Cumberland Valley School of Music has helped build a solid foundation for many high performing adults. Alumni include doctors, attorneys, airline pilots, teachers, managers, nurses and ministers. Others include business owners, homemakers, caregivers, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers… all who have benefited from their experiences at Cumberland Valley School of Music.
Michael Schmid– Keyboard player for Miley Cyrus. At CVSM Mike studied piano with Dr. William Bland and attended several camps.
Tim Franklin and Jessica John – Grammy Award Winners. Together they won a Grammy for the audio work on President Barack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” audiobook. At CVSM, Tim studied voice with Peg Weeks and Richard Overcash and guitar with Geoff Weeks. Jessica studied voice with Ronda Zeger.
Elisabeth Turchi– BFA Carnegie-Mellon University, MM Shenandoah University. Opera Singer. Lisa began her musical training at CVSM under the direction of Peg Weeks. Today she teaches voice at CVSM. Turchi is a featured soloist of Grammy-Award winning conductor Robert Page. “CVSM is more than just a place to take lessons. It is a vibrant community of artists and music lovers. It’s a place where you can perform for each other in a beautiful space and meet people with common goals and interests. Music enriches our lives. CVSM enriches the community.”
Carla Jablonski– M.M. Juilliard, Young Artist at Florida Grand Opera. Carla studied voice at CVSM with Peg Weeks and Elise Overcash. “My voice teacher encouraged me to continue singing and audition for a music conservatory. Manhattan School of Music won out when Arthur Levy offered to take me on as a student after hearing about me through another voice teacher. To this day I believe I was admitted based on the same foundations that were instilled upon me from my days at CVSM. “
Elizabeth Salter Stahl – MM, Music Education, Shenandoah University. Director of Choral Music at CASHS. Beth studied piano with Julia Emig and Voice with Paula Hepfer while a student at CVSM.
Zachary Cairns– Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. After receiving a BS in Music Education and a MM in Music Theory from Penn State, Zach taught music in a public school before earning his PhD in Music Theory from Eastman. He studied percussion with Marlin Barnes while a student at CVSM.
Jenny Kreyl – BA in Theatre from Temple University and a Master of Education from Arcadia University. “I was one of the original students to enroll when the school first opened. This led to a career in the performing arts, where I have worked professionally as an actor, playwright, and theatre department director. I attribute CVSM to the success of my teaching career because they provided me the opportunity to develop my craft and initiate new programs.”
Mary Beth Shank- Partner, Sharpe and Sharpe, LLP, B.A., Grove City College J.D., Dickinson School of Law Mary Beth studied piano with Winifred Ross and violin with Deborah Stotelmyer at CVSM. Today Mary Beth sits on the CVSM Board of Directors. “Seeds of self-discipline, love of the arts and a well-rounded existence are constantly being planted and nurtured in students of all ages at CVSM. A community that supports such a special place is a community that understands love of music is integral to the experience of being human.”
Nigel Sussman– BA, California College for the Arts, illustrator/animator with the McCann Worldgroup Advertising Firm in San Francisco, CA. Nigel was recently commissioned and completed a mural for the Google Headquarters building. He also plays bass guitar with various bands in the Bay area. As a student at CVSM Nigel studied guitar with Mark Miller, trumpet with Gloria McCauley, participated in Cumberbunds and Rock Workshops and Camps.
Eric Hepfer – “I started my first business when I was a student at CVSM– a jazz band.” MBA Graduate, Harvard Business School; Associate, Hines Real Estate, Student at CVSM for 10 Years Eric studied guitar, drums, sax, string bass, and composition at CVSM. In 6th grade, Eric started a jazz band with two friends. They played for Congressmen, business executives, and local leaders. “Spending time on stage gave me the ability to lead with confidence.”
Nathan Zullinger – MM, Conducting, DMA in Conducting in Progress, Boston University
Jason Widney, baritone, MM Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Opera Company, Baltimore Lyric Opera
Andrew Bidlack – San Francisco Opera Young Artist, now a free-lance tenor in NYC
Nicole Fitzsimmons Albright, Beth Dickinson, Matt Dickinson, Heather Culbertson Woodbridge, Mike Strickler, Colleen Kennedy, Chris Wenger, Rich Bricker, Joshua Wenger – all public school music teachers!
Andrew Boryan, MD. Currently doing a Residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia Hospital. Andrew received his under grad degree at JMU where he was a member of the Royal Dukes Marching Band. He attended Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. Andrew studied trombone with Bernie Pitkin while a student at CVSM.
Josh Parrett – Owner Parrett Law, Richmond VA; Law Degree from University of Richmond. Josh took percussion lessons from Sam Hepfer while a student at CVSM.
Mark Orndorf– Local Attorney. Mark took Saxophone from Paul Grane while a student at CVSM.
Korry Franke – Pilot, Continental Airlines, Undergrad from Embry Riddle, Fl. MBA from Penn State. Korry participated in numerous CVSM jazz camps and was the pianist for the “Swing Kids.”
Adrienne Sussman, Ph.D. Candidate in Animal Behavior, University of Washington. She received her undergrad degree from Stanford. Adrienne studied violin with Deborah Stotelmyer, took numerous Acting workshops and was an annual participant in our summer Voice and Drama Camp while a student at CVSM.
Julie Eyer Booth – Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at Temple University. Julie studied voice with Paula Hepfer while a student at CVSM and was a Ladybug.
…and many more! Please contact us if you have a story to share!
“CVSM has emerged as the cornerstone of cultural opportunity and reflects dynamic change in Franklin County. The opportunities given by CVSM play an extremely important role in our efforts to attract businesses into the county.” -Mike Ross, Director, Franklin County Area Development Corporation
“Music has the power of forming character and should therefore be introduced in the education of the young” -Aristotle
