MATHEWS — At age 3, Hunter Owens made his stage debut in a Christmas musical show at Donk’s Theater-Virginia’s Li’l Ole Opry in Mathews. He was just 5 when he began taking acoustic guitar lessons. Now 14, Hunter has built a regional following and released two albums of solo performances, the latest a patriotic CD in collaboration with the Mathews County VA250 Commission. Hunter is a youth representative on the committee, which is planning local celebrations prior to and during America’s semiquincentennial in 2026. Hunter pitched the idea for his “Songs of America” project to the commission’s adult members and chose five pieces to sing: “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” “God Bless the USA,” “This Land is Your Land” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” “They are my favorites, which makes things more meaningful for me,” he said. “I just wanted to give people something they could enjoy, because our country is amazing.” A freshman and straight-A student at Mathews High School, Hunter recorded and produced the album himself. His mother shot its cover photography, and he included a written mention of Mathews County VA250 on an inside sleeve. Hunter regularly performs at restaurants, churches, festivals and private events — including at an upcoming Mother’s Day lunch at the York Gardens and Tea Room on Route 17 in York County. He’s selling his new CD online and at the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center and the Howard-Dooley Café, where he appears most Friday evenings. He recently donated 25% of sales from a Mathews May Faire booth to the Mathews County VA250 Commission. The committee is part of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, or VA250, an initiative established by the General Assembly in 2020. The multi-year project supports national unity and education on Virginia’s role in the fight for independence through speaking engagements, museum exhibits and events such as concerts and parades leading up to the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Last summer, a Mathews County School Board member asked Hunter to join the local VA250 group to provide a young voice. Sandy Warhol, a commission member and events chair for the Mathews Historical Museum, describes him as “earnest, savvy and very engaged with us, even though he is so busy.” Welcoming Hunter’s offer to link his new album to the VA250 campaign was a no-brainer, Warhol added: “This community really likes to support him. Not to mention, his music is fabulous and anything we can do to support him, we will.” Hunter describes himself as a proud lifelong Mathews resident. He enjoys being able to walk to his grandmother’s house for regular visits; she gave him his first 12-string guitar, a favorite for gigs, two years ago. He now has nine guitars. Although Hunter’s parents are not particularly musical, they nurtured a natural interest in both Hunter and his fraternal twin brother, Hayden. Along with guitar, Hunter plays clarinet in his school’s marching band and electric guitar in certain jazz band pieces; he also knows a few tunes on the piano and mandolin, another stringed instrument. “But I like acoustic guitar best,” he said, citing John Denver and James Taylor as two musical inspirations. “It feels smooth and earthy, and you can go from simple to complex. And you don’t have to find anywhere to plug it in.” While Hunter has written some original songs, he says he doesn’t like many of them and sticks mainly to cover tunes. Hayden, meanwhile, is a percussionist who occasionally performs with his brother. “He also coincidentally plays his drums right next to my room at night all the time,” Hunter said. “So, that’s a lot of fun.” “Songs of America” follows Hunter’s 2023 album “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a 13-song compilation that celebrates the holiday’s power to bring loved ones together. He also sells black-and-white T-shirts and koozies, or insulated drink covers, with his name and a guitar image on his website. Not surprisingly, Hunter is debating between a music or business major in college. What’s certain is that he wants his career to revolve around music; in fact, he already teaches guitar lessons to one of his friends. “A lot of what I do is centered on music and learning as much as I can about it,” he said. “I never want that to change.”
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