She Helps Bring Nashville’s Musicians Corner Series to Life!
As the program coordinator for Centennial Park Conservancy, Joia Pollard is helping to bring even more live music, art, and culture to Music City. Don't miss this year's free Musicians Corner series, taking place every weekend during the month of September!
Though her career began in the world of sports — she has degrees in sports business and administration and worked with the American Volleyball Coaches Association — these days, Joia Pollard is flexing her muscles as the program coordinator at the Centennial Park Conservancy. Originally from Lexington, KY, the Nashville transplant spearheads the event management for everything from Musicians Corner to Nashville Earth Day. Devoted to bringing arts, music, and enriching education to Centennial Park and the Parthenon, Joia is our newest FACE of Nashville!
How did you land your role as program coordinator of the Centennial Park Conservancy, and what does it entail?
I decided to take a step away from sports and ventured into a new field where I felt my skills would continue contributing to something special. I accepted a new position with the Centennial Park Conservancy as a program coordinator to assist with handling and coordinating events such as Musicians Corner, Nashville Earth Day, and many more. I’ve had a love for arts and music my entire life, so being able to work in a new environment that I’m still passionate about has been a great experience so far. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can bring to the table.
As Program Coordinator, I assist the Director of Events and Community Engagement to ensure that all events and programs run smoothly. I help plan and implement the events, secure all necessary permits and licenses, oversee event load-in and load-out operations, and manage event staff and volunteers. I also manage the organization and delivery of event supplies, handle booking local small business vendors and food trucks, fulfill online merchandise orders, and facilitate merchandise sales at events. These are just a few of the responsibilities I handle.
Tell us about Musicians Corner! How was it inspired, and what does it bring to the Nashville community?
Musicians Corner has been around since 2010 and has provided free public access to live music in the heart of Music City. The series is located in Centennial Park and generally takes place in May/June and September each year.
Musicians Corner went completely digital in 2020 due to COVID-19, but we’ve been fortunate to go back to live events. Over 1,500 artists have been showcased on the Musicians Corner stage, including legendary artists Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Vince Gill, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. One of the things I love about Musicians Corner is how diverse the program is.
Musicians Corner was inspired by Speakers’ Corner in London’s Hyde Park, a global music landmark and community gathering space. Since its inception, Musicians Corner has welcomed music lovers from around the world to share in their appreciation of live music. Local business owners augment the community spirit of the program with the inclusion of artisans and food vendors at each event.
What can we look forward to for this year’s on-stage lineup?
We are getting ready to start our September Sundown series and announced the lineup last week. The series will spotlight performances by artists such as TikTok-famous singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez, folk songstress Erin Rae, acclaimed singer-songwriter Dylan LeBlanc, modern vocal group The Shindellas, and so many more!
What artist are you the most excited to welcome this year?
I enjoy all the artists who come and perform at Musicians Corner. It gives me a chance to find a new artist to follow and learn more about their catalog. I’m very excited about The Shindellas joining the stage. I took some time to learn more about the group and can’t wait to see them perform live.
Aside from attending events like Musicians Corner, how can we best support the Centennial Park Conservancy?
There are many ways to support the Centennial Park Conservancy. Donating to our general operating fund will help further our mission, ensure free access to arts and educational programs for our community, sustain the organization, and support the areas of greatest need. You can also donate your time to support Centennial Park Conservancy by volunteering at our events and helping further our mission in the park and Parthenon.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Nashville when you aren’t working?
Well, I’m also a certified makeup artist, which is one of my passions. But in my free time, I enjoy exploring the city, trying out new restaurants, and connecting with friends. I also try to stay active whenever I have the chance. I play kickball and volleyball with an adult recreational league.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Someone told me to be grateful for what I was able to accomplish in life so far. Sometimes it may seem like I still have so many goals to complete, but there are times when I take a moment to think about everything I’ve done to get to where I am right now, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. It can only go up from here.
Faith, family, and friends notwithstanding, what are three things you can’t live without?
That would probably be my phone, my purpose, and my passion. My phone keeps me connected with everyone and everything important in my life. I would be completely lost without it.
When you do something with a purpose or a goal, you make sure you do it with a determined mindset. Anything I do, I try to have an intention in mind because every decision I make can affect my life for better or worse.
That last thing I can’t live without is my passion. I love where I am right now. Without passion, life wouldn’t be as meaningful.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.