{"id":211282,"date":"2026-02-10T10:54:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/?p=211282"},"modified":"2026-02-10T10:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:54:46","slug":"montclair-students-present-inaugural-first-mountain-music-festival-feb-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/2026\/02\/10\/montclair-students-present-inaugural-first-mountain-music-festival-feb-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair Students Present Inaugural First Mountain Music Festival Feb. 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new collaborative initiative spanning four courses in Montclair State University\u2019s\u00a0College of Communication and Media<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0College of the Arts<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is giving students the opportunity to produce a live music festival. Tickets for the show on Friday, Feb. 13 are free through the\u00a0Kasser Box Office<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for Montclair State University and Bloomfield College students\u00a0with a valid ID.<\/p>\n

The First Mountain Music Festival will transform the Memorial Auditorium into a student-run concert venue for a one-night showcase of local indie and alternative artists. The lineup features\u00a0Marauder, Alessandra Foti, Roe Knows Best, Ellie Beder and Alexa Tabbacchino<\/strong>, who will perform original music and selections from upcoming releases. The concert will run from 7-10 p.m.<\/p>\n

What sets First Mountain Music Festival apart is the scale of student involvement.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom audio engineering to video production, stage design, lighting and live event management, students are managing every aspect of the event while gaining real-world skills in an industry that is actively hiring,\u201d said\u00a0Anabella Poland<\/strong><\/a>, adjunct professor for Concert Production and Promotion and General Manager of\u00a0WMSC 90.3 FM<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Students leading the initiative are enrolled in\u00a0Concert Production and Promotion<\/em>,\u00a0Introduction to Music Production: Broadcast Music Production<\/em>,\u00a0Television Production Company<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Theatre Production<\/em>\u00a0courses. Their work is supported through collaboration with the\u00a0Department of Theatre and Dance<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0WMSC 90.3 FM<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Hawk+<\/strong><\/a>, the university\u2019s student-run streaming platform, which will stream the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing part of producing the First Mountain Music Festival for the first time has been an incredibly valuable experience,\u201d said Cameron Shepherd, a senior\u00a0Communication and Media Studies<\/a>\u00a0major involved in the project. \u201cWorking under a tight time crunch makes the process feel realistic and highlighted the importance of adaptability, collaboration and problem-solving in the music industry. Serving as a talent coordinator gave me hands-on experience working with artists and managing logistics, and seeing everything come together has been incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n

The First Mountain Music Festival marks the first time students have fully planned and produced a large-scale live music event through cross-disciplinary collaboration, reflecting the College of Communication and Media\u2019s emphasis on experiential learning. It also sets the foundation for future concerts that allow students to gain professional experience through active participation.<\/p>\n

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Festival lineup<\/strong><\/h3>\n