At a recent Board of Education meeting at the Fredonia Central School District, members of the board and the district administration were treated to a performance by the Fredonia Middle School Chamber Orchestra and a presentation from the district’s nationally awarded music director Andrew Bennett on the details of the various programs within the music department.

Bennett, who was recently selected as the New York State representative of the School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s 50 Directors Who Make a Difference, proudly shared some of the highlights of the district’s music department. Among the highlights included that 80 percent of students within the district K-12 are currently enrolled in music courses — more than 1,100 students total.

In addition, 811 students are participating in Curricular Performing Ensembles, including 68 percent of students in grades 2-12. Participation also extends to extracurricular musical activities, in which 460 students in grades 4-12 are involved. Even over the summer, 83 students participated in summer lessons – the most the district has ever had.

Bennett highlighted how even though the district’s enrollment numbers have dropped by more than 600 students over the past two decades, the district’s band and orchestra have increased in participation — each by more than 60 students over the past 12 years.

Fredonia Board of Education President Brian Aldrich commended Music Director Andrew Bennett for the community involvement of the students enrolled in Fredonia’s music programs.

“What your department is doing, we need more of because kids want to be a part of it,” board member Courtney Gullo told Bennett after his presentation.

“Every year I think, ‘Wow,’ and every year you come back doing more, connecting with more students,” board member Lisa Powell Fortna added.

The district also boasts that 91 percent of students who took the last AP Music Theory exam earned college credit, which is 29 percent higher than the world-wide average.

Fredonia has been named a National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Best Community for Music Education for 10 consecutive years. “Less than four percent of the nation’s schools receive this designation. It’s a true honor for all of us,” Bennett said.

Fredonia students performed in 186 solo performances in 2022, while 100 places in state and county honor ensembles were filled by students in the district. Among the district’s most heralded musicians is Abby Roth, who was selected for the second time to participate as a percussionist in the All-State Symphony Orchestra at the NYSSMA All-State Music Festival in Rochester in December. Four district ensembles performed at the NYSSMA Majors, and all earned either gold or silver status.

One part of the presentation that seemed to impress the Board of Education was the district’s focus on peer mentorship programs between older students and younger students. Over 60 students are participating in String/Chorus/Band Buddies and Jazz Student Mentors programs.

“I love this mentoring program. It’s rare you have the opportunity to have say in kids who mentor younger kids. Usually it’s forced and artificial — but it’s music, so you have a reason to get them together,” said board Vice President Steven Johnston. “That’s a great portal to allowing this mentoring to happen. The young kids need it so much and they can get inspired by the older kids. I’m really excited about that.”

Board President Brian Aldrich added, “We talked about this mentorship program and how it helps the younger students, but I’ve looked at other research talking about how it helps the giver to perform some of these extracurricular things you’re doing. I think that the students who are out there giving of themselves, there’s something positive about that. We don’t look at it real closely, but it’s definitely there – it’s not just the receiver, it’s (also) the giver.”

Additionally, 24 Fredonia students were inducted to the Tri-M National Honor Society, bringing the district’s total to 50 active members. Tri-M has also partnered with the PUNT Pediatric Collaborative nonprofit organization to support families dealing with pediatric cancer. The district’s music programs have also performed at various events in the community throughout the year.

“We believe that a good musician is not just meant to play or write notes and rhythm. We are hoping we can teach them how to not just be good people, but to give back to their community,” Bennett said. “It’s important that we don’t just aim for success, but ways that we can contribute to the world around us.”

Fredonia has also continued to address the issue of students who struggle to afford music education. As part of a program to provide instrumental education to students receiving free or reduced lunches, the district’s involvement has grown steadily each year. In 2016-17, the number of students benefiting from the program was 20. Now, in the 2022-23 school year, 99 students have been provided with the opportunity for instrumental instruction.

“Our first building goal is about providing for basic needs, and in this case, this is considered a basic need. The fact that we have 99 families connected with that is great,” said Fredonia Superintendent Brad Zilliox.

Upcoming events from the district’s music department include an All-String Concert today, an All-Band Concert on Thursday, and an All-Choral Concert on Feb. 15. All three concerts begin at 7 p.m. The district’s high school musical, “Crazy For You,” takes place at 7:30 p.m. on the nights of March 17 and 18 and March 24 and 25.