*Heather Kline, Theatre Explorers & Musikgarten instructor

Teaching Artist Statement:
From the time we are born and throughout every stage of our development, music impacts our lives. Music helps us learn about the world and ourselves. It brings us joy, comfort, and nurtures and heals our souls. At the age of 11, I said that I wanted to be a teacher. Little did I know that this desire would lead me to mentoring young people in more ways than I could imagine as a teacher and a counselor. My journey has maintained one common theme of using my musical talents to help children and teens. As a teacher my goal is to help my students, from the young toddler to the young at heart, develop confidence, fulfill their musical potential, and find their purpose in life, be it music related or otherwise.

Biography:
After graduating with a B.S. in Music Education with a concentration in voice and a minor in Theatre, Heather’s first job was working as the Creative Ministries Leader for a parish of four churches. In this role, she created and directed a dance, music, and drama troupe comprised of students ages 10-14 that traveled to perform at various churches, dinners and festivals. She also established and managed The Storm Cellar, a Christian coffee house where local bands would play, providing teens and young adults with “a place to be, to belong, and to be loved.” Since then, her life has lead down many roads, including obtaining a M.Ed. in School Counseling. In 2005, she co-created a theater company called Front and Center Stage and was the music director for several productions, including Godspell and a Christmas Cabaret. Heather has over twenty years of Regional and University theatre experience including roles as Roxy in “Chicago,” Sandy in “Grease,” Mark’s mom/chorus in “Rent,” Winnie in “No, No Nanette,” and Sister Sophia in “The Sound of Music.

*Heather McEndree, Musikgarten & flute instructor

Teaching Statement:
We are born to be musical, and music is one of the many pieces that make us whole. I encourage music-making to be a joyful part of every day life, from my tiniest Musikgarten babies to my adult flute students. The early childhood classes are designed for the learning and sharing of music within families and the curriculum is based on the natural stage of childhood. I extend this natural progression to the flute lessons, adjusting music and tasks to match the goals and needs of each individual student.

Teaching Bio:

McEndree holds a B S Music Ed and B A Flute from Lebanon Valley College and  M Music Ed graduate assistantship from Temple University, including special courses in early childhood music. She is a certified instructor for Musikgarten, an international early education music program. Heather began teaching for CVSM in 2011 and is a former teacher of middle school band and general music for Frederick County and Washington County Public Schools. McEndree has had articles published in ‘Music Educators Journal’and ‘Maryland Music Educators Journal,’ as well as presenting sessions for the Maryland Music Educators Association. She has received honors including ‘First Year Teacher Award,’ ‘First-Class Teacher Award,’ and three nominations for ‘Teacher of the Year.’

Performance Bio:
McEndree is a member of the CVSM Symphonic Band on flute and percussion. She is a flutist and publicist for the Shippensburg Community Band in Shippensburg, PA. She is a former member of the Frederick Flute Choir in Frederick, MD. McEndree performs for various events in a solo capacity as well as with piano or guitar.

*Shonelle Strausbaugh, Preschool Summer Camp instructor

Teaching Artist Statement:
Shonelle is passionate about teaching music and finds great joy in getting to know each of her students. Shonelle’s teaching style is gentle yet firm. She strives to make music more personal for her students by incorporating both the student’s interests and their learning style into her teaching. Shonelle believes music should be enjoyed by everyone and that all students should have a chance to succeed. She is also passionate about working with students who have various special needs and is committed to making music accessible for special needs students. She is currently finishing her master’s degree in special education, with an endorsement in autism.

Teaching Bio:
Shonelle received her Bachelors of Arts in music education, with a concentration in voice, from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. She earned Orff Schulwerk certifications levels 1-3 from George Mason University in Virginia. She has been teaching private voice & piano lessons for over twenty years and also taught Kindermusik as a licensed teacher for 16 years. Shonelle taught elementary music in Stafford County, Virginia, where she wrote and directed several musicals for her students which corresponded with the history they were learning about in school. She also directed a chorus of seventy-five 4^th & 5^th graders, an Orff instrument ensemble and a drum group.

 Performance Bio:
Shonelle has enjoyed participating in various choruses, community shows, and musicals and enjoys performing as a soloist for weddings and other special occasions. Two of her favorite musicals in which  she performed are Godspell and The Secret Garden.

*Tracy Thomas, voice, clarinet, piano, & Musikgarten instructor

Tracy Thomas attended West Chester University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While there she studied under Terry Guidetti, and was the principal clarinetist in the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra.

She started her career teaching elementary general music in Big Spring School District in Newville, Pennsylvania, and later at Maugansville Elementary School (Washington County Public Schools) in Hagerstown, Maryland. In 2013 she earned her Musikgarten teaching certification, and in 2014 she left public education to start her own business teaching early childhood music classes and private lessons in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. In 2020 she merged her business with the Cumberland Valley School of Music in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. She is now the manager of the Greencastle branch and teaches Musikgarten classes, voice classes, and private clarinet, voice, and piano lessons.

Tracy recently retired from the Army National Guard, where she served as a clarinetist and vocalist for 24 years. During her time in service, she had the privilege of singing for several NASCAR races, multiple Governors and Senators, and the President of the United States.

Tracy also performs throughout Central Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia with a dance band called Back To Back.