Seminole State alum Brandon Fender honored with Walt Disney Legacy Award

Monday, April 10, 2023
Written by: Mark Richardson

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.”

Brandon Fender
Brandon conducting the Central Florida
Community Arts Winter Wonderland Holiday
concert in December 2022.

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.


About Seminole State

Seminole State College of Florida, established in 1965, serves more than 25,000 students across six sites in Central Florida. A full-service education provider, Seminole State has thrived by adapting to and meeting the needs of an ever-changing, vibrant community. Seminole State offers 11 bachelor’s degrees in high-demand, high-growth fields; two-year associate degrees; specialized certificates; continuing professional education; adult education and guaranteed admission via DirectConnect to UCF® to the University of Central Florida for Associate in Arts (A.A.) graduates. By offering flexible, affordable, high-quality educational programs and services, the College continues to help students learn, succeed and GO Far. For more about Seminole State, visit seminolestate.edu

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