Framingham Centre Music House Starts Program For Band Students

Press release from Centre Music House:

Sept. 23, 2020

Centre Music House today announced the start of their latest musical endeavor - Centre Music House Ensembles. The program was created as a way to help students whose traditional band and orchestra programs were put on hold or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program will be run by Chris McGillicuddy, a former student of Centre Music House and graduate of Framingham Public Schools, and is set to begin rehearsals in early October. CMH Ensembles will be open to students who are taking lessons at Centre Music House as well as middle school students in Framingham.

“We are starting ensembles as a way to create a stronger community of musicians in the Metrowest area” says Chris McGillicuddy, Director of Ensembles at Centre Music House. “We believe music is an essential part of life and a perfect tool to create a community of people working towards a common goal. Centre Music will start with the two ensembles now, but will grow over time and eventually offer something for all musicians."

The Ensembles program is the latest in online offerings from Centre Music House, which has been serving the Metrowest community since 1973. Within days of Framingham going into lockdown because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Centre Music House transitioned its nearly 50-year in-person lesson program to a fully virtual model, complete with in-house technical support. Max Larson, the director of Centre Music House, was the driving force behind the online transition and has been pleased with the outcomes.

“The feedback from students and parents has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Larson. “At this point, our virtual private lessons program is solid and we’re ready to take the next step by offering these group ensembles. Plus, with the middle schools postponing their instrumental band programs, there’s an even greater need for this kind of activity. As someone who attended Framingham Schools growing up, I think about the kids in middle school today whose only opportunity to play an instrument was the band program and now that’s off the table which is a real shame. If we can help them out while giving our students more opportunities to make music together, then these ensembles are a huge win-win.”

Centre Music House Ensembles will begin with two groups focused on students in middle school, or who have at least 1 year of experience on their instruments. The first group will be a Concert Band for musicians who play woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The second group will be a Chamber Orchestra for string musicians. Rehearsals will be held online with a plan in place for in-person rehearsal and performance opportunities in the future, when it is safe to do so.

Students who are interested in participating can register and submit their audition pieces online at www.centremusic.com/ensembles. The cost for this 10 week program is free for current Centre Music House students and just $50 for non-students.

This press release was produced by Centre Music House. The views expressed here are the author's own.