Songwriter With Rock-Solid Faith, Values

RISING STAR  Meg Rilley of Immaculate Conception Parish, Franklin, sings during a recording session for her single “Love Can’t Kill.” The singer/songwriter, who will head to Nashville in the fall to pursue her “showbiz” dreams, will open the “Rock Out on the Hill” Christian youth and family rock concert on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Shrine of St. Joseph, Stirling.

Franklin singer/songwriter to open Christian rock concert Aug. 1

FRANKLIN  Singer/songwriter Meg Rilley strums a series of gentle chords on her acoustic guitar but sings a strong, unapologetic — and pointed — message of faith and values to an unnamed person with different views, who is “breathing down my neck.”

“Where I was raised, there is a man with hand outstretched to me. Where I was raised, there’s a little stone church…and the women and men who work there are my friends. We worked, we played, we prayed,” sings 18-year-old Rilley, referring both to Jesus and to Immaculate Conception here, her home parish, in her stirring song of conviction, “Where I Was Raised.” “We were taught to respect and we knew right from wrong and we helped those who couldn’t help themselves. No matter where I go and no matter, who I see, I will always turn around and see where I come from,” she sings.

The lyrics of the driving “Where I Was Raised” boldly proclaim the values of faith, family, community and service to others that Rilley has baked into her rapidly growing catalog of original songs, which include spiritual and secular tunes. The recent graduate of Wallkill Valley High School, Hamburg, will bring her uplifting music to the Shrine of St. Joseph, Stirling, on Saturday, Aug. 1 as she opens its first-ever “Rock Out on the Hill” youth and family Christian rock concert, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The free event will be held on the shrine’s grounds or indoors in case of inclement weather.

That night, Rilley will open for the concert’s headliner, The Upafter, a Long Island worship band, whose original songs and meaningful and energetic performances have attracted a national following on YouTube. The event will double as “farewell — for now” concert for Rilley. In the fall, she will attend Belmont University, Nashville, to pursue studies in communications and the music business — all in an effort to chase her dreams in “showbiz.” “Meg’s inspirational lyrics and soaring voice have gotten her noticed by Nashville music executives,” said Keaton Douglas, her longtime vocal coach.

“I’m excited to meet a new group of people with my performance at the Shrine of St. Joseph and connect with them on a musical and spiritual level,” said Reilly, who will play at 30-minute solo set with her acoustic guitar.

Influenced by country artists, such as Miranda Lambert, Rilley writes on a spectrum of topics often taken from the pages of her own life. They range from “people’s opinion of you to remembering where you come from and ex-boyfriends,” she said. Her song, “Elizabeth Learns,” pays homage to several generations of strong women in her family, while another tune, “Starting Fires,” encourages people to “empower themselves,” Rilley said.

“I love to create and perform new music. Writing a song that reflects my feelings and thoughts and allows me to share them with my audience is by far my greatest joy,” said Rilley, who was graduated from Immaculate Conception School, Franklin. “I want to use the musical talents that God gave me to help others see themselves and become better people.”

Rilley’s musical journey started in third grade, when she began to sing in Immaculate Conception’s children’s choir. The next year, she sang an original song, “Don’t Leave Me Here” — about asking God and other trusted people important questions — at Mass. Encouraging her was Rosanne Huttman, the parish’s music director and both her guitar teacher and, later, her Confirmation sponsor.

“Roseanne has been my rock-solid foundation of music and faith,” said Rilley, a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

The charismatic Rilley always looks for opportunities to perform. She continues to sing at Immaculate Conception, leading the congregation in songs of praise, and participates in various choral groups at the parish. She has performed at youth gatherings at the Shrine of St. Joseph and sang with Douglas — also a seasoned singer and song writer — during a spiritual event in December at St. Paul Inside the Walls: the Diocesan Center for Evangelization at Bayley-Ellard in Madison. Also, Rilley played in musical productions in high school and gigs consistently in and around Sussex County. Her website, www.megrilley.com, offers more information about her, her performance schedule and streaming of demos of some of her songs.

The rock-solid faith and values that inform Rilley’s songwriting originate with her family, which has attended Mass regularly at Immaculate Conception for years — “a huge part of my life that influenced me,” she said. Love of music also has been handed down in the family. Her mother, April, acted and sang in her high school productions, while her father Jeff, had played various instruments. Her older brother, Kevin, played saxophone through high school, Rilley said.

“Music is in my blood,” said Rilley, who played varsity field hockey and pole vaulted in high school and has been a sportsman and conservationist, fishing and hunting for most of her life with her father.

“Rock Out on the Hill,” is an event dreamed up by Lucille and Ed Nipoti, members of the Shrine of St. Joseph, who wanted to share this special faith community with young people and families. Trinitarian Father Michael Barth, the shrine’s director, quickly endorsed the idea, which led to the formation of a committee. Douglas, who has been involved in the shrine’s recovery outreach, invited Rilley to perform at the Aug. 1 concert.

“Meg is such a major talent. Her songwriting blows me away. She writes from the perspective of faith, which will keep her grounded,” Douglas said. “She has a great future ahead of her.”

Information: stshrine.orgor call (908) 647-0208.]