March 2019

CVSM will present their Encore Musicians Concert on Sunday, April 7th, 2019 featuring over 100 community musicians aged 50 and older. This is a FREE event beginning at 2:30 PM at CAMS South Auditorium at 1151 McKinley St., Chambersburg.

This is the fourth time CVSM has assembled this event to feature its more “seasoned” performers.  This year performers include Penn National Harmony Singers, New Horizons String Orchestra, and the New Horizons Band and Freedom Valley Chorus.

Cumberland Valley School of Music students comprise The New Horizons String Orchestra and The New Horizons Band. These ensembles are open to members age 50 and older through scholarship funding and support by The New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA). NHIMA is a worldwide organization comprised of over 200 New Horizons groups whose 9,000 members are over the age of 50. Some played music during their school years and stashed their instrument in a closet or attic while the demands of work and raising children took center stage. Others dreamt of being a musician but never had the opportunity or the money to pay for lessons and instruments when they were school age. Both groups find themselves now at or near retirement with children grown and gone, fewer responsibilities, but just as much desire.

The Penn National Harmony Singers is a volunteer group whose primary venue is reaching out to the Assisted Living Communities in the Chambersburg area.  They present an hour long concert of music selections, one or two times each month, during the year. They also present an annual Christmas Concert for the residents of Penn National at the New Guilford Brethren in Christ Church. The group was formed over twenty years ago. Their goal is to brighten the day of the residents through music. They number around 30 members that enjoy music and sharing their talents.

Freedom Valley Chorus enjoys the love of singing four-part a cappella barbershop harmony and an enthusiasm for sharing this unique sound with private and public community audiences. They strive for consistent musical excellence through quality education, personal growth, joy, friendship and fun.  In September of 2004, a small group of enthusiastic ladies who enjoyed singing gathered to sing in four part harmony with one of the group directing. In a short period of time they chose to share their time with others who may have the same interest and began inviting others to join them. The original group has expanded to a current roster of 31 members. The members travel from Hagerstown, Waynesboro, Mont Alto, Fayetteville, New Oxford, Shippensburg, Newburg, Orrstown, Carlisle, and of course a number are from Chambersburg.  Freedom Valley Chorus became a charter member of Sweet Adelines International in June of 2007.  Since that time the Chorus has entertained many audiences in south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland and has competed each year at Region 19’s conventions in Ocean City, Maryland.

Cumberland Valley School of Music will present a Tri-Talent Musicale (guitar, piano and juggling) on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 7-9 p.m. at the Inn at Ragged Edge, 1090 Ragged Edge Road, Chambersburg, PA. The evening will feature Stuart Ryerse, piano, guitar and juggling, and pre-show music by husband and wife duo RitmaCordia, Marlin Barnes and Jane Peatling, will perform on marimba and cello. 

Stuart Ryerse’s performance will have three segments; folk guitar songs, juggling to original music, and piano, with the piano segment being the longest and most classically virtuosic. Stuart is a native of Dillsburg, PA is currently a student at New England Conservatory studying Contemporary Improvisation.

Exquisite Tastes will provide sweet and savory hors d’œuvres and non-alcoholic beverages.  Wine will also be available. Tickets are $40 each and are available by calling CVSM at 717-261-1220 or at the link below.  Special thanks to Patriot Federal Credit Union for their financial support of this event. 

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

The Cumberland Valley School of Music will present its annual Performathon on Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 9am – 4 pm. Performathon is an all-school event featuring over one hundred students, along with faculty members, performing in a continuous stream of recitals from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  The public is invited to the free event being held in the Thomson Alumnae Chapel on the Wilson College campus in Chambersburg, PA. Everyone is invited to attend at any time throughout the event, and may stay as long as desired.

Students will be singing and playing their way through the day in musical styles varying from rock and jazz, to classical and Broadway. A broad range of performances, from solo acts to ensembles, will be featured. Ensembles taking the stage will include: the Cumberbunds Children’s Choir directed by Jeffrey Noll, The CVSM New Horizons Orchestra conducted by Deb Stotelmyer and the Theatre Explorers directed by Heather Kline.

“The annual Performathon is one of my favorite CVSM traditions!,” said Heather McEndree, newly minted Executive Director.  “It showcases the diversity of our students and is a perfect example of our mission in action.” 

Student musicians, who represent all ages and ability levels, seek monetary pledges as part of participating in the Performathon. All donations are tax deductible and will benefit the non-profit school.

Various area businesses and individuals contribute prizes for the students who obtain the highest amounts of donations to sponsor their performances. Among the prizes offered to students this year are: Totem Pole show passports; tickets to a show at the Luhrs Center; Hagerstown Suns family 4-packs; gift cards to local businesses; a basket of craft supplies; and a $100 Target gift card. Every student who meets the minimum donation requirement receives a commemorative t-shirt.

For further information about the Performathon, or to make a donation, visit the school website: www.cvsmusic.org. Additional information about the event can be accessed by calling the school directly at 717-261-1220 and speaking with any staff member.