FLCC students bring a sparkle to CMAC’s star-filled summer

This real-world competition brings students’ graphic design skills to CMAC’s 2025 summer concert series.

While fans settle in for their summer concerts, the venue’s screens display the work of FLCC graphic design students, illustrating how creativity thrives beyond the classroom. 

In a partnership with the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC), students recently participated in a design competition for the local venue’s 2025 summer concert series.   

Unlike typical assignments that include a detailed project brief, CMAC representatives encouraged students to create their own concepts for posters, T-shirts and concert passes. 

“This is a great opportunity for their portfolios,” said Jordynn Gould, marketing and public relations director for CMAC. “It’s a real-world example they can use.”

A panel of CMAC personnel and a local journalist, the Finger Lakes Times’ Spencer Tulis, judged the entries. With three design categories, three students were selected as winners for capturing the essence of the CMAC experience.  

Designs that shine 

Alexis Ecker, of Eden in Erie County, designed the official concert series poster, including constellations as a tribute to Constellation Brands. 

“She really captured, to me, what being out on the CMAC lawn on show night feels like,” said Gould.  

Alexis also won FLCC’s wine label design competition in fall 2024.  

“I love having these opportunities to participate in competitions at FLCC,” Ecker shared. “They have helped me prepare for my future.” 

Emily Grizenko of Himrod designed the winning T-shirt, featuring a retro van carrying musical instruments. The nostalgic design stood out to judges for its nod to CMAC’s history.  

2025 CMAC concert pass design by Quinton Rabah Quinton Rabah of Geneva created the winning concert pass, which showcased a sunset-colored, two-dimensional view of CMAC’s shell. The design highlights the venue’s roofed area, where concertgoers can enjoy the show.  

Quinton chose to attend FLCC after hearing about positive experiences from his uncle and friends in Geneva. Like many graphic design students, he took both online and in-person classes. 

“The flexibility and understanding from professors has been great,” said Rabah.  

His concert pass design will be used for the artist’s staff, including stagehands, social media representatives, and VIP guests.  

Alexis, Emily and Quinton will all become official FLCC alumni after this summer. 

All competition participants received two concert tickets and a summer concert series T-shirt.  

CMAC’s starry lineup 

2025 CMAC T-shirt design by Emily Grizenko CMAC was recently nominated for Outdoor Venue of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. The ACM Industry Awards, determined by voting members of the ACM, will take place in August.  

A few stars in this summer’s concert lineup include Megan Moroney, Hozier, The Killers and Bonnie Raitt.  

Kane Brown kicked off the concert series with back-to-back performances on May 22 and 23. The series’ third performer, Benson Boone, sang to a sold-out crowd of about 15,000 on June 5. 

Creative collaboration 

This competition is one of several hands-on opportunities FLCC students enjoy with CMAC. 

Students are also helping operate video cameras for visuals projected onto the venue’s large screens. One of those images highlights the three student winners and their graphic design work. 

As CMAC welcomes thousands of concertgoers this summer, FLCC students can take pride in knowing their work will help shape the visual identity of the series.

2025 CMAC poster design by Alexis Ecker Additional information about opportunities for graphic design students at FLCC can be found on the program page. 

One of the slides that plays on CMAC screens before a concert features the three FLCC student design competition winners.