Fredonia Summer Music Festival pivots online; no charge for students

The annual Summer Music Festival will be offered online at Fredonia, and middle and high school band students can attend the July 1 and 2 event at no cost.

“We're bringing together some of our best and brightest alumni who have created incredibly successful careers in the music industry, along with our acclaimed Fredonia music faculty, for this unique two-day online experience and are thrilled to be offering it at no charge,” said Assistant Professor Leonidas Lagrimas, who serves as festival director.

“We're bringing together some of our best and brightest alumni who have created incredibly successful careers in the music industry, along with our acclaimed Fredonia music faculty, for this unique two-day online experience and are thrilled to be offering it at no charge” - Festival Director Leonidas Lagrimas

Credentials of the alumni are impressive. Brian Usifer, who received an undergraduate degree in Music Performance in 2003, will lead the session “Being a Musician on Broadway.” Mr. Usifer is associate music supervisor of Broadway and touring versions of “The Book of Mormon.” He previously served as music director of Broadway productions of “Frozen” and the Tony Award-winning “Kinky Boots.”

Participating alumni have performed with The President’s Own United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, United States Navy Band, New World Symphony and Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Current Fredonia student musicians will also be participating in the festival.

Zoom sessions lasting 50 minutes each will explore a variety of topics, and 30-minute private lessons taught by School of Music faculty for wind, brass, percussion and piano will be offered on both days. Courses begin at 9 a.m. Individual lessons, also free, will be limited to one per student and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may join as many Zoom sessions as they wish.