SETH MICHAEL MEYER
Staff Writer
Walking in to Mason Hall, the home of the renowned Fredonia School of Music, one can never fail to hear the exuberant voices of Fredonia’s finest vocal students. It is not only the students’ talents that can produce such wonderful singing, it’s also the hard work and dedication each student has put into the art, along with the guidance of their inspiring mentors of Fredonia’s voice faculty.
Amongst the voice faculty, Laurie Tramuta has been recognized for her astounding dedication to the program and to her students for more than 20 years in receiving the SUNY Chancellor Award of Excellence for Adjunct Teaching.
As described by Tramuta, the process of receiving this award started with a nomination of which was prescribed by her long-time colleague and fellow voice faculty, Angela Haas.
“It was a huge honor to me,” Tramuta said, referencing her adjunct status in the department. “I have a wonderful department so I truly feel like I’m part of [it] . . . [The award] was, to me, validation that yes, you are considered a part of us.”
Despite being a part-time professor, Tramuta doesn’t believe there is a disconnect between the adjunct and full-time faculty.
“I think it’s the nature of what we do and the collaborative work that we do,” Tramuta said. “At the beginning of my career it was different; now they’re so used to having me here, I’m like part of the family.”
Tramuta started lecturing at Fredonia in 1993 teaching Music Play & Self, a required course for music education majors. In 1999, Tramuta started her own voice studio in the School of Music. Before she started teaching at Fredonia, Tramuta taught elementary school music in the Dunkirk Public School system.
“[Elementary school] is where my heart is. I love the little ones,” Tramuta said.
She recalled a time when she was reluctant to teach college students, saying she was content with the elementary level.
“I had many opportunities to move up to different levels . . . but I never took them.”
Tramuta said that only after a drawn-out debate with her former voice teacher did she begin teaching in her own studio.
Tramuta fell in love with teaching her own studio and has been at it ever since. “We have great kids here . . . I always get these wonderful students so I’m a very, very lucky lady.”
Of her students, Chris Knapp, a sophomore music education student is very grateful for Tramuta’s mentorship. Knapp transferred to Fredonia in the fall of 2017 and believes Tramuta is “the sole reason that [they] assimilated into Fredonia so well.”
Knapp, having aspirations of becoming a high school teacher, looks up to Tramuta as a role model.
“She is the most caring person . . . and will do whatever needs to be done to see you succeed,” said Knapp.
To Tramuta, teaching at any level is about bringing joy.
“At [the college] level, it’s amazing to be able to make a difference and help,” Tramuta said. “And at the lower level, with my little kids, we did huge units of playing the recorder and just the joy and excitement.”
Tramuta explains a balance in work ethic is important when it comes to teaching her students. She enjoys having fun with her students, but she also urges her students to diligently work at being better and to hold a high value for singing.
“If you can get up and sing in front of a group of people . . . even if you never sing again, that skill of having the confidence to be able to stand up straight and offer something and show a little piece of yourself is invaluable.”
To the future educators, Tramuta believes that, above all, they must like kids of all ages.
“I have learned so much from them and they have made me a better teacher because of their passion,” she said.
Leading by example, the award-winning Tramuta urges her students to find joy and passion in their careers and have a continual drive to better themselves as she claimed, “to see the results of your labor is incredible.”