Former Riverview resident and rising musician Melissa Brethauer. Photo courtesy of Bruce Wawrzyniak
Up and coming Riverview musician returns home for an intimate concert in Brandon on Saturday.
Melissa Brethauer just turned 24 years old, an age when many young people over the years are still trying to figure out what they want to do when they grow up. Brethauer, however, is already living her dream. She is a rising star in the world of music, with a debut CD earning critical acclaim, and performances at venues around the southeast and in Las Vegas. Although she is now based in Atlanta, the Riverview High School graduate grew up and made a name for herself in the Tampa Bay area, starting with a “Riverview Idol” competition in 2006.
On Saturday, August 10, Brethauer will return home for an intimate concert at the Nativity Catholic Church Youth Center in Brandon.
Brethauer’s career in music kicked off in earnest nearly four years ago with her 2009 release of her debut CD, Waiting. The singer/songwriter is a guitarist and is a classically trained pianist. Since the release of her CD, she has appeared at venues from Nashville to Ft. Myers with many stops in between, including the Sunset Grill at Little Harbor and Circles in Apollo Beach. Following the release of her debut CD, she performed twice at Riverview High School.
According to the Nativity Youth Center, this Saturday’s concert will be “packed with praise, worship and original songs” that are sure to leave the audience moved in an up-close and personal setting with the artist. Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the door. Advance tickets are available online at nativitysummerconcert.eventbrite.com. The Nativity Youth Center is located at 705 East Brandon Blvd. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited.
Brethauer is active with her church in Atlanta, where she performs in the worship band.
This year has been a busy one for Brethauer. She is currently working on her second CD and has shows scheduled next month at Toby Keith’s Bar and the Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma, after multiple shows in Georgia in the coming weeks. In October, she has been invited to return for her third consecutive year to the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival and in November will appear at the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in Alabama, an event that draws songwriters ranging from Grammy winning artists to those artists recognized professionally as up and coming.
“Melissa is a Riverview girl gone on to musical success,” said her manager, Bruce Wawrzyniak of Tampa-based Now Hear This. “I am blessed to have her as, arguably, my star client.”
Brethauer’s CD Waiting is available online at CD Baby, Amazon.com and on iTunes. Her music can also be heard on Spotify and Reverbnation.
For more information and links to follow her on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, visit Brethauer’s website at www.melissabrethauer.com.