St. Paul music school plans street presence

Downtown St. Paul isn't known for its busking scene, but plenty of young musicians will take their tunes to the sidewalks during the Republican National Convention.

Students and graduates of the McNally Smith College of Music will perform at six outdoor locations, including the Seventh Place mall and Ecolab Plaza.

McNally Smith Vice President Chris Osgood said the idea came about after school and city officials put their heads together on how to energize downtown during the convention.

"We thought, 'Hey wait! The students could get a chance to play in front of the throngs of people who will be joining us for the RNC. They'll have that experience. And the flip is that people will get to know McNally Smith College of Music a little more, and downtown will be that much more fun,'" Osgood said.

The buskers will play from noon to 6 p.m. September 1 through 4.

The city's library system is also offering a number of community-oriented events under the banner "Saint Paul-itics." A speakers series will feature political analysts like Mark Halperin of Time Magazine. He will appear at Metropolitan State University August 18.

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