KATIE LENDA
Special to The Leader
The opportunity to meet and interact with seasoned professionals is an event students will have the chance to attend on Nov. 7 – 8.
Fredonia is set to welcome Grammy award winner, Kent Knappenberger, Nannette Knappenberger and sound engineer, Anthony Casuccio back to their alma mater for the Writer’s @ Work series, “Grammy’s Spotlight: Alumni on Writing Your Way in the Music World.”
“Grammy’s Spotlight: Alumni on Writing Your Way in the Music World,” is a two-day long event that features conversations about professionalism in the music industry and how writing music changes throughout the years.
The event will also discuss insights regarding the creative process of music that have developed, upon many other discussions regarding the music and writing fields.
Students will have the chance to discuss these topics in-depth with the Knappenbergers and Casuccio.
Nannette Knappenberger became a music educator after she received her bachelor’s degree in music education: voice and her master’s degree in education from Fredonia.
She is a voice instructor for Sagamore Great Camp Mountain Music and the choir director for Westfield United Methodist Church.
Kent Knappenberger graduated with his music education degree in 1987.
He then received his master’s degree from Fredonia’s school of music in 1989 in harp performance and literature. Knappenberger was presented as the inaugural recipient of the Music Educator Award by the Grammy Academy in 2014 for his work as an educator at Westfield Academy.
Anthony Casuccio is a member of Fredonia’s class of 1991 and received his degree in sound recording technology.
He then went on to earn his master’s degree in public relations and business management at Buffalo State University.
Casuccio currently serves as the music department chair at Villa Maria College and principle sound engineer for Xtream Audio Mastering.
Dr. Natalie Gerber is a faculty member of Fredonia’s English department.
She collaboratively founded the Writer’s @ Work series and plays a large role in the organization of the event.
She emphasizes the importance of writing for all majors.
“The ability to write cuts across all boundaries,” she said. “In every field, you need to be able to write clearly, concisely and communicate to broad audiences. We are excited to bring in people from the music world because they have written in so many different forms.”
Chelsea Asante is a senior business administration and marketing major and an intern for Writer’s @ Work.
She believes this event can benefit all students and encourages them to attend.
“Meeting alumni that have succeeded in your field of study is an enlightening experience,” said Asante. “It is a great way to reaffirm the idea that you can get through your college experience and be as great as you want to be.
Learning to improve the quality of your writing can benefit you in any major.”
Being a sound engineer, president of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and co-founder of Buzz Records, Casuccio has lots of advice for students on how to be successful in a competitive field.
“This is an industry where most people are independent contractors, so motivation is a key to success,” he said. “If you are an artist, producer or engineer, you will need to let people know about your music or services. You will need to create promotional materials. There is constant need for writing. Keep that in mind when you are in class. It is an overlooked but important part of the music industry.”
“Grammy’s Spotlight: Alumni on Writing Your Way in the Music World” is an opportunity for students of all majors to gain insight into the dynamic between writing and the music industry.