by Michael Allchin

Oswego, NY- Angela Russel is a senior music major from Richmond, Massachusetts. She has been very active with Oswego State’s music department by performing in choirs, musicals and acapella.

When she first came to Oswego State, she was passionate about broadcasting and journalism. She eventually switched her major to music because she knew her direction of passion had changed. She specifically had an interest in opera.

“I wasn’t really that great of a singer at first,” Russel said. “I didn’t really know all the technique and all the body you put into it and over the years I’ve learned so much that I just took all the repertoire that I’ve really worked on and shown how much I’ve grown since I started that song all the way up till now”.

On Apr. 8, Russel had her senior concert, where she performed many songs that showcased her opera skills. Russel was also collaborated with Vocal Effect, Oswego State’s acapella club where she is an active member of.

Aside from family and friends, Russel’s biggest supporters were Oswego State music professors Nancy James and Mihoko Tsutsumi. Both professors helped Russel improve her vocal skills and have not only transformed her into a better musician, but also the person she wants to be.

Russel plans to attend a graduate program where she will be able to continue her dream of becoming an opera singer.

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From the Polka to the party the first ever Oswego Oktoberfest brought Deutschland to downtown Oswego.

“This is the first time running the Oktoberfest. So this is something that I think a lot of people have been interested in and we’re just putting it together for a fun community event,” said Event Director Chris Jones.

Jones felt that whether people came for the food or the fun. Everyone found something worth staying for.

Jones said, “Honestly I think it’s a little bit of both. For me the fall season’s the best time to eat and you know, we’ve got about three hundred pre-sales on the event. Hopefully with everything looking the way that it is hopefully about five hundred or so.”

Ice-cold local beer topped everyone’s glass while the polka band played on, but the beer wasn’t the only thing that was cold. With temperatures in the forties most individuals camped out. Enjoying some good times as well as some delicious local beer.

“Most of them are New York State breweries. There are seventeen different beers that are going to be on tap in addition to a couple wines and beverages. So there’s a long list, Adirondack, Woodchuck, Davidson brothers, quite a few on there,” said Jones.

The weather was cold but more than 400 turned out for the night’s events.

Jones felt, “This is fall weather, this is what Oktoberfest is about,” and he hopes to re-create the event again next year. And based on the reception from Oswego resident Trish Auer.

“I think, yeah I’d love to see it come back again and definitely more entertainment,” said Auer.

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Jones added, “I think that bringing more events into the community and encouraging not only the people that live here to come out, but start getting people to come here from other regions.”

And Auer felt, “I just love it there’s just so much more going on here. This year especially and it’s just so exciting to have everybody out and about.”
Although next year’s Oktoberfest is a year away you can visit WTOP10.com and take a look at some photos of this year’s festivities.