Dates
Feb 8, 2022, 6-7pm: Zoom: “Composium” with FAME Composer-In-Residence, Kent Klee
Mar 5, 2022, 5:00 pm: Creative Dance Collaboration with the Fort Wayne Youth Company Dance
Mar 19, 2022, 10-11am: FAMEous Composer Recognition Ceremony and Composition Dance Premiere
Fort Wayne:
Grand Wayne Convention Center
Fort Wayne FAME Composition project
Northeast Indiana area fourth and fifth grade students nominated by their music teachers participate as FAMEous Student Composers and collaborate with FAME’s Composers-in-Residence Kent Klee.
During composition and “composium” sessions in October, the FAMEous Composers will utilize a music composition and notation app called Noteflight, along with music technology workstations to compose their own Musical Signature Compositions then, creatively collaborate with Mr. Klee about how their musical ideas would be orchestrated into a Project Composition inspired by FAME’s 2021-2022 cultural focus “Jazz Age in North America”.
The FAMEous Composers access a project portfolio to complete various reflection assignments, which help to stimulate creative input and facilitate feedback for assessment during the music composition, rehearsal, and performance process.
FAME and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s ongoing collaboration with the Fort Wayne Ballet continue this year, as once again, the composition is being enhanced through originally choreographed dance movements created by the ballet’s Youth Company to perform as part of the composition’s Premiere Performance. The FAMEous Composers meet with the ballet’s Youth Company dancers for a pre-premiere presentation of the creative dance ideas for the composition and engage in a collaborative exchange of reflections about the dance’s artistic and thematic meanings. Each student receives a score of the music with his/her contribution highlighted.
This project meets education standards of 3-5 Indiana Music Education Standards (Objectives).
Project Activities (Subject to Change)
- Fri, Oct 8, 2021: FAMEous Composer Registration Form Due Date.
- Tue, Oct 19, 2021 4:00-6:00 pm: “Composium”/Composition session with Wendy Bloom, Project Coordinator, and FAME Composer-in-Residence Kent Klee, Weisser Park Elementary School.
- Wed, Oct 20, 2021 4:00-6:00 pm: “Composium”/Composition session with FAME Composer-In-Residence, Kent Klee, Weisser Park Elementary School.
- Thu, Oct 21, 2021 4:00-6:00 pm: “Composium”/Composition session with FAME Composer-In-Residence, Paul Klee, Weisser Park Elementary School.
- Jan-Feb, 2022 (Dates TBD) : “Composium”/Zoom session with FAME Composer-in-Residence Kent Klee, FAMEous Teachers, and Wendy Bloom, Project Coordinator
- Mon, Jan 10, 2022: Project Composition Score, and Digital Audio File sent FAME Composer-In-Residence, Kent Klee, Kent Klee to FAMEous Coordinator, FAMEous Teachers, FW Philharmonic Youth Symphony Director, FW Ballet Youth Company Director and FAME Office.
- Sat, March 5, 2022, 5:00 pm: Creative Dance Collaboration Session with Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company, Fort Wayne Ballet Center, Auer Center for the Performing Arts, 300 W. Main St, Fort Wayne.
- Sat, March 19, 2022, 10:00-11:00 am: FAMEous Composer Recognition Ceremony and Composition’s Dance Premiere Presentation by the FW Ballet Youth Company, Stage 3, Main Event Hall, Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne,
To Participate
Register your students in the FAME Composition Project by completing the online registration form, by emailing FAME at info@famearts.org, or by calling (260) 247-7325.
New Downloads
Revised Project Events Schedule
Revised Project Invitation Letter
Downloads
- Teacher Information Letter Packet
- Student Parent Information Letter and Registration-Release Form Packet
- 2021-2022 Composition Description
- Fame’s 2021-2022 Composer-In-Residence
Composition Project Resources
About Composer-in-Residence Kent Klee 
Kent Klee is an award winning composer, arranger, performer, and educator. He attended the University of North Texas where he studied with legendary Jazz drummer Ed Soph. He graduated from IPFW with a bachelor degree in Music Performance. He completed his post Graduate work with a master’s degree in Music Performance from Ball State University. He has taught at both the University of Notre Dame and Ball State University. He has been the director of percussion at Homestead High School for 27 years.
As a composer/arranger and teacher, Kent has won 8 Indiana Marching Band State Championships, and 1 W.G.I. National Championship. He has taught percussion at over 40 High School Band programs, and has taught hundreds of Private Students. He is Adjunct Professor at PFW.