News & Events

Dan Prial ’07 was told by a resident adviser his first year on campus that summertime in Hamilton was one of Colgate’s best-kept secrets.

It’s no secret to Prial any longer. He’s having a great time at Colgate this summer, spending 10 weeks as an intern for the university’s Upstate Institute.

Prial is one of 14 Colgate students currently participating in the institute’s Upstate Field School initiative.

Previously known as the Utica Field School, the program provides undergrads with real-world internships at nonprofit and governmental organizations in central New York, enabling them to better understand the region — and earn small stipends at the same time.

Prial spent the first half of his internship working with Laura Klugherz, the Colgate music professor who organizes the annual Chenango Summer MusicFest, which was held in Hamilton in mid-June.

Daniel Prial ’07 plays the French horn during an “instrument petting zoo” held at the Earlville Opera House. The children’s concert was held in advance of the Chenango Summer MusicFest.

He jumped from that festival to working with the Partnership for Community Development (PCD) on its Music Mix, a free all-day event slated for July 30 in Hamilton.

Colgate is one of the founders and financial supporters of the PCD, a not-for-profit community economic development organization.

So not only is Prial gaining hands-on experience in organizing various aspects of the music festivals, he also is conducting research into the role such festivals play in the “creative economy” of a region.

“Through this research, I began to see music festivals in a different light. They are not just to enhance the arts, but rather, to build a community,” said Prial. “Music festivals can raise the quality of life in an area, bringing in both businesses and workers, both tourists and long-term residents.”

The creative-economy sector is made up of businesses and nonprofits with creativity at their core, from artists, musicians and cultural venues to architects, graphic designers, software developers, and advertising agencies.

Creation of such a knowledge-based economy is one of the goals of the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York.

Prial, an international relations major, has been working with the PCD since late June. He is doing everything from folding brochures and stapling signs to designing programs and working with local businesses and performers.

Patricia von Mechow, festival director, has taught him “so much about getting a complicated task accomplished with limited resources,” according to Prial.

Working on music festivals is a perfect fit for Prial, who plays the French horn and loves all kinds of music. He founded the Student Wind Ensemble his first year on campus and has performed with the Chamber Players, University Orchestra, and the Wind Ensemble.

“These festivals are a great way to experience music from behind the scenes. Believe me, it's not just as easy as setting up a microphone stand,” he said.

Four bands encompassing everything from world music to blues to funk will be playing at the daylong Music Mix event. There also is a five-mile race and a fun run around Lake Moraine, a young musicians’ showcase with a $200 grand prize, an artists’ village, activities for children, a car “cruise-in,” and food from local restaurants.