Kurt Fedde is a freelance percussionist, educator, and composer. Hailing from the Eastman School of Music, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Percussion, Music Education, and a certificate in the Arts Leadership Program. Kurt is a Core Artist of Sound ExChange Project—a collaborative new music group exploring unconventional shows and projects. Sound ExChange Project was most recently awarded a grant to pursue the digital intersection of music, art and audience in a series entitled "01 X" from the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation. Through this group, Kurt has directed shows at venues around Upstate NY including Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Artisan Works, and Rochester’s Public Market. Kurt enjoys the behind-the-scene side of music as well, assisting with production for various festivals including Chosen Vale International Percussion Seminar. His passion for music in unconventional venues can be seen all over the East Coast with performances at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, Pittsburgh Festival of New Music, and Rochester's Greentopia Festival. He also loves to teach, instructing general music and percussion lessons. Most recently he became a part of an educational residency with ROCmusic: an El Sistema-inspired after-school music program directed by Alexander Peña offering tuition-free music and string instruction to urban youth in downtown Rochester. This residency aims to connect teachers, students, and resident performers in order to make classical music accessible and exciting for all members of the Rochester community. Throughout his percussion studies, Kurt has taken instruction with Michael Burritt, Bill Cahn, Tony Ames, Chip Ross, Jake Nissly, and Rob Marino.