Cumberland Valley School of Music students, Zakary Reynolds and Lauren Swain won first place in the United States International Duo Piano Competition held in Colorado Springs, CO on March 20, 2021. Zakary and Lauren are longtime students of CVSM instructor Susan Matson. Zakary and Lauren have already established themselves as excellent students at CVSM as they are the first and second place Piano Merit Award winners respectively in Piano for the 2020-2021 year. In addition to piano, Zakary is also the first-place Vocal Merit Award winner, earning him the Margaret Weeks Voice Award Scholarship.

Lauren Swain is the daughter of Dan and Julie Swain. Lauren has been studying piano for almost 14 years with Susan Matson and finished the 7th Suzuki book in 2019. She frequently plays in church as a soloist and accompanist. She enjoys collaborating with other musicians, including playing in ensemble with flute and other pianists. In May of 2019, she was awarded a perfect score in the Rockville Piano and String Competition and was invited to play in the Winner’s recital. Lauren also studies harp with Carol McClure and has won prizes in national and international competitions.

Zakary Mikael Reynolds is the son of William and Jamie Reynolds and is a 12th grade student at Greencastle-Antrim High School. Zak has been studying piano with Susan Matson for over 13 years. He participates in the school choir as a singer and accompanist and percussion in the band. In his junior year, he became drum major of the marching band. He has participated in District band (2019), District choir (2018-2020), Regional Choir Accompanist (2019-2020), Regional choir vocalist (2020), pianist for All-State Orchestra (2020), and All-State Choir vocalist (2020). He is also a keyboardist and organist for Spring BIC and Trinity Lutheran Churches. Zakary had the extreme honor of singing The National Anthem for Vice President Pence as he visited Manitowoc in 2019.  A member of the Tri-M National Honor Society, Zak was also a CVSM Merit Award winner in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.  Zakary received the CSEHY Summer School of Music scholarship award of honor in 2019.

The United States International Duo Piano Competition was created in 1999. The mission of the USIDPC is to provide a top-quality international duo competition that challenges talented performers of all ages to reach their musical potential in a setting promoting international cooperation and the coming together of musicians in the spirit and joy that is music. Each year at the competition, students compete among 9 skill levels ranging from age 6 and below through adult. This year, 54 duos competed at the home of the event, the prestigious Broadmoor Hotel.

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)