From all of us at Cascadia Music we hope that you and your families are well. With everything that’s going on it’s nice to hear about the good news. At Cascadia Music we’ve been working hard to bring the good news to you. I hope you take the time to read all about it.
But first, an important message: With shortage of tests for COVID 19, the health department is increasing its contact tracing of possible exposure to the virus. While no one that we know of is sick right now, the health department has asked us to participate in a survey of people who attended our Musicians of the Methow event on March 7th. We are fully cooperating with this effort and hope that you will help us. The survey only takes a few minutes to fill out and is just as important to complete whether or not you or anyone in your family is experiencing symptoms.
Survey Monkey from Health Department
We care about your health and that of everyone in our community. Please get in touch if you have any concerns. Again, no one that we know of is sick, we are doing our best to provide full and accurate information to the department of health to aide their contact tracing efforts.
Rebecca Gallivan, Executive Director, Cascadia Music, cascadiamv@gmail.com
We are committed now more than ever to supporting local musicians and right now they need your support. So we have turned Musicians of the Methow page on our website had into a directory for local musicians! This is a place to support musicians directly, for our local artists to list themselves and their current musical projects or bands, so that venues and event planners can contact them for future bookings.
If you would like to participate, contact us at cascadiamv@gmail.com to be included and we will get you started!
Good news for our students!
Scholarship auditions will be taking place this year in a new digital format! This year 11 students chose to participate in this year’s Cherrington Scholarship Competition, and since we can’t meet in person, our amazing Scholarship and Education committee came up with a plan to go forward with a virtual version of Scholarship auditions this year. Many thanks to Melissa Quigley for organizing this effort and to our panel of volunteer judges: Marcy Stamper, John Trottier and Murray Sampson who have agreed to review the recordings and meet digitally to determine this year’s scholarship winners.
Here is a recent note from a parent after receiving the good news about scholarships going forward:
Thanks for letting us know! Freya has been asking everyday when we might hear from the committee. I appreciate you keeping us informed.
Freya has been very motivated by this opportunity. I think the combination of her age, personal development, and the encouragement from Pam to participate gave Freya the confidence to enter the competition. It has benefited her playing tremendously. She has been more motivated to practice, especially focusing on the dynamic aspects of her playing, allowing more personality to come into her performance and sharing of the gift of music.
Thanks again for providing this opportunity to our valley’s young musicians, especially now as it provides them a positive distraction during a challenging time of isolation and insecurity. Music is so powerful in helping us cope with challenge and find/share joy.
Perhaps the video competition pieces and other videos of local music could be shared at Jamie’s Place or through other online resources while people are social distancing in our community.
Cheers and good health to you all,
Alexa
Music lessons are continuing with the help of technology, Pam Hunt shares some thoughts about music lessons taught via zoom:
Yes, I spent the last few weeks teaching online using Zoom. It was wonderful to be able to check in with my students and see that they are well and happy. The good news I hear is that they are getting lots of rest, spending quality time with family, and lots of that outdoors. The school is sending home packets of school work, and they get it done in a few hours, with plenty of time left for free play and practicing their instruments. I have already seen an acceleration in their music skills! I am actually taking this week off from teaching, as it would have been my monthly week for group classes and they are not happening. I have been working on a system to hold group classes online using Zoom. That will be for next month. There are so many creative ideas online for ways to connect with students remotely. I can feel my own learning curve growing as I navigate this technology.
Personally, I have my violin and cello to practice daily, and have been learning the piano accompaniment parts to my students’ music so that I can still hold private recitals for my students and their families without having to put an accompanist at risk. No, I don’t have a video to send, but I sent you a photo I took at my studio while teaching online. These are strange times, and I really miss playing music with my students and my colleagues!
Stay well!
Pamela Hunt
*Scholarship students are still able to take lessons despite current guidelines to stay at home, and needs based scholarships are available even on a temporary basis for any family who may need it*
-email us at cascadiamv@gmail.com to request financial aide for lessons
We have started to fill our homepage with the musical resources that have kept us going recently, and we look forward to you sharing yours!
And we want to hear from you: What musical resources online are keeping you going during this time? What have you discovered that has lifted you up, entertained or delighted you that you’d like to share with the rest of our community? What are you looking for during this time?
What can Cascadia Music offer you in this time? let us know, your feedback is valuable to us, because we are here to serve you.
Email them to us at cascadiamv@gmail.com, or share them with us on facebook!
Advisory Board Formed!
Thanks to our newly formed Advisory Board of Cascadia Supporters, nonprofit leaders and other folks who want to see us succeed, Cascadia is ready for the future. We are moving forward with planning for next season whether or not we can gather for large events, with their suggestions and inspiration in mind. Programming committee has been hard at work making plans for our next season of inspiring and fun musical experiences with a focus on supporting local musicians, deepening our connection and partnership with schools, and building community through music.
If you came to Musicians of the Methow event, you heard the story of a little girl and her harp. If you haven’t heard it, head over to our giving page to read all about it and to see your gifts at work.
We are happy to report that Julianna Grace and her harp are in love, practicing and learning.
Photo courtesy of Leigh Anne Robinson
We want to say again how grateful we are for the support we receive from this community.
Even though we have had to cancel some of our events this year, we are finding new ways to come together through technology and get creative about how to connect and provide services in our changing situation. Thank you for your support through giving, support for scholarships and attendance at Musicians of the Methow event, support from business sponsors and individuals, support from people far and wide whose lives have been touched by what we do. You help us make it possible.
Many Thanks to our Conductor’s Circle members, all of our donors and our Musicians of the Methow and Season Sponsors:
