Central Pennsylvania Musicians Association
Awards Scholarships to Student Musicians at Five School Districts

(State College, PA) – The Central Pennsylvania Musicians Association presented a new award and scholarship grant to student musicians at five Centre County school districts at the recent Centre County Band and Chorus Festival.
 
Before a packed audience in the Philipsburg-Osceola High School auditorium on April 13, Association President Christopher Lee and Scholarship Chairman John Kovalchik presented each student with the Olin F. Butt Music Achievement Grant of one hundred dollars each toward their personal music instruction.
 
“Our goal is to make central Pennsylvania a destination for music audiences and this is one way to have high quality music locally,” said Lee, adding, “We appreciate the music teachers in the five school districts bringing these gifted aspiring musicians to our attention. Teachers play an important role in supporting the future of music in Centre County.”
 
The late Olin Butt was a renowned music teacher and band leader and, as owner of the Music Mart in Bellefonte and State College, provided musical instruments and supplies to hundreds and thousands of student musicians from 1948 to 1975.
 
The five Centre County school district awardees were: Zach Spaw from Bellefonte, Emily Kizina from Philipsburg-Osceola, Jonathan Permi from State College, Megan Duck from Penns Valley, and Matthew Blaylock from Bald Eagle Area.

L.R: Scholarship Chairman John Kovalchik, Zach Spaw from Bellefonte , Emily Kizina from Philipsburg-Osceola, Jonathan Permi from State College, Megan Duck from Penns Valley, Matthew Blaylock from Bald Eagle Area, and CPMA President Christopher Lee.

New Executive Board Member for 2012

AFM Local 660 welcomes Stacy Tibbetts aboard as our newest Board member. Stacy took over the seat vacated by long-time 660 activist Andrew Jackson.

Tibbetts was nominated for the open Board position at a meeting held October 30, along with Don Keat, Christopher Lee and Phil Jensen. Lee and Jensen were nominated for the positions they currently hold as President and Vice-President, as was Don Keat for his current seat on the Executive Board.
Since there were no other nominations, so all nominees were unopposed. Therefore, in accordance with Federation bylaws, no formal election was required, and all nominees will took office on January 1, 2012.
The President and Vice-President terms of office go for one year each, the board positions are held for three years.

Local 660 Programs Support Music and Grow Audiences

The Central Pennsylvania Musicians Association, aka AFM 660, has assembled a program to support music and grow audiences. Elements include:

1) Sustainable Music Venues program: a list of AFM 660-designated bars and other venues who have agreed with AFM 660 to pay all musicians at least the per-person minimum wage established by AFM 660 and to offer written contracts to all musicians. No more last-minute cancellations! (See button on left)
2) "Listen to the Music" jam sessions to bring musicians of all ages and levels together to connect for success and just for fun.
3) An AFM 660 newsletter with news and interviews about the local music scene. Join the story of the music scene as it evolves.
4) Legal Representation: State College lawyer Phil Masorti has agreed to provide pro-bono legal services for member-musicians.
5) A new Code of Ethics - how professional musicians behave. (See button on left).
6) A new Wage Scale - the minimum per-person pay for gigs -- based on a market survey (See "Documents" button on left)

Local 660 Newsletters are now published quarterly

2nd Quarter 2011 Newsletter now available

Please visit the Newsletter page

see old news & photos...

Click here for Summary of Local 660 Musicians' Survey

Upcoming Meetings and Events:

General Membership Meeting
TBA

Executive Board Meeting
TBA
Boal Mansion Museum

AFM National Convention
June, 2013
Las Vegas, Nevada