Now in its ninth year of grant making, Winchester Community Music School (WCMS) has funds to award professional development grants and continuing education training awards to its faculty for special projects, professional development seminars, and other initiatives that advance their education and training.  The grant application process is overseen and reviewed by the Programmatic Council of Department Chairs.  Since the program’s inception in 2015, WCMS has supported its teaching artists with 42 awards for their professional development.

WCMS is pleased to announce that the Programmatic Council made awards to the following six faculty members for the 2023-2024 grant cycle. The School is delighted to help these teaching artists further their professional goals and looks forward to hearing more about the results of their projects and training.  Gifts to the School’s Annual Fund and special underwriting help WCMS provide this funding through its operating budget each year.

Congratulations to the following 2023-2024 recipients:

  • Jonathan Fagan (piano faculty):  Recording project “The Standard Expansion Project” to inspire teaching artists and student to study standard jazz tunes in fresh ways.
  • Yoshiko Kline (Suzuki piano faculty):  Tuition assistance to attend an ADHD for Educators Certification Couse and a Suzuki Early Childhood Education Stage 1 Teacher Training Course.
  • Jacky Ho-Yin Li (French horn faculty): Music publication and recording project to create arrangements for French horn of classical music works to serve as a valuable education resource for teachers and students.
  • Peter Morelli (Suzuki & Traditional piano faculty):  Tuition assistance to attend a Suzuki Piano Unit 5 Teacher Training Course.
  • Norina Rowen (voice faculty):  Funding for a 1-year subscription to Scribd to access additional music resources for her teaching studio.
  • Noralee Walker (viola & violin faculty):  Funding to attend a retreat for professional musicians and teachers at Magic Mountain Music Farm to focus on playing in an intense, collegial setting.