Music ensembles going on the road to play in NY, PA, Germany and France

By Jennifer Darrell-Sterbak

The SUNY Fredonia School of Music will be sending out four ensembles March 3 to 11 to locations that include New York State destinations of Albany, Long Island and Manhattan, as well as Pittsburgh-area destinations and as far abroad as Germany and France.

While the School of Music has a long tradition of sending its ensembles out on tour both domestically and abroad, this is a new format where several performing groups are sent out in different directions, but at the same time.

This year's touring ensembles are Chamber Choir, under the direction of Gerald Gray (touring Long Island and Manhattan); Brass Choir, under the direction of Roderick MacDonald and Marc Guy (touring the Albany area); Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Kay Stonefelt and Tiffany Nicely (touring the Pittsburgh area), and the Guitar Quartet, under the direction of James Piorkowski (traveling to Germany and France). 

In total, the groups will be working directly with approximately 4,000 school age students. The plan also includes a performance of the Fredonia Chamber Choir at a SUNY Fredonia Alumni Reunion to be held Thursday, March 8 at 6 p.m. in Manhattan at The Torch Club. 

Each individual tour was organized to a great extent by School of Music faculty, who reached out to public schools across New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio to develop a plan that would advance the School of Music's reputation, build alumni relations, expand and improve recruitment, and give Fredonia students more touring and performing experience.

The planning follows a "tour model" adopted by the Fredonia School of Music that includes other components besides playing: such as the students giving hands-on demonstrations and clinics, free evening performances in the communities visited, and playing at special alumni events. While in New York City, the Chamber Choir will be attending a performance of Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera. 

"When we send our student ensembles on tour, they become our ambassadors," School of Music Director Karl Boelter said.  "We benefit from their efforts, such as attracting new students and spreading the fine reputation of Fredonia, but we also try to give them something back, like performing at a fine venue or having a memorable experience. Imagine the thrill the students will have seeing Don Giovanni live at the Met!"

A few highlights of this year's schedule are listed here:

Fredonia Chamber Choir (24 students, 3 faculty)--  

• Schools visiting for performances and clinics: Freeport High School, Roscoe High School, Liberty High School, Baldwin High School
• Public performance for SUNY Fredonia alumni at The Torch Club (NYU campus): Thursday, March 8 at 6 p.m. (by reservation only)
• Attend Performances of Don Giovanni at The Met, and a concert at Church of the Ascension

Brass Choir (13 students, 3 faculty)--

• Schools visiting for performances and clinics: Irondequoit High School, Farnsworth Middle School, Bethlehem Central High School, Schenectady Community College
• Public concert at Niskayuna Reformed Church: Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30pm (free; goodwill donations at door)

Percussion Ensemble (13 students, 2 faculty)--

• Schools visiting for performances and clinics: St. Edmund’s Academy, Norwin High School, Bethel Park High School
• Evening performances for community: Norwin High School (March 7 at 7 p.m.) and Bethel Park High School (March 8 at 7 p.m.)

Guitar Quartet (4 students; 1 faculty)--

• Concerts will be given at the Burgkeller, Burgthann (March 9), Musée du Jouet in Colmar (March 10) and the Ludres École de Musique (March 13).