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2009-2010 News
Brookline Music School
Welcomes New Executive Director
July 31, 2009
John William Martin succeeds Valerie Nelson as the School’s Executive Director. Martin
comes to Brookline from Michigan State University, where he has been Director of
Admissions and Student Services, and an instructor in music administration for
the University’s College of Music since 2003. Martin served 11 years and was
the founding Director of the College of Music’s Community Music School, which is
similar in size and scope to Brookline Music School.
Martin led the Wausau
Conservatory of Music in Wausau, Wisconsin, for five years, and served as arts
coordinator for the Jackson County Public Schools in Florida. He holds a Master
of Music degree from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music degree
from University of Montevallo in Alabama. Martin is also a freelance flutist
who performs with a variety of trios.
Chosen from an impressive pool of candidates after a long and thoughtful search,
John brings an impressive resume as a music administrator and educator. His deep
experience in music education and his vision for what a community music school
can and should be will add a special dimension to the leadership of Brookline
Music School.
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Executive Director Valerie
Nelson Retires After 10 years at Brookline Music School
June 15, 2009
Valerie Nelson, Executive Director for
the past ten years, bids us farewell, as she ventures off into the sunset to
pursue life as a retired
traveler. We wish her
luck, happiness and adventure!
In her decade of service, Valerie Nelson, demonstrated time and again
outstanding leadership and commitment, selflessness and vision. Valerie has
raised the School's profile, continued our commitment to building and
maintaining an outstanding faculty, and championed fresh and imaginative music
programming for the residents of Brookline - not the least of which has been the
recently concluded trilogy of Beatles concerts. We will miss her, and wish her
all the best in the next phase of her life.
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Fall Alla Breve
October 30, 2008

Our bi-annual glossy Fall Newsletter, Alla
Breve, is here!
Stop by the Kennard House to pick up a copy or download the online version here.
This edition features:
Technology Lab
Spring Beatles Concert
Matthew A. Hudgins Scholarship Fund’s 10th Anniversary
New Classes
Welcome New Talent
Student & Alumni Highlights
2007-2008 Annual Fun
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Turkeys Visit BMS
September 29, 2008

It is true that some families stick together. In this case, it is the turkey
family of Brookline. While living in Washington Square, I watched a small family
of turkeys grow up. I would often see the mother and her two children on my
daily walk to work. I tracked their growth over the course of a year. The
following spring I saw one of the children, full grown with several babies. As I
stood and counted them, my jaw dropped in misbelief. I counted 14 babies!
On Saturday, September 27, the
family of 14 visited the Brookline Music School, while several students and
parents were entertained by their large display. The turkeys temporarily resided
on Kennard Road by Brookline Music School and the Lincoln School from 8:30am to
10:30am. Guitar teacher, Brendan Burns, was kind enough to send pictures and
Hollie Fleming, Director of Communications, to share her story. We wish the
family well and welcome their return.
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New Staff and Faculty
September 5, 2008
NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Hollie Fleming joins our staff as
Director of Communications after serving for nearly five years in various roles,
including Operations Manager at the Puppet Showplace Theatre of Brookline. She
is responsible for all of our communications based responsibilities, including
graphic design, marketing, public relations, advertising and facility
decorating. She creates all BMS publications, including the E-Notes and website
updates! She is accustomed to juggling multiple tasks and immediately jumped
into her new role. Hollie holds a BS degree in Communications, and enjoys
playing drums and percussion in her spare time.
NEW FACULTY
BMS welcomes eight new faculty members:
Mario Cerra - saxophone, clarinet and
flute
Jennifer Douville - piano
Paul Jacobs - piano
Franco Leon - piano
Olga Litvintsova - violin and viola
Yoko Miwa - piano
Klaudia Szlachta - violin
Chris Veilleux - saxophone, clarinet and
flute
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News
Archives
White Album Performance Reviewed
in Boston Phoenix
May 14, 2008
After months of planning and rehearsing, Brookline
Music School students and faculty played to an audience of
nearly 1,000 people between two performances of The Beatles' White Album
on May 10th and 11th at Northeastern
University's Blackman Theatre. And already we're receiving rave reviews!
Check out James Parker's
review in the Phoenix.
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Lost Dog Finds Home at BMS
February, 2008
Brookline
Music School had a special four-legged visitor last Monday,
according to a BMS parent. Kate Roach, along with her daughters Logan
and Haley, watched as a rambunctious pooch snuck through the front door
of Kennard House and ran straight up the stairs, then parked herself right in
front of the door to Studio B.
"You could
tell the dog knew the school and wanted to get in there," Kate
commented.
When she found
that no one in the building knew the poodle, Kate took her
home and called the police, who were already on the lookout for the dog,
named Pepper.
As it turns
out, Pepper belongs to David Nalven and Jill Goldman, Chestnut Hill residents
whose two daughters have taken
lessons at the School for ten years, often times with Pepper in tow. Pepper was
reported missing earlier in the day after she
slipped away from her dog walker, and somehow found her way to the Music
School, nearly 4 miles away.
David, Jill,
and their daughters Sarah and Claire are ecstatic that Pepper is safely back
home. David Nalven has no idea how
Pepper found the School, but said, "She must have known she was among friends.
We are so grateful to the Roach family for
rescuing Pepper and tracking us down. As for Pepper, at least for the last
couple of days anyway, she has seemed more
content to listen to the radio at home than to search out the live music venues
around town."
Brookline
Music School would like to thank the Roach family for their kindness, and the
Nalven/Goldman family for sharing their story.
(Above: photo of Pepper by Sarah Nalven)
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Suzuki Flute Institute a Success!
January, 2008
Over
75 flute students, teachers and parents gathered at Brookline Music School for a
two-day Suzuki Flute Workshop last month. Participants came from as far away as
New
Mexico, while others were from Cape Cod, western Mass, Connecticut and New York.
Students participated in masterclasses and beginner & advanced ensembles while
focusing
on tone, jazz and extended techniques. Lunches were available for purchase from
City Feed
in Jamaica Plain, and the event was rounded out by an ice cream sundae and pool
party at
Holiday Inn in Brookline.
Thank you to Suzuki and Winds Dept. Coordinator, Amy Poliakoff, for organizing
this
event, as well as to the teachers and participants for helping make it a
success.
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News Archives
BMS Students Honored and will Perform at 2008 Grammy Awards
- December 2007
Drums, Dancing and More! -
July 2007
Sgt.
Pepper Concert in Brookline TAB and Boston Globe! - May 2007
School
Awarded Grant from the Brookline Community Foundation - May 2007
BMS Student Wins
Flute Competition - March 2007
BMS Awarded Two
Exemplary Grants - 2007
BSO Concertmaster, Malcolm
Lowe, Performs for BMS Celebration - June 2006
BMS Jazz Quintet at Carnegie Hall
- May 2006
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