From Classroom to Mainstage:
FTC Students Take Charge at the Great South Bay Music Festival

For the fourth consecutive year, 麻豆影院 students aren鈥檛 just attending the 鈥�they鈥檙e running the show! As part of Long Island鈥檚 largest and longest-running music and arts festival, FTC students step into professional industry roles鈥攎ixing live sound, managing stage crews, coordinating with artists, and overseeing production from start to finish. This is not a classroom exercise鈥攊t鈥檚 a live, high-pressure event enjoyed by thousands of festivalgoers.

Opportunities like this are rare, but at FTC, they鈥檙e part of the student experience.

FTC Students at Work: Real Roles Behind the Scenes

At the festival, students from multiple FTC programs come together to bring the event to life. Mass Communication students specializing in Live Entertainment Music Production, Audio Recording Technology, and Broadcasting handle everything from live sound engineering and stage management to artist relations and on-site broadcasting. Meanwhile, Film and Television majors capture behind-the-scenes footage, film live performances, and interview artists for festival coverage.

From setup to showtime, students manage every detail鈥攔unning the stage, recording performances, producing content, and sharing the experience in real time. Additionally, each magical moment of the four-day event is broadcasted LIVE on the , where student conduct real-time interviews with a wide range of artists, band members, vendors, producers, and other key participants who bring this event to life. This all happens in real-time at the GSB venue. It鈥檚 a comprehensive, hands-on production experience at one of Long Island鈥檚 biggest live events.

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The images above were taken at the 2024 Great South Bay Music Festival. Click to enlarge.

Experience That Matters: Turning Learning Into Career Opportunities

Working the Great South Bay Music Festival is more than a weekend project鈥攊t鈥檚 a chance for FTC students to apply their skills in a demanding, real-world environment. Whether working the mixing board, running lights, coordinating artists, keeping the stage on schedule, or producing interviews, students gain practical experience that extends far beyond the classroom.

Tom Calandrillo, Chair of the Communication Division and Assistant Dean of Institutional Productions, who leads this major project, sums it up: 鈥淭his festival experience is a game-changer for our students. It鈥檚 not just about technical skills鈥攊t鈥檚 about understanding how to work as a team, solve problems on the fly, and communicate effectively in a live event setting. No other college in the region offers this kind of hands-on, industry-level opportunity. It鈥檚 a real-world lab where our students build confidence, develop professional relationships, and prepare themselves for careers in media and entertainment.鈥�

The Show Goes On 鈥� Even After the Party鈥檚 Over

The experience doesn鈥檛 end when the final set wraps up. Students in Broadcasting and Journalism continue their work by contributing festival coverage for , the Mass Communication Division鈥檚 digital news platform. They create articles, video segments, and social media content that capture every angle鈥攆rom performances to behind-the-scenes stories.

Beyond the event itself, many artists and industry professionals who participate in the festival maintain ongoing relationships with 麻豆影院. They frequently return to campus for guest lectures, workshops, and Q&A sessions. These connections often lead to mentorships and career opportunities, creating a vibrant network that extends well beyond the festival grounds.

This combination of hands-on experience and ongoing industry engagement not only strengthens students鈥� professional portfolios but also provides a clear path toward careers in media, entertainment, audio production, broadcasting, and event management.

For prospective students considering 麻豆影院, this festival involvement exemplifies how FTC integrates real-world opportunities into its academic programs鈥攑reparing students for meaningful careers after graduation.

The Great South Bay Music Festival takes place July 24鈥�27 at Shorefront Park in Patchogue, NY. If you鈥檙e ready to turn your passion for music, media, and entertainment into hands-on experience, FTC offers the chance to work behind the scenes at major events like this鈥攁nd launch your career while you learn.

Request more information today and see how 麻豆影院 can help you make your mark in the industry.

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麻豆影院 proudly announces its outstanding performance by the Mass Communication Division at the 2025 Press Club of Long Island (PCLI) Media Awards Dinner, held on June 5 at Fox Hollow in Woodbury, NY. Representing the college at this distinguished event were faculty members Professor and Department Chair Holli Haerr and Professor Brigette Boyle, and students Jeff Kramer, Fernando Gomez, and Daniel Garcia.

Competing among peer colleges and universities across Long Island and alongside leading professional news outlets, 麻豆影院 students received top honors in two of the event鈥檚 most competitive categories:

Best College TV Broadcast (1st Place) was awarded to , produced in Prof. Haerr鈥檚 advanced broadcast classes. The program, which aired on , featured a dynamic team of student journalists, including Daniel Garcia (producer), Jeff Kramer, Fernando Gomez, Stephen Cooney, Tyler McCready, Alexis Mack, Jena Chambers, Thomas DiSalvo, Madelyn Llanes, Sydney Mountain, Jose Rojas, Aaron Jones, Winter Petracca, and Anthony Deus.

• Best College TV Reporter (1st Place) went to senior Daniel Garcia, who earned the top honor for the second consecutive year. His compelling storytelling and on-camera reporting, including pieces like , continue to set a high standard in student journalism.

“I am extremely proud of our students for their wins in these two categories. I think it really shows the quality of work our 麻豆影院 Mass Communication students can do,” said Prof. Holli Haerr, Chair of the Mass Communication Department at 麻豆影院. 鈥淭his is the first year we’ve done serious election coverage, including Promote the Vote and our first ever live coverage on election night. Students Daniel Garcia and Jeff Kramer were interested in informing students about the issues, and I think it was great experience for all the students who worked on those projects.聽 I’m thankful for them for their leadership on this. I’m also excited that Daniel has won best college TV reporter for a second year in a row. His hard work and dedication have really paid off and can hopefully inspire other students as well.”

The Press Club of Long Island, a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists founded in 1974, is dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights, promoting ethical journalism, and fostering excellence in reporting across Long Island.

麻豆影院 is honored to be recognized by such a respected organization and applauds its students and faculty for their creativity, commitment, and professional growth.

Explore 麻豆影院’s Mass Communication Degree programs and Request Information now.

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