Embark on a melodic journey to happily ever after

Fairytale Gala to cast its spell at Nazareth University

Rochester, NY (03/27/2024) — Enter the enchanted world of The Fairytale Gala, a free community concert devoted to the magical movie music of charming princes and princesses, on Saturday, April 13 in the Glazer Music Performance Center's Beston Hall on the Nazareth University campus, 4245 East Avenue. The concert will showcase a series of fairy tale themed musical selections played by Nazareth School of Music students and ROCmusic, a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing music education to the children of Rochester. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 2:30 concert.

Conceived of and directed by McKayla Jenkins, The Fairytale Gala started out, once upon a time, as her senior project to explore the connection behind music and emotion.

"Fairy tale movies and the accompanying music have always instilled me with a sense of nostalgia and warmth," she said recently. "When I feel stressed, I listen to a Disney soundtrack. It reminds me of the happy times of my childhood." It is the hope of the performers to instill this same sense of happiness in the audience.

The Gala evolved and expanded, and is now a fundraising event for ROCmusic, which will feature three ensembles composed of ROCmusic students in addition to Nazareth University music groups. The concert will feature over 80 musicians - including a choir, a wind ensemble, a rock ensemble, a jazz ensemble, several small eclectic groups, a brass ensemble, a percussion ensemble, and a string ensemble - and more than 20 well-known musical numbers from popular movies. The show will contain several interactive portions including an exciting sing-along finale to cap off the afternoon. All participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fairy tale character!

All donated proceeds from the event will go directly to help ROCmusic fund its mission of providing musical opportunities to local children.

"Our mission at ROCmusic is to leverage the collective resources of Rochester's major cultural organizations, educational institutions, and governmental agencies to provide exceptional music education and performance experiences for youth in Rochester," noted its director, Rachel Mills. The Fairytale Gala will serve as a fundraiser and a performance experience for ROCmusic students who will perform alongside the collegiate musicians.

"This is a family-friendly event open to anyone who wishes to spend an afternoon making music with others," added Jenkins.

American Sign Language interpreters will be present and accessible seating is available.

The concert is completely free and open to the public. Patrons are asked to secure tickets by visiting sites.google.com/mail.naz.edu/fairytale-gala or at Eventbrite.com. They will also be available at the door.

For more information, contact Jenkins at mjenkin0@mail.naz.edu or 315-922-8733.

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good.

Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth University education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of big universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing them for the professions and society of today and tomorrow.

In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates launch lifetimes of changemaking leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.