On Wednesday, April 29, noted author and historian Robert K. Oermann will present, “How Nashville Became Music City,” and will sit down with Mark Montgomery, one of Nashville’s original pioneers in the music-tech space, for an exclusive interview.
April 22, 2026
The University of New Haven will host a special event on Wednesday, April 29, that will bring together two luminaries in the Nashville music scene to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the University’s pioneering study away program in the heart of Music City.
Noted author and music historian Robert K. Oermann will present “How Nashville Became Music City,” followed by an exclusive conversation with Mark Montgomery, an original pioneer in in Nashville’s music-tech space, who teaches in the University’s Nashville Study Away program.
Beginning at 5 p.m. at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, the event is the culmination of semester-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of the University’s Nashville Study Away program, an immersive semester-long experience offered in collaboration with Blackbird Studio, one of the most iconic recording facilities in Nashville.
Over the past 10 years, students taking part in the Nashville Study Away Program have interned at Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Group, Red Light Management, Station West Recording Studio, Big Machine Label Group, and the Country Music Hall of Fame, among others.
“This is an incredible opportunity for us to showcase the University of New Haven’s reputation as a leader in preparing students to excel in music careers in one of creative capitals of the world,” said Mark Tavern, an assistant professor of practice in music industry and coordinator of the Nashville Study Away Program, who has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry as an executive at Sony / RCA Records and Universal / Island Def Jam Music Group, and as an artist manager.
“Over the last 10 years, our students have interacted with some of the most recognizable names in the Nashville music scene, including artists and our talented GRAMMY ®- and EMMY®-winning faculty” continued Tavern. “The Study Away Program embodies our University-wide commitment to providing transformative learning opportunities and our commitment to delivering an unparalleled return on investment for our graduates. I am grateful to Robert and Mark for helping us celebrate this milestone anniversary and the far-reaching impact of our program.”
Oermann, an award-winning multimedia music journalist, writes weekly columns for Music Row magazine and has been published in more than 100 periodicals, including Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, TV Guide, The Tennessean, and USA Today.
Montgomery has dedicated his life to cultivating transformation and innovation as a founder, investor, and strategic advisor. Working across a wide array of verticals, from entertainment and healthcare to economic development and startup acceleration, he has generated hundreds of millions of dollars of shareholder value and economic impact. He teaches “Entrepreneurship and Careers in the Music Industry” for the University’s Nashville Study Away program.
“The incredible story that will be shared by Robert spans 100 years of music entrepreneurship in the city and is a ‘must see and hear’ event that is not to be missed,” said Montgomery. The event is co-produced with the Nashville Entrepreneurship Center and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. It demonstrates the University’s commitment to broadening its relationships within the Nashville music and entertainment community.
“I am grateful to partner with these organizations in Nashville for the benefit of both our students and Music City” said Tavern.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.newhaven.edu ’
