60th Anniversary Concert
Celebrating 60+ years of music education in Morgantown, West Virginia
On Sunday, March 27, 2022 the West Virginia University Community Music Program celebrated its 60th anniversary by honoring all former directors since 1962, when the program was first established as a preparatory department for the university.
The Morgantown Community Orchestra's concert "Women in Leadership" recognized the service and efforts of late Margaret Lorince and Dr. Christine Kefferstan, Dr.Cathy Godes, Jeanne Frieben, Dr. Keith Jackson, Jodie Lewis, and Karen Taddie, who have dedicated their time and creativity to bring high-quality music education to the community and the younger generation.
“With the exception of the program’s interim period in 2011, all former directors of the program have been women. Every woman that has directed this program has brought her aesthetic and creativity on board, transforming the music education curriculum and the program’s services throughout the years,” said Dr. Arkoudis, Director of the WVU Community Music Program from 2021-24.
Community Music Program Directors
Margaret Lorince
Chairman of West Virginia University Preparatory Department (1962-1986)
The preparatory department was reorganized and extended by Margaret Lorince to include
both children and adults. In addition to piano, voice, and violin classes, the
program offered classes in Musicianship, Fundamentals of Music, Theory, Suzuki
Violin Method, Percussion Ensemble, Beginning Classical Guitar Class for Adults,
Chorus, and the Community Arts Orchestra (Brown,1989, pg.56)
Margaret Lorince joined the WVU music faculty in 1964, where she taught piano performance, and developed a pedagogy emphasis program for the bachelors and masters degree programs in music. She served as assistant chair of music from 1983 to 1985 and as assistant dean of the College of Creative Arts from 1985 to 1986. She was a founding member of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association, serving as its president during 1965 to 1969, and as president of the Eastern Division of the Music Teachers National Association during 1974 to 1978. Read More
Christine Kefferstan
Coordinator of West Virginia University Preparatory Department (1986-1989)
Christine Kefferstan, a professor of piano in the WVU School of Music for 35 years, was a classical pianist who performed all over the world, including Belize, London, Rio de Janeiro, Indonesia, Malaysia and Canada, as well as many venues in the United States, but she was best known for her love of teaching. She was the founder of the annual summer Intersection of Jazz and Classical Music Keyboard Festival and Competition, held each June at the Creative Arts Center, and she was also closely involved in the School of Music’s efforts to become an All-Steinway School.
Catherine Godes
Director of the West Virginia University Community Music Program (1989-1994)
As director of the WVU Community Music Program, Catherine Godes developed a curriculum of musical education for over 400 students and established the Herman and Catherine Godes Young Artist Concerto Competition and Scholarship. The competition candidates were in their teens and the winner would perform with the Community Arts Orchestra. During her time as a director, the program had teachers trained in the Suzuki method, ensuring a strong music education for children playing the piano and violin. Ms. Godes vision was to foster an environment that helped young musicians build a solid foundation for their development as musicians.
Dr. Catherine Godes is currently Professor of Piano at Tennessee Tech, holds degrees from West Virginia University and the DMA in Piano Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory, where she studied with Israeli pianist David Bar-Ilan. She was married to Latvian pianist Herman Godes, a Steinway artist and Artist-in-Residence at WVU, and together they formed the Godes Piano Duo and toured the U.S and Europe. Read More.
Jeanne Frieben
Director of West Virginia University Community Arts Program (1994-2010)
As director of the WVU Community Arts Program, Jeanne Frieben expanded offerings in different areas with a special emphasis on classes tailored for adults. The program's current motto "It's never too late to learn!" has been inherited from Ms. Frieben who coined it first for publicity purposes. Continuing to fulfill her vision of meaningful community engagement, and with the assistance of Theresa Scafella, Natalie Buckley, and Elizabeth Etnoyer, she developed partnerships with other departments of the College of Creative Arts, such as Theater and Dance and Art & Design, created a series of faculty solo and chamber recitals, as well as different types of outreach programs, in lesser served communities. "It was probably the most rewarding time period of my life," she said.
Keith Jackson and Jodie Lewis
Co-directors of West Virginia University Community Music Program (2010-2012)
Thanks to the service and efforts of current Dean of College of Creative Arts and Media Dr. Keith Jackson and CCAM Administrative Associate Jodie Lewis, the program continued to thrive during it's two-year interim period of 2010-2012. During that time, the administration was focused on successfully operating the program, maintaining ties with the community as established by Ms. Jeanne Frieben, and carrying out her mission.
Karen Taddie
Coordinator/Director of West Virginia University Community Music Program (2012-2021)
Karen Taddie is the retired West Virginia University School of Music Community Music Program’s Coordinator of operations. During her appointment, CMP launched a comprehensive community engagement effort (focus on all age demographics, both within and beyond the borders of Morgantown), developed and strengthened significant new and existing programs and continued to receive generous local funding. She was in charge of re-structuring the program's policies, tuition and fees, including pay regulations for the teachers, so that the program can be financially and independently solvent. The result was that the community had a way of determining the skills of the program's educators and musicians, ensuring that the community is offering high-quality music education at an competitive financial value, while meeting the educational needs of its students and families. In 2015 Karen was named the WVU College of Creative Arts Staff Person of the Year for her work with the CMP.
Karen Taddie continues to be the WVU Community Music Program's representative of The Royal Conservatory, and as the examinations return in-person, Morgantown will continue to be an examination center.
Dr. Eftihia Adkoudis
Director of West Virginia University Community Music Program (2021 - 2024)
Eftihia Arkoudis is flutist, pedagogue, arts entrepreneur, and the current Director of the WVU Community Music Program. A visionary leader passionate for arts advocacy, community-building, and empowering the next generation of musicians, Dr. Arkoudis was selected as an "Outstanding Staff for Excellence in Community Engagement" Award by West Virginia University and the WVU Center for Community Engagement, highlighting her contributions to fostering partnerships between higher education and the community.
Under her leadership, the WVU Community Music Program upholds its mission of providing affordable and accessible high-quality music education in the greater Morgantown area suitable for students of all ages and levels. Fostering impactful community-building programs through year-round musical engagement, promoting participation, artistic development, and musical appreciation, Dr. Arkoudis together with the CMP teachers host several concerts annually, including volunteer performances at local organizations and developing educational programs and performances with the Morgantown Public Library, WVU Medicine Children's, West Virginia Botanic Garden, Moonlight Market, Senior Homes, and West Virginia Music Center.
Dr. Arkoudis has spearheaded collaborations with other WVU School of Music departments and professors to provide accessible music education opportunities to children and adults in the community, including new offerings, such as the inaugural Morgantown Community Orchestra Youth Strings Program to establish ongoing relationships with teachers and students in the Monongalia County Public Schools. During this time, Dr. Arkoudis marketing & publicity efforts have advanced the program’s digital presence bringing strong media recognition and in 2022-2023 the Morgantown Community Orchestra was handpicked for a $45,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, marking the first time that the WVU College of Creative Arts receives such an esteemed grant.
Citation: Brown, Clifford W. Music at West Virginia University, 1897-1987. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia University, College of Creative Arts, 1989.