CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

On Sunday, March 27, 2022 the West Virginia University Community Music Program celebrated its 60th anniversary by honoring all it's former directors since 1962, when the program was first established as a preparatory department for the university.

The Morgantown Community Orchestra's concert "Women in Leadership" recognized the service and efforts of late Margaret Lorince and Dr. Christine Kefferstan, Dr.Cathy Godes, Jeanne Frieben, Dr. Keith Jackson, Jodie Lewis, and Karen Taddie, who have dedicated their time and creativity to bring high-quality music education to the community and the younger generation.

“With the exception of the program’s interim period in 2011, all former directors of the program have been women. Every woman that has directed this program has brought her aesthetic and creativity on board, transforming the music education curriculum and the program’s services throughout the years,” said Dr. Arkoudis, current Director of the WVU Community Music Program. 

The Daily Athenaeum: ‘The Arts are Strong’: WVU Community Music Program marks 60 year anniversary   

MARGARET LORINCE

Chairman of West Virginia University Preparatory Department (1962-1986)

 MTNA Foundation Fellows, Margaret Lorince

The preparatory department was reorganized and extended by Margaret Lorince to include both children and adults. In addition to piano, voice, and violin classes, the program offered classes in Musicianship, Fundamentals of Music, Theory, Suzuki Violin Method, Percussion Ensemble, Beginning Classical Guitar Class for Adults, Chorus, and the Community Arts Orchestra (Brown,1989, pg.56)

Margaret Lorince joined the WVU music faculty in 1964, where she taught piano performance, and developed a pedagogy emphasis program for the bachelors and masters degree programs in music. She served as assistant chair of music from 1983 to 1985 and as assistant dean of the College of Creative Arts from 1985 to 1986. She was a founding member of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association, serving as its president during 1965 to 1969, and as president of the Eastern Division of the Music Teachers National Association during 1974 to 1978 Read More

CHRISTINE KEFFERSTAN

Coordinator of West Virginia University Preparatory Department (1986-1989)

 WVU Piano Professor Christine Kefferstan leaves a legacy through her students

Christine Kefferstan, a professor of piano in the WVU School of Music for 35 years, was a classical pianist who performed all over the world, including Belize, London, Rio de Janeiro, Indonesia, Malaysia and Canada, as well as many venues in the United States, but she was best known for her love of teaching. She was the founder of the annual summer Intersection of Jazz and Classical Music Keyboard Festival and Competition, held each June at the Creative Arts Center, and she was also closely involved in the School of Music’s efforts to become an All-Steinway School. 

CATHERINE GODES

Director of the West Virginia University Community Music Program (1989-1994)

As director of the WVU Community Music Program, Catherine Godes developed a curriculum of musical education for over 400 students and established the Herman and Catherine Godes Young Artist Concerto Competition and Scholarship. The competition candidates were in their teens and the winner would perform with the Community Arts Orchestra. During her time as a director, the program had teachers trained in the Suzuki method, ensuring a strong music education for children playing the piano and violin. Ms. Godes vision was to foster an environment that helped  young musicians build a solid foundation for their development as musicians.

Dr. Catherine Godes is currently Professor of Piano at Tennessee Tech, holds degrees from West Virginia University and the DMA in Piano Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory, where she studied with Israeli pianist David Bar-Ilan. She was married to Latvian pianist Herman Godes, a Steinway artist and Artist-in-Residence at WVU, and together they formed the Godes Piano Duo and toured the U.S and Europe Read More

JEANNE FRIEBEN

Director of West Virginia University Community Arts Program (1994-2010)

As director of the WVU Community Arts Program, Jeanne Frieben expanded offerings in different areas with a special emphasis on classes tailored for adults. The program's current motto "It's never too late to learn!" has been inherited from Ms. Frieben who coined it first for publicity purposes. Continuing to fulfill her vision of meaningful community engagement, and with the assistance of Theresa Scafella, Natalie Buckley, and Elizabeth Etnoyer, she developed partnerships with other departments of the College of Creative Arts, such as Theater and Dance and Art & Design, created a series of faculty solo and chamber recitals, as well as different types of outreach programs, in lesser served communities. "It was probably the most rewarding time period of my life," said current WVU Director of Student Records and Advising and Artist Instructor through the Community Music Program, Ms. Jeanne Frieben. Read More

KEITH JACKSON & JODIE LEWIS

Co-directors of West Virginia University Community Music Program (2010-2012)

Thanks to the service and efforts of current Dean of College of Creative Arts Dr. Keith Jackson and School of Music Administrative Associate Jodie Lewis, the program continued to thrive during it's two-year interim period of 2010-2012. During that time, the administration was focused on successfully operating the program, maintaining ties with the community as established by Ms. Jeanne Frieben, and carrying out her mission.  

KAREN TADDIE

Coordinator/Director of West Virginia University Community Music Program (2012-2021)

 The Royal Conservatory, Teachers, Karen Taddie

Karen Taddie is the retired West Virginia University School of Music Community Music Program’s Coordinator of operations. During her appointment, CMP launched a comprehensive community engagement effort (focus on all age demographics, both within and beyond the borders of Morgantown), developed and strengthened significant new and existing programs and continued to receive generous local funding. She was in charge of re-structuring the program's policies, tuition and fees, including pay regulations for the teachers, so that the program can be financially and independently solvent. The result was that the community had a way of determining the skills of the program's educators and musicians, ensuring that the community is offering high-quality music education at an competitive financial value, while meeting the educational needs of its students and families. In 2015 Karen was named the WVU College of Creative Arts Staff of the Year for her work with the CMP. 

Karen Taddie continues to be the WVU Community Music Program's representative of The Royal Conservatory, and as the examinations return in-person, Morgantown will continue to be an examination center. 

DR. EFTIHIA ARKOUDIS

CITATIONS

Brown, Clifford W. Music at West Virginia University, 1897-1987. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia University, College of Creative Arts, 1989.