Felicity Lui, flute student of Elaine Martin, advanced three chairs in her Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 10 Band reaudition and was accepted into Region V Band. Felicity is a sophomore at Parkland High School. The Region V Band festival will be held this week, March 23-25, 2023, at Hempfield High School in Lancaster, PA. Congratulations, Felicity!
Shriya Chitta, violin student of Linda Kistler, qualified for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 10 Orchestra and also advanced to participate in the Northeast Region Orchestra. Shriya is a sophomore at Southern Lehigh High School. The orchestra festival was March 9-11, 2023, at Hazleton High School. Congratulations, Shriya!
C.J. Ray, tuba student of Nick Conti, qualified for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 10 Band and scored high enough to qualify for Region V Band. C.J. is a freshman at Parkland High School. Congratulations, C.J.!
Peter Heckman, piano student of Dr. David Saturen, accompanied a vocal student from Gwynedd Mercy Academy in the Gwynedd Tri-M Music Honor Society’s annual Coffee House performance on Friday, February 10, 2023. Peter performed the accompaniment for “Mr. Snow” from the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “Carousel”.
Maanya Gope, voice student of Julia Walsh and viola student of Carolyn Gaul played ‘Pigtails’, in the Springhouse Middle School production of “Newsies, Jr.”, which ran March 25, 2023. Learn more.
Alexis Gabay-Ratner, voice student of Julia Walsh played ‘Molly’ in the Lower Macungie Middle School production of “Annie” which ran March 23-25, 2023. Learn more.
CMS student Adam Garrett performed on tenor saxophone for MunOpCo’s production of “Dreamgirls” which was held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on March 3, 4, and 5, 2023. Adam is an adult tenor saxophone student of Cliff Tracy and a member of the CMS Big Band.
Former long-time CMS student Ben Miller also performed in MunOpCo’s production of “Dreamgirls” on alto saxophone and flute. Ben is a 2020 graduate of William Allen High School, a former saxophone student of Cliff Tracy, a piano student of Dr. David Saturen, and member of the CMS Big Band. Thanks in part to the fine music education he received at CMS, Ben was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Kutztown University, where he is currently studying music education.
CMS brass teacher Nick Conti is the director and music director of the Mustard & Cheese Drama Society’s production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” at Lehigh University’s Fowler Black Box Theatre (in the Zoellner Arts Center) on March 23, 24, 25, & 26, 2023. Learn more.
CMS piano teacher and Program Coordinator Kelly Hooper has been asked by Penn State Lehigh Valley to again appear as a guest lecturer in its Art of Mathematics course, in the Markowitz music room on April 5. Learn more about Art of Mathematics.
CMS guitar and recording teacher, Joe Wagner, will be teaching an introductory guitar class for non-music majors and a Film Music class this fall at Penn State Lehigh Valley, also in the Markowitz Music Room. CMS and PSLV share a longstanding partnership in the musical arts, thanks to founding CMS board member Martha Markowitz, her family, and Steven Markowitz, a Penn State alumnus and a former CMS Board Director who is President of Allen Organ Company.
CMS piano teacher Griffin Woodard made an appearance on WFMZ Channel 69 News for Music Monday on February 13, 2023. Check out Griffin’s interview with Eve Russo and his performances of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by William M. Runyan and Thomas Chisholm and “As Time Goes By” by Herman Hupfeld – Watch Here!
SPECIAL RELEASE: At midnight on February 14, 2023, the Griffin Woodard Quartet released its rendition of the Rodgers & Hart classic “My Funny Valentine” on Bandcamp only. In addition to this single, the full album “The Precious One” will be available for pre-order in CD or digital form.
Griffin will also perform and record with his jazz quartet at the Deer Head Inn on Sunday, April 2 from 5-7:30 p.m. Learn more.
CMS drum teacher Daniel Gonzalez has been selected to perform with his band at the 2023 NAMM Show, “Bringing the Future Into Focus.” The show runs from April 13–15, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Daniel will perform all original music with the Philadelphia-based band – Labex Funk Project – on the show’s opening night, Wednesday, April 12, at 10:00 PM, on the Renkus-Heinz Hilton Stage. The band was recently endorsed by Gruvgear, a lifestyle brand for creative professionals, and will also perform in the Gruvgear Booth, with performances on April 13 and 14. Learn more.