JESSICA MEDITZ
Special to The Leader
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the heart of SUNY Fredonia — The Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center.
Rockefeller Arts Center can be described as a second home to many Fredonia students, as the building contains resources for a significant portion of Fredonia’s degree programs.
Such majors include dance, musical theatre, design and technical production, sound recording technology, music therapy, illustration, new media and more.
From smaller solo exhibitions in Marion Art Gallery to elaborate musical performances in King Concert Hall, Rockefeller Arts Center has seen a plethora of different performances over the years.
In fact, it is the first and oldest center for the arts in the entire SUNY system.
Standing as one of Fredonia’s major buildings since 1969, and continuing to prosper, Rockefeller Arts Center is a significant landmark of the performing and visual arts for the western New York area.
In celebration of that, Rockefeller Arts Center will present a 50th Anniversary Gala Pops Concert.
The event will happen on September 21st from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It will be held in King Concert Hall, the building’s main auditorium.
Fifteen of Fredonia’s alumni and current faculty members will be featured in the event, coming from all over the country for a night of jazz and show tunes.
Jefferson Westwood is the director of Rockefeller Arts Center and the executive producer of the 50th Anniversary Pops Concert.
A main part of his role as executive producer is to recruit the talent that will be featured in the program.
“I thought it would be fun; having done so many pops concerts featuring current students, to do one featuring alumni,” he said.
Three of the 15 notable alumni include Julie Newell, distinguished teaching professor at Fredonia; Paul Mockovak, choreographer, director and professor of Theatre and Dance at Fredonia; and Craig Schulman, known for the role of Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables.” He has also starred in “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Jekyll & Hyde.”
One day prior to the concert (Friday, Sept. 20) there will be a 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room.
The dinner will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and an RSPV is required to attend.
“We celebrate the 50th anniversary because it’s just so much more fun than the 49th or the 51st,” said Westwood. “Because we’re the original center for visual and performing arts in the entire SUNY system, it’s important we honor that. People should attend to have fun.”
Tickets are available in the Fredonia Ticket Office located in the Williams Center.