*Amanda Bietsch, violin & flute instructor

B.M. Mu Ed, Temple University, Flute Concentration (2008). Certification in Orff-Schulwerk, George Mason University (2011) trained with world-renowned Orff-Schulwerk practitioners, Donna Fleetwood, Jacqueline Schrader, and Richard Layton.  Currently pursuing a Masters of Education from Wilson College.  Teaches General Music (K-2) and Instrumental Music (5th Grade) in the Greencastle-Antrim School District.  Active member of Central Presbyterian Church, performing with the Praise Band on Electric Bass and Violin and also dancing with the Liturgical Dance Team.  Professional organizations include: American Orff-Schulwerk Association, National Association for Music Education, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and the National Education Association.

*Michael Cameron, cello instructor

“To teach is to learn.” Pablo Casals

Michael Cameron serves as a member of the cello faculty of the Cumberland Valley School of Music.  He was cellist and General Manager of the Marian Anderson String Quartet from 1989-2002. He holds degrees from The Hartt School of Music, Northwestern University and Rice University. As a member of the Marian Anderson String Quartet, Mr. Cameron won the 1991 Cleveland Quartet Competition, which enabled him to study cello and chamber music at The Eastman School of Music for three years. He has performed with the Maryland, York (PA) and Pan-American Symphony (DC) Orchestras and has taught cello and chamber music at Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University (TX) and California State University, Los Angeles. In addition to his responsibilities at CVSM, Mr. Cameron serves as both Contributing Faculty (Cello) and Coordinator of Chamber Music at Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA), Director of the Mercersburg Academy String Ensemble (Franklin County, PA) and is Conductor of Orchestras at the Susquehanna Waldorf School (Lancaster County, PA). He also teaches many private cello students who reside in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/Chambersburg region and beyond.

*John “Tyler” Garner, violin instructor

John “Tyler” Garner, 28, started playing violin at the age of 12, studying under a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. While in his freshman year of high school, he auditioned for Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, which he attended the following year until his graduation in 2012. Tyler went to Shenandoah University Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia for his bachelor of music performance degree, where he studied under Akemi Takayama, a renowned violinist and teacher and former member of the world-famous Audubon String Quartet.

Later, Tyler went on to receive his masters degree in violin performance from Montclair State University in New Jersey, where he studied under Weigang Li, first violinist of the world-class string quartet, the Shanghai String Quartet. Tyler has performed with countless orchestras, has toured and performed throughout Spain, has helped debut an orchestra piece written by Wynton Marsalis, played with members of the Berlin Philharmonic, including one of the concertmasters, Noah Bendix-Balgley, and has performed in innumerable operas and musicals.

Tyler currently lives with his wife in Martinsburg and loves teaching and performing.

*Herm Hopple, string & electric bass instructor, CVSM Community String Orchestra director

Teaching Artist Statement:

I love the bass!  Providing the “bottom” in ensembles is an experience that always thrills me.  The sound of the bass is powerful and exciting and I delight in passing the skills of bass playing on to students of all ages and accomplishment.

Teaching Bio:

Herm Hopple has been providing double bass and electric bass instruction at CVSM since 1999.  He received his B.S. Mu. Ed. degree at Susquehanna University and his Masters in Mu. Ed. from Penn State.  As a former public school string teacher and orchestra director, Herm has experience with differing levels of ability and enjoys working with all ages – incorporating both note and rote techniques in his instruction.  Herm is a member of PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Education Association).

Performance Bio:

B.S. Mu. Ed. Susquehanna University, M. Mu. Ed. Penn State University. Central Pennsylvania native, Herm Hopple has played double bass with the Potomac Symphony, the Gettysburg College-Community Orchestra, and served many years as principal bass with the Shippensburg College-Community Orchestra.  Herm is the current and founding director of the CVSM String Orchestra, and is also well known as the electric bassist with the CVSM Concert Jazz Band and the CVSM Jazz Quartet.

*Tim McClure, violin and viola instructor 

Teaching Artist Statement:

I have 3 simple values with regards to music: creativity, integrity, and humanity. Music expresses our humanity, offers boundless opportunities for creativity, and is best achieved through integrity to the composition, instrument, audience, and one’s self. Abiding by these 3 values has the potential to bring true art to everyone around us and thereby enrich and improve the world. I teach to promote these values and thus a better society.

Teaching Bio:

I have taught violin and viola for 15 years to students of all ability levels. In 2015 I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Music: Performance, String Emphasis (violin). I prioritize the Suzuki Method of violin/viola teaching for initial curriculum, after which I assist the student to branch out into musical areas of interest that also promote technical and artistic growth (yes, bluegrass and Celtic fiddle are fair game!). Locations I have taught include Virginia, Utah, Minnesota, and now Pennsylvania.

Performance Bio:

In 2008, I won the 1st Stage Competition in Lewisburg, WV and was invited to perform at the Greenbriar Hotel as a concert soloist. In 2011, I toured China with the BYU Chamber Orchestra, and in 2014 I was appointed Concertmaster of the BYU Summer Opera Orchestra. In 2015 I won the National Federation of Music Clubs Oscar Valentin Award, 1st Place. Currently, I perform with the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, York Symphony Orchestra, and in concerts in Harrisburg/Camp Hill organized by members of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. This is my 1st year teaching with CVSM.

*Jane Peatling, cello instructor 

Music performance, Middlebury College (VT), Penn State University. Cellist Jane Peatling performs with the Mercersburg Area Chorus and Orchestra and in duet with husband, Marlin Barnes on marimba, as RitmaCordia. She has worked in arts management for several orchestras and was a founding member of the Cumberland Valley Chamber Players. Ms. Peatling holds degrees in music performance from Middlebury College (VT) and Penn State University. Ms. Peatling has taught privately for over three decades in the Cumberland Valley and continues to perform in small ensembles in the area.

*Cindy Scanzello, violin instructor 

Teaching Artist Statement:

Everyone can learn to play an instrument. I have worked with hundreds of musicians of all ages and abilities. I am adept at finding many ways to demonstrate and teach new concepts to students with various learning styles.  When assessing a student’s progress/performance I think it’s important to temper constructive criticism with positive feedback.

Teaching bio:

A native of Chambersburg, Cindy Scanzello has been teaching violin and viola at CVSM since 2008, and teaching and directing orchestra students in grades 4-12 for the Chambersburg Area School District for more than twenty years. As an undergraduate, she attended West Chester University where she received her B.S. in Music Education majoring in violin and voice. While at West Chester University, Cindy began studying the philosophy and teachings of Shinichi Suzuki and has earned certification in levels 1-4 of the Suzuki Violin School from the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She attended Suzuki teacher training institutes at Catholic University, Ithaca College and West Chester University. Her first teaching position was at the Delaware Music School in Milford, DE where she taught private and group instruction in both Suzuki and traditional styles. After she began teaching for the C.A.S.D., Cindy enrolled at Shenandoah University where she earned a Masters degree in Music Education. She enjoys working with students of all ages and has prepared her CVSM students for merit competitions, recitals and community orchestra concerts.

Performing Bio:

Since graduating from West Chester University, Cindy Scanzello has been a substitute violinist for the Harrisburg and Maryland Symphony Orchestras and a regular playing member of the Cumberland Valley Chamber Players and the Shippensburg Festival Orchestra. She currently performs with the Mercersburg Community Chorus orchestra, the Shippensburg University/Community Orchestra, Mercersburg Academy musical pit orchestra, HUB Opera orchestra and various freelance musicians for weddings and other special occasions.

*Ruth Showalter , Suzuki cello instructor 

Teaching Artist statement:

“Where love is deep, much can be accomplished.” This oft quoted statement from Japanese musician, educator and visionary Shinichi Suzuki is probably the essence of what drew me into the fold of Suzuki music education. As a retired elementary teacher, I find that I still have lots of love to give. The opportunity to combine that with music and teaching is irresistible. I especially enjoy the personality and unique resources that each individual student brings to the learning process. 

Study and Teaching Bio:

Native of Chambersburg, PA, Ruth is trained in Elementary Education (BS from Millersville University) with an MA in Exceptionalities (Shippensburg University). After 4 years of teaching at Shalom Christian Academy, Ruth left the classroom in favor of rearing and educating your own 5 children at home. This included participating in her children’s music lessons at CVSM over a span of 21 years. Eventually, she picked up the cello where she had left off in highschool and studied 12 years with Michael Cameron and then Danielle Karppalla. 

She has completed Unit 1, 2 and 3 of Suzuki Cello Teacher Training and continues to pursue Suzuki training as available. Ruth has been teaching individual and group cello classes over the past 5 years. She particularly enjoys complete beginners but also welcomes students in Suzuki books one, two and three, always pursuing the Suzuki philosophy and tradition at CVSM.

*Deborah Stotelmyer, violin, viola, & New Horizons String ensemble instructor

Teaching Statement

I believe in teaching the ‘whole’ person, because  a student is more than just technique and musicality, they are growing individuals who want to play the instrument for various reasons. I believe in playing for personal enjoyment while honing skills to the highest level to which each student is capable, but I also endeavor to coach students on the discipline necessary for achievement of any goal, and encourage each student to reach farther than they think they are capable. I believe in helping students believe in themselves while understanding the process necessary for reaching their desired goals. I  understand that most students are not interested in a career, but I do encourage those that have the ability to consider it, and I believe everyone benefits from playing as well as their ability allows. I am as comfortable with a 70+ senior adult and 4 yr old beginner as I am with high school aged and middle school aged students.

Teaching Bio

B.S. Mu. Ed, Frostburg State College. I have studied with John Eaken of the Eaken Trio, William Haratounian of the National Symphony, Norman Nunamaker formerly at Gettysburg College, and have received coaching from Elizabeth Adkins, retired Associate Concertmaster of National Symphony. My former students have auditioned and been selected for MD, PA, and WV All-State Orchestras, PA Central District and Regional Orchestras, the National Symphony’s  Orchestra Institute and Interlochen Summer Institute, in addition to Merit Scholarship winners at Cumberland Valley School of Music. In addition to teaching for Cumberland Valley School of Music at Waynesboro and Wilson College in Chambersburg, I am also employed by Hagerstown Community College, where I teach individual lessons and string ensemble class.

Performance Bio

I am currently the Concertmaster for Mercersburg Community Chorus/Orchestra. I played with the MD Symphony Orchestra  for 22 years, 20 of which I was Associate Principal 2nd Violin. I am the former Concertmaster of Millbrook Orchestra and Frederick Community Orchestra. Recently (Spring 2012) I was Concertmaster for Shippensburg University Orchestra.

*Ashley Wyrick, woodwind & violin instructor

Miss Wyrick is a native of Chambersburg, PA and studied a variety of instruments in the Chambersburg School District. She studied clarinet with Paul Grane and violin with Cindy Scanzello. Ashley was a CVSM Merit Award Winner and Guarriello Scholarship recipient. In addition, she participated in County, District, Regional, and State band during high school.

She completed her K-12 Music Education Certification at Kutztown University, where she studied clarinet with Elizabeth Stimpert and Dr. Soo Goh. During her college years, she participated in a variety of music groups including the KU Marching Unit, led by Professor Daniel Neuenschwander, and the Kutztown University Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Willis Rapp.

Since graduating in 2014, Miss Wyrick has been a substitute teacher in the Chambersburg School District. In the summer she enjoys playing with the Hagerstown Municipal Band.