Date: March 20, 2007
From: Wartburg Trumpet Online

Sacket to perform for GAYLA week March 20, 2007
by Jackie Manternach, Staff Writer

Pianist, singer and songwriter Sacha Sacket will perform in the Lyceum Wednesday, March 21 at 8:30 p.m. to kick off GAYLA week. This is Sacket's second appearance for Wartburg’s GAYLA week.

Sacket's music is often compared to Rufus Wainwright and Tori Amos. The performance will consist of his original songs and a few surprise cover songs. Sacket is releasing his third album, Lovers and Leaders, this spring.

"With my new album, I was in a place where my career always got in the way of relationships. My career is somewhat comsuming, so I had a hard time with the separation between love and leadership. I needed a balance of both," Sacket said. Sacket's music is his major form of communication. He strives for lyrics that people can relate to.

"People hide behind lyrics that few people understand. My goal is to be as clear and open as I can be," Sacket added.

Wartburg is beginning a tour with his Wartburg appearance. In the past he's performed at more than 150 colleges. He also started his own recording studio, Golden Sphinx Records.

Organizer of GAYLA week and assistant director of residential life, Rob Anderson, first heard Sacket's music at the 2001 Pride Festival in La Crosse, Wisc. This is Wartburg's second annual GAYLA week. The theme is "It's not just a gay thing!"

"The theme is being used to promote campus-wide support of the events and to let people know that the week isn't just for members of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) community and friends," Anderson said. "But for anyone interested in learning more about the history and issues surrounding the lives of GLBT people."

Alliance co-president, Mark Forsyth, explained that GAYLA week is meant to educate about gender and sexuality while bringing elements of "gay culture" to campus.

Forsyth describes the purpose as "to give all students, gay and straight, the opportunity to experience the fun in the gay culture, as well as learn something along the way."

Events include a cabaret show, a showing of Brokeback Mountain, an information session with Elizabeth Bendalin about being transgender, a sexuality discussion and an information session about homophobia with Eric Anderson.