Student designs help CMAC celebrate 20 years

This ongoing partnership gives graphic design students real-world experience and a moment to shine.

FLCC graphic design students recently partnered with the CMAC concert venue to create promotional materials, such as T-shirts and coasters, for its 2026 summer concert series. 

CMAC Marketing and Public Relations Director Jordynn Gould and Hospitality and Business Director Heather Tuttle provided the project brief, which provided parameters for the designs. They encouraged students to incorporate elements of this year’s theme: “Celebrating 20 Years Under the CMAC Stars.”

The amphitheater next to FLCC's main building was originally known as the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center. It closed for extensive renovations and reopened in 2006 with a new name.

A panel of CMAC staff judged the entries and selected five winning designs from 13 submissions. 

The artwork will appear on concert T-shirts, house credentials, beverage coasters, working passes and stickers throughout the 2026 season. 

CMAC’s 19-show summer concert series kicks off Friday, June 5, with Teddy Swims. The lineup includes a mix of genres throughout the season, including country artist Ella Langley in July, who is scheduled to perform before a sold-out crowd of more than 14,000 fans. 

As fans arrive for summer performances, screens throughout the venue will display the students and their winning designs.  

Meet the artists 

Leah S. — Concert T-shirt 

Leah Stohs of Canandaigua designed the winning T-shirt, which features the artist lineup arranged in a star shape as a nod to the “Under the CMAC Stars” theme. The design also moves away from the traditional grid-style layout often seen on concert T-shirts. 

Earlier in her career, Leah lived in San Jose, California, where she worked as an events manager. 

“I’ve used all of these items,” shared Leah. “It was cool to be on the other side creating them.” 

Leah plans to use the ticket vouchers awarded to competition participants to take her son to his first CMAC concert to see the band Chicago. 

Chloe C. — House Credential 

Chloe Cornett of Bloomington, Indiana, created the winning house credential design, which CMAC personnel will use to identify in-house staff and limit access to authorized individuals during events. 

This marks the first time a student-designed credential has been selected for use at CMAC. 

“I was completely shocked,” said Chloe. “Heather and Jordynn went above and beyond to make this happen, which was so awesome.” 

A self-described homebody who lives hundreds of miles away, Chloe will not attend a concert at CMAC this summer. However, friends have told her they plan to look for her design when they attend shows. 

Nataliia P. — Coaster 

Nataliia Proskurnia of Warsaw, Wyoming County, designed the winning beverage coaster, featuring CMAC’s red-and-gold brand colors, hand-drawn stars and a QR code linking to the venue’s website. 

She said she hopes the bold, energetic design catches people’s attention and encourages them to scan the code. 

Of the several design competitions available to FLCC students, Nataliia said this one was her favorite.  

Although she has not chosen a concert to attend, Bleachers is currently at the top of her list.  

Nicolas M. — Working Pass 

Drawing inspiration from past design projects and his love of fireworks, Nicolas Moreno of Watertown, Jefferson County, created this year’s winning working pass design. 

Created in Adobe Illustrator, Nick’s design highlights the venue’s amphitheater and features a silhouetted heart-shaped hand gesture often used by fans to cheer on performers. 

The working pass will be used by artists’ staff members, including stagehands, social media representatives and VIP guests. 

Nick is hoping to see his favorite band, Death Cab for Cutie, in July. 

Lauren T. — Sticker 

Lauren Turner of Greece designed the winning sticker, featuring an outline of CMAC’s shell amphitheater, two light towers and a silhouetted crowd of concertgoers. 

“CMAC’s architecture and atmosphere create such a distinct feeling,” Lauren said. “I wanted the sticker to be recognizable and something that could last over time.” 

Lauren is also this year’s winner of the FLCC wine label design competition.

Her design, “Embracing Vines,” was selected by student winemakers for their 2025 wines and is available at Ryan’s Wine and Spirits in Canandaigua, as well as Pedulla’s Wine and Liquor and Bottleland in Geneva. 

From classroom to concert season 

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, shown before the concerts begin, highlights the student winners and their graphic design work.  

Thousands of concertgoers will learn that the work Leah, Chloe, Nataliia, Nick, and Lauren did in class has been immediately put to use at a Finger Lakes summer mainstay.