Steph Allee

Hello, CVSM families! 

 It is amazing that it has been two months since the stay-at-home order was put into place! I miss seeing you in the halls of CVSM. I miss hearing the wonderful music wafting through the building. I miss the joy of making music with you! I look forward to the day when we can be together in person again. 

 Thank you for your flexibility and willingness to shift to a different method of learning over the past two months. Although online is not the same as in-person, it has allowed instruction to continue and for all students to continue making progress. Many of you are even participating in online recitals to share your talents! 

 I want to give you an update on summer plans at CVSM. The plan is to continue instruction online until we have clear guidance from the CDC, the government, and Wilson College (our landlord) regarding the safety measures that need to be in place for in-person instruction. There are many aspects to music instruction that need to be taken into account: appropriate social distancing while in lessons or classes, not all students and teachers can wear masks during instruction (wind instruments and vocalists), sanitizing shared instruments (pianos, drum sets), health checks at entry point, etc. The staff and I, as well as a committee of a variety of community members, are working on details of a reopening plan that will keep health and safety of our families at the forefront. This may involve phasing in instrument categories over a few weeks, with voice and flute students in the final phase. There will most likely be a mix of online and in-person lessons as we move through the next few months. 

 Heather Kline is working with our group instructors on creating engaging online camps and classes for the summer. In many cases, participants in these camps and classes will receive a kit of supplies to be used during the camp and class time. Please keep in mind that in some cases parent assistance will be needed during the camp or class time. As these details are clarified and confirmed, we will send email updates and post on social media. If there is a camp or class listed in the brochure or online that you were planning to register for, please be in touch with Valerie Merriman ([email protected]) so she can place you on an info list to receive the finalized information when it is available. 

 For those interested in Voice & Drama Camp, Heather is also looking into a virtual musical option: this is a show written and designed to be performed online! This will be a very unique and amazing experience! 

 I hope you plan to continue taking music lessons and classes over the summer. Registration is open now and continues throughout the summer. Please contact Valerie to set up dates and times with your instructor. Email is the best option ([email protected]) however if you would prefer a phone number, please respond to this email or email Valerie to let her know you would prefer a phone call. Since these phone calls are routed through Valerie’s personal phone, we would prefer to keep them to a minimum. 

Heather McEndree, CVSM Executive Director 

UPDATE: In response to Governor Wolf’s announcement, the CVSM offices and music store are closed indefinitely. Staff members are working from home and can be reached by email.

• Heather McEndree, Executive Director – [email protected]
• Heather Kline, Program Manager – [email protected]
• Valerie Merriman, Registrar – [email protected]
• Sharon Eshleman, Bookkeeper – [email protected]
• Steph Allee, Marketing – [email protected]
• Sheryl Gudgeon, Store Manager – [email protected]

CVSM is teaching virtual lessons indefinitely. Your instructor will be in touch regarding plans for virtual lessons, make-ups, or credits.  We will update information here as well as on our Facebook page as we monitor this evolving situation.

Thank you for your patience in this time of uncertainty in our community. The staff at CVSM and the administration of Wilson College met last week to clarify and set operations and procedures for the coming weeks to ensure the health and safety of all community members who come on campus.  

THERE ARE TO BE NO STUDENTS ON CAMPUS.  NO EXCEPTIONS. Please ask your instructor about virtual lessons, make-ups or credits. These missed lessons will not be counted as unexcused lessons.

OPTIONS & IDEAS FOR VIRTUAL LESSONS:

You may continue with your normal lesson schedule on a virtual platform. You can use the following platforms at no cost (other than use of your personal data plan or home internet access):

• Linkello (uses an internet connection & browser, completely free and does not require an account)
• Skype (available on your phone, tablet, or laptop, as long as there is a camera)
• FaceTime (if both you and the instructor have an Apple device)
• FB Messenger video (if both you and the instructor have a Facebook account and devices with cameras)
• Zoom (if your instructor sets up a free account)

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.