Music Education Center

FREE concert this Saturday at the Queen’s City of Might & Magic Festival in Staunton (aka Harry Potter Festival). Playing music from the Harry Potter movie scores, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia and much more! Last year’s concert was standing room only so we’re offering 2 concerts this year. Please join us and wear your costumes 😊

Another fantastic MEC Spring Recital happened on May 18th featuring the students of Ms. Carrie and Ms. Sonia! The students played a variety of musical genres including Beethoven, Mozart, Burgmuller, Thomas “Fats” Waller, Grieg, John Williams and more. A wonderful day was had by all!

I could not be more proud of my fine musicians. This is but one class in one day in one week. Last classes include solo piano performances, scales quiz, theory quiz, Music Jeopardy quiz, music history quiz, and composer identification. They love every minute of the challenges and fun! On to the vocal concert this weekend! Mr. Bones (the Song & Dance Man) will conduct!

What a LOVELY Mother’s Day gift to all! These students of Kiley, Lizzie, Nancy, and Crissy performed a variety of repertoire ranging from Classical, Ragtime, Blues, Folk, Jazz, and even a “Departure” score composed by the performer himself, in memory of his many years studying with Miss Nancy! (Thank you, Kiley, for coordinating a wonderful musical afternoon.)

There are not enough words to describe the joy shared by musicians, residents, and staff when our Music Education Center senior class sang an hour of Broadway tunes at Rosewood Village on Sunday afternoon. I could not be more proud. (And I’m thankful for Kiley’s tasteful violin support, and her Edelweiss solo. And then there’s my dashing, talented teen who tickled ivories on a couple other interlude, period pieces….) What a village we share! ♥️🎶

Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra - Peter Wilson, Music Director Welcome! “On behalf of the Waynesboro Symphony — the American Prize-winning community orchestra in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and the 2024 recipient of the Circle of Excellence in the Arts Award — I’m proud to welcome you to our website and introduce you to our upcoming 2024-25 concert

The “Sound of Music” themes include love, respect, courage, and conscience even in the face of horrendous adversities. These elements can prevail over the horrors of oppression and even war. Again and again, Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the histories for us. I’ve never been more proud to mentor today’s young musicians. Music is about so much more than notes on the page. ♥️🎶 (Apologies to the innumerable MEC students and parents I didn’t photo—- seated elsewhere in the house —— here’s a virtual hug!) (Crissy Hawthorne)

Be sure to come out to see our amazing young artists play some terrific music with the Waynesboro Symphony at these free concerts!

‘Tis the season at MEC! Classes enjoyed an impromptu (unrehearsed, beautiful) performance of “Away in a Manger” today. And just look at those programs, just WAITING to be performed over the next week! And yes, the sock competition is a very real thing…

I hear there’s going to be a restock of “red hen handmades” made by Miss Kiley! Check out new holiday gift items, arriving later today. Bones the Elf can’t decide which little coin purse he wants!