Children’s Concerts features African Drum Ensemble Feb. 28

SUNY Fredonia students Gregory Detwiler of Webster and Michelle Deierlein of Lake Luzerne (left) watch as Marlo Huestis of Fredonia takes a closer look. Next Children's Concerts Saturday, Jan. 28, Barker Library, Fredonia Saturday, April 25, Dunkirk Free Library, Dunkirk The Children’s Concert Series is part of the Musical Journeys Program, a community outreach project offered by the Fredonia School of Music. More information is available on the web or by calling 716-673-4628.

The Musical Journeys Program of the Fredonia School of Music continues its third season of free concerts designed to appeal to very young children.

Selected student ensembles from the Fredonia School of Music will perform half-hour Children’s Concerts on four Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. continuing on Saturday, Feb. 28 in the Darwin R. Barker Library, 7 Day Street in Fredonia.  

Planned with the help of SUNY Fredonia faculty who are experts in music and education, the concerts are designed to introduce very young audiences (from infants to 6-year-olds) to musical instruments.

The child-friendly environment will invite the children to sit on the floor close to the musicians; family members are encouraged to bring blankets or carpet squares to sit on.  Strollers can be parked around the edges of the seating area. 

“This venue gives preschool children a great chance to get close to the musicians and the music; to really participate and experience music intended just for them,” said Sarah Hamilton, associate professor of oboe.

 

An African drumming ensemble will perform at the Feb. 28 concert. The musicians are Fredonia School of Music students Douglas Feig of West Nyack, Katherine Casale of Dix Hills, Daniel Ornowski of Angola and Daniel Smith of Livingston Manor. 

 

“Our goal is to present an active, fun, music event that engages even the youngest children” said Katherine M. Levy, associate professor of music at the Fredonia School of Music. “Children’s Concerts help our excellent SUNY student musicians learn how young children respond to music at the same time as the young children who attend experience how live music moves and sounds and feels.”