Upon hearing that Christian artist Matt Maher was holding a concert at JC in March 2007, then-eighth grader Allison Lozinak dismissed the idea as boring. She reluctantly attended the performance with her family, expecting “a night of listening to church music,” Lozinak said.
Four years later, now senior Lozinak can barely contain her excitement as she awaits Maher’s return to JC on Jan. 22.
Maher’s performance at JC is part of Lozinak’s senior project. “With my project, I hope to really show what John Carroll is based on—Catholic beliefs.”
Lozinak hopes that “many other individuals will be moved by the messages in his music” after the performance. She realizes that others might feel the way she did originally about the idea of going to a Christian concert but hopes that they will change their minds after hearing some of Maher’s songs.
“Matt is such an inspirational person, and I truly believe that if everyone sees him perform, they will be impacted like I was,” Lozinak said.
At the 2007 concert, Lozinak was surprised to discover that Maher’s style is “more like modern pop/rock with clean words.”
“I felt so moved by his music, and he just really had a strong, positive impact on me,” Lozinak said.
Lozinak met Maher after the concert through her uncle, Steven Lozinak, who knows Maher from college. Ever since the first concert, her family has traveled to various places to see him perform. Lozinak estimated that she’s been to about 15 shows over the last four years, always making sure to meet up with the singer.
Lozinak, who now considers Maher and his band mates good friends, said students who purchase a ticket for the concert by Thursday, Jan. 13, are automatically entered for a chance to do a meet-and-greet with the entire band. One student will be able to meet the band before the Jan. 22 show. “He [Maher] is such a great role model to me, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what he has to say in his music,” Lozinak said.
The Matt Maher concert will be held at JC on Jan. 22. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from religion teachers or Lozinak or by contacting [email protected].