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CMS String Ensemble Gets Great Press!
Photo Contest winners announced Carolyn Greenleaf Scholarship winner
Recital Schedule - Spring semester end-of-term recitals
Adult Recital (all instructors) Monday, June 2, 7 pm, at Essex Meadows FCC = First Congregational Church Essex CMS = Community Music School Russ Becker Saturday, June 14, 1:00 pm, FCC Tom Briggs Saturday, June 14, 11:00 am, FCC Christine Coyle Saturday, June 14, 11:00 am, CMS Phil Demand Sunday, June 15, 6:00 pm, FCC Pamela Dubey TBA Pamela Eberly Saturday, June 14, piano 10 am, voice 11 am, Essex Meadows Audrey Estelle no additional recital Jillian Fisher Sunday, June 15, 1:00 pm, FCC Neal Fitzpatrick TBA Paul Fletcher TBA Connie Flunker TBA Joni Gage Saturday, June 14, 3:00 p.m., FCC Lisa Gray Saturday May 31 Martha Herrle Saturday, June 14, 9:30 a.m., FCC Chantal Hovendick TBA Adele Huffman Saturday, June 14, 10:00 a.m., CMS Marianna Kiss Saturday, June 14, 4:30 p.m., FCC Johanna Lamb no additional recital Oxana Lauria Sunday, June 15, 2:00, CMS Marilyn Lazare Sunday, June 15, 3:00 FCC Matthew McCauley Saturday, June 14, 9:30 am, FCC Janice Pettersson TBA Jessie Primett Sunday, June 15, 3:30 p.m., CMS Steve Roane Saturday, June 14, 1:00 FCC Patricia Schuman Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m., Essex Meadows Brian Sparks TBA Nancy Thomas (piano students) Saturday, June 8, 1:00 CMS David Veslocki Shari Wilcox Sunday, June 15, 4:30 p.m., FCC Luisa Wilson TBA
CMS String Ensemble featured online
The Community Music School String Ensemble has been featured in a wonderful news article online at www.LymeLine.com called “Making Music Across the Ages”. We think that Linda Ahnert, the LymeLine reporter, did an excellent job of capturing and conveying the flavor and spirit of this mixed-age string orchestra. Seven photographs of the group’s April 8 spring concert are included. Here’s a link so you can see for yourself: http://www.lymeline.com/news.php?viewStoryPrinter=799
photo by Olwen Logan, LymeLine
When we throw a party, we certainly do it right! Our third annual Vina Musica, "The Shoreline's Premier Wine Event", not only met our fundraising goal, but also turned out to be a wonderful, memorable afternoon.
With the elegance and warmth of the Copper Beech Inn as the backdrop, guests were treated to a multi-faceted experience. Yes, it was a wine-tasting, with scores of wines to sample, donated and poured by experts whose commentary was extremely informative. Yes, there was a silent auction of goods and services contributed by a multitude of local merchants and businesses. Yes, the steady stream of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres passed by the attentive Copper Beech staff was varied and delectable. Yes, there was a veritable gallery of original artwork to bid on, painted and donated by many of the area's premier artists. Yes, there was plenty of opportunity to chat with friends new and old, with background music provided by many of our talented faculty. Yes, there was an onsite drawing, with a gorgeous 96-bottle wine rack that included a couple of dozen bottles of wine.
And then there was the Live Auction, where bidders acquired some fabulous "lots" and onlookers were treated to a very exciting show. Items included, among other things, amazing bottles of rare wine that had drawn quite an audience of collectors from around the state, unique dinner packages prepared by some of the region's premier chefs, even a watercolor by celebrity chef Jacques Pepin (who watched the sale with interest).
For the lucky Patrons, the day didn't stop there -- there was more to come, with an amazing and imaginative menu featuring the fine cuisine of Executive Chef François Mélogue, each extraordinary course paired with the perfect wine. The Chef and his assistants really outdid themselves.
photos courtesy of Leslie Barlow
Of course, the reason we do all of this is not just so we can have a great party -- the proceeds will fund all of our scholarships and enhance our programming for the next year. The results will be increased community outreach, continued subsidy for our performing ensembles, and an improved ability for CMS to enrich the musical life of our community. "Thank you" is inadequate to express our gratitude for the tremendous community support we have received. If you bought a ticket, or bought an auction item, or donated an item, or volunteered your time, or sponsored the event, then you have helped make Vina Musica a success. We thank you.
We Have Winning Photographers!
We are very pleased to announce the three winners in our fall Photography Contest: Rachel Koffman, Kaylyn Wiese and Nadia PenkoffLidbeck. The task we set was to show how music enriches our lives, and we received quite a variety of entries.
Rachel's picture of four friends sharing their favorite tunes on their iPods won the First Prize in the High School Division, and the Grand Prize overall. The competition was close, and it wasn't until the last two CMS faculty members cast their ballots that we were able to declare a winner. Rachel's prizes are a $50 check and a Hewlett Packard digital camera for her school, donated by Wal-Mart of Old Saybrook. She is in the 10th grade at Nathan Hale-Ray High School.
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Kaylyn photographed her sister Ellie playing the violin for an appreciative audience -- their dog Kelsey! Kaylyn, who attends Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, will also receive a $50 check for First Prize in the Middle School Division.
Nadia calls her winning picture "Finger Ballet". It's a black and white rendition of her sister's hands as they fly over the piano keyboard. Nadia, who is home-schooled, will receive the $50 First Prize in the Elementary School Division.
You can see the framed pictures upstairs at CMS, where they look great on the wall in Studio 24.
Spring Carolyn Greenleaf Scholarship Winner Announced
We are delighted to announce that
Kaila Moonan, a junior at Old Saybrook High School, is the winner of the Carolyn
Greenleaf Memorial Scholarship for the Spring Semester. Kaila is the principal
flutist in the high school junior/senior band, and has also participated in a
number of chamber groups, including a flute quartet and
a flute ensemble. She and her sister Brianna (a French hornist) also play with the Old Lyme Town Band.
This year, Kaila earned a special internship to work with her band instructor Mr. Jeremy Taylor, where she is learning about all aspects of music education. Kaila also hopes to participate in one of the summer music camps this year. She has received a number of honors for her outstanding music achievements, and has participated in the Southern Regional Music Festivals for the past several years.
Music is definitely a family affair in the Moonan household, and Kaila has wanted to be a musician for as long as she can remember. She is eager to learn more, and plans to use the Greenleaf Scholarship to pay for piano lessons to supplement her flute playing and knowledge of music theory in preparation for majoring in music in college. She will study with CMS instructor Oxana Lauria.
The Carolyn Greenleaf Scholarship is an award for merit in instrumental or vocal music. All area high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply, with a winner chosen twice a year. The prize pays for a semester of lessons at Community Music School. The deadline for applications for next fall is August 1. Please contact the school at 767-0026 to request the application form.
