Sunburst News - November 2024
November 2024 - Issue #87
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Winter Recital Sign Ups 🎼
- Save the Date - Winter Group Program Enrollment 🎶
- Sunburst Jams 🎸
- Piano Club 🎹
- Squirrel Hill Wine Walk 🍇
- Instructor Spotlight: Giulia Galante 📻
- New Instructors 🎉
- Holiday Break Reminder 🗓
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Improv Workshop - 11/8
- Piano Club - 11/15
- Drum Circle - 11/16
- Sunburst Jams - 11/22
- Thanksgiving Break - 11/26-12/1
- Winter Party - 12/20
Winter Recital Signups
Performance season is back at Sunburst! As we get ready for our Winter Recitals, we’re thrilled to help students bring their hard work to the stage. Performing is a huge milestone and an incredible way for students to grow as musicians—there’s nothing quite like the thrill of live music! Whether it's your first recital or one of many we can’t wait to see and hear what you’ve been working on.
To get signed up for our winter recitals, use the link below, talk to your instructor or let us know at the desk! Make sure to check out this article we published a few years ago offering some helpful tips for how to prepare and make the most of it.
Finally as a reminder, we use our recitals to raise money for the Sunburst Music Scholarship Fund, a program that allows kids to take lessons at Sunburst for free. You can donate while signing up through Opus by choosing the donation payment option, or donate in person at the event. As always, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contributions! To learn more about the program, visit our Scholarship page here.
Save the Date - Winter Group Program Enrollment
Mark your calendars! Enrollment for the Winter Term of Music Together and the Sunburst Band Program starts on December 1st ❄️🎶
Free Fun Alert: Sunburst Jams & Piano Club
Join us for Sunburst Jams and Piano Club this month. These sessions are held monthly on Fridays and they’re FREE!
Piano Club with Jaime Cohen | Ages 8+
First up–Piano Club! This group meets on the 3rd Friday of every month from 6:30–7:30, and it’s a great opportunity for our piano students to dive deeper into music theory, enjoy interactive and educational games like Music Jeopardy, and gain performance experience!
- Date: November 15th
- Time: 6:30–7:30
Sunburst Jams
Join us for our monthly jam session, Sunburst Jams, on the 4th Friday of every month. The kids session for ages 8 and up meets from 5:30–7:00pm followed by the adult session from 7–9pm. Both sessions are very beginner friendly and the goal is to simply play music together, have fun, and maybe make some new friends along the way!
- Date: November 22nd
- Ages 8+: 5:30–7:00pm
- Ages 21+: 7:00–9:00pm
Free Improv Workshop with Vicky Davide
Join us for a Free Improvisation Workshop led by Vicky Davide this Friday, November 8th from 7–9pm!
This collaborative workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore your creative side and musicality without the worry of playing a “wrong” note! Vicky will guide the group through various improvisation exercises focused on play and exploration. All ages and abilities are welcome to join; no prior experience or musical training is required.
Food Drive for JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Join us in donating to the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry this month! We are accepting donations from November 1–20th in the Sunburst Lobby. Please see the donation guide to learn what items the food pantry is in need of this year, in addition to what they can (and cannot) accept!
Thank you all in advance for your generosity. We appreciate you!
Instructor Spotlight: Giulia Galante
Sunburst School of Music is proud to celebrate the achievements of one of our talented voice instructors, Giulia Galante, who was recently invited to SBL Radio to showcase her Latino Community Choir in honor of Latino Heritage Month. This special event took place on Saturday, October 19th, and highlighted the rich cultural contributions of the Latino community through the power of music.
Launched in April 2024 as a three-month summer pilot program, the local Latino Community Choir united Latino youth from across the city, delivering a powerful performance that captured the essence of unity and the celebration of Hispanic Heritage.
We are thrilled to share the link to the full interview and performance here, where you can experience the choir’s incredible talent and hear Giulia’s insights on the importance of music in the Latino community.
Welcome our New Instructors!
Sunburst is thrilled to welcome talented new instructors to our teaching team!
Mike Hugo - Guitar Instructor
Mike joins Sunburst with nearly two decades of experience in both playing and teaching guitar. Inspired by legends like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mike quickly developed his skills, eventually pursuing a Bachelor’s in Music with a focus on Jazz Studies from the City College of New York, graduating in 2019. Mike’s teaching philosophy centers on empowering students with the tools they need to be confident and successful in their musical endeavors.
Sydne Samuels - Youth Voice Instructor
Sydne Samuels is a passionate freelance art educator, administrator, and production assistant with a diverse background in theater. A 2023 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, she earned her BA in Theatre Arts and Psychology. After graduation, Sydne moved to New York City to intern at The Broadway League, where she helped produce The Jimmy Awards (National High School Musical Theatre Awards) and worked on programming like Broadway Bridges. She firmly believes in the transformative power of theater, which has profoundly impacted her own life. Sydne specializes in teaching an introduction to musical theater, acting through song, and audition preparation for school or community productions.
Holiday Break Reminder
As the holiday season approaches, we want to remind everyone of our holiday break billing policy. Your flat monthly tuition includes lessons every week, except when we are closed for holidays (see our calendar). We do not issue makeup credits for these days. You can view a full list of our billing and scheduling policies in our Terms and Conditions here.
Thank you for your understanding and have a wonderful holiday season!
Thanks for reading!
Let us know if you have any questions, comments, etc. Thanks as always for being a part of the Sunburst Community!
Best Wishes,
–Sunburst Team
