2 high school seniors from Orleans attend band camp at SUNY Fredonia

Teagan Balaban of Medina and Aidan Kelley of Holley spent week at camp

Photos and information courtesy of Zach Busch, Holley band director

FREDONIA – Incoming Seniors Teagan Balaban of Medina and Aidan Kelley of Holley spent the last week at the Fredonia Summer Music Festival Band Camp.

The Fredonia Summer Music Festival is a six-day camp hosted on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Middle and high school students from around the state can enroll in various camps such as Middle School Band, High School Band, Choral, Composition or Piano.

While attending the camp, students can perform in groups like the Wind Symphony, Chamber Ensembles, and Jazz Ensemble. To round out their daily schedule, students attend music elective classes, master classes and lessons with SUNY Fredonia Staff and students, and various recreational activities. Attending the Fredonia Summer Music Festival gives students a week-long taste of life as a college music major.

Teagan Balaban of Medina, back left in glasses, and Aidan Kelley, right in second row, both played the clarinet at the band camp.

Both Teagan and Aidan play clarinet as their primary instrument and participated in the same ensembles at last week’s camp. Thursday evening, they performed with the Woodwind Choir, comprised of about 30 student musicians playing instruments ranging from the Flute to the Baritone Saxophone. The students performed movements II and III of Patrick Glenn Harper’s “Three Sketches for Woodwind Ensemble” under the direction of Ms. Jackie Ellmauer, camp counselor and 7/8 Band Director at Transit Middle School in Williamsville.

During the Fredonia Summer Music Festival’s Large Ensembles Concert, Teagan and Aidan performed in the Festival Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Symphony.

The Festival Chorus was under the direction of Dr. Vernon Huff of SUNY Fredonia, and performed a medley from the musical Rent, as well as the Armed Forces Salute to honor the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

The High School Jazz Ensemble was under the direction of Elliott Scozzaro, adjunct Jazz Lecturer at SUNY Fredonia. The group performed “Isle of Blue” by Les Sabina and “All ‘Dem Leaves” by Ryan Erik Adamsons. Aidan and Teagan were able to showcase their talents on secondary instruments in the Jazz Ensemble, playing the tenor sax and alto sax, respectively.

The Wind Symphony was under the direction of Mrs. Christina Helbock, band director of Brentwood High School on Long Island. The Wind Symphony performed technically challenging repertoire including “The Iliad” by Robert W. Smith, “Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein” by Erika Svanoe, and “Exultate” by Samuel Hazo.

Both Teagan and Aidan intend to audition to SUNY Fredonia’s School of Music this coming year.