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.
Things haven’t always gone as planned for Ehud Ettun — and he couldn’t be happier about that. One example: As a music student in Israel, Ehud specialized in electric guitar. When he joined the Israeli Arts and Sciences Academy, however, he had to pick a second instrument that was part of the symphonic orchestra. “I was just getting into jazz at the time, so the bass felt like a natural choice,” Ehud says. “Little did I know I would fall in love with it so deeply. I spent the next three years in the practice room and that ‘secondary’ instrument quickly became my first. I’ve been in love with the bass ever since.”
Another example: In 2011 Ehud was studying for his master’s at New England Conservatory when his friend and fellow bassist, Tal Gamlieli, recommended him for a teaching position at CCM. Ehud took the commuter train for his interview but got off one stop too soon, at the Concord station instead of the West Concord station. Rather than leave him rattled, the unexpected two-mile walk helped sell him on the position. “I enjoyed the beautiful Concord scenery so much that by the time I arrived at CCM I had already fallen in love with the area.”
Joining a Like-Minded Community
Ehud’s twin love affairs with the bass and CCM flourished during his time in Concord. “Teaching at CCM was, in many ways, a dream job for me,” Ehud says. “Beyond the wonderful group of bass students I worked with, I was given the opportunity to conduct a string ensemble and lead a jazz group. The skills I gained in Concord — learning how to conduct, working with a string quartet, and writing custom charts for students at different developmental phases — are tools I still use in every musical project I tackle today.”
Ehud has particularly fond memories of working with CCM Founder and Executive Director Kate Yoder. “She was kind, patient, and daring enough to let me experiment with some of my crazy ideas,” Ehud says. “Together, we launched several community concert series — I particularly remember one dedicated to Bach — and developed specialized classes for different audiences, including the Council on Aging. Kate and I share an entrepreneurial spirit, and I learned a tremendous amount from watching her bring a community together through music.”
Building a Creative Ecosystem
This entrepreneurial spirit eventually led Ehud to found Internal Compass. While it started as an independent record label during his time in the U.S., it evolved into something much larger when he returned to Israel—a mission-driven jazz hub and music institute based in the desert town of Mitzpe Ramon.
His vision was to create a “creative ecosystem” where music serves as a bridge for social change and community building. We established a three-year intensive music college, an annual international jazz festival, and a professional orchestra, all centered around the idea that high-level musicianship should be accessible even in the geographic periphery. It was a way for Ehud to take everything he learned about the power of a “community music school”—much like CCM—and build a replicable model that fosters international collaboration and local empowerment. Today, seeing musicians from all over the world gather in the Negev to create together is a testament to the fact that music really is a universal language that can transform a region.
Finding the Rewards of a Lifetime
Ehud believes that community music schools like CCM are more important than ever. “The role of music in our lives is evolving,” he says. “In the past, music was often something people only listened to. Today, more and more people have the opportunity to be active participants — to play, write, and reach a high level of musicianship regardless of their career path or stage in life. Community music schools are the engines of this shift.”
Ehud has seen this shift play out in real time. “In the Boston area, we see more and more orchestras made of adults who simply love the craft and want to play together once a week,” he says. “The value that music adds to their lives is immeasurable, and it’s often thanks to community schools that they received this gift. I believe the future of music lies in these schools — bringing people to high-level musicianship because it enriches their souls, not just because they want a career in it.”
His former CCM students offer proof of that. “I keep in touch with quite a few,” Ehud says. “Some are still nearby, and others are as far away as Australia. While I’m not sure if any are working as full-time professionals, I know for a fact that music remains a vital part of who they are, which is the ultimate goal.”
Passing on a Shared Passion
There’s no doubt that music is a vital part of Ehud. “It’s been the primary driver of my life since I was 15,” he says. “It has taken me to the most amazing places, introduced me to incredible people, and shaped my adult life more than anything else.”
His time at CCM was an important part of that development. “CCM will always feel like home,” he says. “It was my first ‘real job’ in the U.S. and the place where I gained the foundation for my career, from improving my English and refining my teaching style to organizing concerts and building community. I still use the skills I learned at CCM every single day. The CCM community is special because of the people it attracts. I still remember the brilliant, thoughtful conversations I had with students, parents, and fellow faculty.”
In summarizing his time at CCM, Ehud says, “I always felt surrounded by people who truly cared.”
Don’t miss Ehud’s upcoming performance back at CCM on March 6 for Then & Now, A CCM Jazz Reunion.
“The best way that I can get to know a student is to listen to them,” CJ Waldrop says. For CJ, a trumpet instructor at CCM, “listening” has multiple meanings. “I listen to my students because I want to know who they are, what excites them, and why they chose to take lessons with me,” he says. “But most of my listening is focused on their playing. I want to give each student specific and unique feedback. My role is to develop skills so that my students can fall in love with making music.”
Hearing the Call
Growing up in South Carolina, CJ fell in love with music partly through exposure to two local cultural institutions: church and high school football. He recalls being fascinated by the church organ “because it was just one instrument but it made so many sounds!”
He took up trumpet in middle school, “but I got seriously hooked when I joined the Pride of Riverside marching band in high school. Competitive marching band is a staple of high school music culture in the South. I made lifelong friendships in that band, and most importantly, I found a love for performing music in a community.”
CJ understands the importance of listening to others in large part because others listened to him. “Music doesn’t happen without listeners,” he says, “and I can always count on my family to listen to my work.”
Family involvement plays a vital role in music education, CJ says. “I could not have done this at all without my family’s support. My parents bought me an instrument, they put me through lessons, and they volunteered for my marching band. Later, as I began pursuing my music degrees, my parents and my grandparents attended every performance they could.”
For parents whose kids are just starting, CJ has a valuable message: “Introducing kids to music education makes them stronger people.”
Building Strength, Building Community
In CJ’s case, that strength took the form of self-confidence. “Making music in school settings made me a confident performer,” he says. “I took opportunities for solos, auditions, and performances outside of my main discipline. I learned from those experiences every time.”
In addition, he says, “Music making is one way for young people to find both a creative outlet and a community. In my case, making and enjoying music with my best friends made me love music.”
Finding a Way Forward
Not that being a musician is easy. “My musical journey has been challenging and humbling,” says CJ. After receiving a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Furman University in South Carolina, he moved to Boston and earned a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Being part of a broader music community has given him the strength and the drive to continue. “Musicians develop focus, listening, professionalism, cooperation, and patience,” CJ says.
And that process starts at a young age, “with successful music lessons.”
CJ is excited to pay his own lessons forward at CCM. “I’m honored to now be a leader in this community,” he says. “My love for music grew because of my music community back in South Carolina, and now I get to lead and teach in another music community.”
To learn more about trumpet lessons or to register, please visit our website or contact our office!
Don’t Miss the Around Hear Family Concert
Around Hear – *FAMILY SERIES!* Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:00 am
Experience the magic of chamber music with Goodnight Moon set to music and other nature-themed stories and songs.
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!
Save the Date: A Celebration of New Music
Mark your calendars for a very special milestone in our 20th Anniversary year! On Saturday, March 7, at 2:30 and 4:00 pm, we invite our CCM families to join us for our 20th Anniversary Commissions Recital. This unique performance will feature the premieres of brand new works commissioned specifically to honor two decades of music-making in our community. Commissioned composers include past and present faculty members, former CCM students, and CCM parents, who have come together to create music for our students to study and perform for years to come. Concord Etudes by Manuel Garcia-Baro, Woodland Adventures by Keith Kirchoff, and The King Shall Speak by Armando Ortiz are only a few of the many works to be heard for the very first time! Come witness our dedicated students and faculty bring these new pieces to life as we celebrate our past and give to our future. We can’t wait to share this historic afternoon with you!
2026 Concert and Speaker Series Continues
Our community was treated to a masterclass in acoustic artistry on January 24 with Matt Flinner and Joe K. Walsh. From an afternoon workshop teaching students new harmonies to an intimate evening performance featuring everything from the banjo to the mandocello, it was a beautiful display of musical storytelling.
We’re so proud to provide these hands-on experiences, which are only possible thanks to the dedicated support of our donors.
Earlier this month, our Music & Math event offered a fascinating look into the “hidden architecture” of Bach and Bartók, led by the brilliant Professor Gareth Roberts. Live performances by Philipp Staeudlin, Yonah Zur, and Yoko Hagino brought these mathematical patterns to life, giving our community a revolutionary way to hear and understand classical masterpieces.
Welcome Kayleigh Bennett, Our New Voice Instructor!
Kayleigh Bennett joins the Concord Conservatory of Music with a teaching philosophy centered on the belief that anyone can learn to be a successful singer and artist. For Kayleigh, the voice is the original human instrument that has connected people through generations. She views the voice studio as a collaborative space where students are encouraged to meet difficulties with curiosity and recognize that growth comes from the journey of continuous skill building and improvement. To learn more about voice lessons or to register, please visit our website or contact our office!
Faculty News: Solo Motions Arrives May 1
CCM instructor Phil Sargent is set to release his forthcoming solo guitar album, Solo Motions, on May 1, 2026. This deeply personal project reimagines jazz standards and original compositions through the lens of classical counterpoint and chromatic harmony, treating the guitar as a complete, breathing ensemble. Developed within an international incubator of professional guitarists, the album reflects years of quiet fascination with the solo format—influenced by the works of Bach and Shostakovich—and features a poignant arrangement of “Hurt” alongside the emotional anchor “Kelita,” an original dedicated to his wife. Solo Motions is an invitation into stillness, capturing a master at work as he balances technical complexity with raw vulnerability.
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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