Fredonia senior turns heads and coaches' chairs on 'The Voice'

Last March, while parking in Lot 9D at SUNY Fredonia, Lucas West received a life-changing call.

The senior, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Jazz Studies, was invited to audition for 'The Voice'.

West's journey began in a Mason Hall practice room, where he recorded and submitted Billy Joel's 'New York State of Mind.' After multiple rounds and executive producer approvals, he received confirmation to compete.

His prior high-pressure performances, including singing the national anthem at Buffalo Bills games in 2023 and 2025, prepared him for this moment.

During his blind audition, West performed Elton John's 'Bennie and the Jets.' Early in the performance, coach Adam Levine turned his chair, followed by John Legend. Legend praised West's soulful performance and piano skills, leading West to choose him as his coach.

West credits SUNY Fredonia's faculty for shaping his technical skills and artistic identity. He has been active in the College of Music, Theatre, and Dance, participating in ensembles like the Fredonia Jazz Orchestra and New Jazz Flextet. His studies include classical piano with Fr. Sean Duggan, jazz piano with Dr. Nick Weiser, and jazz voice with Professor James Harrington.

Reflecting on his experience, West expressed gratitude for meeting like-minded, high-achieving individuals on 'The Voice.' As the new season begins, the Fredonia community proudly supports a student who has taken his passion from campus practice rooms to a national audience.