Seminole State alum Brandon Fender honored with Walt Disney Legacy Award

Seminole State College of Florida alum Brandon Fender’s love of arts, live entertainment and music has earned him the prestigious Walt Disney Legacy award, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products’ highest honor that recognizes truly exceptional individuals who excel in the criteria of Dream, Create and Inspire.

Fender, a guest experience manager for Live Entertainment at Walt Disney World, graduated from Seminole State in 2007. He credits music professor Dianna Campbell for showing him a side of music and technique he had never experienced. “I've always been exposed to expressive and charismatic instructors before, but she was really able to help me dive in a focus on the technique and intricacies of music like I've never seen before while simultaneously helping continue to express myself in a deeper way,” Fender said. “She's a perfect blend of what I knew vs. what I needed to learn.”

In addition to his role at Disney, Fender also serves as the director of choral programs for Central Florida Community Arts, overseeing the largest non-auditioned community choir in the nation with nearly 300 singers. He says his experiences and academic studies at Seminole State provided him the confidence and ability to take on the role. “Being able to take the lessons I learned at Seminole State and provide a strong, life-changing choral experience for the Central Florida Community Arts choir is humbling and exciting at the same time,” Fender said.

Fender will be combining both his roles when he and the choir present their spring concert “Once Upon a Dream: 100 Years of Musical Magic” to celebrate Disney music through the years.
The performances will be held May 4 and 5 at Northland Church in Longwood.