We recently had a chat with Roland Kessler, Fuse’s Director of Community Engagement and resident networking guru! Roland has been an integral member of our team since 2019 when we were Vera Causa Opera. This week’s ‘Meet the Team’ feature is a special one because it’s also Roland’s birthday!
From the whole Fuse Team, we’d like to say a big happy birthday, and an even bigger thanks for all of his hard work over the years. Roland is a talented team player and we are so lucky to have him as a part of our team!
Now, let’s learn a bit about Roland’s journey at Fuse...
Tell us about yourself!
Hey there, my name is Roland. I’m 25 and I enjoy Central/South American food. I also can't live without music!
Talk about your role and what you do at Fuse.
As the Director of Community Engagement, my team is responsible for creating lasting community partnerships with other organizations in Waterloo Region and beyond!
Tell us a little bit about your Fuse arts journey! How did you end up at Fuse?
I started singing in the Opera Chorus in 2019 (back when we were Vera Causa Opera), enjoyed the experience and saw the opportunity to help!
What was it about Fuse that made you want to be a part of it?
From my first day with the group, everyone was so welcoming and fun to be around. They were all so passionate about their reason for being there, that I had to find out more.
What is your main arts discipline and how long have you been a part of it?
Singer-in-training since September 2018.
What has been your favourite memory/experience with Fuse?
My favourite experience so far was the creation of the Hansel and Gretel film last year. It was such a tremendous team effort from so many people, dealing with health restrictions and other roadblocks. We produced a quality product that was enjoyed by over 1500 people as our first foray into film media.
What are three words to describe Fuse?
Progressive, dynamic, interesting.
What is your favourite part about working behind-the-scenes?
As a team, we get to enable our artists’ success. It doesn’t get more rewarding than that.
What do you want the community to know about Fuse?
Fuse is an organization that can be described as ‘you get out of it what you put into it’. If you are interested in trying something new, or working more on your passion, it’s worth your time to get involved with Fuse. We’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re here to make a positive impact.
What do you hope to bring to the community through your work with Fuse?
We aim to build mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations in our community. We want to support and be a part of your growth, and hope that you’ll support us too!
What about the inter-arts are you most passionate about?
The inter-arts are the way of the future. With inter-arts, we can build a bigger platform to elevate more artists. We can also re-imagine traditional art presentations and give them a fresh and interesting spin, while still keeping their traditional aspects that make them unique.
It’s because of Roland and the rest of our Fuse Team that we are able to make an impact in the lives of our local artists and community members. Roland’s efforts to engage our community have allowed us to grow and give back to the places that enabled us to thrive. Interested in joining the Fuse Team? Click here to find out more!