Music Opportunities at Lakeland

Lakeland Community College offers an array of musical opportunities for students and community members seeking to:

• Take music courses to satisfy general education requirements
• Develop musical and technical skills in music
• Study an instrument or voice in group or private lessons
• Earn an Associate of Arts degree with a focus on music, with the potential to transfer into a four-year program in music.
• Perform in one of our Lakeland Civic Music ensembles.

Successful completion of an Associates of Arts in music may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations. Below are examples which typically include additional degree work at a transfer institution. Northeast Ohio median salaries in 2020 for musicians and singers was $26.27/hour and for music therapists was $54,110. See O*Net OnLine for additional wage and employment trends as well as required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Music performance (vocal or instrumental)
• Music education
• Music production
• Music composition
• Music therapy

Additionally, the critical thinking, self-motivation and real-time problem-solving skills acquired through music study are highly prized in the legal, medical, and business fields. Music degree holders commonly work in schools, hospitals, churches, the military, and in for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises.

• Legal
• Medical
• Business
• Holders of music degrees and serious students of music can be found in:
  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Churches
  • The military
  • Board rooms of for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises

Most music courses are in the music wing, located on the first floor of the C-Building and D-Building. Facilities include:

• Dr. William and Mrs. Evelyn Fletcher Music Room (C-1078): A rehearsal and classroom space equipped with projection and playback equipment, and sufficient chairs and music stands for an 80-member ensemble.
• Music Computer Lab (C-1088): A 14-seat computer and piano lab used for classes in electronic music, class piano, and music theory.
• Practice rooms (C-1081 through C-1087): first-come, first-served individual and small group practice space, each soundproofed and equipped with an acoustic piano.
• Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center (D-1093): A 400-seat auditorium with professional-quality stage machinery, lighting, sound capabilities, acoustical shells and Steinway B grand piano.

Music Curriculum & Transfer

Lakeland Community College offers an array of music courses intended for the general education student, beginning and experienced performers, and coursework that will allow the student to complete the first two years of a Bachelor of Music with transfer options to a number of institutions. Students interested in a degree related to music should complete Lakeland's Associate of Arts degree.

Three music courses are in the Ohio Transfer 36, require no prior musical background, and fulfill in part the arts and humanities requirements of many Lakeland degrees:

• MUSC 1200 Music Appreciation
• MUSC 1215 World Music
• MUSC 1800 Popular Music: Rock, Jazz, Country, and Hip-Hop

Two additional courses require the ability to read musical notation fulfill in part the arts and humanities requirements of many Lakeland degree and are Transfer Assurance Guides courses:

• MUSC 2200 Music History and Literature I
• MUSC 2250 Music History and Literature II

The Civic Music program of Lakeland Community College offers five music ensembles for credit, several of which are a part of the Ohio Transfer Assurance Guarantee program:

• MUSC 2730 Lakeland Civic Flute Choir
• MUSC 2750 Lakeland Civic Chorus
• MUSC 2850 Lakeland Civic Orchestra
• MUSC 2890 Lakeland Civic Band
• MUSC 2895 Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra

In addition, student ensembles may register for MUSC 2700: Small Group Music in order to receive faculty coaching and college credit for chamber groups, popular music ensembles or other independent performance projects. Sixty percent of the performers in the ensemble must register for the course.

Membership in Civic Music ensembles is open to all Lakeland students and community members by audition. Music ensembles rehearse one evening a week and present three to five concerts during the year. It is recommended that students have at least two years of experience performing at the high school level prior to auditioning. Contact the Civic Music ensemble director for details.

We would love to have you in our audience for any music or theater performance. The current Arts schedule gives the full listing of all Arts at Lakeland events and you can purchase tickets for performances online. For detailed information about prior performances, see our concert, gallery and theater event programs.

Lakeland's music department offers beginning through advanced course work for students wishing to pursue study of an instrument or voice in either individual or group settings. We offer beginning studies in a class setting for voice, piano, and guitar through the following courses:

• MUSC 1000 Group Voice
• MUSC 1030 Group Guitar I
• MUSC 1050 Group Piano I

For other instruments, Lakeland is pleased to partner with the Fine Arts Association to offer private applied instruction for college credit for voice, piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, cello, bass (electric and acoustic), guitar, harp and organ. All instruments are available for a half-hour lesson per week (one credit) or a weekly hour lesson (two credits). Students registering for private lessons are responsible for contacting their instructor to arrange schedule and payment of course fees in addition for paying tuition to Lakeland. For most lessons, this is done through the Fine Arts Association, but students should start by registering for Lakeland courses MUSC 1251-1271 (for the appropriate instrument or voice and number of credits).

Lakeland students can fulfill all of the requirements for the first two years of a bachelor's degree in music, music education or music therapy. This makes our program ideal for students who started on music later in life, or who make the decision to focus on music later than is expected for many four-year programs.

Students intending to earn a bachelor's degree in a music-related field should take the following courses (all of which are a part of the Ohio Transfer Assurance Guarantee program):

• MUSC 1050 Group Piano I
• MUSC 1600 Music Theory I
• MUSC 1700 Music Theory II
• MUSC 2200 Music History and Literature I
• MUSC 2250 Music History and Literature II
• MUSC 2400 Music Theory III
• MUSC 2500 Music Theory IV

The music department supports Lakeland's media technology program by offering two courses in electronic music, which are required for students in the audio recording track of the Associate of Applied Science in media technology and are also open to interested elective students:

• MUSC 2650 Electronic Music I
• MUSC 2660 Electronic Music II

Students interested in pursuing a four-year degree in music will find that Lakeland's courses meet most requirements. In addition to many seamless transfer partners through the Ohio Transfer 36, the following options are currently available to Lakeland students:

• Case Western Reserve University: Cleveland Humanities Collaborative
• Cleveland State University Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Pathway

Students intending to transfer and major in music should:

1. Work with the Lakeland Transfer Center as soon as possible to determine admission and audition requirements at four-year institutions.
2. Take private lessons on their major instrument for credit every spring and fall semester at Lakeland (two credits per semester recommended).
3. Participate in a Lakeland Civic Music ensemble for credit every spring and fall semester at Lakeland.
4. Complete all four music theory courses (MUSC 1600, 1700, 2400, and 2500)
5. Complete all music history and literature courses (MUSC 2200 and 2250)
6. Complete the Ohio Transfer 36 requirements*.
7. Take at least one semester of group piano or an applied piano class.
8. Prepare an audition into the receiving four-year program, typically in the winter of the year prior to transfer.

*Note that the general education courses in music (MUSC 1200, 1215, and 1800) are not typically required for a bachelor's degree in music. Music majors will want to complete a course in at least one other arts or humanities area as listed in the requirements for the Associate of Arts.

The mission of the music department is to provide a learning environment that fosters musically aesthetic literacy and expressive capability through the cultivation of musical techniques and skills and the exploration of creative traditions and possibilities.​

Upon successful completion of music coursework, students will:

1. Describe the features of a live or recorded musical performance that distinguish it from other pieces of music.
   1. Students will identify the instrumental/vocal techniques used.
   2. Students will identify the compositional/improvisational techniques used.
   3. Student will describe the melodic, harmonic, or formal structures of a musical piece.
   4. Students will describe the significant rhythmic patterns of a musical piece.
2. Explain the historical, social, and cultural context of a musical work.
   1. Students will identify the historical era of a given composition.
   2. Students will explain the social setting appropriate for a given composition.
   3. Students will explain the relationship of a musical style/form/technology to its cultural and physical environment.

Lakeland Civic Music

Lakeland Community College has music groups that are open for any student or community member to join by audition.

Additionally, the college offers talented high school students Jazz Impact, an all-star high school music group. Each ensemble performs a variety of classic to contemporary repertoire at the college level. No matter what instrument you play, we would love to have you join us.

We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your thoughts on our latest Civic Music performance. Your feedback helps us improve and continue bringing quality musical experiences to our community.

Click here to fill out our short feedback form

Thank you for supporting Lakeland Community College Civic Music!

• Lakeland Music Department (academic)
• Civic Music
• Civic Chorus
• Civic Orchestra
• Civic Band
• Civic Flute Choir
• Civic Jazz Orchestra
• Jazz Impact
• Small Group Music

Young Artist Competition

The Lakeland Civic Orchestra Young Artists Competition offers the opportunity for pre-college instrumentalists and signers to compete for the chance to perform as a soloist in the upcoming academic year with the Lakeland Civic Orchestra. There are two categories: junior, age 13 and under, and senior, age 14-18. We welcome auditions from anyone under the age of 18, see below for more information.

To provide a learning environment that fosters musically aesthetic literacy and expressive capability through the cultivation of musical techniques and skills and the exploration of creative traditions and possibilities.

All instrumentalists and voice students with appropriate repertoire are allowed to audition. Auditions are judged in two categories: ages 13 and younger, and ages 14 and older. 2024-2025 winners performed Elgar's Cello Concerto, songs from Grieg's music for "Peer Gynt" and Popper's Hungarian Rhapsody. These pieces will likely not be programmed again in the near future.

Each teacher is allowed to bring a maximum of two (2) students from their studio.

Auditions will take place in person in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center on Lakeland's campus on Monday, May 12, 2025, 5-9 p.m. Schedule your audition before Friday, April 11 by completing the Young Artist Competition form here.

• Bring three copies of the score for the piece you will be playing for the judging panel.
• The length of the audition is limited to twelve (12) minutes.
• Begin by stating your name and the title and composer of the piece you are performing.
• You must perform with an accompanist.
• The judging panel will only determine winner(s) and runner(s)-up in each division and will not provide written comments or other feedback.
• The piano for auditions and performance is a Steinway Model B.

Audition on the piece you intend to perform with the orchestra; that is, a concerto or other work for soloist with orchestral accompaniment. You may perform contrasting movements or one whole movement, whichever you feel best displays your abilities, but the entire length of your audition may not exceed 12 minutes, including your spoken introduction. Make cuts as necessary in longer pieces so that your performance as soloist is emphasized—the committee does not need to hear long orchestral sections without the soloist.

Accompanists are required for the audition. You must provide your own accompanist. 

Winners will be notified by May 31 of the given year and will be asked to perform with the Lakeland Civic Orchestra in November, March, or April of the following academic year.

Throughout its more than 80-year history, the Lakeland Civic Orchestra and its precursor organizations have sought out and presented performances by rising young artists. After a hiatus, a formal Young Artists Concerto Competition was revived by director Kathryn Harsha in 2000, with auditions judged by a panel consisting of the orchestra directed and judges drawn from Northeast Ohio university music faculty and professional musicians. Recent winners include:

• 2024: Elora Kares (senior division), Grieg, Songs from "Peer Gynt," performance 4/27/2025
• 2024, Elora Kares (senior division), Popper, Hungarian Rhapsody, performance 4/27/2025
• 2024, Nicholas Jacques (junior division), Elgar, Cello Concerto, performance 11/10/2024
• 2023, Aika Birch (senior division), Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1, performance 4/28/2024
• 2023, Alice Han (junior division), Felix Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto, performance 12/11/2023
• 2022, Daniel Colaner (senior division), Saint-Saens, Piano Concerto No. 2, performance 4/30/2023
• 2022, Saya Uejima (junior division), Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23, performance 11/13/2022
• 2021, Rosabelle Shi (senior division), Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1, performance 3/6/2022
• 2021, Rosabelle Shi (junior division), Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 2, performance 3/6/2022
• 2021, Moshi Tang (senior division), Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, performance 11/7/2021
• 2020, Competition Cancelled
• 2019, Maude Cloutier (senior division), Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, performance 3/8/2020
• 2019, Julia Schilz (senior division), Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5, performance cancelled
• 2018, Jason Zhang (senior division), Grieg: Piano Concerto, Mvt. 1, performance 4/28/2019
• 2018, Moshi Tang (junior division), Saint-Saens: Violin Concerto No. 3, performance 3/10/2019
• 2017, Ania Lewis (senior division), Lalo: Cello Concerto, performance 4/29/2018
• 2017, Laura Schilz (junior division), Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1          , performance 3/4/2018
• 2016, Peishe Lu (senior division),  Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3, performance 4/30/2017
• 2016, Elizabeth Huang (junior division), Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole, performance 3/12/2017
• 2015, Julia Schilz (junior division), Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2, performance 5/1/2016
• 2015, Brandon Wang (senior division), Elgar: Cello Concerto, performance 4/3/2016
• 2014, Maggie Niekamp (senior division), Barber: Violin Concerto, mvt. 1, performance 3/1/2015
• 2014, Christina JiHee Nam (junior division), Sarasate: Carmen Fantasy, performance 3/1/2015
• 2013, Liliana Garlisi (senior division), Grieg: Piano Concerto, Mvt. 3, performance 3/2/2014
• 2013, Ji Hoon Paul Woo (junior division), Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, Mvt. 1, performance 3/2/2014
• 2012, Tong Li (senior division), Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2, mvt. 1, performance 3/3/2013
• 2012, William Wang (junior division), Saint-Saens: Violin Concerto No. 3, Mvt. 1, performance 3/3/2013

Dr. Matthew C. Saunders

(born 1976, Austin, Texas, USA) is a Northeast Ohio composer, conductor, trombonist, husband, and father. All his work is connected to teaching students from kindergarten to college in styles from madrigal to mariachi. He draws inspiration from the vastness of space, the waterways and forests, mountains and prairies of America, the motion of atoms, and the mysteries of existence, but most importantly from collaboration with other musicians and his students. He reads history, science, science fiction, classics, and too much social media. After a hard day's work, he relaxes on the couch with his wonderful wife, who is the love of his life and his teammate in the sport of parenting their children. On sunny days off, he bicycles and hikes, and hopes to bike the full length of the Ohio & Erie Canalway, from Cleveland to Bolivar, a short distance from the first home he remembers. He is lucky to live near Lake Erie, and he often pauses to look out over it for the glimpse of a freighter, or merely to contemplate the motion of the water. Dr. Saunders is a lover of both solitude and camaraderie, Cincinnati-style chili, road trips, movies, and random facts. His favorite dinosaur is the Parasaurolophus, but he thinks the best dinosaur is the Stegosaurus. He keeps a running list of possible band names, and one day hopes to start one, singing clever songs about the world (as well as a few love songs) with plenty of vocal harmony. He gets excited about lots of music that he would never write or perform himself and does what he can to share that with the world, too, because everyone's voice should be heard.

Dr. Saunders is Professor of Music and music and theater department chair at Lakeland Community College, where he also directs the Lakeland Civic Orchestra.  Prior to coming to Lakeland, he held the position of Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Oklahoma Panhandle State University from 2007 to 2012.  He received degrees in music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Ohio State University.  Dr. Saunders studied composition with Donald Harris, Thomas Wells, Jan Radzynski, and Wes Flinn, and trombone with Joseph Duchi and Tony Chipurn. 

The Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival is dedicated to the presentation of educational opportunities for aspiring student jazz musicians of high school and junior high school age. The festival provides an educational forum for student musicians, devotees of the music field, and the public at large through clinics and performances.

This annual event has provided a stage for the performance of all styles of jazz by internationally celebrated artists as well as gifted musicians found in this area of the country.

Jazz is a unique contribution to our culture and artistic heritage. In its 52-year history (2024), the Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival has portrayed those vital qualities of style that made jazz a significant contribution to the world of art and a distinct American form of expression. Future jazz festivals will continue to include depth of educational and entertainment opportunities to enhance the cultural quality of the Lakeland vicinity.

-Carmen Lundy

To provide a learning environment that fosters aesthetic literacy and expressive capability through the cultivation of artistic techniques and skills and the exploration of creative traditions and possibilities.

-Chris Potter

 "I've enjoyed being part of the Lakeland jazz festival since observing Len Orcino direct jazz impact in 1978-I was 17. Over the years, I've been a listener, performer, judge and clinician. I'm grateful for all of the experiences with the late Chuck Frank, Bob Brown, Dan McCarthy, Ed Michaels and Dave Sterner. In my view, it's several decades of fine musicianship and exceptional music education, and I'm glad to have played a small role."

-Paul Ferguson, Music Director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra

I had the privilege to be associated with the Lakeland Jazz festival as the director of the Lakeland Jazz Orchestra and as Artistic Director of the Festival. This annual event brought the attention of music students and the community some of the greatest jazz musicians to play the music. Louie Bellson, Phil Woods, Buddy DeFranco and many other Jazz greats graced the LCC Performing Arts Center Stage during my tenure. It was a positive force for the music before me and continues as one of the great events in Northeast Ohio. Once again it was a privilege and a joy to be part of it!

-Ernie Krivda, Cleveland Jazz Legend Award, 2005

"Love it! Lakeland Jazz Festival is a place to catch stellar performances with a high level of education. Lakeland brings that warmth of an interactive jazz community!"

-Evelyn Wright, Tri-C Jazz Legend 2008

Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to participate in festival activities. Whether you are looking to listen to the international artist, the regional band and the Lakeland Jazz Orchestra, or our talented middle and high school jazz ensembles, we hope you enjoy the music and experience.

The 2025 Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival is March 14 & 16.

The festival is on Lakeland's campus in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center, D-Building.

High school & middle school adjudications.

The Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra

The Lakeland Jazz Festival was founded by retired professor and music department Coordinator Charles M. Frank in 1973 and remains the oldest jazz festival in the State of Ohio. The Lakeland Jazz Festival has remained true to its original mission of instilling the excitement and magic of jazz education to the younger generation of musicians. Over 25,000 middle and high school musicians from throughout the state have participated in the festival in celebration of this uniquely American art form, jazz. The festival features two parts: serving the schools and festival artists.

This year's event will take place Friday, March 14, where local middle and high school jazz ensembles perform for adjudication between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Click here for this year's adjudication application!

2025 adjudication schedule

Lakeland Civic Flute Choir

The newest addition to the Arts at Lakeland family is the Lakeland Civic Flute Choir, under the direction of Judith Elias. Composed of 20 musicians playing flute and related instruments, the choir meets for a unique-to-Lakeland weekday morning rehearsal and features music composed and arranged specifically for this fascinating ensemble.

Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Civic Flute Choir.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: All college students and community adults.

WHEN: During the fall and spring semesters, the civic flute choir holds rehearsals every Thursday morning from 8:45-10:45 a.m.

WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, have had prior ensemble performance experience (at least two years at the high school level), and be able to commit to Thursday morning rehearsals and two to three performances during each semester.  Most performers must provide their own instruments.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Lakeland Flute Choir is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's Civic Flute Choir Director for more information.

INSTRUMENTS: The flute choir welcomes all orchestral flutes (C flute, piccolo, alto, bass and contrabass flutes). The flute choir also occasionally collaborates with other musicians.

The Lakeland Civic Flute Choir consists of many members of the previous Lake Erie College Flute Choir, which was in existence from 2001-2017, originated by Judith Elias, now director of the Lakeland Civic Flute Choir. While at Lake Erie College, the flute choir frequently collaborated with The Lake Erie College Community Chorus. In the fall of 2017, the flute choir decided to become separate from Lake Erie College and became The Hildegarden Flute Choir, as they were invited to rehearse and perform at The Hildegarden in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. The Hildegarden Flute Choir was able to add other instruments such as a mandolin, acoustic guitar, guitarrón, piano and percussion instruments on some of their music. When the Hildegarden closed in the spring of 2018, they became The Lake Flute Choir, rehearsing on the campus of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Painesville, Ohio, where they had performed on several occasions. In the spring of 2020, they were invited by Music Department Chair, Dr. Matthew Saunders and the Dean for Arts and Sciences Division to be in residence at Lakeland Community College to provide a daytime ensemble that could include Lakeland students and additional community members.

Judith Elias has a B.M.E. from Youngstown State University and did graduate study at Kent State University with Raymond DeMattia, with extensive additional studies under Maurice Sharp. She is on the faculty of The Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. Elias has appeared as soloist with the Lakeland Civic Orchestra in which she is principal flutist and performs extensively as a member of many fine chamber ensembles in the area. Elias was adjunct instructor in flute and director of the Lake Erie College Flute Choir from 2001-2017. She is currently the director of the Lakeland Civic Flute Choir. She is a member of the Fine Arts Woodwind Quintet.

Lakeland Civic Band

The Lakeland Civic Band is a concert band/wind ensemble composed of Lakeland students, high school players, school music teachers, directors and community musicians.

The band is one of the few community college groups recognized with the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Silver Scroll Award for musical excellence and service to the community. The Lakeland Civic Band is currently under the direction of Frank T. Cosenza.

WHO IS ELEGIBLE: Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Civic Band.

WHEN: The civic band holds rehearsals every Thursday evening from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Rehearsals are either in the PAC or the Fletcher Music Room, C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, have had ensemble performance experience (at least two years at the high school level), and be able to commit to Thursday evening rehearsals and three to four performances per semester. Most performers must provide their own instruments, and percussionists must provide their own mallets. During summer term, the band performs outdoor concerts.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Lakeland Civic Band is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's Civic Band Director for more information.

INSTRUMENTS: The band welcomes all concert band style instruments including piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba and percussion.

The Lakeland Civic Band was founded by Mr. Charles Frank in 1977 with the purpose of providing an opportunity for instrumentalists from the area to perform band literature of the highest quality. Its membership is drawn from Lakeland students, talented high school players, school music teachers and directors, and community musicians who are selected by audition. In addition to hosting guest artists and conductors, the band features several of its members as soloists or conductors each season. The band's 20th Anniversary featured the world-renowned Dr. Frederick Fennell as guest conductor; the 25th Anniversary featured Col. John Bourgeois, former conductor of the U.S. Marine Band; the 30th Anniversary featured Loras John Schissel, renowned conductor of the Blossom Festival Band; and the 35th Anniversary featured Col. Timothy Foley, also former conductor of the U.S. Marine Band.

During its history, the Lakeland Civic Band has commissioned four original compositions including "Poem for Band" by Dr. Rex Mitchell, formerly of Clarion State University in Pennsylvania; "Ode to a Clocktower" composed in honor of the band's 25th Anniversary by former Lakeland faculty member, Dan Rager; "Suite: The American West" by Lakeland faculty member, Dr. Stephen Stanziano; and "Mysterious Marvels," by Lakeland music department Chair Dr. Matthew Saunders. In addition to its regular schedule of concerts held at Lakeland each year, in recent years the band has performed at Mentor High School, Perry High School, Wickliffe High School, Lakeside High School, Kirtland Middle School, Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, the Kent State University Stark Campus, and Severance Hall. The band also provides music each spring for Lakeland's annual commencement exercises. During summer terms, the civic band performs outdoor concerts at venues such as the James A. Garfield National Historic Site and the Mentor Civic Amphitheater.

The Lakeland Civic Band has been honored by invitations to perform for national, state and regional conferences including the Ohio Music Education Association Conferences in 1980, 1985, 1991, 2003 and 2006; the North Central Regional Conference of the College Band Directors National Association at The Ohio State University in 1982; the National Convention of the American School Band Directors Association in Columbus, Ohio in 1993; and the National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands in Lisle, Illinois in 1998. The civic band and chorus were invited to perform at the Chautauqua Institute in 1997, 1999 and 2002. In 1997, the Lakeland Civic Band received the Sudler Silver Scroll Award presented by the Sousa Foundation in recognition of musical excellence and service to the community. The Lakeland Civic Band is one of the few community college groups that have received this award based on an evaluation of continued musical achievements and performance tapes.

Frank Cosenza is a veteran band director who retired from the West Geauga Local Schools where he was a four-time recipient of the Excellence in Education Award. He served as interim director of athletic bands/concert band at Kent State University for the 2012-2013 academic year where the Marching Golden Flashes performed in the MAC Conference Championship and the Go Daddy.com Bowl. He previously taught in Mentor, Parma, Mansfield and North Ridgeville school districts.

His groups have performed at Severance Hall for the Northeast Ohio Wind Band Invitational, the Ohio Music Education Association State Conference, the American School Band Directors Association State Conference, Lincoln Center in New York City, and the Ohio School Boards Association Conference. Additionally, his groups have performed at the University of Akron Band Clinic, Hiram College, Cleveland Browns halftime, the Cleveland Indians and performances in Florida, Michigan, Georgia and Canada.

Concert bands under his direction have received consistent superior ratings at OMEA large group adjudicated events. He has served on the Content Validation Panel for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and has been on the staff of American Music Abroad taking student musicians to Europe. Additionally, he served as assistant director of the All-Ohio State Fair Band. Cosenza is an elected member of Phi Beta Mu- International Bandmasters Fraternity, the American School Band Director's Association and Tau Beta Sigma honorary.

As a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, he has served as state treasurer/trustee, district president, All-State co-coordinator, member of music selection committees, adjudicated events chair and current adjudicator. He was the 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for OMEA District VII and was chosen as the "Honored Teacher" at West Geauga High School in 2010. He has served as guest conductor/clinician in Nevada, Florida and throughout Ohio as well as an adjudicator for "Music in the Parks/Festivals of Music."

He has conducted concert bands for the Cleveland Federation of Musicians, the Windjammers Unlimited (Circus Music Historical Society,)  and the W.D. Packard Concert Band. He was formerly associate conductor of the Medina Community Band. Cosenza is co-principal trumpet with the W.D. Packard Concert Band and has played with the Big Band Sound of Warren. Additionally, he has played for many shows and artists including Frankie Avalon, The Manhattan Transfer, Wayne Newton, Johnny Mathis, Holiday on Ice, the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and Ludwig Masters recordings. He is a Conn-Selmer endorsing artist and received a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University and Master of Music from the University of Akron where he received the Distinguished Music Educator Alumni Award in 2020.

Lakeland Civic Chorus

The Lakeland Civic Chorus consists of approximately 40 Lakeland students, high school students, school music teachers, directors and community members. There are three choral ensembles available for singers: Lakeland Civic Chorus, Lakeland Women's Choir and Lakeland Chorale.

Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Civic Chorus.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: All college students and community adults.

WHEN: During the fall and spring semesters, the civic chorus holds rehearsals every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, be able to match pitch, have had prior choral ensemble performance experience, and be able to commit to Tuesday evening rehearsals and two to four performances during the academic year.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Lakeland Civic Chorus is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's Civic Chorus Director for more information.

VOICES: The chorus welcomes all voice classifications including soprano, alto, tenor and bass.

ENSEMBLES: All singers who have a successful audition shall be a member of the Lakeland Civic Chorus. All sopranos and altos who are in the chorus shall be a member of the Lakeland Women's Choir. Singers in the Lakeland Chorale are by appointment only.

The Lakeland Civic Chorus was founded in 1972 as a result of an initiative by local community members and Lakeland Community College to complement the existing Lakeland Civic Orchestra. Romeo Pallante was appointed as the first music director and conductor. The chorus moved to the Lakeland campus after the completion of the performing arts center and art gallery in 1975. Pallante served until 2002 with Chuck Valley and Herb Knoll appointed to the podium when Pallante was on sabbaticals. The Romeo Pallante Scholarship was created upon his retirement and is administered by The Lakeland Foundation. Chris Robinson became music director in 2002 and served for 12 seasons.

Leonard DiCosimo was the director from 2015-2021, and expanded the chorus to three choral ensembles available to singers on campus - Lakeland Civic Chorus, Women's Choir and the Lakeland Chorale. Under his direction, the singers performed annually for Lake County Captains baseball games and biannual services at Pilgrim UCC in Tremont. The chorus has also performed for "The Legend of Zelda - Symphony of the Goddesses" and "Distant Worlds - Music of Final Fantasy" video game concerts at Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland.

With the 2024-2025 season, Ben Richard begins his third full year as director of the Lakeland Civic Chorus. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music) and Ohio University (Master of Music), Ben has directed middle school, high school and church choirs around the state of Ohio for the past twenty-five years. Most recently, he has worked for the Willoughby-Eastlake School District, directing choirs at Willoughby Middle School and Willoughby South High School since 2005.  He has also served as choir director at Grace Church of Mentor since 2006.  Additionally, Ben has worked as director, clinician and guest conductor for various collaborative choir events in church, school and community-based contexts. Ben is an enthusiastic lover of music—especially choral music—and he considers it a privilege to make music now with the Lakeland Civic Chorus. When not directing choirs, Ben enjoys spending time at home in Leroy Township with his wife, Julie, and their four children, Simon, Graham, Oliver and Laurel.

Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra

Composed of Lakeland students, amateur musicians and semi-professional players, the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra features approximately 20 musicians. The traditional instrumentation consists of a full rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) five saxes, four trumpets, four trombone and the occasional singer.

Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra.

WHO IS ELEGIBLE: All college students and community adults.

WHEN: During the fall and spring semesters, the civic jazz orchestra holds rehearsals every Wednesday evening from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, have had prior ensemble performance experience, and be able to commit to Wednesday evening rehearsals and two to four performances during the academic year. The repertoire of this ensemble provides opportunities for improvisation, so experience as a soloist is a plus. Brass wind and woodwind musicians must own their own instruments.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra is by audition that takes place in August. Please contact Lakeland's Civic Jazz Director for more information.

INSTRUMENTS: The jazz orchestra welcomes all jazz style instruments including alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, guitar, bass and drums.

The Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra was organized in 1973 under the direction of Charles Frank to provide jazz performance opportunities for Lakeland Community College students and community musicians. In its remarkable history, the jazz orchestra has had five directors, countless musicians and the opportunity to perform at a wide variety of settings including the Ohio Music Education Association Conference in Cincinnati.

Following Charles Frank's departure to become the executive director of the Fine Arts Association, Dr. Dan McCarthy was added to the Lakeland Community College music faculty and became director of the Jazz Ensemble until 1991. Legendary Cleveland saxophonist Ernie Krivda took up the reigns in 1992 and continued to lead the group at concerts and the Jazz Festival. In 2002, Larry A. Smith, was appointed to lead the group and under Smith's direction, the Lakeland Jazz Orchestra performed at Lakeland's Jazz Festivals, at the Great Lakes Mall Holiday Concert Series, and at the Madison Jazz Festival in 2005. From 2008 through 2020, Director Dave Sterner led the group at the Ashtabula Jazz Festival, as well as, the Lakeland Jazz Festival and numerous themed Lakeland concerts. Ed Michaels served as interim director through Spring 2022. In fall 2022, Demetrius Steinmetz became director of the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra.

Demetrius Steinmetz holds a Master of Music in string performance and Bachelor of Music in jazz studies from Bowling Green State University. In addition to directing the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra, he is also part of the jazz studies faculty at Cuyahoga Community College where he teaches courses including applied bass and piano, performance ensembles, class piano, class guitar, and Rock and Roll history. He has more than a decade's worth of experience teaching for Tri-C's Jazz Preparatory Program, as well as Tri-C's "Summer With The Jazz Masters" camp.

Steinmetz is currently an instructor for the outreach program through the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra working with students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. He has been an instructor for the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning's ArtWorks program, leading a group of jazz "apprentices," mentoring them in music while working on 21st century skills. He has also designed a jazz improvisation course for saxophone camp, coached combos for jazz camp, and instructed double bass techniques for string students at BGSU summer music camps as well as jazz studies majors.

Steinmetz spent four years as Artist in Residence at the Cleveland School of the Arts, where he was director of bands and jazz ensemble. He has been an instructor for the instrumental music after-school program for the 21st Century Community Learning Center and Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland and has taught saxophone and bass at The Fine Arts Association in Willoughby, as well as the Beck Center for the Arts.

Steinmetz performs professionally in the Cleveland area, and has performed with nationally known artists such as Jimmy Heath, Carl Allen, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Kim Nazarian, Howard Johnson, Doug Lawrence and Chico Hamilton. He has been recorded on Cadence Records, which received four stars in a review in Downbeat magazine.

Lakeland Civic Orchestra

This 60-member symphony orchestra, formed from Lakeland students and community members and containing both amateur and professional musicians, performs the finest in classical, contemporary, and pops orchestral music for the Lakeland community. The Lakeland Civic Orchestra is led by Dr. Matthew Saunders and concertmaster Sarah Icardi.

The Lakeland Civic Orchestra also sponsors an annual Young Artists Concerto Competition for talented musicians age 18 and under. Winners perform a concerto with the orchestra during the following season, and have included many of the finest young musicians in Northeast Ohio.

Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Civic Orchestra.

WHO IS ELEGIBLE: All college students and community adults.

WHEN: During the fall and spring semesters, the civic orchestra holds rehearsals every Monday evening from 7:45-9:45 p.m.

WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, have had prior ensemble performance experience (at least two years at the high school level), and be able to commit to Monday evening rehearsals and two to three performances during each semester. Most performers must provide their own instruments, and percussionists must provide their own mallets.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Lakeland Civic Orchestra is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's Civic Orchestra Director for more information. 

INSTRUMENTS: The orchestra welcomes all orchestral instruments including violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and percussion.

The Lakeland Civic Orchestra began in September 1937 as the Lake County Symphony Orchestra Association, founded by. Lorna Nighman, its first director, leading musicians from Lake and Geauga counties. By February 1938, the group had grown to 30 members, and in June 1938, presented its first concert at Painesville Baptist Church. In 1951, the orchestra reorganized and renamed itself the Lake County Symphony Orchestra.

Around 1955, Charles Ruddick organized and began to lead the Willoughby Community Orchestra, a group providing concerts in the parks and other service functions. In 1970, the groups merged to become the Lakeland Civic Orchestra under the aegis of the recently-established Lakeland Community College.

Since then, the Lakeland Civic Orchestra has pursued the dual missions of providing Lake County residents with opportunities to play and hear orchestral music, while fulfilling the performing ensemble requirement for many Lakeland Community College music students. The annual Young Artists Concerto Competition has been an important step in the careers of budding young musicians, with the winners performing with the orchestra as soloists. Additionally, the orchestra has collaborated with choral ensembles, including the Lakeland Civic Chorus, and with the wide range of professional soloists and composers in Northeast Ohio.

For many decades years, the musicians of Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties have come together to bring orchestral music to our community. They rehearse one weekday evening per week because of their passion for music and love for the act of music making. Join us for the next phase of our history!

Dr. Matthew C. Saunders has taught music from kindergarten to college in styles from madrigal to mariachi, and strives to make beautiful music for and with captivating people. He has climbed mountains, saved someone's life, and watched the moon rise over the prairie. He has loved, lost and loved again; helped friends find salvation, and found it for himself as well; taught genius students, and learned from genius teachers. His dreams are to walk on Mars, hear a grand piano fall into an orchestra pit, make more people laugh than cry, and love his wife Becky passionately and forever. He plays trombone and is always getting better at playing piano, and in the course of a long, love-filled, productive life, he wants to compose the Great American Symphony, ride the rails, hike the trails, read all of the good books, finally watch "The Godfather," and storm the castles in the air. He will never write unlistenable music, stop stargazing or lose money in Vegas. He doesn't call his mother often enough, but he still tries to do a good turn daily. He is always up for a few hands of euchre or a good game of chess, likely winning the former and losing the latter.

Dr. Saunders is professor of music and music department chair at Lakeland Community College, where he teaches courses in music appreciation, popular music, music history and first-year experience, and directs the Lakeland Civic Orchestra. Prior to coming to Lakeland in 2012, he held the position of associate professor of music and director of bands at Oklahoma Panhandle State University from 2007 to 2012. He received degrees in music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Ohio State University. Dr. Saunders studied composition with Donald Harris, Thomas Wells, Jan Radzynski and Wes Flinn, and trombone with Joseph Duchi and Tony Chipurn. His 20 years' experience in music education includes teaching band; general music; and music theory in public elementary, middle and high schools, and colleges and universities, in rural, suburban and urban settings in Ohio, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

Dr. Saunders' original compositions have been performed across the country, including performances at national conferences of the National Flute Association, the International Horn Society, the Society of Composers, and the College Music Society. He has presented his research at conferences of the College Music Society, the Society of Composers, the Oklahoma Music Theory Roundtable, and the Aspen Composers Conference. His works for large ensemble have been performed by the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra (Columbus, Ohio), the Marquette (Michigan) Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest Florida Youth Orchestra, the New Music Guild Festival Orchestra, the University City Symphony Orchestra (Missouri). They have also been performed by the orchestras of Florida Gulf Coast University and Westminster College, and the bands and wind ensembles of The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, West Texas A&M University, Kutztown University (Pennsylvania), Dennison University (Ohio), Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Garden City (Kansas) Community College, and Sinclair Community College (Ohio). Locally, his works have been performed by the Lakeland Civic Orchestra, the Lakeland Civic Band and at Lorain County Community College. He has collaborated on original compositions with members of the Minnesota Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and faculty members from South Dakota State University, University of Minnesota at Morris, Minot State University (North Dakota), Eastern New Mexico State University, New Mexico State University, and Eastern Illinois University. He performs as a trombonist, and was featured soloist in the premiere of his concert piece for trombone and wind ensemble "Homo sapiens trombonensis," and presented the first complete performance of his epic unaccompanied trombone work "Twenty Views of the Trombone" in Atlanta, Georgia, in February 2017, after performances and premieres of portions of the piece in New York City; Norman, Oklahoma; Aspen, Colorado; and Cleveland (at both MOCA Cleveland and for the Cleveland Composers Guild). In Northeast Ohio, Saunder's works have been performed by the Blue Streak Ensemble and the Gruca White Ensemble, the Chamber Music Society of Ohio, the Solaris Wind Quintet, and Oberlin Choral Spectrum. He received the 2007 Ruth Friscoe Prize for composition, was the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association 2011 Commissioned Composer, and is a five-time recipient of the ASCAP Plus Award. He was elected to membership in the Cleveland Composers Guild in 2012 and has served as secretary since 2015. Dr. Saunders' compositions are published by Imagine Music and martiandances.com, and he has written articles for "The Journal of Band Research," "Music Educators Journal," "The Chronicle of Higher Education," and "The Instrumentalist." He is on the web at www.martiandances.com, but the physical Dr. Saunders lives in Willowick, Ohio, with his wife Becky and their children Noah and Melia.

Jazz Impact

Composed of approximately 25 middle and high school students, the Lakeland Jazz Impact is an honors youth jazz ensemble bringing together the finest young jazz musicians in Northeast Ohio, and is one of the only groups of its kind in the area.

Led by Ed Michaels, it performs on campus, at the Lakeland Jazz Festival, and in recent years has appeared regularly at The Bop Stop at the Music Settlement in Ohio City.

Jazz students in grades 8-12 are encouraged to audition for the Lakeland Jazz Impact.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Current middle and high school students, grades 8-12.

WHEN: During the fall and spring semesters, the civic jazz orchestra holds rehearsals every Wednesday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: All performers must have sight-reading skills, have had prior ensemble performance experience, and be able to commit to Wednesday afternoon rehearsals and two to four performances during the academic year. Brass and woodwind musicians must own their own instruments. Students should be in good academic standing in their high school or middle school, and, when available, participate in their school's music program.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into Lakeland Jazz Impact is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's Jazz Impact Director for more information.

INSTRUMENTS: The jazz impact welcomes all jazz style instruments including alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, guitar, bass and drums.

"Thinking back to my time with Jazz Impact, I am forever grateful to Ed Michaels for affording me such wonderful educational and performance opportunities as a young student.  So many fond memories…  What a friendly, fun, and encouraging atmosphere!  Those experiences contributed to a solid musical foundation and helped inspire me to pursue a career as a full-time performer.  Ed is a treasure, and Jazz Impact is a gem!"

- Tom Lipps, bandleader, keyboardist, and programmer; "Drawn to Life" by Cirque du Soleil and Disney

"I have fond memories playing in Jazz Impact when I was growing up, and I greatly appreciate Mr. Michaels's long commitment to jazz education. It was fun playing in a group with other musicians my age who shared a love for this music, and Mr. Michaels always brought motivating energy and informative instruction to the group."

- Dominick Farinacci, international touring/recording artist; director, Tri-C JazzFest Academy

The Lakeland Jazz Impact had its beginnings in 1969 under the leadership of Bob Delly, the band director of J.R. Williams in Painesville, with the intention of giving high school musicians from the Lake County region an opportunity to play with talented musicians from other area schools. A crowning achievement of the band was performing with the legendary jazz artist Clark Terry at the inaugural Lakeland Jazz Festival.

In the fall of 1974, Delly handed the baton to Len Orcino, the band director at Lake Catholic High School. Under Orcino's direction, the band frequently appeared in concerts and area jazz festivals, including Cuyahoga Community College, Akron University and The Ohio State University. Two big achievements for the band were performing at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and recording an album – "Impact Live '77."

Following their success at Notre Dame, Chuck Frank, the music professor at Lakeland Community College, invited the Lakeland Jazz Impact to join the community of performing groups at Lakeland. However, due to financial cutbacks, Jazz Impact became dormant for several years through the mid-80s.

In the spring of 1989, three area jazz musicians – Ernie Krivda, Lee Bush and Ed Michaels, were appointed to teach jazz improvisation classes through a grant from the Fine Arts Association. At the conclusion of the classes, Michaels was encouraged by Chuck Frank to write a proposal to Lakeland in an effort to re-establish the Lakeland Jazz Impact. The proposal was accepted, and Ed Michaels became the third director of the band.

Under Michael's direction, the Lakeland Jazz Impact continues on a strong path. The band plays several concerts at Lakeland each year and participates in the annual Lakeland Jazz Festival. A highlight of the year is the Lakeland Jazz Impact's annual concert at the Cleveland Bop Stop. The band has also played at the Tri-C Jazz Festival, recorded for the Lincoln Center Jazz Competition, and performed at various area high schools. The band's alumni include an impressive list of musicians who have established careers in music education and performance, along with music composition and arranging.

Over the years, Edward G. Michaels has established himself as a strong voice in the field of music education and jazz saxophone. He is well-known for his leadership in directing the annual Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival (1999-2008); the Lakeland Summer Jazz Camp; and Lakeland's all-star high school jazz ensemble, and Lakeland's Jazz Impact.

Michaels earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University, in his native town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and a Master of Music from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied saxophone with the legendary Dr. Fred Hemke. He studied improvisation with Phil Rizzo, a clinician for the Stan Kenton Jazz Orchestra.

As a tenor saxophonist, Michaels is often heard performing with the top musicians of Northeast Ohio, among them, some of his former students. He has recorded a CD as leader, entitled "Going Beyond" on the Nice Jazz Label. The list of musicians with whom he has performed include Phil Woods, Donald Byrd, Pacquito D'Rivera, Bobby Sanabria and Clarence Clemons. His quartet has played extended engagements at the Century Room of Cleveland's prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Grille Room of downtown Cleveland's Embassy Suites Hotel, Cleveland's Fat Fish Blue, and Club Isabella. Whatever the venue, he feels a strong commitment to promoting jazz and American music; and this can especially be seen in his love for both teaching and playing.

Michaels is also a full-time faculty member of the Willoughby-Eastlake School District where he teaches instrumental music, focusing especially on the district‘s beginning band program. Among his latest accomplishments in music education was receiving an honorarium and publication from the Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his music appreciation lesson plan, entitled "Timbre: Identifying the Tone Color of the Saxophone Using Pop/Rock Music Examples." He was also instrumental in helping his school district receive a grant from the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which provided new percussion instruments for his Willowick Middle School students.

Small Group Music

Lakeland students and community members may pursue music in small group settings through Lakeland's Small Group Music Program.

Interested musicians should complete this Small Group Music interest form by Nov. 20 (for spring semester) or April 20 (for summer or fall semesters). Musicians may join as individuals and receive help forming a group or as existing groups of three to eight musicians.

60% of the members of the group must be registered for MUSC 2700: Small Group Music, a one-credit lab course meeting two hours per week, in order to receive coaching and schedule rehearsal space.

All ensembles must present a public performance at the end of the term, which may take place on Lakeland's campus. Any style of music is welcome, from rock, metal, country, jazz or hip-hop to classical, vocal or world music. If we don't already know someone who can help you get better, we will find them!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: All college students and community adults

WHEN: MUSC 2700 is offered during spring, summer and fall semesters and is scheduled according to the availability of students, instructors and facilities. It is a one-credit lab course meeting two hours per week for full semesters, or four hours per week during the eight-week summer term.

WHERE: Rehearsals are typically in the Fletcher Music Room, C-Building, Room C-1078.

REQUIREMENTS: Requirements vary by ensemble type and organization. Generally, two years of experience playing or singing at the high school level is recommended, but if group members are of like experience, less-experienced musicians can be accommodated. Lakeland will work with groups to provide equipment, but group members should be prepared to provide their own instruments and rehearsal amplification.

CRITERIA: Acceptance into the Small Group Music course is by audition. Please contact Lakeland's music department chair for more information. Ensembles should be between three to eight members, and may be organized for the duration of the course or preexisting.

INSTRUMENTS: Small Group Music can accommodate any instrument or voice, and is particularly well-suited to popular music styles that are not generally addressed in large-ensemble settings.
Ready to get started?