members all ventured off to college. Not one to be deterred by this setback, Begert remains positive.
“You can always get better. You need to be willing to change your sound and give it all up to God,” Begert said. “You’re not going to go anywhere without the grace and help of God.”
Now Begert is focused on hitting the Spokane music scene and hitting it hard. He first played at Rock Coffee, a shop in downtown Spokane, for their “Open Mic Night” in mid-September. It was here that he met Kelly Lotze, manager of popular local band The Noted. Impressed with Begert’s talent, Lotze asked him to open for his band this past weekend at another downtown coffee joint, Empyrean.
For this particular show, Begert had two new members joining him on stage: Whitworth freshman Mark Tapia on keyboard and senior Bryan Dormaier on the bass.
“I absolutely love working with them,” Begert said. “They’re an amazing group of people, musically and personally. I’m really appreciative of the time they’ve spent learning my songs and playing with me at shows.”
This past Friday, there was a group of about 30 people who came to watch Begert perform his hour-long set. The show was received with rave reviews.
“I loved it!” freshman Allie Gatewood said. “I thought it was a great style of music, especially the guitars. I like how Taylor has his own style and he’s so driven. I can totally see him making it in the music world.”
Even members of The Noted had nothing but kind things to say about Begert’s performance.
“I think he’s really cool!” said Sean Saugen, lead singer and guitarist of The Noted. “I like his style, and his lyrics are personal and real and you can relate to them. We would most definitely play another show with him.”
With this newfound popularity and publicity rolling in, Begert is still working hard. He has another show at Rock Coffee on Oct. 21 and has even been offered shows as far away as Idaho. He would love to have music be his life and source of income, but mainly he wants to be able to influence people positively through his music.
“I’d like people to think about what I have to say,” Begert said. “Most importantly, I’d like to have God reach some people through my music.”
While it may not be an easy road to travel, Begert is willing to step up to the challenge and accomplish all that he has set out for himself.
“You really have to work hard: test booking agents, demand 100 percent commitment from your band members and always work on your songs,” Begert said. “You have to work your butt off and be willing to sacrifice anything but your faith and your integrity.”

http://www.whitworth.edu/Students/Whitworthian/V96/I5/Begert-on-his-way-to-fame.html
- Whitworth College

October 18, 2005 - Volume 96, Issue 5
Begert on his way to fame

By: Nicole Holland, Staff Writer

The roar of a sold-out stadium crowd, the flashing lights, the hard-hitting notes of a screaming electric guitar—these are all part of a young Whitworthian’s dream, one that may be realized sooner than he thinks.
Sophomore Taylor Begert knows he will be a rock star: it’s simply a matter of time. His love for the music goes back to when he was 10 years old and browsing through a Christian Supply store where DC Talk’s new album Jesus Freak caught his eye.
“I was listening to the song over and over again and dancing in the store,” Begert said. “It just struck something in me: the first time I heard it I just got so pumped up. I love the rush it gives me!”
Born in Portland, Ore. and raised near Seattle in Redmond, Wash., Begert is no stranger to the music scene. He first started playing the guitar in seventh grade after quitting the trumpet.
“My parents told me I had to play an instrument for band. I actually hated the guitar for the first eight months!” Begert said.
This all changed when Begert started to write his own music. To this day, he has about 40 songs in his collection that is always growing.
“My inspiration starts from God,” said Begert. “I pretty much pick an issue that’s bothering me and look at it through a God-shaped lens.”
At the beginning of his sophomore year in high school, Begert formed a band with some fellow classmates and decided to call it Serafym. They played shows all over Seattle, from downtown to the Eastside of Seattle. Like many high school bands, they fell apart at the end of senior year as the members all ventured off to college. Not one to be deterred by this setback, Begert remains positive.
“You can always get better. You need to be willing to change your sound and give it all up to God,” Begert said. “You’re not going to go anywhere without the grace and help of God.”
Now Begert is focused on hitting the Spokane music scene and hitting it hard. He first played at Rock Coffee, a shop in downtown Spokane, for their “Open Mic Night” in mid-September. It was here that he met Kelly Lotze, manager of popular local band The Noted. Impressed with Begert’s talent, Lotze asked him to open for his band this past weekend at another downtown coffee joint, Empyrean.
For this particular show, Begert had two new members joining him on stage: Whitworth freshman Mark Tapia on keyboard and senior Bryan Dormaier on the bass.
“I absolutely love working with them,” Begert said. “They’re an amazing group of people, musically and personally. I’m really appreciative of the time they’ve spent learning my songs and playing with me at shows.”
This past Friday, there was a group of about 30 people who came to watch Begert perform his hour-long set. The show was received with rave reviews.
“I loved it!” freshman Allie Gatewood said. “I thought it was a great style of music, especially the guitars. I like how Taylor has his own style and he’s so driven. I can totally see him making it in the music world.”
Even members of The Noted had nothing but kind things to say about Begert’s performance.
“I think he’s really cool!” said Sean Saugen, lead singer and guitarist of The Noted. “I like his style, and his lyrics are personal and real and you can relate to them. We would most definitely play another show with him.”
With this newfound popularity and publicity rolling in, Begert is still working hard. He has another show at Rock Coffee on Oct. 21 and has even been offered shows as far away as Idaho. He would love to have music be his life and source of income, but mainly he wants to be able to influence people positively through his music.
“I’d like people to think about what I have to say,” Begert said. “Most importantly, I’d like to have God reach some people through my music.”
While it may not be an easy road to travel, Begert is willing to step up to the challenge and accomplish all that he has set out for himself.
“You really have to work hard: test booking agents, demand 100 percent commitment from your band members and always work on your songs,” Begert said. “You have to work your butt off and be willing to sacrifice anything but your faith and your integrity.”

http://www.whitworth.edu/Students/Whitworthian/V96/I5/Begert-on-his-way-to-fame.html
- Whitworth College