LOVE SONGS AT FESTIVAL HILL LIBRARY BENEFIT

It's that time of year when love is in the air and the annual Valentine's Library Benefit Concert for Round Top Festival Institute is happening. This year it will be The Art of the American Song: A Tribute to Dick Smith. The concert starting at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2023 benefits the Festival Institute's Faith P. and Charles L. Bybee Library and Study Center. Tickets can be purchased online at www.festivalhill.org or by calling the Festival office at 979-249-3129.

Carrying on in his uncle Dick Smith's footsteps and musical tradition, Will Lynde from Nashville will be performing along with a star-studded cast of family members to honor Smith's memory. Dick's daughter, Ryan Smith will also be performing. Plenty of love songs will be on the program including "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra, a Stephen Sondheim song from Sweeney Todd, and "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys.

The Round Top Festival Institute also gratefully acknowledges the 19 years of musical performances donated by Dick Smith and family to support the Festival Institute Library. The funds received through these concerts have tremendously impacted the growth and maintenance of the Library collections

There will be an opportunity to participate in the ever popular Adopt-a-Book program. This gives attendees a chance to view and donate a book of your choice, ranging from $20 to $1000 dollars, to be placed in The Bybee Library at Festival Hill. Tip: Give a lasting and meaningful Valentine gift to your significant other by adopting a book in her/his honor. A special bookplate will be added in the book in memory of someone, in honor of someone, to mark a special occasion or anniversary or just to support the Library. It is a good chance to see the books being acquired for the Bybee Library at Festival Hill.

The Faith P. and Charles L. Bybee Library is a regional repository with a dedicated emphasis on music, and the arts and humanities. Round Top Festival Institute has long been active in collecting books on Texas history, Fayette County, art, architecture, and decorative arts with the intent to establish a world class research, study, and reference library. It actively collects and preserves rare books, manuscripts, photographs, archival materials, recordings, works of art and houses the personal library of Texas historian and former Texas State Librarian, Dr. Dorman Winfrey and The Faith P. and Charles L. Bybee Collection. The library is by appointment only. You can access the Library book catalog of over 11,000 volumes online at http://festivalhill.org/library/index.php.

Support the Library with you monetary donation or the adopt-a-book program by attending this historic concert. To donate go to festivalhill.org and specify Library. For more information, contact Lamar Lentz, Library and Museum Collections Curator, at lamarl@festivalhill.org or call the Institute office at 979-249-3129 Ext. 20 and leave a message.

Performers:

Will Lynde

Will Lynde
 Native to Houston, Texas, Will Lynde grew up in a very musical family. In his time in High School, he was involved in choir, theater, and starred as Will Rogers in the musical Will Rogers Follies. He's played shows from the West Coast to the East, performing in the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and playing piano for the Miss USA New York pageants. He graduated from Belmont University in 2016 with a Degree in Music Business and continues to tour the world playing piano for the Country Artist, Kip Moore.

Gary Smith


Gary Smith is a musician and award-winning music producer. He has more than 50 years of experience in the music recording business in Nashville and has developed some of the industry's finest talent. Smith took Andy Griggs to #1 twice on the charts managing and producing his album You Won't Ever be Lonely. Gary has worked with a remarkable list of names including legends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, Kevin Sharp, John Rich, The Little River Band, Chalee Tennison, Carolina Rain and many others.

Justin Fox


Justin Fox is a singer, guitarist, drummer from Houston, Texas. He was involved in a number of musical productions at Stratford Playhouse, including playing the lead role in the musical Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein. He frequently performs with his brother Will Lynde and this is second year at Festival Hill.

Ryan Smith


Ryan Smith grew up singing standards and show tunes alongside her father, Dick Smith, and began formal training at the age of 8. She performed in her first professional theatre show at the age of 11 and went on to attend the High School for the Performing and Visuals Arts in the vocal department. She studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the music industry, playing in several bands and in clubs such as The Roxy, The Whiskey and The Viper Room. After years away from home, moved back to Texas to be closer to family and began performing in Austin with theatres such as ZACH, The Georgetown Palace, Trinity Street Players and more. Some of her favorite roles include The Baker’s Wife/Into the Woods, Madame Thenardier/Les Misérables and Pam/Baby. About 12 years ago, she realized it was time to use her gifts for the Lord and has been serving as a worship leader at her church ever since. Ryan has studied voice privately in New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Austin. She is incredibly thankful for her husband Sam who is a never-ending stream of love and support. 

Grayson Levee

Grayson Levee 
Dick Smith's grandson, Grayson has been sitting on a piano bench since birth and he began taking piano lessons when he was 9. In 7th grade, he played the lead role, Bruce, in the musical, Matilda. And in 8th grade, he starred as Jack Kelly in Newsies. Although he loves the theatre, Grayson has a passion for composing (film and tv scoring specifically) and is working towards his goal of becoming the next John Williams. Grayson is a freshman at Cedar Park High School. He would like to thank Jesus for this amazing gift and also thank his Mom, Dad, and Sam for their continued encouragement, love and support.