April 15, 2024: Eight students from Cumberland Valley School of Music and Mercersburg Academy will be performing Beethoven’s 5 Secrets on stage with Billboard artists, The Piano Guys, at the Luhrs Center on April 23rd, 2024 at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Luhrs Center box office at 717-477-SHOW (7469) or online at https://luhrscenter.com/event/the-piano-guys/. The student rehearsals are being coordinated by Deborah Stotelmyer, Violin/Viola Instructor at both CVSM and Mercersburg Academy. The CVSM students are Anezka Pospisilova, Elise Swope, Zebidian West, Vlad Kirylka (students of Deb Stotelmyer), Ava Peterson, (student of Cindy Scanzello), and Mary Margaret Cherry, (student of Ashley Wyrick). Mercersburg Academy students are Lisa Wei and Karin Sugiyama, also students of Deb Stotelmyer.
Since their serendipitous start in a Southern Utah piano shop, THE PIANO GUYS have proven to be a powerhouse group without limits. Arriving as a musical phenomenon seemingly overnight, the quartet of Jon Schmidt [pianist, songwriter], Steven Sharp Nelson [cellist, songwriter], Paul Anderson [producer, videographer], and Al van der Beek [music producer, songwriter] have delivered bold compositions that transcend boundaries of style and genre, a boundlessness that has since translated into a massively-successful career. Their 2020 album release “10” was a celebration of The Piano Guys’ 10-year anniversary. The album included their most popular hits from the past 10 years as well as brand-new arrangements. Steven and Jon are gearing up to hit the road to perform their new music and share their great humor.
“Who would have ever thought four middle-aged dads from Utah filming classically influenced music in nature could ever succeed at the outset?” asks member Steven Sharp Nelson. “Our favorite thing is to find a way to be on the fringes of possibility. We like to combine things you would never expect to find together—but are close enough to make sense. It has been our mindset from the beginning.”
Since formally introducing themselves in 2011, The Piano Guys have released five studio albums, two Christmas releases and a fan-favorite live album, earning six No. 1 debuts on Billboard’s Top Classical Albums chart and garnering an impressive 2 billion-plus global streams, over 1.6 billion YouTube views, and averaging nearly 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. They have sold out concerts in almost every corner of the world and attracted a diehard audience of millions. The Piano Guys have appeared in The New York Times, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Mashable, People, been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and performed on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America and The Tonight Show.
For small children and their caregivers, attending a music class together can create bonds between them as well as provide connections with other families in the community. Children are inherently musical and will love sharing this experience with a parent or grandparent. As the children learn a variety of age-appropriate skills (gross & fine motor skills, impulse control, coordination, etc.) the caregivers learn to respond to their children and support them as they learn new skills.
Please share a bit about yourself and your background: Are you a Chambersburg native? What is your role in our community (now or previously if retired)? Were/are you a musician?
When did you attend CVSM and who were your teachers?
For how long have you attended CVSM and which teachers have you studied with?
Cumberland Valley School of Music presents the 34
When did you attend CVSM and who were your teachers?
Gene is originally from the Williamsport, PA, area with a BS in Education from Clarion and an MEd in Reading from Shippensburg. Sally was born and raised in Chambersburg, then moved to Shippensburg when they got married. They have a daughter, Andi, and a grandson, Lyric. Sally retired as Executive Director of Chambersburg Community Theatre (CCT) after 25 years but continues to volunteer & perform with the group.
For how long have you attended CVSM and which teachers have you studied with?
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