COLLEGIATE FRIARS - MAY 2023

Fenwick Graduation Year: 2019

Hometown: Chicago

Grade School: Saint Thecla

College: Belmont University (Nashville, TN)

Major: Music Business

Internship: My first music industry internship was an artist management internship in the fall of 2021 with independent country artist Karen Waldrup. I assisted Karen in day-to-day tasks including but not limited to preparing for weekend tours, handling merchandise and assisting with social media planning and posting. In the spring of 2022, I held two simultaneous internships. The first was with a fan engagement company in Nashville called With the Band. Here, I curated weekly pop culture blogs and sent out weekly newsletters to subscribers. Additionally, I was working remotely for a company called Bsquared Management as a Booking Contractor. I was the lesion between artists and concert venues, and I would book shows for my respective roster.

In the summer of 2022, I began my internship at Sony Music Publishing. As the Creative Intern, I took on responsibilities from all angles. Tasks ranged from transcribing lyrics from demos that were submitted to us, prepping our writing rooms every morning, to curating playlists for SMP Nashville's Spotify. I served in this role for nine months, and in March of this year I took on the role of temporary Executive Assistant to the CEO. This job allows me to work one-on-one with our CEO, Rusty Gaston, and handle his travel, scheduling, and all else. No two days are the same at Sony; one day you could find me at a number one party for one of our artists and the next you could find me running errands for the office. I have gained a wealth of knowledge about the music industry through each of these opportunities, and I am beyond grateful for them. 

 

Career aspirations: At the moment, I would love to stay in music publishing. Music publishing entails administering the publishing copyrights, working with songwriters, and placing songs with artists. Some of the artists we work with at Sony include Luke Bryan, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, and so many more. Music publishing is something I am so passionate about, as the industry could not function without the songwriters. I would love to continue in this realm of the industry, championing our songwriters and being at the forefront of so much of the music you hear today!

Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: I always enjoyed my English classes at Fenwick. Two of the most influential teachers I had were Mrs. Kotty and Mrs. Gallinari. I always remember that they both had such a passion for what they were teaching, which makes all the difference in the classroom. They also both took such genuine interest in their students, how they were doing, and worked all year to not only build a connection with us, but maintain it. I am very grateful that I got to learn from these two amazing women.

 

Best Fenwick experience/the one you would like to live again: One of my favorite times of the year was always Spirit Week. Everybody coming together to support our school and having a great time doing so is such a fond memory. I also, of course, always looked forward to Banua every year!

The Fenwick experience that changed you the most: Though I'm sure many Friars would say this, Kairos at Fenwick had an extremely positive impact on me. Going on this retreat heightened my sense of compassion, as well as helped me to see the world through the eyes of others. I am grateful to have had this experience, and still carry it with me today!

 

PATRICK FELDMEIER


Internship: Last summer, I interned as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at JFP Holdings in Beijing, China. While COVID-19 restrictions caused the internship to be virtual, I still had the chance to advise a crypto-based startup on geographic expansion and ended up meeting with the management team in New York City. This upcoming summer, I will intern in the Strategic Growth Fund at GTCR, a Chicago-based private equity firm where I will research potential investment opportunities within the middle-market space.

Career aspirations: Investing has been a passion of mine ever since I was a student at Fenwick, and Notre Dame has allowed me to pursue this passion through coursework, stock pitches, and several case studies. I aspire to be an investor in either the public or private markets for a career. Hopefully, I can invest alongside my best friend and brother, Danny [Class of '18]!

Fenwick achievements/activities: Student Body President, 3-Year Class President, National Honor Society, State Finalist in Speech Club Competition, Football, Varsity Rugby Captain, Write Place Tutor

Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: While many Fenwick teachers have profoundly impacted me over my four year experience, Mr. Arellano has played an instrumental role in my development as a leader and person. Through my time in Speech Club, we spent over an hour every day refining my presentation skills which has aided me in every facet of my life ever since. He is a true Fenwick man who put every ounce of his heart into teaching, and I will forever cherish the time I got to spend with him.

Mrs. Esposito's AP Physics class was definitely my biggest challenge at Fenwick, but it forced me to develop a never-ending motor which continues to benefit me to this day. Success in her class required deep critical thinking and a will to keep learning despite the difficult material. I will never forget sitting at my kitchen table and working on that infamous bridge project!

Best Fenwick experience/the one you would like to live again: I would love to experience the Class of 2020 graduation, which was organized by parents and the student council during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to raise ~$35,000 and host a live graduation at the All State Arena, which allowed us to be together as a class for the first time since school got canceled in March. This experience serves as a testament to the Fenwick network, and is one of the reasons why I am so proud to be a Friar today!

The Fenwick experience that changed you the most: During the fall of my senior year, I received permission to design and sell a “Fenwick Senior Sweatshirt.” Despite being given only one week to advertise the sweatshirt, I sold 141 and created a tangible memory of my senior year. It makes me proud to see my classmates continue to wear the sweatshirt to this day.