Happy New Year and best wishes for 2016.
As I write, our communities are covered in three feet of snow from the record-breaking blizzard this past weekend. LVC staff responded splendidly to the emergency, caring for students who were “sheltering in place” on campus.
This spring semester has begun with the excitement of hosting 18 music students from Brazil in an exchange program led by Dr. Moorman-Stahlman. These excellent musicians gave a recital to the campus community on Thursday, January 28, toured many churches and other locations in central Pennsylvania, New York, and Philadelphia, and took lessons and classes at LVC, among other activities. Many of them were able to experience snow for the first time and have built strong friendships with LVC students.
Dr. Heffner is taking sabbatical this spring. He will travel to Florida and New York to study popular music curricula in several public schools. He will bring this experience back to LVC to contribute to the never-ending process of improving our own courses and programs.
As is typical in spring semesters, many students are off-campus as student teachers, interns, and studying abroad. Most of these students are seniors, and they soon will graduate and take their next steps towards satisfying careers.
We have many events planned for this spring. Please see our website, http://www.lvc.edu/music/events.aspx for details on each of these.
• Internationally-known guests include “Rock the Audition” musical theater guru Sheri Sanders; banjoist, storyteller, and historian Stephen Wade; flutist and survivor of the Cambodian genocide Arn Chorn-Pond; and the Cypress String Quartet, which will be in residence March 15-19.
• Our Sesquicentennial year begins in February with performance of Dr. Justin Morell’s piece Sesquicentennial Celebration by students and faculty.
• Our new Artist Teacher of Studio Voice and Musical Theater, Dr. Bethany Stiles, is piloting a new course titled “All that Jazz” that will end the semester with a cabaret.
These events are in addition to our normal packed schedule of faculty, student, and ensemble recitals and concerts and special events such as the choir tour, Valley Fest, and the selection of the 2016 Vale artist.
We hope to hear from you this semester and wish you well for the start of 2016.