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Apr 15

CVSM Students to perform with The Piano Guys!

By Announcements, Uncategorized

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.

Mar 03

Performathon 2021

By Uncategorized

CVSM PLANS ANNUAL PERFORMATHON FUNDRAISER ON MARCH 20

(March 3, 2021) The Cumberland Valley School of Music will present its annual Performathon, sponsored by F&M Trust on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 9am – 4 pm. Performathon is an all-school event featuring students, along with faculty members, friends and family performing in a continuous stream of recitals from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  The public is invited to view the event being held on CVSM’s YouTube Channel and on their Facebook page. The event will feature live streamed and pre-recorded performances.

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 will feature students of all performance abilities from elementary ages through our most seasoned performers.  

“Peformathon is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a musical community and share our love of music.” said Heather Kline, CVSM Program Director. “In these unprecedented times, we are even more excited to be able to continue sharing music together with our hybrid options, which include virtual performances and streaming live performances.” Student musicians 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 a Shaman Standard Black Electric Bass, donated by Tregan Guitars; Sundae of the Month, donated by The Meadows; Apple AirPods, donated by Sunrise Electronics; a Deluxe Lego Set, Chick-Fil-A gift cards, donated by Chick-Fil-A Chambersburg; Kenny’s Grill Gift Cards; Paint Night, sponsored by the Chambersburg Council for the Arts; and a Creative Art Pack. Every student who meets the minimum donation requirement receives a commemorative t-shirt.

For further information about the Performathon, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit the school website at 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.

Sep 04

GREENCASTLE’S GROWING WITH MUSIC BECOMES A BRANCH OF CUMBERLAND VALLEY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

By Uncategorized

CHAMBERSBURG, PA (September 4, 2020) Cumberland Valley School of Music expanded into Greencastle and acquired Growing with Music, 42 Center Square, Greencastle, PA. This location will serve as an extension of CVSM which is located on the campus of Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA.

Tracy Thomas, the former owner of Growing with Music, will remain at the Greencastle location as Branch Manager. Ms. Thomas and CVSM Executive Director Heather McEndree are working together to ensure a smooth transition of ownership. It is the goal of both organizations that the instructors and programs at the Greencastle location will change as little as possible while also benefitting from the added resources CVSM has to offer.

Growing With Music began in the summer of 2013 with Ms. Thomas’ becoming licensed as a Musikgarten instructor. What started out as a part-time hobby of teaching babies, toddlers, and preschoolers out of a rented classroom in a local church two evenings per week quickly expanded into a full-time venture. By the spring of 2015, clientele grew, and private lessons were added into the mix, making it necessary to move into a dedicated building to accommodate the growing business. Throughout the remainder of 2015 and into early 2016, the business continued to grow, which prompted the expansion into the current location.
“The benefits of merging with a nonprofit with a 30-year history include: scholarship programs, additional resources, and new opportunities,” Thomas said in a letter to families. “CVSM has a solid foundation and will add strength to our musical community.”

Growing with Music and CVSM share a passion for music and teaching all ages and stages. “Tracy and I were colleagues in the Maryland public school system, and then fellow Musikgarten teachers,” said CVSM Executive Director, Heather McEndree. “I am excited that we get to work together to bring music instruction and experiences to everyone in our community!”

As this merger is taking place at the beginning of the fall semester, details regarding upcoming offerings at Growing with Music are still under development. Updates will be posted on both organizations’ social media and websites at www.cvsmusic.org and www.growingwithmusic.org
respectively.

Photo: (left to right) Heather McEndree, CVSM Executive Director and Tracy Thomas, Branch Manager, Growing With Music. Photo Credit: Ariel Sherrill, Old Home Photography