NEWS RELEASE ARCHIVE
International Blues Challenge Project: Send the Young Blood's to Memphis Fundraiser
Night With the Living Dead: The 27 Club
Hudock Moyer Golf Tournament Recipients
Susquehanna University Summer Orchestra Festival
UMC Recieves The YWCA Corporate Racial Justice Award
Uptown Students to Peform for WNEP Cameras
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM RECIEVES GRANT
Update!
The Send the Young Blood's To Memphis event raised over $3600! With additional donations recieved prior to and since this event, the Uptown Music Collective is now only $1200 away from meeting it's goal.
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Press Release: Uptown Music Collective International Blues Challenge Project /“Send the Young Bloods to Memphis”
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music)
What: Send the Young Bloods to Memphis (A Fundraising Event)
Where: Jeremiah’s (above the Bullfrog Brewery) 229 West 4th St. Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: November 26th, 2011 at 7pm
Cost: $20.00 a ticket (limited tickets available)
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org/mediaroom)
This week, the Uptown Music Collective has announced the start of its International Blues Challenge Project, a project with the goal to raise the $5,900.00 it will require to take six young musicians on a musical pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Blues. The students, all part of the Uptown Music Collective’s Performance Blues Workshop (better known as The Uptown “Young Blood” Blues Band) will travel down south to Memphis, Tennessee in February, to participate in the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase.
To kick off the Project the Uptown Music Collective will be presenting a performance at Jeremiah’s above the Bullfrog Brewery on November 26 at 7pm. The event will feature performances by the Uptown “Young Blood” Blues Band, as well as an all- star band consisting of Doug McMinn, Chris Bovard, Charlie Moore, Dave Brumbaugh, Will Ort and more. There will be free “blues” food and a cash bar along with items to be auctioned off via silent auction with all proceeds going to the project. The silent auction will offer some of the following services to bid on including: a Children’s Culinary Class for 4 Instructed by Chef Francis Daniele, a Family Portrait by Photographer, Megan Pennington and much more!
“I have taught the Blues to music students for the past twenty-two years,” said Dave Brumbaugh, Executive Director of the Uptown Music Collective. “It is one of the seminal styles which spawned so much modern music. Because of that fact, it’s a great starting point for young people to learn about expression, form, technique and style. It’s also a touchstone, common ground between musicians of different cultures and styles. That’s why this Blues Pilgrimage is going to be such a great experience for these young people. Having the opportunity to participate in this international event in one of the places where it all started is going to be incredible.”
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective (a 501c 3 non profit school of music) has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area, with an enrollment of over 120 students. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including most recently Night with the Living Dead II: The 27 Club.
Memphis, along the banks of the Mississippi River, was the subject of the first well known Blues song, W.C. Handy’s Memphis Blues. Handy said he got the idea for the song after finding himself sleeping in a train station next to a rural Blues musician who sang and played what he described as “the weirdest music I had ever heard”. The blues, which originated in the Mississippi Delta, as well as Texas, Louisiana, and the Piedmont region along the east coast, had its roots in African American slave songs, spirituals, and country ballads. The music gave a voice to the suffering brought about by 300 years of slavery. Typically performed by solo musicians on acoustic guitar, piano, or harmonica, the Blues is considered to be one of the primary streams from which Jazz and Rock music were born.
The International Blues Challenge (IBC) is a yearly event organized by the Blues Foundation, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the Blues. Held over a five day period, the yearly competition attracts Blues bands and solo artists from all around the world to compete for recognition, awards and prizes. The event coming up in 2012 will run from January 31 to February 4.
Since 1997, the Billtown Blues Association, a local affiliate of the Blues Foundation, has chosen one band and one solo artist each year to represent our area. Many local artists and bands have made the trip over the past 15 years. This year they have also agreed to sponsor the application for a group from the Uptown Music Collective to participate. The Uptown Music Collective will represent the Billtown Blues Association by performing in the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase. The Youth Showcase is a performance event for young people under the age of 21, which gives them the opportunity to showcase their talents for concert promoters, record companies and other industry insiders, as well as the fans.
“We are so grateful to the Billtown Blues Foundation, not only for sponsoring our application, but for keeping the Blues alive in our area for the past twenty some years,” says Brumbaugh. “We are lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with them on a regular basis; they are a classy organization run by a group of true music lovers.”
For more information on the International Blues Challenge Project go to www.uptownmusic.org/ibc, there you will find their itinerary, proposed budget and links to information about the band, etc. Tickets for the “Send the Young Bloods to Memphis” event can be purchased at The Uptown Music Collective for $20.00 a piece. Only a limited number of tickets are available. Anyone wishing to donate to the project may do so online at www.uptownmusic.org/donateibcp or by sending a check to the Uptown Music Collective, attention Blues Challenge Project at 848 West Fourth Street, Williamsport PA 17701.
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective presents Night with the Living Dead: The 27 Club
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music)
What: Night with the Living Dead II: The 27 Club (A Halloween Fundraiser Concert)
Where: Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth St. Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: Friday and Saturday, October 28th & 29th 2011 at 7:30pm
Cost: $10.00 Advanced and $15.00 Door
Tickets: Community Arts Center Box Office, The Uptown Music Collective, Alabaster Coffee and K&S Music
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Neil Young once said, “It’s better to burn out, than to fade away,” a sentence that would later be echoed in the suicide note of Nirvana front man, Kurt Cobain. In 1994 Cobain became a member of the “27 Club,” a group of musicians who all died tragically at the young age of 27. Other well known members of this exclusive club include; Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and most recently, Amy Winehouse. On October 28th and 29th 2011 at 7:30pm on the stage of the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, over forty Uptown Music Collective students will pay tribute to these legendary musicians with their presentation of Night with the Living Dead: The 27 Club.
The Halloween performance, a sequel to the groundbreaking Uptown Music Collective performance Night With the Living Dead (2008), will celebrate the music of these artists, who in spite of their lives being cut short, left the world an amazing musical legacy. In what has become a trademark of Uptown Music Collective major performances, students will perform highly polished, note for note renditions of select master works from each artist, infusing each with their own artistry while delivering an exciting, high energy performance.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective (a 501c 3 non profit school of music) has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area, with an enrollment of over 120 students. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including most recently Rhythm Nation, a collaboration between the Collective and the Milissa Augustine Dance Academy.
Night with the Living Dead: The 27 Club, will feature performers between 9 and 18 years of age who have been preparing for this performance for well over two months. Along with the live music, there will be accompanying video presentations as well as a powerful light and sound show organized by the students themselves. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers, but also direct the show. There is also a group of younger students, called “Tech Monkeys” who will serve as stage technicians, spot light operators and video operators.
The student leadership committee for this show includes: Directors Nuria Hunter,17, Williamsport Area High School; and Brandon Route, 17, Williamsport Area High School; along with Tess Clutter,15,Williamsport Area High School; Katie Kahn, 16, Williamsport Area High School; Garrett Gaetano,17,Loyalsock Township High School; AJ Robbins, 13, Loyalsock Township Middle School; Shawn Chism,15,Cyber School; Gabe Stillman,16,Williamsport Area High School; Dylan Rockoff, 17, Loyalsock Township High School; Jasmine Harlan,16, Cyber School; Ronnie Reynolds,16, Loyalsock Township High School. The leadership committee is under the supervision of Uptown Music Collective Executive Director, Dave Brumbaugh.
“The musical legacy left for future generations by the founding members of the 27 Club, Hendrix, Joplin, and Morrison, still resonates with our youth today,” said Dave Brumbaugh. “The biggest tragedy, beyond the obvious loss of their presence, is the loss of the amazing music these creative artists and the newer members of this dubious club would be producing today if their lives had not been cut so tragically short. While their problems in life and the ways in which they handled them may not set the best example for our young people, the importance of their music and what they accomplished in their short careers can not be ignored. Teaching this music over the last few weeks has put me back in touch with my musical roots and also built within me a new appreciation for both Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse. This show is going to be something quite special and anyone who loves rock music owes it to themselves not to miss it.”
Night with the Living Dead: The 27 Club is sponsored by Superior Plus Energy Services, The Rockoff Family, Turn Key Construction, and Woodlands Bank. Media sponsor for this event is Backyard Broadcasting .Tickets for the performance are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door with the proceeds benefiting the Uptown Music Collective. Tickets are available at The Uptown Music Collective (848 West Fourth St., Williamsport) and The Community Arts Center Box Office (220 West Fourth St., Williamsport) as well as Alabaster Coffee (410 Pine Street, Williamsport) and K & S Music (1116 West Southern Ave, South Williamsport). For more information about, Night with the Living Dead: The 27 Club, or the Uptown Music Collective, check out www.uptownmusic.org or call 570-329-0888. Check out the promo videos under recent videos>
Quotes from Students
“This show is a great mix of all different kinds of rock, from all different kinds of artists. It is a great rush to be playing songs from people that will never make music again. Although it is bitter-sweet to think that all these great artists are gone, I also like to think that we’re paying them an ultimate tribute by working very hard and performing with all the energy and emotion that they did. This show will knock you dead!” -Jasmine Harlan, 16, PA Cyber School
“I’m particularly excited for this show because I kind of feel like somewhat of a ‘big dog’ now. It’s cool remembering what my first show was like and seeing all the younger kids come up in the way that all of us older kids did. Also, it’s always a great privilege to be near Dylan Rockoff. That’s something you can put on a resume or a job application.” – Maverick Vicars, 16, Williamsport Area High School
“Shows like this provide something for everyone. From the in your face grudge of Nirvana to the laid back smooth blues of Amy Winehouse to the intense guitar sounds of Jimi Hendrix, everyone will walk away feeling satisfied. As young musicians it is important for us to look to some of those musicians who made such an impact in such a short period of time. While it is tragic that they each left at the premature age of 27 the mark all five of these artists’ left behind is enormous. That is why we hold such respect for each and every member of the 27 club.” –Nuria Hunter, 17, Williamsport Area High School
“I think this show is going to be amazing! It will have so many great moments…It will be killer!” – Zack Chism, 13, South Williamsport Area High School.
“I cannot wait for opening night of this show. The audience will be blown away. We have some amazing ideas coming. The songs are great; overall it’s going to be a sweet show.” –Katie Kahn, 16, Williamsport Area High School
“This shows going to be cool because we will have some awesome songs and artists.” – Gage Avery, 11, Ferrel l Elementary School
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music), Hudock Moyer Wealth Resources
What: 6th Annual Hudock Moyer Classic Charity Golf Event
Where: Clinton County Country Club
When: Friday, August 12th 2011
Cost: Cost of entry: $65. Businesses may chose to sponsor a hole for $75
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Hudock Moyer Wealth Management is a long-time community partner to the Uptown Music Collective, and a statement from the financial organization describes the Uptown Music Collective as a “non-profit school of music that contributes greatly to the overall quality of life in the community”. It goes on to praise the Uptown Music Collective for its role as a positive influence on youth in the community, saying, “Through music instruction and frequent community performances, the UMC creates driven, disciplined young people who demonstrate strong leadership skills and act as positive role models for other teens in the area.”
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective seeking applications for Alice 
Heilman Scholarship
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music)
What: 2011 Alice Heilman Scholarship
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Description:
The Uptown Music Collective, the area’s premier nonprofit school of music, is currently seeking applications for the Alice Heilman Memorial Scholarship. Prospective students interested in the scholarship must be between the ages of 13 and 18, must demonstrate a love of music and a strong desire to learn, and be able to demonstrate financial need. This scholarship is open to students who want to learn Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals and Keyboards/Piano. Scholarship applications can be obtained by contacting the Uptown Music Collective at 570-329-088 or at jared@uptownmusic.org and must be submitted by mid-July.
The Alice Heilman Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 by Alice Heilman’s daughter to honor her mother’s love of music. The scholarship, which covers all expenses for one year of instruction, is granted yearly to a local music student demonstrating a passion for music, a desire to learn, and appropriate financial need. It is a part of the Uptown Music Collective’s developing scholarship program aimed at providing quality music education to those who cannot afford it. The scholarship is for the school’s Full Enrollment Program which includes a weekly lesson, class, and up to two workshops.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the average Collective student is 10 – 18 yrs old, but all ages and levels are welcome. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program also brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including most recently, “The Unforgettable Fire: A Tribute to U2 and Irish Rock” and “Rhythm Nation: A Live Music and Dance Tribute to 80’s Music Videos,” a collaboration with Milissa Augustine Dance Academy.
To keep up on all the happening as the Uptown Music Collective be sure to visit us on the web at www.uptownmusic.org, friend us on facebook, or call 570-329-0888.
What: Uptown Music Collective Summer Music Festival: Full Day of Music!
Where: Brandon Park, Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: Sunday, August 7th, 2011, 12:00-9:00
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888)
As is its tradition, the Uptown Music Collective will present its annual Summer Music Festival this year on Sunday, August 7th in Williamsport’s Brandon Park. The day’s festivities will begin at noon and will culminate in a reprise of the Collective’s popular spring student production “The Unforgettable Fire: A Tribute to U2 and Irish Rock” at 8:00.
The day’s music will feature performances from area bands Treehouse and Clouds Make Sounds as well as from singer-songwriter Lexi Donato. It will also feature the annual UMC Summer Student Recital in which UMC students are featured performing songs of their choosing in full-band arrangements. All performances will take place in Brandon Park’s impressive bandshell.
In addition to these performances, the day will also feature clinics from area musicians and music professionals. Local music professional Sean Farley will also offer a clinic in guitar modification and maintenance.
Free activities for kids will also be offered by Collective students, parents, and volunteers, including outdoor game and bracelet making. This is a family event designed to engage all ages of children and adults through a combination of exciting activities and quality live music.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area, offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs, including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program also brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, “The Unforgettable Fire: A Tribute to U2 and Irish Rock”.
The annual Uptown Music Collective Summer Music Festival has become a summer tradition and each year is one of the most hotly anticipated music events of the summer.
Press Release – Uptown Music Collective raises funds by bringing 24hrs of the Blues to Williamsport
Who: The Uptown Music Collective
What: 3rd Annual 24hr Blues – A – Thon
Where: The Uptown Music Collective, 848 West Fourth St, Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: June 15th-16th 7pm-7pm
Contact: jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, www.uptownmusic.org
Modeled after events like Relay for Life and other marathon fundraisers, participants of the Blues-A-Thon will pledge to perform a set number of hours. Each participant will then seek sponsors to support them on a per hour basis and the individual or team bringing in the highest number of sponsorship dollars will receive a trophy and Blues-A-Thon prize pack. This event and is open to musicians of all ages, styles and instruments who know how to play a basic 12 bar Blues and would like to help support the school. This year’s the goal is to raise $5,000.00 for the school
This year’s Blues-A-Thon will feature a variety different segments including a Blues Jam for Beginners, Jazz Blues, a Stevie Ray Vaughan style jam and segments featuring Female singers, different Uptown Music Collective Workshops and more. There’s something for everyone. More-->
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective and Milissa Augustine Dance Academy present Rhythm Nation: A Live Music and Dance Tribute to 80’s Music Videos
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music), Milissa Augustine Dance Academy
What: Rhythm Nation: A Live Music and Dance Tribute to 80’s Music Videos (UMC/Milissa Augustine Collaboration)
Where: Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth St. Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: Friday and Saturday, May 27th & 28th 2011 at 7:30pm
Cost: $10.00 Advanced and $15.00 Door
Tickets: Community Arts Center Box Office, The Uptown Music Collective, Alabaster Coffee and K&S Music
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Following the success of the recent Irish rock tribute “The Unforgettable Fire,” the students of the Uptown Music Collective will once again take the stage of Williamsport’s Community Arts Center this time joining the students of Milissa Augustine Dance Academy in a performance that will integrate dance and live music in a dazzling re-imagination of the iconic sounds, images, and dances of the energetic pop music of the 1980’s. “Rhythm Nation: A Live Music and Dance Tribute to ‘80’s Music Videos” is a full-scale theatrical collaboration between the Uptown Music Collective and Milissa Augustine Dance Academy to be held at Williamsport’s Community Arts Center May 27th and 28th at 7:30pm.
The music of the 1980’s was greatly affected by the sudden popularity of synthesizers, studio effects, and novelty instruments such as the keytar, and the distinctive 80’s sound is characterized by the use of modern, electronic sounds and energetic dance beats. Also characteristic of 1980’s popular music is its seamless marriage to the dance of the era, with musical titans and pop culture icons such as Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna defining not only the sound of the decade but also influencing its look and feel through the daring and exciting use of a new media: the music video. The talented musicians and dancers from these two valuable community arts schools will pay tribute to the unique blend of sounds, sights, and movements birthed by this wave of musical modernity, finding inspiration in the songs and videos of iconic 80’s artists.
The flexible and talented students of Milissa Augustine Dance Academy and the Uptown Music Collective will perform this music with an eye toward loyal and accurate reproductions of the original bands' distinctive sounds, and with the theatrical flair and artful showmanship characteristic of the finest of 80’s dance. This performance will be a true collaboration between the students of each school, and will be organized by a student leadership committee involving both music and dance students. More -->
The Unforgettable Fire: A Tribute to U2 and Irish Rock
What: The Unforgettable Fire: A Tribute to U2 and Irish Rock (UMC Fundraising Concert)
Where: Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth St. Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: Friday and Saturday, March 18th & 19th 2011 at 7:30pm
Cost: $10.00 Advanced and $15.00 Door
Tickets: Community Arts Center Box Office, The Uptown Music Collective, Alabaster Coffee and K&S Music
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Ireland's rock music is characterized by its close association with the decades-long conflict between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants that has rocked the island, as well as by fighting between Northern Irish nationalist groups and factions loyal to the British government. From this environment of conflict and bloodshed emerged some of the most evocative and inspiring rock music ever performed, and the stirring lyrics and powerful choruses of artists like U2 have revolutionized the way the world thinks about the power and potential of rock n' roll.Quotes From Students >>>>>>>
Dave Strickler Comments On The Unforgettable Fire
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective and the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra present The Orchestral Rock Project
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit School of Music) and the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra
What: The Orchestral Rock Project (A musical collaboration)
On January 8th 2011, students from the Uptown Music Collective will join the members of 
the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra on stage at the Community Arts Center for a performance of classic orchestral rock music from groups such as the Beatles, the Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra, Aerosmith and the Eagles. The project, hoped to be the first of many exciting collaborations between the two youth centered organizations, was made possible by a grant from the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation.
Rock music, in all of its rebellious nature, has always had a love affair with the orchestra and classical music itself. From rocks beginnings, bands would frequently record songs with string and horn accompaniment. Classical inspired themes, over time, slowly entered the lexicon of rock music, influencing it both harmonically and melodically, ultimately broadening the music’s scope beyond its blues based roots. In recent years there have been a plethora of recordings and live concert collaborations between rock bands and symphony orchestras, including Metallica’s Album S&M recorded with the San Francisco Symphony and Collective Soul’s Home: a live concert recording with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.
The Orchestral Rock Project began in January of 2010, funded by a grant from the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foudation, the project started off with the creation of orchestral arrangements by area musician and arranger Rob Byham. “Money from the grant allowed Rob to create an orchestration class for Uptown Music Collective students where he taught the basics of orchestration, those students then assisted him in the creation of the arrangements for the performance” said Dave Brumbaugh, Executive Director of the Uptown Music Collective. “This project is a wonderful alliance between two of Williamsport’s premiere youth performance organizations,” said Rob Byham. “I am fortunate and blessed to collaborate with such talent from both the Williamsport Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Uptown Music Collective. I am looking forward to great concert on January 8th.” Funds from the grant were also used to purchase music notation software and computers dedicated to the purpose of arranging, orchestrating and notating music for students and staff at the Collective.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, Urban Legends: the music of ten cities, Reaching Beyond Limits: a Benefit Concert for the Children’s Development Center and last year’s hugely successful Heard it Through the Grapevine: A Tribute to Motown.
Entering its 25th Silver Anniversary season the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra, offers regional young musicians an unsurpassed performance opportunity to perform challenging music before a live audience under the leadership of music director Jennifer Sacher-Wiley. “This is an excellent opportunity for two groups of student musicians to collaborate, stated Jennifer Sacher-Wiley. It’s exciting to be premiering these new orchestrations, too. I’m looking forward to spending time with the Uptown Music Collective students and staff and hope that the WSYO members will enjoy making music with new friends. Playing rock music will be challenging and rewarding for us! I’m grateful to Dave Brumbaugh and Rob Byham for their hard work and vision.”
“We do a wide variety of music at the Uptown Music Collective and have performed often with strings and brass. This however will be the first time with an entire orchestra,” said Dave Brumbaugh. “This is an amazing opportunity for our students and a unique opportunity for our community. It’s not every day that you see seventy teenage musicians from different musical backgrounds; take the stage together in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect, focused only on making great music together. It has been great planning this performance with Rob Byham and Jennifer Sacher-Wiley, I’m very excited to hear the beautiful music that will come of it.”
The Orchestral Rock Project concert sponsor is Lundy Construction, the show is also sponsored by Jersey Shore State Bank, Don and Shelly Fuller and Century Accounting. Tickets for the performance are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door with the proceeds benefiting the Uptown Music Collective and the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra. Tickets are available at The Uptown Music Collective (848 West Fourth St., Williamsport), The Community Arts Center Box Office (220 West Fourth St., Williamsport) Alabaster Coffee, K&S Music and Franco’s . For more information about the Orchestral Rock Project, or the Uptown Music Collective in general, check out www.uptownmusic.org or call 570-329-0888.
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective presents Urban Legends: The Music of 10 Cities
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music)
What: Urban Legends: The Music of 10 Cities (UMC Fundraising Concert)
Where: Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth St. Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: Friday and Saturday, November 12 & 13th at 7:30pm
Cost: $10.00 Advanced and $15.00 Door
Tickets: Community Arts Center Box Office, and the Uptown Music Collective
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Many factors go into defining a city, including population, location, physical size, and culture, to name a few. A major part of the culture that defines a city is the music that was born from its streets. On Friday and Saturday, November 12th and 13th 2010 at 7:30pm at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, the students of the Uptown Music Collective will pay tribute to the music that defined ten major U.S. cities with their presentation of Urban Legends: The Music of 10 Cities.
This fundraising concert will take the audience on a whirlwind musical road trip through ten major U.S. cities, covering everything from rock to Jazz to Heavy Metal and everything in between! Cities that will be featured include Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Nashville, Boston, Memphis, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. Bands to be fea
tured in this stellar performance include The Roots, Garth Brooks, Metallica, Miles Davis, Al Green, The Grateful Dead, Blondie, Boston and many, many more!
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18
yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, Heard It through the Grapevine: a Tribute to the Music of Motown and Reaching Beyond Limits: a Benefit Concert for the Children’s Development Center.
“Urban Legends,” will feature over 40 music students from the Uptown Music Collective performing influential and important songs, encompassing multiple genres, from ten major cities in the United States, learned note for note from the original recordings. All of the performers are between 12 and 19 years of age and have been preparing for this performance for well over two months. Along with the live music, there will be accompanying video and dance presentations as well as a powerful light and sound show organized by the students themselves. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers, but also direct the show. There is also a group of younger students who will serve as stage technicians, spot light operators and video operators.
The student leadership committee for this show includes Kelsey Silvagni (Senior, St John Neumann Regional Academy), Alex Hines (Senior, Jersey Shore High School), Brent Kisby (Senior, Danville Area High School), Collin Dennen (Senior, Sullivan County High School), Brianna Pete and David Clark (Seniors, Montoursville Area High School), Garrett Gaetano (Junior, Loyalsock Township High School) and Gabe Stillman (Sophomore, Williamsport Area High School). The leadership committee is under the supervision of Uptown Music Collective Executive Director, Dave Brumbaugh.
“This show will show the wondrous variety of musical styles born on the streets of our major cities that grew eventually to define them”, said Dave Brumbaugh. “Whether it’s Philadelphia Soul, Seattle Grunge or Chicago Blues it’s all still very relevant to today’s music. I’m excited to see our students demonstrate their flexibility as they move from style to style, all the while putting on a highly energetic and powerful performance.”
“The idea for this fall show is a great concept. In the process of learning the songs from the various cities, I have also learned new things about the cities themselves. It is a great way for me to open my mind to new music and to learn more about cultural differences around the United States,” says Dylan Rockoff, 16, from Loyalsock Township High School. “The styles of music featured in this show are very different from anything else we’ve done in a Collective show. I think this show is a great way for us as students to expand our musical horizons and a great way for the Collective to appeal to a wider audience,” adds Silvagni.
Urban Legends is sponsored by Superior Plus Energy Services (Formerly Montour Home Comfort Services), Turn Key Electric and The Rockoff Family. Tickets for the performance are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door with the proceeds benefiting the Uptown Music Collective. Tickets are available at The Uptown Music Collective (848 West Fourth St., Williamsport) and The Community Arts Center Box Office (220 West Fourth St., Williamsport). For more information about, Urban Legends: The Music of 10 Cities, or the Uptown Music Collective in general, check out www.uptownmusic.org or call 570-329-0888.
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501 c3 Non-Profit School of Music)
What: A Benefit Concert for the Children’s Development Center
Where: Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth St. Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: Thursday, October 14 at 7:30pm
Cost: $10.00 Advanced and $15.00 at the Door
Tickets: Tickets are available at the Community Arts Center Box Office, the Uptown Music Collective and at the Children’s Development Center
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, uptownmusic.org)
Once again the students of the Uptown Music Collective will take to the stage in collaboration with the staff of the Community Arts Center and other area groups in an effort to raise money to help others. The event, Reaching Beyond Limits: a Concert for the Children’s Development Center, organized by the students of the local nonprofit music school, follows on the heels of last February’s successful Youth for Haiti benefit for the victims of the devastating Haitian earthquakes. Modeling that events successful blueprint, the October 14 event will also feature musical performances from area groups, an art display, silent auction, a raffle and more, with all proceeds going directly to the Children’s Development Center.
The Children's Development Center, a not-for-profit organization, provides individualized services to children with special needs, age’s birth to 21 years, in an atmosphere of caring and partnership with other community agencies. Beginning as the Lycoming County Crippled Children's Society, a project of the Williamsport Rotary Club in 1923, the organization received its charter in 1932. In the seven decades since, services have been designed to meet the ever-changing needs within the community. Originally formed to meet the needs of children afflicted with polio in the 1930's, it now offers an entire spectrum of services intended to improve the lives of children with a large variety of disabilities; including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. Their goal-oriented approach maximizes each child’s ability to function as independently as possible within the community.
Like many nonprofits, the Children’s Development Center is struggling financially and is in need of community support. That fact alone, along with knowledge of the good work that the Center does with special needs kids in our area, would be enough of a reason to do a fundraising concert for the organization, however the reasons for this event strike much closer to home for Uptown Music Collective founder and Executive Director Dave Brumbaugh.
“When we brought our son Evan back from China my wife Barbara and I knew that he was going to need a lot of specialized help in multiple areas”, said Dave. Adopted from an orphanage in southern China at the age of 4, Evan did not speak and was severely delayed in every area. “My wife and I were frustrated and totally at a loss as to how to help him, when someone recommended the Children’s Development Center. At our first meeting with their staff I remember feeling that finally somebody had the tools needed to help our son.”
Evan, who has been diagnosed with verbal apraxia and pervasive developmental delay, just started Kindergarten this year at Stevens Elementary, after spending nearly two years in the preschool at the Children’s Development Center. There he also received Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy weekly through the Centers staff who worked closely with the local Blast Intermediate Unit.
“The staff at the Children’s Development Center is amazing, they combine knowledge, experience and a deep understanding of special needs children with a powerful sense of love and caring that is unmatched in our area,” stated Brumbaugh. “My son’s progress over the past two years is due largely to their work and the integrated system used at the Center where therapy is reinforced in preschool and all members of the staff are communicating and working with one another”.
The fundraising concert will feature music by Uptown Music Collective students performing in a wide variety of styles and include a song which will feature a group of students from the Children Development Center joining the Collective students onstage. The event will also feature students from area high schools, including a performance by students from the Williamsport Area High School Choir and artists from the schools art programs. Several of these artists will create a painting live during the event which will be auctioned off along with art exhibited by other young local artists. There will also be performances by dancers from local dance schools and a raffle with prices from a wide array of local businesses. It will be a great event for the whole family.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, Heard It through the Grapevine: A Tribute to The Music of Motown.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door the night of the show. Advance tickets are available at the Community Arts Center Box Office, the Uptown Music Collective and at the Children’s Development Center. For more information call the Uptown Music Collective at 329-0888 or the Children’s Development Center at 326-0565.
UMC RECIEVES THE YWCA CORPORATE RACIAL JUSTICE AWARD
The Uptown Music Collective is honored to announce that it has been awarded the YWCA's 2010 Corporate Racial Justice Award. An important part of the music and social education that the Uptown Music Collective seeks to deliver to its students is based on the acceptance of differnces and the breaking down of barriers brought about by musical taste, ethnicity, age, gender and economic status.
The Uptown van
The Uptown Music Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit school of music, is very pleased to announce that it has recently been awarded a grant from the Williamsport Lycoming Community Foundation for its Van and Trailer Project. The amount of 
the grant is $22,000.00, which will be used to purchase a twelve passenger van and covered trailer to be used to aid in the transportation of performers and gear to and from shows and events for the schools performance program.
The Performance Program is a free program available to all currently enrolled Uptown Music Collective students. It has been in operation .jpg)
since the schools founding in April of 2000, and over the past ten years has grown from a handful of events, to nearly thirty per year involving hundreds of area teens.
Traditionally, the transportation of equipment and participants to and from program events has involved the use of multiple small personal vehicles and often multiple trips. These trips are carried out by Uptown Music Collective staff, participants and or the parents of program participants. As the number of events has increased, the ability to coordinate the necessary vehicles to transport the equipment and participants, has become more and more difficult.
Providing high impact musical experiences for its students is a large part of the mission of the Uptown Music Collective. An important part of those experiences, aside from the obvious stage experience, include the process of packing and loading the equipment, travelling to the venue, loading in andsetting up, tearing down, packing the equipment again and travelling home. Delivering those experiences to students on a regular basis requires reliable and adequate transportation for both equipment and participants.
Staff and Students are very excited about the upcoming purchase of the van and trailer. “This van and trailer will really help us out with 
getting to and from gigs, instead of depending on our parents and friends parents for rides,” says UMC student, Kelsey Silvagni. “The van and trailer will open up many new educational opportunities for the students of the Collective, it is very 
exciting to be a part of,” says Jared Mondell, staff member of the Collective. “The new van and trailer will allow us to transport all of our gear in one trip, instead of having it staggered throughout five or six cars and trucks,” says UMC student, Matt Schmohl.
The Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation is the founding affiliate of the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania. As an affiliate, the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation continues its longstanding service to donors and nonprofit organizations in Lycoming County. The First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania and its affiliates award grants to qualified nonprofits for charitable purposes. Some grants are made from unrestricted funds and other grants are made out of funds that have been designated for specific purposes.
Press Release – Uptown Music Collective raises funds by bringing 24hrs of the Blues to Williamsport
Who: The Uptown Music Collective
What: 2nd Annual 24hr Blues – A – Thon
Where: The Uptown Music Collective, 848 West Fourth St, Williamsport, Pa 17701
When: August 13th - 14th 7pm-7pm
Contact: jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, www.uptownmusic.org
Jimi Hendrix once said, “Blues is easy to play but hard to feel.” Most musicians start off learning blues music because of its ease to play and fall in love with it because of the feelings it evokes. Starting on Aug 13th 2010 at 7pm at the Uptown Music Collective will present their second annual 24hr Blues –A – Thon fundraiser. This year’s event will take place on the front lawn of the Uptown Music Collective during the daylight hours and inside the school at night fall.
The idea of the Blues – A – Thon fundraiser came from the mind of Uptown Music Collective Executive Director, Dave Brumbaugh. “I have a lot of crazy ideas, this was originally going to be Guinness Book of World Records attempt, when they turned us down, we turned it into a fundraiser, said Dave. The participants last year had a great time and it was successful so this year we’re trying to expand on it”. Modeled after events like Relay for Life and other marathon fundraisers, participants of the Blues-A-Thon will pledge to perform a set number of hours. Each participant will then seek sponsors to support them on a per hour basis and the individual or team bringing in the highest number of sponsorship dollars will receive a trophy and Blues-A-Thon prize pack. This event and is open to musicians of all ages, styles and instruments who know how to play a basic 12 bar Blues and would like to help support the school. Last year, this event raised over$ 4,000.00 for the non-profit school of music, and this year the goal is to raise $8,000.00.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program also brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, Heard It through the Grapevine: A Tribute to The Music of Motown.
This year’s Blues-A-Thon is sponsored in part by the Billtown Blues Association and will feature national blues recording artist Tas Cru, who will perform with the participants and solo during the opening and closing ceremonies of the event. Cru, based out of upstate New York, performs in a variety of formats ranging from solo-acoustic to an 8 piece backing band that includes the talented singing trio-Stacked Deck. Cru has shared the stage with a growing list of well known blues artists that includes Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Along with Cru, the event will feature students and teachers of the Uptown Music Collective as well as other local blues musicians.
The Blues – A - Thon is open to spectators who would like to watch sleep deprived musicians jamming their hearts out for a great cause. Donations from the general public will be accepted with all funds going directly to the Uptown Music Collective’s General Fund, supporting the schools programs where it is needed the most.
For more details about this creative fundraising event contact the Uptown Music Collective at 570-329-0888 or the web at uptownmusic.org
Quotes From Students –
“Usually when we play, we play with our fellow students. At the Blues – A – Thon we get to play with our instructors and other musicians” – Kelsey Silvagni, Age 17
“The Blues – A – Thon isn’t fun just because it’s straight 24 hours of straight blues. It’s fun because its 24 hours straight hours of musicians not sleeping and then playing blues.” – Brandon Route, Age 16
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective to hold its annual Summer Music Fest
Who: The Uptown Music Collective
What: Uptown Music Collective Summer Music Fest 2010
Where: Brandon Park Band Shell, Williamsport, Pa
When: Sunday August 8th, 2010 1pm – 9pm
Cost: Free
Contact: Jared Mondell, jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888, www.uptownmusic.org
The Uptown Music Collective, the area’s premier nonprofit school of music, will be holding their annual Summer Music Fest at the Brandon Park Band Shell in Williamsport on Sunday August 8th 2010. This popular, all day event will include live music, free music clinics, food vendors, giveaways, and games for the kids. The music starts at 1pm featuring performances from student bands, UMC workshops, the Uptown Music Collective summer recital and local favorites like Royal Benson and Clouds Make Sounds. The night will end with a recapitulation of the Collective’s critically acclaimed spring show,Heard It through the Grapevine: A Tribute to The Music of Motown.
Throughout the day there will be free clinics by some of the best musicians Williamsport has to offer. The clinicians include Tim Breon(bass clinic), Alex Callenberger(guitar clinic), Rich Cummings(Afro – Cuban drum clinic), Fletcher Kaufman (electronic music) and Mick Johns (Guitar Amp Clinic).Giveaways include gift certificates from the Uptown Music Collective, a Customizable Drum Head from Robert M Sides, as well as the grand prize of a brand new electric guitar and more! Food venders include the Hard Times Cart and Acme BBQ. Event sponsored by K and S Music and Robert M Sides.
Established in April of 2000, the Uptown Music Collective has developed a reputation as the premier source of music education in the area. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels. Along with private lessons, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program also brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, Heard It through the Grapevine: A Tribute to The Music of Motown.
The Collective’s annual Summer Music Fest is a great way to find out what the Uptown Music Collective is all about. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and passing out information about the upcoming fall semester. Don’t miss this day full of music and fun. For more information about the Uptown Music Collective, call 570-329-0888, visit www.uptownmusic.org, or stop in at 848 West Fourth St. in Williamsport.
The Performance Program is a free program available to all currently enrolled Uptown Music Collective students. It has been in operation since the schools founding in April of 2000, and over the past ten years has grown from a handful of events, to nearly thirty per year involving hundreds of area teens.
The Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation is the founding affiliate of the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania. As an affiliate, the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation continues its longstanding service to donors and nonprofit organizations in Lycoming County. The First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania and its affiliates award grants to qualified nonprofits for charitable purposes. Some grants are made from unrestricted funds and other grants are made out of funds that have been designated for specific purposes.
Press Release: Uptown Music Collective Celebrates 10 Years of Music Education
Who: The Uptown Music Collective (a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit School of Music)
What: The Uptown Music Collective 10th Anniversary Celebration
Where: Jeremiah's (above the Bullfrog Brewery) 229 West Fourth Street, Williamsport Pa 17701
When: Friday July 16th 2010 from 7:30pm to 10pm
Contact: Jared Mondell (jared@uptownmusic.org, 570-329-0888)
Description:
In May of this year, the Uptown Music Collective a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit School of Music, began its 10th year in business. To celebrate this milestone, the Collective will be hosting a celebration on July 16th 2010 atJeremiahs in downtown Williamsport from 7:30 to 10pm for alumni and friends of the school.
Founded in May of 2000 by musician and educator Dave Brumbaugh, the first incarnation of the Uptown Music Collective was established at 445 Market Street in Williamsport. Brumbaugh’s intention was to create a place to fill the void between traditional music education and the needs of young people wishing to learn and perform modern styles of music. With a two room apartment and approximately 40 students to start, Brumbaugh started to build what would become the area’s premier source of music education.
From that early incarnation, the Uptown Music Collective has grown to become an established 501(c)(3) Non-Profit School of Music, headquartered in a 14 room Victorian house located at 848 West Fourth Street in Williamsport with approximately 120 students at any given time. These students draw from seven different counties in central Pennsylvania. Offering private lessons at all levels on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, as well as classes and workshops in music theory, songwriting, and styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Classical and Rock. The primary age range of the Collective is 10 – 18 yrs old, but is open to all ages and levels.
The school has ten private lesson teachers, including four guitar teachers, one bass teacher, three drum teachers and two vocal/keyboard teachers. These same teachers also provide the classroom instruction and oversee the schools performance workshops. The school is governed by a Board of Directors that includes as members two current teachers, two parents of current students and six other members representing the public interest. The day to day operations of the school are overseen by founder and executive director, Brumbaugh and two full time staff members, Willi Ort and Jared Mondell.
Along with private lessons, classes and workshops, the UMC offers a myriad of programs including its flagship Performance Program. This program educates students about the ins and outs of major and minor performances, including direction, production, preparation and technical aspects of the performances. The program also brings outstanding student run performances to the area, including the most recent, “Heard It through the Grapevine: A Tribute to The Music of Motown.”
“The celebration on the 16th will truly be a celebration of growth and establishment for the Collective,” says Mondell, “it will also be a celebration of the bright future of the school.” For information about the 10th year Anniversary party or the Uptown Music Collective in general, please visit uptownmusic.org. If you would like to help us celebrate at this event please email, jared@uptownmusic.org.
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