Fair / 61° F
MSCTC alum strikes major note
Published 6:00am Saturday, June 28, 2008Sharing stages with Amy Grant, Bill Gaither and Alison Krauss aren’t ego-trips for rising star vocalist David Ask. They are reminders of his good fortune in calling the Midwest home.
“I love the Midwest and feel a deep appreciation for absolutely everything the people there have done for me,” Ask said. “I feel like the luckiest guy on earth being from Glenwood because the people there are so kind and generous.”
Ask, who recently won the Singer Universe Vocalist of the Month award for his latest record, “Breakthrough,” will return to Glenwood for two hometown performances during this year’s Waterama festivities on July 27.
After high school, Ask studied music at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, formerly Fergus Falls Community College, in 1993 where he sang in the choir and took voice lessons. Following his time in Fergus Falls, he transferred to Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
He was not a stranger to Nashville’s music scene for long, as Ask soon was noted for his performances with the Nashville Symphony Chorus as well as singing back-up vocal on albums for Billy Graham and Michael W. Smith.
Ask currently sings with the Nashville Choir and cares for his wife and two children at home. After 15 years of being in the music business, he is now looking to take his talent on the road, touring the United States full-time.
“Having a family and performing can be kind of a juggling act every now and then,” Ask said. “But this is something I really enjoy doing, so we’re going to get it started.”
“Breakthrough,” which was released in May, is Ask’s third record and was produced by American Music Award winning John Pisciotta. The album features Ask’s signature “popera” vocals, blending classical and modern techniques for a sound unique to the music scene.
“‘Breakthrough’ is a record I’m really singing for the fans on,” Ask said. “We really pulled out all the stops and surrounded ourselves with a great team.”
Coming home to Glenwood for his July 27 performances at Evangelical Covenant Church in Alexandria and at the Waterama coronation is an opportunity Ask treasures, crediting the community with playing a central role in his success.
“The people there are so generous, and it is humbling how they’ve donated supplies, time and money over the last 15 years to help get me where I am today,” Ask said. “Glenwood is a very musical town, and there’s a definite emphasis on the arts which makes for an amazing support system that I’m grateful for.”
For more information about concerts, bookings and tour sites, visit www.davidask.com.
