BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va.. (May 9, 2024) – If stage fright or performance anxiety is holding you back from accomplishing your goals, this month’s Speaker Session at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum could be the first step in helping you take control of those fears. At 7 p.m. ET on May 14, GRAMMY-nominated composer and musician Dave Eggar and champion martial artist Len Cook share their techniques for overcoming these common obstacles in a special program they designed entitled, “Composing a Champion: A New Horizon in Professional Performance.”
“Just like Ralph Peer and the pioneers of the 1927 Bristol Sessions gathered the courage to follow their hearts and make history, Dave and Len have overcome setbacks and faced challenges to achieve success,” said Dr. Rene Rodgers, head curator of the museum. “Our Speaker Session programs always bring new and interesting perspectives, and this one may also inspire others to face their fears or try new things.”
Eggar and Cook, two high-level performers who understand the characteristics of a successful artist and what qualities contribute to courage, resilience, and confidence, have taken the collective experiences, habits, strategies, and mindsets that have led them to success in the ring and on the stage across the country to discuss strategies for overcoming self-doubt, performance anxiety, and the limits we place on ourselves and our abilities.
Dave Eggar is a five-time GRAMMY-nominated virtuoso cellist, Harvard graduate, and Ivy League college professor. Over the past 25 years, Dave has been an in-demand cellist and string arranger for dozens of recording artists including acts like The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Evanescence, Foreigner, Tony Bennett, Lewis Capaldi, and more. Dave moved to Bristol from Brooklyn, New York during the pandemic and is a regular performer at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.
Len Cook is a career martial artist with over two decades of experience. He is a professional MMA fighter, undefeated professional kickboxer, and owner and head coach of Champion Striking and Fitness in Bristol, Va. As a competitor, Len climbed his way up the ranks and quickly claimed three Bantamweight champion titles and was ranked #1 Bantamweight fighter in the Southeast.
There is no cost to attend monthly Speaker Sessions at the museum, and those who cannot be present in-person may view online via WBCM Radio Bristol’s YouTube channel. For more information about monthly Speaker Sessions and other events, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.