The Cumberland Valley School   of Music will present a special Gala Showcase Concert on Sunday, November 16 at 3:00 pm at the Alumnae Chapel in Thomson Hall, Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA.  The concert will feature some of the best musical talent in the Cumberland Valley and covers
a wide variety of musical styles from classical and opera to musical theater, jazz, and popular American song. 

 

This event is made possible with generous support from Orrstown Bank.

 

Highlights will include acclaimed singers Elisabeth Turchi and Gerald Kowallis, cellist Michael Cameron, jazz guitarist Maurice Arenas, pianist Brian Helman, clarinetists Paul Grane, Ashley Wyrick, and Sarah Moore, mallet percussionist Marlin Barnes, and a special chorus presenting a medley from "West Side Story". 

 

View the Gala Showcase Program!

 

Lyric coloratura soprano, Elisabeth Turchi, is rapidly emerging as an exciting new artist in the opera world. An audience favorite in Europe and the United States, Ms. Turchi is hailed for her passion and artistry in bringing music's most beautiful and challenging works to life. Ms. Turchi most recently performed Gabriel in Haydn's Die Schöpfung at the Liszt Academy in Budapest and St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna under the direction of two-time Grammy award winner Robert Page. After returning from Europe, she performed as the soprano soloist in Mozart's Mass in C Minor to standing ovations at the Festival 2008 Celebration Series at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Shenandoah University.  She has also studied in Italy with The International Institute of Vocal Arts, The International Lyric Academy of Rome, and The Ezio Pinza Council of American Singers of Opera and is featured on the recording of Haydn's Die Schöpfung at the Liszt Academy in Budapest by CMI Records.  We are especially proud that Lisa is both an award winning alumnus of CVSM and currently teaches voice for us!

 

Maurice Arenas is an accomplished guitarist proficient in many genres including Classical, flamenco, jazz, rock, and musical theater.  He served as an accompanist for legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco at several clinics sponsored by Gibson Guitars in the New England Area.  He received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, MD and a Master of Music from Mannes School in NYC.  He performed frequently in the orchestra pits for many Broadway musicals in NYC and Washington DC.  A well respected guitar instructor, Mr. Arenas owns and operates the Maurice Arenas Guitar Academy in Frederick, MD, and teaches for CVSM at St. Maria Goretti High School.

 A native of Queens, NY, cellist Michael Cameron has received degrees in music from the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music, Northwestern University, Eastman School of Music, and Rice University.  From 1989 until 2002 he was the cellist and general manager of the Marian Anderson String Quartet. This ensemble made history at the 1991 Cleveland Quartet Competition by becoming the first all-African-American chamber group to win a major competition in the field of classical music.  He has performed at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, the Library of Congress, the Corcoran Gallery, the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Gala, and on a live segment of ABC Television's Good Morning, America.  He also served on the faculties of California State University, Los Angeles; Texas A&M University; and Gettysburg College; and as an active grant committee member for the National Endowment for the Arts; Chamber Music America; and the Jerome Foundation.  Currently, Mr. Cameron is the cellist of the Camica Trio, conductor of the Mercersburg Academy String Ensemble, serves as Visiting Instructor of Cello and Chamber Music at Dickinson College, and teaches cello for CVSM.

Gerald Kowallis began his professional music career with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and performed in a number of venues, most recently at Allenberry Playhouse. Favorite roles include the Major General in "The Pirates of Penzance," Tevye in "Fiddler," and Bellamy in "Fantastiks". He taught music in the Waynesboro Area School District for 38 years, and currently directs the choir at St. Maria Goretti High School as a faculty member of the Cumberland Valley School of Music.

 

Marlin Barnes is an active percussionist whose extensive experience includes performances with Maryland Lyric Opera, Cumberland Valley Chamber Players, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the Altoona Symphony, Shippensburg Festival Orchestra, Mercersburg Area Community Chorus Orchestra, Hagerstown Municipal Band, Musica Ritma (percussion ensemble), and Ritma-Cordia (a cello-marimba duo).  His broad range of expertise includes solo marimba, symphonic percussion, Civil War drumming, musical shows, and percussion demonstrations.  Recently retired as the director of the string program at the Tuscarora School District. He received his degree from Indiana University of PA. He teaches percussion for CVSM.

 

 

Patrons - $30 per person/preferred seating

General - $12 per person in advance, $15 at the door

Students - $8 per person

CVSM Students & Faculty - FREE!! (please pick up in advance at the CVSM office or call the office at (717) 261-1220 to reserve a ticket)