(Photo above: (L-R) CSM’s Leadership Team Kate Hanni, Robert Lambeth and Carly Marunowski | Photo Courtesy of Cascade School of Music)
The Cascade School of Music (CSM), Central Oregon’s premier music education nonprofit, is on the move, literally. Formerly tucked along the bank of the Deschutes River across from Pioneer Park, CSM now commands a more prominent and spacious location at 510 NE Third Street between Franklin and Emerson and across from Walgreens. Boasting 11 private lesson rooms, four classrooms, three administration rooms, four storage rooms, a kitchen, a faculty lounge and a lounge for parents or students waiting for parents, the new location is a welcome change for all. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the high-quality education and fun, engaging opportunities for aspiring musicians of all ages: the youngest only six months old, the eldest an inspiring 82 years young!
Led by an extraordinary faculty of over 30 music educators and performers, CSM offers an extensive array of classes designed to suit the Central Oregon community’s many needs. From Kindermusik classes for toddlers and the Musician’s Path program designed to keep young kids jamming throughout their teens to performance groups like Rock U and Bluegrass Jam and private lessons for a wide range of instruments including voice, the Cascade School of Music provides something for everyone.
Transforming and enriching lives through affordable, effective and fun music education and experiences for all Central Oregonians is CSM’s mission. Achieving this mission becomes possible thanks to the high-powered staff that manages operations as well as an active Board of Directors and Advisory Board that supports operations and contributes to fundraising efforts. Leading the staff is Executive Director Robert Lambeth, whose background includes a bachelor of music and a master of music as well as over 25 years of experience working with nonprofit arts organizations and corporate finance in the United States and United Kingdom. Only seven months into his position as executive director, Lambeth has already made an indelible impact on the school and the community it serves, most notably with respect to the pivotal role he played securing CSM’s new location.
A firm believer in continuing education, Robert has begun several initiatives to uphold this belief. He is expanding the trajectory of the Musician’s Path program to include summer workshops intended to educate students about possibilities for a musician’s life beyond high school. He envisions further education and support for his faculty, which he considers “one of the most talented and diverse faculty I ever had the honor to work with.” Also under consideration are music therapy for community members and additional adult classes.
Realizing these initiatives requires funding, especially for a nonprofit. Spearheading fundraising efforts is Development Director Kate Hanni, who, in addition to her extensive music education and 30 years of experience as a real estate broker, created a nonprofit called FlyersRights.org that boasts 100,000 members nationwide and achieved the coveted airline passengers bill of rights. Hanni’s passion for music and compassion for all members of the music community are incredibly palpable in her concerted efforts, particularly through her grant writing, to raise necessary funds so the music never stops. Kate and fellow faculty and staff are extremely proud, she says, “To assist underserved youth in our community by bringing free outreach programs to Boys and Girls Club, Latino Community Association, REACH, MountainStar Relief Nursery and Big Brothers Big Sisters.” Nobody, Kate argues, should be without The Gift of Music, the name of the school’s annual fundraiser.
Managing the academic and organizational operations at CSM is Carly Marunowski, registrar. Previously the assistant registrar for her alma mater, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Carly is pleased to apply her previous systems and data management experience in support of music education at CSM. With respect to the recent move, Marunowski explains, “The additional space has allowed us to enroll previously wait-listed students into private study, increase teaching opportunities for existing faculty, and bring on new faculty to teach additional instruments, all of which represent great strides forward for the school.”
As the demand for quality music education continues to grow, specifically in the community-centric school setting of CSM, new and continued sponsorship and donations become increasingly important for the sustenance of this nonprofit. Lambeth explains, “The move to a new location was clearly a great opportunity, but given the commercial market in Bend, it represents a major financial leap.” Fortunately, half of the money to make the move possible has already been raised, but the other half remains, and to secure a smooth landing CSM is conducting an ongoing capital campaign to raise $100,000 in the next 90 days. Kindly consider making a donation or sponsoring or room (for the instrument of the sponsor’s choice, if desired) to the Cascade School of Music to support a nonprofit that provides the Gift of Music and so much more to the Central Oregon community.
