Category Archives: Blog

Celebrate with us!

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Holy Names Music Center officially opened as Spokane’s Community Music School in 1982, built on the contributions and efforts of the Sisters of the Holy Names, who were committed to using music education as a way to serve their community. The center’s mission is to provide music education to all, regardless of age, ability, or financial circumstance. Today, the Holy Names Music Center continues to impact the community through its educational programs, scholarship opportunities, and community outreach efforts.

HNMC offers private lessons in a variety of instruments, including piano, violin, guitar, voice, and more. Additionally, the music center provides group lessons, and ensembles, as well summer programs and workshops, for students who want to deepen their knowledge and skills, find joy and reap the many benefits of learning music.

One of the center’s most important initiatives is our scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to students who might not otherwise be able to afford music lessons. Through this program, the center is able to ensure that all students, regardless of their financial situation, have access to high-quality music education.

In addition to educational programs, Holy Names Music Center is also dedicated to community outreach. Music 4 Vets provides free music lessons to veterans who are recovering from injuries or dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This program has had a profound impact on many veterans in the Spokane community, helping them to heal and find joy through music.

Holy Names Music Center also offers affordable rehearsal and recital space for community groups and individuals, providing a much-needed resource for musicians in the area. Recitals and performances are hosted throughout the year, showcasing the talents of students and faculty, as well as visiting artists from around the world.

On April 21st, 2023, the Holy Names Music Center will be hosting a fundraising gala at the Commons at Mukogawa, just down the street from the music center. La Belle Epoque, a beautiful Paris themed evening will celebrate the musical legacy of the Sisters of the Holy Names, Fort Wright College, Holy Names Academy, and Holy Names Music Center. The event will feature a delicious dinner, live music, wine, and a fine auction. Attendees will have the opportunity to support music in the community while enjoying a fun evening with friends and family. Performances will be given by Imagine Jazz, Dr. Archie Chen, Mick and Stacy Wetzel from the L.A. Philharmonic, and students of Holy Names Music Center, including Amanda Nguyen on violin.

The funds raised at the gala will help to support the center’s educational programs, scholarship program, and community outreach efforts, ensuring that the Holy Names Music Center can continue to provide high-quality music education to students of all ages and backgrounds in the Spokane community.

Students, faculty, donors, and friends are all invited to attend the upcoming fundraising gala and show their support for the Music Center. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the center directly. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to support music education in Spokane while enjoying a memorable evening filled with music, food, and community spirit.

For more information or to register for the event visit: hnmc.org/tickets
or Call (509) 326-9516 M – Th 10 am – 6 pm PST

Talent Grant Awards 2022-2023

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Congratulations to this year’s annual Talent Grant Winners!

The 2022-2023 Talent Grant Winners receiving a $500 grant:

Amanda Nguyen, violin, student of Garnik Goukasian
Trinity Piazza, piano, student of Linda Siverts

Honorable Mentions receiving a $100 grant:

Jade Frias, piano, student of Linda Siverts
Henry Ramey, violin, student of Mariana Dimitrova

Holy Names Music Center’s 2022-2023 Talent Grant Adjuducation was held on June 6th, 2022. A total of 14 students, recommended by their teachers were scheduled to perform for an outside judge in a blind ranking system. We would like to extend a special thank you to this year’s adjudicator, Dr. John Marshall, Director of Orchestra/Professor of Cello at Eastern Washington University & Spokane Youth Strings conductor. The greatest benefit to the competition is what student’s gain from the experience and take with them into the future, and each of the participants received valuable notes from Dr. John Marshall about their performance.

Only a small number of students are nominated by their instructors each year, it is an honor just to be recommended, and a tremendous opportunity to compete. Holy Names Music Center’s Annual Talent Grant Competition is unique in that the student’s talent and potential are both considered – making it possible for even a beginning student who shows great promise to win the grant. This year’s participants all demonstrated terrific musical competence, artistic sensibility and potential, and were a credit to their efforts and their teachers. We look forward to following their progress and accomplishments into the future!

A little more about this year’s winners:


Amanda Nguyen, violin, student of Garnik Goukasian, and former student of Mariana Dimitrova, winner of a $500 tuition grant. Amanda began her violin studies with Mariana Dimitrova in 2012, when she was just 4 years old. Then in late 2020, she began instruction under Garnik Gouksian. Amanda will be a sophomore in high school. She wishes to continue pursuing her musical passion throughout high school, college, and beyond; her goal being to share and spread her love of music with others, hoping to inspire others to pursue their own musical interests. She also performs with the Spokane Youth Symphony. Amanda says: “Through music, I have met so many amazing musicians that I am proud to call my friends and family. I want to share with others that music is not just dots on a page, it is a lifelong journey of finding and expressing yourself. Music is powerful.”


Trinity Piazza, piano, student of Linda Siverts, winner of a $500 tuition grant. Trinity is a 17 year old senior, graduating from Spokane Classical Christian School. She has been playing piano for 12 years, and greatly enjoys learning difficult pieces, sight reading, and playing for her Church. She plans to continue her study of music in collage, and hopes to eventually become a music teacher. She has already started pursuing this goal by opening her own piano studio, where she teaches kids to play piano, and to love music.

Jade Frias, piano, student of Linda Siverts, honorable mention, winner of a $100 tuition grant. Jade is 15 years old and recently finished 10th Grade at Deer Park Homelink. She is starting the Running Start program at Spokane Falls Community College in the Fall. She started playing piano at the age of 4 using her Keyboard Book for Toddlers and started taking lessons at the age of 7. She also started singing at 3 years old. She is currently taking piano and voice lessons at HNMC. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, baking, and playing chess. Jade’s dream is to be a Forensic Pathologist
Henry Ramey, violin student of Mariana Dimitrova, honorable mention, winner of a $100 tuition grant. Henry is 9 years old and is going into 4th grade. In addition to music, he enjoys running track, swimming, and playing golf. He loves learning about history in school.

Congratulations again to these wonderful, hardworking young students and their teachers! We are honored to be a part of your music education!

Thank you so much to our donors who make programs like this possible! Find out how you can help fund a scholarship to a deserving student.

Talent Grant Awards 2021-2022

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Congratulations to this year’s annual Talent Grant Winners!

The 2021-2022 Talent Grant Winners receiving a $500 grant:

Hannah Kerbs, voice, student of April Young
Daniel Thackston, cello, student of Karen Conlin, SNJM
Justus Piazza, piano, student of Linda Siverts

Honorable Mentions receiving a $100 grant:

Noah Eddy, violin, student of Garnik Goukasian
Henry Ramey, violin, student of Mariana Dimitrova
Everett Wirth, piano, student of Mina Somekawa

Holy Names Music Center’s Talent Grant competition is unique in that the student’s talent and potential are both considered – making it possible for even a beginning student who shows great promise to win the grant.

Only a small number of students are nominated by their instructors to compete for the Talent Grant awards. It is an honor just to be recommended, and a tremendous opportunity for students to perform in a blind ranking system for an impartial and experienced adjudicator and compete for a monetary award toward their music lessons in the coming year. The greatest benefit to the competition is what student’s gain from the experience and take with them into the future. This year’s students all demonstrated great musical competence, artistic sensibility and promise, and we look forward to following their progress and accomplishments in the year’s to come.

We would like to extend our particular gratitude to this year’s adjudicator, Jan Pellant, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony!

A little more about this year’s winners!


Hannah Kerbs, voice student of April Young, winner of a $500 tuition grant. Hannah Kerbs, 17, is an honor student (Junior) at Paideia High School (in Valley, WA). She has been a student of HNMC since she was three years old, first in a “pre-twinkle” strings class with “Miss Margie,” on a 1/4 “violin.” She began several years of piano study with Sr. Kay Heberling at age 5, and at 6 she also began what would be many years of cello studies with Sr. Karen Conlin. She also enjoyed cello studies with Cheryl Carnie, and Dr. Roberta Bottelli, along with her 6 years in the Spokane Youth Symphony. In recent years, she has flourished in her voice studies with April Young. In her “spare time,” Hannah enjoys her big family, church life, and various outdoor activities in our beautiful area of 4 seasons! She hopes to major in music/voice when the time comes. 


Daniel Thackston, cello student of Karen Conlin, SNJM, winner of a $500 tuition grant. Daniel is 14 years old and going into the 9th grade. He has played cello for 9 years- 8 of those studying with Sister Karen. He enjoys playing the cello, making, and listening to music and is enjoying learning a Haydn Concerto currently. He hopes to continue playing the cello through high school and in college. His other interests include golf, tennis, math, and wake-surfing.


Justus Piazza, piano student of Linda Siverts, winner of a $500 tuition grant. Justus has been playing the piano for 8 years. He has won several gold medals at Musicfest NW. In addition to piano, he loves signing for his school choir and playing basketball. Justus hopes to continue playing piano and studying vocal performance in college.

Noah Eddy, violin student of Garnik Goukasian, honorable mention, winner of a $100 tuition grant. Noah is a rising sophomore at LC. While violin remains his first musical love, he also enjoys playing the piano and bass. He hopes to study engineering or architecture in the future.

Henry Ramey, violin student of Mariana Dimitrova, honorable mention, winner of a $100 tuition grant. Henry fell in love with the sound of the violin in Kindermusik class and decided he wanted to learn to play. He also enjoys playing the piano. He likes to ski, run cross-country, and play soccer. His favorite subject in school is reading.

Everett Wirth, piano student of Mina Somekawa, honorable mention, winner of a $100 tuition grant. “Everett loves to play the piano! He has grown a great deal as a musician in his two years of playing and hopes to continue playing throughout his childhood and adolescence. He is interested in dinosaurs and ocean life and hopes to one day be a paleontologist or marine biologist. Our hope for him as his parents is that music will always hold a special place in his heart no matter what he decides to do with it. We are so proud of him!”

Congratulations again to these wonderful, hardworking students and their teachers! 

Thank you so much to our donors who make programs like this possible! Find out how you can help fund a scholarship to a deserving student.

Talent Grant Awards 2020-2021

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Holy Names Music Center’s holds a donor supported annual Talent Grant competition to give HNMC students the opportunity to perform for an outside adjudicator with a blind ranking system and compete for a monetary award toward their music lessons in the coming year. This competition is unique in that the student’s talent and potential are both considered – making it possible for even a beginning student who shows great promise to win the grant.

Despite the challenges presented due to COVID-19 our students who had been nominated for this opportunity persevered. Students and teachers prepared their pieces and practiced diligently. With extra precautions in place in regards to safety the competition was held on June 19th, 2020. #TheMusicPlaysOn!

We would like to extend a special thank you to this year’s adjudicator Jim Tevenan, Music and Arts Producer and Classical Host for Spokane Public Radio. This year a total of sixteen students auditioned with teacher recommendations in the areas of strings, voice, and piano. We are so impressed by our hard working and talented music students and are pleased to announce this year’s winners!

Talent Grant Winners 2020 to 2021 fb post

The 2020-2021 Talent Grant Winners receiving a $500 grant:

Amanda Nguyen, violin, student of Mariana Dimitrova
Kailyn Wilder, voice, student of April Young and
Trinity Piazza, piano, student of Linda Siverts

Honorable Mentions receiving a $100 grant:

Elias Baldwin-Bonney, voice, student of April Young
Jade Frias, piano, student of Linda Siverts and
Noah Eddy, strings, student of Garnik Goukasian

All students demonstrated great musical competence, artistic sensibility, and promise. Congratulations to these wonderful, hardworking students and their teachers!

Thank you so much to our donors who make programs like this possible!

Talent Grant Awards 2019-2020

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Holy Names Music Center’s annual talent grant competition is pleased announce this year’s winners. The competition is an opportunity for HNMC students to perform for an adjudicator not affiliated with Holy Names Music Center and compete for a monetary award toward their music lessons in the coming year.

This year’s adjudicator was David Dutton, specialist in period instruments, and adjunct faculty of the Whitworth Music Department (B.Mus., Oberlin Conservatory; Performance Diploma, Mozarteum, Salzburg): oboe.

Thirteen students auditioned with teacher recommendations in the areas of strings, voice, and piano. The Music Center has a long history of awarding these grants to students who have talent and/or potential making it quite possible for a beginning student to win the grant!

Talent Grant Winners Facebook 2019 to 2020 web

 

The 2019-2020 Talent Grant Winners receiving a $500 grant:

Jonathan Lew, piano, student of Greg Presley
Emma Metcalf, voice, student of April Young
Elizabeth Persons, violin, student of Mariana Dimitrova
Matthew Smith, cello, student of Sr. Karen Conlin

Honorable Mentions receiving a $100 grant:

Nicole Hindman, violin, student of Garnik Goukasian
John Malsam, piano, student of Sr. Kay Heberling

All students demonstrated great musical competence, artistic sensibility, and promise.

Congratulations to these wonderful, hardworking students and their teachers!

A Musical Feast Event Recap

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This year in April Holy Names Music Center held our first ever “A Musical Feast” benefit to support music education and performance opportunities in our community and invite people to the music center to enjoy some great music food, and drink and learn more about all that we do.

It was a great night – Enjoy this little taste from the event!

Thank you so much to all the musicians, teachers, students, volunteers, our board and staff members who put in countless hours in support of our beloved music center and out mission to provide quality instruction and performance opportunities for all!

Musicians:
String Ensemble:
Eric Gallagher, violin/viola, (student of Claire Keeble (HNMC faculty)
Anthony Manoguerra, violin/viola (student of Claire Keeble (HNMC faculty)
Tiffany Wang, 2nd violin
Germaine Morgan, cello
Piano:
Linda Siverts (HNMC faculty)
Jazz Ensemble:
Eugene Jablonsky, bass
Brendan McMurphy, trumpet (HNMC faculty member)
Guitar:
J.P. Shields (HNMC faculty)
Songs from Always, Patsy Cline:
Andrea Olsen, voice (HNMC faculty member)
Drew Olsen, piano

Special thanks to our wonderful sponsors who helped make this event possible!A-Musical-Feast-video-sponsor-thank-you-1332172160-1557431429234.jpg
Keep an eye out for our next sip and paint evening in October of 2019!

Scholarships for Music Lessons

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Holy Names Music Center continually seeks to live up to it’s mission to provide high quality instruction and performance opportunities for all by offering scholarships to new and continuing students who may not otherwise be able to afford music lessons.

Over the past nine years Holy Names Music Center has awarded over $100,000.00 to help students young and old, from beginner to advanced achieve their dreams of pursuing a musical education in a variety of different disciplines.

Notes from our 2018-2019 students:

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If you or your child have always had a dream to learn an instrument, or train your own voice… and financial circumstances are standing in your way – we encourage you to apply!

Click the following link for more information about Applying for a Scholarship

Help us in our mission to bring music into the lives of as many people with sincere interest in learning music as we can!

Donate now or Mail your donation to:

Holy Names Music Center
Attn: Scholarship Fund
3910 W. Custer Drive
Spokane, WA 99224

 

Giving Thanks. Stop. Think.

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This year, as for a great many of us, the holidays have crept up on me. It is, truthfully, almost a surprise that Thanksgiving is next week. As the colder and darker days have successfully crept up on me, so has the merriest season of the year. Long gone are the warm and sunny days of summer and here are the cold and wet days of autumn and winter. I myself prefer the long warm days; exercise seems easier, days seem somehow more carefree, friends seem more eager to socialize, and while rationally I know better, days seem to have more time to get things accomplished.

However, for as much nostalgia as I hold for each summer I think it’s important to mindfully live in the present. With that being said, this time of year always seems to be impossibly busy for me. Of course there’s always work, then you have school, you have after school activities such as sports and music lessons, errands for the home, dinner, cleaning the house, trying to connect and communicate with a family that is just as hectic; it all seems to be quite overbearing. To add to an already impossible load there’s planning with relatives about the upcoming holidays, holiday cards, concerts for the kids, Christmas shopping, Thanksgiving shopping; the list goes on. To digress, the holiday’s are often a time where we get caught up in the shuffle rather than taking the time to enjoy this special time of year.

Therefore, this holiday season I am trying to be intentional in my doings. Each day I have been completing a journal of what I am thankful for. As I have been documenting what I am grateful for, often the largest impact on my day, the thing I am most grateful for, is an individual. Therefore, I challenged myself to affirm someone, each day, for the rest of November. In all honesty, documenting my gratitude has been tedious more than it has been enjoyable. The antipodal experience for me has been affirming my friends and family. I love receiving thoughtful words of affirmation, it’s one of my preferred love languages, so I get similar enjoyment when I am able to give someone a thoughtful affirmation.

My effort this month has been to have an appreciation for the holiday season rather than coast through it. By my own measurement I think I have done a fair job in this endeavor but I will reserve my assessment for after Thanksgiving; my attitude on the actual holiday and dealing with the stress of traveling and coordinating with my relatives may very well counter balance the efforts I have made this month. 🙂

My encouragement to you, before it’s too late, is to take a moment and examine yourself. What is it that you have to be grateful for; my guess would be a whole lot. Whom in your life makes life more enjoyable? Is it your spouse or children; would your recent interactions with those people communicate your gratitude for them? Have you been preparing yourself to enjoy this holiday or will you unintentionally coast through it? Though this upcoming holiday may be all about food for your stomach, I challenge you to digest this food for thought. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at HNMC!

Posted by Jon Terry

Holy Names Event Recap: Starry Night

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On the evening of Thursday October 4, 2018 the Holy Names Music Center put on a fundraiser for our school: Starry Night, a dinner, painting session, and auction. The event by all measures was a complete success!!

It began with dinner and wine while Holy Names Music Center (HNMC) students played live music for the attendees. Starry Night goers took this time to peruse the auction items. Afterwards, patrons began painting with Spokane native and world renowned artist, Stan Miller. Following the painting session, attendees participated in a live auction as well as our scholarship paddle raise!

This event was held in the loving memory of Sister Celine Steinberger who passed away late last year. We sincerely miss Sister Celine but are proud that we could finish her work with this event and bring her memory honor. Sister Celine believed that HNMC is a part of the living legacy of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary; founded on the simple idea that music is for everyone.

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of each of our donors and our presenting sponsor Garco; this event had many sponsors and while there are too many to list in this blog please click here for the complete list of our donors and supporters for this event. Our donors believe in our vision: to nurture a life-long passion for the arts by giving voice to the human spirit. Due to their generous support the Holy Names Music Center is able to provide music for veterans, put on free community concerts, and provide free workshops.

Without our donors and their support we would not be able to offer financial aid to students who may not have the means to pay for music lessons. We are very grateful to those who support our school and students.

Holy Names Music Center has brought lovely music to the Spokane community for 28 years and plan to continue our legacy, with support from people like you, for many more years to come!

Talent Grant Winners 2018

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Holy Names Music Center holds an annual talent grant competition. This is an opportunity for HNMC students to perform for an adjudicator not affiliated with Holy Names Music Center and compete for a monetary award toward their music lessons in the coming year.

This year’s adjudicator was the very talented Jason Moody of the Spokane Symphony.

Fifteen students were recommended by their teachers to audition, eleven students accepted and nine were able to audition. The Music Center has a long history of awarding these grants to students who have talent and/or potential making it quite possible for a beginning student to win the grant!

The 2018-2019 Talent Grant Winners receiving a $400 grant:

Amanda Nguyen, violin, student of Mariana Dimitrova
Eva Iannelli, piano, student of Feng Tsai
Jillian Pomeroy, voice, student of Nancy Klingman
Maleny Mannino, voice, student of Nancy Klingman

Honorable Mentions receiving a $100 grant:

Elizabeth Persons, violin, student of Mariana Dimitrova
Noah Eddy, violin, student of Garnik Goukasian

All demonstrated outstanding musical competence, artistic sensibility, and promise.

Congratulations to these fine hardworking students and their teachers!