On May 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago’s historic Chopin Theatre, Spektral’s “Theatre of War” will feature the quartet performing George Crumb’s Black Angels in addition to hosting several other artists who will perform equally provocative works.  More than a concert, it is “an artistic investigation of the contemporary disconnect between the experiences of most citizens and those people directly impacted by war.”  The performers’ goal is to bring non-partisan focus to the ongoing operations in the Middle East and to offer space for discussion following the concert. Information about how you can share your support for this serious artistic endeavor and its worthwhile cause can be found at  http://spektralquartet.com/events/theatre-of-war/. The quartet intends to donate all ticket sales proceeds to a veterans arts charity.

Goshen residents will recognize “one of their own” as a member of this accomplished quartet. J. Austin Wulliman grew up in Goshen, studied violin in GC’s strings preparatory program and graduated from Bethany Christian High School. He attended Goshen College, then transferred to the Univ. of Michigan where he graduated summa cum laude with a violin performance degree, followed by a masters from Northwestern.

Kathryn and Lon Sherer came to Goshen in 1959 upon Lon’s appointment to the music faculty as violin teacher and orchestra conductor. Kathryn, a 1954 Goshen College graduate, taught piano in the community from that time, and was also to become a member the GC faculty.

During the decade of the 60’s, Kathryn and colleague John T. O’Brien launched GC’s piano pedagogy program, which served children in the community with piano instruction from master teachers, along with GC student interns who were being mentored in piano pedagogy. This program eventually became the core of GC’s Community School of the Arts (CSA), formed in 2003 following the construction of the Music Center.

Other important contributions to GC’s music community by Kathryn include her work with John O’Brien to establish GC’s annual Piano Workshop and Academy, which continues after more than 40 years to serve piano teachers and students.

Kathryn was also an advocate and teacher for the Acorn Music Project implemented in the fall of 2000 under the direction of Professor Beverly Lapp, which provided access to lessons for many community children. Access through need-based scholarships continues to be an integral part of today’s CSA.

In 2004 Lon and Kathryn established an endowment to support the interests of accessibility and excellence in pedagogy so prevalent in their careers. The Lon and Kathryn Sherer Preparatory Music Endowment Fund serves the study of preparatory music at Goshen College in various ways, some of which are funding guest clinicians in pedagogy, providing need-based scholarships for CSA students and master classes and coachings for preparatory students and ensembles.

Kathryn’s legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of the hundreds of students whom she mentored. Her vision continues through the work of the Sherer endowment fund that will provide community children direct access to the highest quality professional teaching.

The Sherer family suggests that memorial gifts be sent to the Lon and Kathryn Sherer Preparatory Music Endowment Fund at Goshen College or the MCC-East Africa Fund for Hunger.  For the Sherer Preparatory Fund, please indicate in the “Comments” box on the online form that you wish for your gift to benefit this fund in memory of Kathryn Sherer.

The GC Music Center will be holding a free Music Together® demo class with registered teacher Jessica Fashun on Friday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m. at Waterford Crossing Senior Village (south edge of Goshen).  You and your child will experience a typical Music Together® class and will be given information regarding upcoming Music Together® spring term classes, which begin in March.

To sign up for this demo class, please call the Music Center Main Office at (574) 535-7361.

For further information about ticket availability, prices, reservation, or more information, visit the Performing Arts Series website, or contact the Goshen College Welcome Center at (574) 535-7566 or e-mail welcomecenter@goshen.edu.  The Welcome Center, located at the south end of the Union Building on the Goshen College campus, is open for business from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Monday through Friday.

“Much of our growth has been among traditionally under-served populations. This award brings attention to these efforts, which have been possible in part because of generous community support,” said Brian Wiebe, director of the Music Center. “The award validates the work and determination of this community to see music become a positive influence for many families.”

The award recognizes the center that has grown the most in the past year. The Goshen College Community School of the Arts program has grown over 200 percent. It serves 400-450 families per semester, and includes both preschool and parent-child offerings in more than 12 public schools. The program added the most new preschools in the 2010-11 academic year, with preschool programs accounting for 75 percent of all participants.

Music Together® delivers programming in 25 countries and over 2,000 communities worldwide. Music Together® is a research-based method for developing basic music competence in children. It accomplishes this through singing and movement to songs and chants, drawing on a wide variety of cultures and styles.

“Music Together® outreach classes brings together people of different income and education levels, old and young, people of every religion and political persuasion. They all join a circle singing the same songs, feeling the same things. They become a community of like-minded people in this one activity,” said Deb Kauffman, associate director of the Music Center. “We believe that music can change the world, one child at a time.”

In Music Together®, children attend a weekly 45-minute class with a parent, grandparent or other caregiver, and receive a songbook and professional CD for home listening. Classes are taught by a trained professional and are held in various locations throughout Elkhart County.

“Because music learning supports all learning, and because it is a powerful tool for bonding, it is the perfect activity for parents to do with their children in the first years of life,” Kauffman said. “We would love to see music viewed as a birthright for every child in Elkhart County.”

Press release written by Jodi Beyeler, Goshen College Public Relations Office.

“Program keeps music in kids’s lives from an earlier age” – eTruth.com, January 17, 2011