Concord Conservatory of MusicConcord Conservatory of MusicTo celebrate our 20th anniversary as Concord’s community music school, we’re sharing the stories of 20 members of our community whose lives were positively impacted by their experiences at CCM.
Sometimes figuring out who you are starts with realizing who you aren’t. For Alex Taylor, a fourth-year student at Berklee College of Music, that fateful moment happened at age seven. “My parents told me I needed an after-school activity,” Alex recalls. “Since sports was out of the question — I hated PE and never had an interest in playing soccer or basketball or anything like that — I asked for violin lessons.”
Alex then learned another vital lesson about the process of self-discovery. As the Rolling Stones put it: You can’t always get what you want. “My mom said she did not want to hear me learning to play the violin,” Alex says. “Rightfully so, looking back on it. I asked about the flute and received the same answer. Then I thought, My dad plays guitar, what about that? And she finally agreed.”
Alex B. Goode
Another key step on Alex’s road to Berklee was her parents’ decision to enroll her at CCM.
“My experience was amazing,” Alex says. “I truly believe that I am where I am today because of my guitar teacher, Chaim Burstein.”
Chaim, who spent nine years as an instructor at CCM, embodied our approach, which combines disciplined technical training with freedom of expression. “I had the opportunity to explore,” Alex says. “I started every lesson with my chromatic scales at an increasing tempo and did an exercise or two from my method book. But without fail I was given enough time on the tail end of my lesson to learn a song that I liked. This made me so much more engaged with the instrument. I can still play the opening riff of ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry because I enjoyed learning it so much that it became ingrained in my muscle memory.”
Finding Community
“One of my favorite things about CCM was the ensembles,” Alex says. “They gave me the opportunity to create music with my peers. And because the ensembles I was in were also run by Chaim, we all got to choose songs we liked to play.”
The group dynamic added a new dimension to Alex’s music education. “It was wonderful to have that early introduction to interacting with a band,” she says. “That’s basically what I do now at Berklee — I’m in charge of a 14-person band for my senior recital.”
In addition, Alex was co-head of an a cappella group when she was in high school at Concord Academy. “I really liked explaining concepts and teaching others about music,” she says. “I also love to play with my two sisters, who also went to CCM. One of them is currently studying at Berklee with me.”
A Tribute of Note
Over the years, CCM’s Executive Director has reconnected with former students and faculty, learning where their musical journeys have taken them.
“Never has a reconnection and tribute made me cry! I was so touched by Alex’s email and to learn of CCM’s enduring impact on her life. Her tattoo of our dotted eighth note blew me away. My kids even asked when I’ll get mine,” said Kate Yoder.
Alex is deeply grateful for the role CCM played in shaping her life’s direction. “Not everyone has the chance to express themselves creatively from a young age in a music education environment,” she reflects. “CCM was a place where I truly felt I could. It showed me that pursuing music in life was possible and gave me the opportunity to nurture my love for it to its greatest potential.”
In short, CCM left a lasting impression—quite literally. “I decided to get a tattoo of the CCM logo,” Alex explains, “because that’s where my music journey began.”
The musical journey goes beyond practicing repertoire. “For 20 years, CCM has been committed to providing accessible, transformative musical experiences for every student. Our faculty don’t just teach, they guide students toward becoming creators, collaborators, and leaders in the arts.” Said, CCM Executive Director, Kate Yoder
She added, “The workshops are important, because they ensure that creative exploration, such as ‘Composition: Film Music’ or ‘Recording Techniques 101‘ workshops, are not limited by barriers. By offering many of these sessions at no cost, we can provide powerful, equitable enrichment to our community, ensuring that every student has access to advanced artistic development.”
Building Confidence and Ownership
The purpose of these specialized sessions is to establish a new pattern of creative confidence and ownership over music for our students. This is where the profound impact of our work is felt:
When a student moves from playing notes to creating their own music, the shift is profound. That transformation is nurtured by faculty mentors who embody CCM’s mission: opening pathways to creativity, equity, and community connection, and the lifelong love of music.
CCM flute student Aiya Kerr recently undertook an unusual, yet highly instructive, assignment from her teacher, Anthea Kechley: recording herself playing all three parts of a musical trio!
How does a single musician manage an ensemble of three? This project was made possible by leveraging technology, specifically, a phone app called Acapella, allowing Aiya to record single parts and layer them to create a full ensemble featuring harmonies and counter-melodies.
The recording endeavor was an intensive exercise in the critical skills necessary for ensemble playing, including:
Projects like this highlight how today’s students are finding new ways to grow as musicians. By combining creativity with technology, Aiya discovered skills that extend beyond traditional practice—learning to listen critically, solve problems, and trust her own persistence.
Reflecting on the experience, Aiya shared: “When I did this project, I learned to persevere when things got hard, and how to focus on one part when something felt tricky. It took me quite a few tries, but once I got it right, I felt really proud of it.”
Celebrating Achievement: CCM Student Recitals
On November 22nd, each recital performance reflected the progress and creativity of our remarkable students. Congratulations to all the talented performers!
CCM’s Joyful Tribute to Literature with the Book “Because”
The Concord Museum’s 30th Annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature is celebrating children’s books and the joy of reading! From now until January 1, 2026, our community can explore dozens of uniquely decorated trees, each inspired by a beloved picture book.
This year, CCM is honored to participate, with Board Member Sophia Garmey and Alison Ruch, with CCM Meghan Clinard decorating a fabulous tree inspired by the book “Because.” The tree beautifully reflects the book’s themes and brings music to the forefront of this community tradition.
Adding a special layer of musical immersion, visitors will see a document beside the tree noting that the accompanying recordings were specially performed by CCM faculty member Manuel
Garcia-Baro. His contribution is truly appreciated and helps bring the tree to life!
This beloved Family Trees event brings local families together to celebrate literature and art. Visitors can immerse themselves in this artistic experience, reading together as a family or embarking on a festive scavenger hunt through the decorated trees. It is a real honor for CCM to be a part of this inspiring annual event.
For more information on admission and exhibit hours, visit the Concord Museum’s website.
Recent Concert and Speaker Series Events
The “Music and Transformations” concert on November 21st was a remarkable evening where CCM faculty member Jackson Carruthers and guest violinist Sarah Whitney beautifully illustrated how musical ideas evolve across the works of Bach, Mozart, and contemporary composers. The program was made extra special by the performance of students Henry Ziulkowski and Abigail Kirincich, who vividly demonstrate the real-time transformation of music, reinforcing the importance of the educational journey from novice to mastery.
The “Musical Storytelling” event, part of the CCM Family Series on December 6th, brought generations together through the tender childhood remembrances of Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen, performed by CCM faculty member Kitty Cheung-Evans. This event championed the importance of music for early childhood and young listeners actively engaged with the music through imaginative play.
Join us for Matt Flinner and Joe K. Walsh on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 7:00 pm, the next installment in our Concert & Speaker Series! Known for their mastery of tone and tasteful musical approach, this mandolin duo brings profound voices and diversity of texture to the acoustic and bluegrass worlds, with Matt Flinner on the banjo and mandolin and Joe Walsh switching between mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, and mandocello.
Check out the rest of our lineup:
Thank you to our sponsors!
We invite all music enthusiasts and businesses to sponsor our Concert & Lecture Series. If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Elaine Lawrence at Elawrence@ConcordConservatory.org. We would love to discuss how you can be part of this exciting series.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Be the Reason Someone Experiences Music
Imagine the joy of a child learning their first instrument, the spark in a senior’s eye as they reconnect with cherished memories through music, or the strength in the voice of someone with Parkinson’s finding their melody.
You can make these moments possible with a gift to CCM.
By making your very first gift to CCM, you have the opportunity to:
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