✈️🎶 Embark on an Exciting Auditory Journey! 🌍🎹

All are welcome!
Saturday, September 9th, 2023
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Holy Names Music Center, Spokane, WA

Dive deep into a worldwide musical journey without leaving Spokane. Holy Names Music Center is delighted to present “Jet-set Jams,” an event that promises attendees an auditory exploration through iconic musical cities. Experience the elegant harmonies of New York’s grand pianos, the passionate rhythms of Vienna’s majestic violins, the flamboyance of Seville’s guitars, and the operatic grace of Milan’s famed vocals and more.

“We wanted to create an innovative event that connects people directly with music, celebrates the universal language of music and allows participants to traverse continents through sound. ‘Jet-set Jams’ is our way of connecting communities with the world’s iconic musical cities,” expressed Dr. Archie Chen, the newly appointed Co-Executive Director.

Event-goers will not only bask in these global melodies but also have a unique opportunity to collect stamps at each musical station. And, what’s more enticing? Each stamp takes you a step closer to some enthralling prizes!

Raffle Prizes Include:
1. Lesson vouchers for piano, violin, guitar, and voice.
2. NBA Basketball Jersey.
3. Fjällräven Kånken bag.

Rhona Gouldson-Chen, Co-Executive Director, enthusiastically added, “Our aspiration is for Jet-set Jams to resonate with all – from families new to the musical realm to seasoned instrumentalists eager to expand their instrumental prowess. What better way to start the school year than by mingling with the eclectic and supremely talented teachers that represent HNMC?”

About Holy Names Music Center:

With roots tracing back to 1888, Holy Names Music Center’s esteemed legacy began when five Sisters of the Holy Names started offering piano lessons within a year of their arrival in Spokane. Today, Holy Names Music Center is an extension of the Fort Wright College preparatory department, welcoming music enthusiasts from all walks of life. The center has nurtured talents like world-famous baritone Thomas Hampson while collaborating with esteemed institutions like the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. With a vision to foster the transformative power of music, Holy Names Music Center continues to shape and inspire the community, empowering Spokane’s music community every step of the way.

Dr. Archie Chen & Rhona Gouldson-Chen, Co-Executive Directors of Holy Names Music Center

With fresh leadership under Dr. Archie Chen & Rhona Gouldson-Chen this summer, the center is buzzing with ideas. The duo is keen on introducing innovative programs tailored to resonate with the contemporary youth, igniting their passion for music and the arts.

In the words of Rhona Gouldson-Chen, “Amid the overwhelming tides of technology and societal pressures, music emerges as a beacon, allowing our youth to experience moments of true presence, peace, and unrivaled joy.”

We extend a warm invitation to all. Immerse yourself in a harmonious adventure, connecting chords and cultures. Let’s celebrate the world’s musical treasure together at Holy Names Music Center!

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER:
hnmc.org/service-opportunities

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Archie Chen and Rhona Gouldson-Chen as the new Co-Executive Directors of Holy Names Music Center (HNMC). This dynamic husband and wife team, with their combined 40 years of experience in arts administration, music education and festival leadership, now bring their talents to our beloved community music school.

The Chens, known for their proficiency in directing music schools and international music festivals, as well as their accolades as concert pianists and pedagogues, are now eager to bring their extensive experience to HNMC. Their enthusiastic dedication and expertise are set to take the center’s legacy of excellence to new heights.

Under their leadership, HNMC aims to continue the legacy of the Sisters of the Holy Names (SNJM) in fostering talent and cultivating a profound appreciation for the arts in the community. Their vision for HNMC includes a balance of preserving the institution’s rich history, broadening community outreach, and sparking creative innovation.

When asked about his aspirations for HNMC, Dr. Chen said, “It’s an honor to be recognized and trusted with the leadership of HNMC, an institution steeped in history and one deeply entwined with my hometown, Spokane. This appointment is more than a professional role, it’s a fitting acknowledgement of our talents by the community we love. Fueled by this responsibility, our aim is to amplify the legacy of this institution, creating a nurturing space for individuals to expand their musical abilities and deepen their appreciation for the arts. We are committed to fostering an environment that not only magnifies musical prowess but also instills a lasting admiration for the arts within our community.”

Rhona echoes this sentiment, stating, “We see HNMC not merely as a place for music education but as a vibrant community, our newfound home. Our passion is to foster a supportive environment where people from every walk of life have the opportunity to discover their potential and grow. It goes beyond merely teaching music; it’s about guiding individuals to contribute in their unique way to the rich cultural landscape of Spokane, and even, to reverberate beyond our local community.”

The Chens succeed Suzanne Bjork, who, throughout her 15-year tenure, has shown immense commitment to HNMC and the advancement of music education within our community. Suzanne’s steadfast dedication to HNMC, coupled with her leadership during the years of its expansion, has left a deep and lasting impact. Her legacy is further amplified by the manner in which she championed HNMC’s evolution, building upon its historical roots as a department within Fort Wright College to become the standalone beacon of community music education it is today.

The Chens wish to recognize and uphold the mission of HNMC and the charism of SNJM – music for everyone. Our students have gone on to support the Spokane Symphony, regional music and arts programs, and beyond.

HNMC has existed as a separately incorporated ministry of the SNJM for 41 years. Some of our former students and faculty members have made their mark in the music world, including renowned baritone Thomas Hampson, a shining example of the potential that music education holds.

The Chens’ commitment to excellence in arts management, curriculum enhancement, and community engagement dovetails perfectly with HNMC’s history of fostering talent and empowering learners. As we continue to provide quality music instruction and performance opportunities, we are excited to see where this new chapter of leadership will take us.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Archie Chen and Rhona Gouldson-Chen to HNMC. We anticipate many inspiring musical journeys under their visionary leadership.

This new era for Holy Names Music Center begins July 1st!

MEET AND GREET WITH THE CHENS

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!

Congratulations to these wonderful, hardworking students and their teachers!

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!
Keep an eye out for our next sip and paint evening in October of 2019!

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

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