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Last year, members of the Fredonia Middle School Chamber Orchestra performed at a Board of Education meeting in the school library.
Rather than a group of sports supporters taking a stand, the crowd that gathered at a recent meeting was singing a different tune. Five public speakers argued that music and drama sectors should consider their own level playing field.
“I hear people speaking on behalf of athletics and talking about how we have one of the strongest athletic programs in the region, but the quality of our facilities doesn’t match the intensity of the program. The same goes for music and theater. I hope the board will consider this through These thriving projects are supported by the provision of facilities commensurate with the high quality of work taking place within them.” said Ben Wendell, the district’s theater director.
Nationally known band director Andy Bennett led five guests who spoke on the matter during the second public comment period at the recent Board of Education meeting. Bennett began by noting that he was speaking not only as a band director for the district, but also as a resident of Fredonia and a parent of future Fredonia students.
Bennett emphasized how he and his wife chose to make Fredonia their home, despite his wife’s hour-long daily commute. “We believe in this community, its potential and its future. This school is a big part of that,” Bennett said.
Observer Photo: Braden Carmen Fredonia Band Director Andy Bennett led five speakers in a presentation to the Board of Education about facility upgrades.
As the father of a three-year-old girl, Bennett said, “It’s not lost on me that the improvements we make in this program will help shape the education she receives.”
Bennett highlighted the region’s needs, mentioning ‘A big problem’ High enrollment in music courses. While the district’s overall enrollment is down slightly, the music department’s enrollment is at its highest level in the past 25 years, with nearly 900 students performing in the orchestra in a district of fewer than 1,500 students.
“Our ensemble enrollment has actually exceeded the maximum capacity of our rehearsal space. When I started working here, I never thought we would have discussions about things like how many students can fit in a room under fire code, or all of this Where are the instruments going, but here we are,” Bennett said.
Bennett, a New York State School Band and Orchestra magazine “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” honoree, noted that he will continue “Actively cooperate with the administrative departments” Address the day-to-day challenges of current facilities, but also the upcoming capital project cycle “As a community, we have been waiting for years for the opportunity to finally meet the needs of our students.”
Needs highlighted by public speakers include increased equipment storage, larger rehearsal spaces, improved acoustics and air conditioning.
Fredonia Theater Director Ben Wendell was the second to talk about facility upgrades at a recent Board of Education meeting.
Wendell thanked the board for considering the needs of the music and theater program and the many needs the district has identified. Like Bennett, Wendell is a parent of future Fredonia students.
“I hope to continue teaching and mentoring here for decades to come. I am very committed to this place. I hope to be able to work long-term on improving the facilities and giving our students what they deserve.” Wendell said.
Wendell noted that, like the music department, the theater department’s recent production of “Aladdin, Jr.” had its highest participation ever, with 160 students participating. Wendell noted that the auditorium’s lighting and sound systems have been substantially improved, but the curtain system still needs updating. Auditorium seating and air conditioning were also highlighted as areas of concern.
Grammy Award-winning producer and musician Dave Fridmann also spoke in support of Fredonia’s music and theater projects. Fridmann’s music career spans over thirty years, including collaborations with the Flaming Lips, Weezer, MGMT, Vanessa Carlton and many others. He is a founding member of Mercury Rev, owner of Tarbox Road Studios, served as director of the Western New York Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, and served at the SUNY Fredonia Conservatory of Music.
“I have nothing but praise for the music program here and the entire school system.” Friedman said. “…I just want to encourage the board to continue to move in this direction and fully support the music program here and whatever the auditorium needs. It’s been great over the years and it’s only going to get better.”
Jen Darrell-Sterbak, a parent of two Fredonia music students, also expressed support for the district’s music department. She serves as the Community Relations Assistant at SUNY Fredonia Conservatory of Music.
“I am so grateful for the music program we have here. I am also grateful and grateful that the music department has always been a place where students feel safe, seen and appreciated,” Darrell Strback said.
Darrell-Struback urged the board to prioritize curricular programs such as the music department among potential capital projects. “I’m just asking the board to seriously consider that if there is any kind of building renovation… you just make sure it’s a priority and it’s fully funded so that they can continue to do these wonderful things that they’re doing” Darrell Strback said.
Helen Ihasz, an adjunct instructor at SUNY Fredonia School of Music, also expressed her support for the music department. Her daughter is a graduate of Fredonia High School with experience in the music department. “It’s a great school with a lot of people doing some great things,” Ihas said.
A former band director at Westfield Academy for more than two decades, Ihasz admired the work Bennett did with the Fredonia music department. “That’s what happens when some great educators work together as a team. You get a program like this that explodes. I’m very proud to see something like this happen and hope the school continues to support it.” “ Ihas said. “…This program makes your school shine.”
In response to public comments, Board of Education Chairman Brian Aldrich said: “I’m going to speak on behalf of the board, not just myself, because I think there’s a consensus that the music program is something we take very seriously. We all appreciate what the music department does.”
Fredonia Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox said the district is evaluating data received from the Young and Wright Architectural Building Condition Survey to determine the district’s priorities in upcoming capital projects. Zilliox noted that using reserve funds available to the district, the $5 million project could be completed without any impact to the taxpayers of the school community. He added that a more substantial project may be needed when considering the needs and desires of the area.
“We started thinking, if we have more than $5 million, how far can we go? What do our taxpayers think and think about this?” said Zilliaux.He noticed a “Healthy Conversation” We have held meetings on this matter since Young and Wright’s speech in late November.
Zilliox says the area looks “Think long term” It plans to upgrade its facilities over the next 10-12 years. The district will continue to solicit community input in the coming months, with an ad hoc vote scheduled for December 2024.
Bennett expressed confidence that there will be strong support for a substantive plan that meets the needs of his department and others. Bennett said, “I know there are many young couples who feel the same way we do about Fredonia, who choose to live here because of the area and believe investment in many areas of our school is critical to ensuring the future of this institution, And in some ways, our communities. On behalf of those voices, I want to say that we are ready to deliver a bold and visionary capital program that will impact many areas, and we look forward to doing everything we can to support its execution.”
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