Published 3 min read
By Ed Brennen
Topics: Academic Alumni Student Life
A man in a black hat holds a microphone while talking to a group of college students on a stage. Image by Ed Brennen

BLKBOK, an acclaimed pianist and composer from Detroit, leads a masterclass at the Moloney Performing Arts Center hosted by the student organization Seven Six Records.


Be consistent. Let go of perfection. Trust your own voice.

Those were just a few of the messages that acclaimed pianist and composer BLKBOK delivered to UMass Lowell students during a recent masterclass hosted by SevenSix Records, the university’s student-run record label and music industry club. 

About 50 students gathered in the Moloney Performing Arts Center as the Detroit-born artist, whose real name is Charles Wilson III, led an interactive session that blended live performance with candid advice about navigating the music industry. Known for fusing classical piano with hip-hop and contemporary influences, BLKBOK performed several original pieces and took questions from the crowd.

“I feel like they’re on the cusp,” BLKBOK said of college musicians. “This is the place you can make mistakes, and this is the place that you learn from those mistakes. Then you can become a professional in the way that is best for you and your unique voice.”

Two men and two women pose for a photo in a room with a poster on the wall behind them that reads SEVENSIX. Image by Ed Brennen

Music business alumna Emi Sisco '23, right, helped bring BLKBOK, left, to campus, along with SevenSix Records president Nicole Banks, second from left, and adjunct faculty member Brad Davidson.


For SevenSix president Nicole Banks, a senior music business major, the masterclass emphasized creativity over perfection.

“I think sometimes the creative aspect of music is overshadowed by the technical side, and he really brought that into focus,” said Banks, a singer. “We need to prioritize more on how music makes you feel creatively.”

BLKBOK’s visit was made possible through an alumni connection. His manager, music business alumna Emi Sisco ’23, was a former SevenSix member who now works in artist management with uniphi good, an agency that represents both musicians and astronauts. 

“I wanted students to learn what real life in the industry is like, and how I went from a student to working in the real world,” said Sisco, who is also a creative strategy and marketing manager for the Moxi Group in Boston.

Brad Davidson, an adjunct faculty member in the music department and SevenSix advisor, said the event reflects the kind of real-world pipeline the program is designed to create.

A man in a black T shirt and cap plays a grand piano on a stage. Image by Ed Brennen

BLKBOK performs one of his compositions for students during the masterclass at the Moloney Performing Arts Center.


“Emi met a guest speaker in class, turned that into an internship, then a job, and now she’s bringing her artist back to campus,” Davidson said. “That’s exactly how it should work.”

Asked about the origin of his stage name, BLKBOK said it reflects both his musical influences and personal philosophy. The name is a nod to Johann Sebastian Bach and an acronym for “be OK,” a phrase his father often told him growing up: “Everything will be OK if you are OK with everything.”

BLKBOK encouraged students to rethink common assumptions about the industry, including the idea that artists must compete with one another.

“This isn’t the NBA. This is art,” he said. “How is art competitive?”

Students appreciated both the inspiration and a shift in perspective.

A man in a black T shirt and black baseball cap sits on a stage and talks to students with a microphone. Image by Ed Brennen

BLBOK shares advice on the creative process and the music industry with students during the masterclass.


“He was super-insightful,” said Davis Almeida, a sophomore music performance major and guitarist. “A lot of what he said kind of counteracts what you would usually think about music. It’s refreshing to hear a new perspective.”

For many students, the masterclass also served as an introduction to BLKBOK’s work.

“I didn’t really know much about him before,” said Lea Afonkin, a sophomore marketing major with a music minor. “But this was an amazing opportunity. He gave a lot of nontraditional advice that really makes you think.”

Beyond technical skills and career strategy, BLKBOK urged students to view their work as a form of service — something meant to be shared rather than held back.

“Somebody’s waiting to hear what you created,” he said.