August- Issue #96

IN THIS ISSUE:

• All Together Now! Music Festival 🎶
• Band Program Blog 🎸
• Community Drum Circle 🥁
• Free Classes 🎹
• New Voice Instructors 🎤
• School Closure Reminder 🗓
  

All Together Now! Music Festival

Sunburst is proud to join the All Together Now! Music Festival, a city-wide benefit for Pittsburgh's immigrant community. Every ticket, t-shirt, and donation goes to the Collaborative for Immigrant Impact, a coalition of 20 local nonprofits that provide critical legal, housing, health-care, education, and food services to more than 20,000 of our immigrant neighbors.
We’ll be hosting two special nights of music on our stage:

• Friday, August 8 at 7:00 pm – Sunburst Community Benefit Concert, featuring:
• Mayim & Friends
• Giulia Galante
• Ryan Hoffman
• Radium Girl
• Sunburnt
• Andy Nauss Band
• Thanakarn Limtham Jazz Trio
• Saturday, August 9 at 7:00 pm – Songwriter Night.
• The evening features Abbey Martin of our Singer-Songwriter Group Share, Jim Hawley & friends, and more!

Tickets are on sale now, as well as limited-edition festival tees. You can also read more about the festival and the impact it’s having on the official All Together Now! website. We thank you for considering coming out to the shows, or donating if you can’t attend. All Together Now!

5 Reasons to Start Playing in a Band



As summer break comes to a close, we’re gearing up for the next term of the Sunburst Band Program and would love to see some new faces this fall. Playing in a band is one of the best ways to progress as a musician, so we put together a list of five reasons why we encourage our students to seek out opportunities to play in groups—whether it's starting a band or jamming with a couple of friends.

Community Drum Circle with Matt Price

Join Matt Price at 3 Rivers Outdoor Company on August 23rd for a community drum circle. This is a free event for all ages. Instruments are provided too!

In case of rain or heat advisory this event will be held here at Sunburst!

Want to know when our free classes are happening? Check out the graphic above for all the options. For more details and to sign up, click the link below. Everyone’s welcome!

New Voice Instructors

Chantal Braziel

We are thrilled to welcome a dynamic new voice to the Sunburst faculty — Chantal Braziel, who is joining us as a voice instructor!

Chantal is a classically trained soprano and proud Pittsburgh native whose vocal talent has taken her to some of the most prestigious stages in the country, including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, where she was a regional finalist. Her rich performance background, combined with a deep passion for teaching, makes her a wonderful fit for the Sunburst community.

Chantal holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Bowling Green State University and has worked extensively as both a performer and educator. Her teaching philosophy centers on helping students find their unique voice, build confidence, and develop strong technical foundations, all while embracing the joy of music.

We’re confident that Chantal’s experience, artistry, and enthusiasm will inspire our students and enrich our growing music community.

Kevin Gruden

We are also excited to welcome Kevin Gruden, whose remarkable career in performance and education spans both national and international stages. Kevin brings a wealth of experience to our vocal program, holding a Bachelor of Music Education from Duquesne University and completing graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music while performing opera in Italy with the Opera Theatre of Lucca. His teaching credits include prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Summer Program, Point Park University, and Westminster College.

Kevin’s performance résumé is as dynamic as his teaching. He has appeared as a soloist with the Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, the Canton Symphony, and the Westmoreland Symphony, among others. From high-powered operatic roles in Italy to musical theater stages in New York City, Kevin has done it all.



In the classroom, Kevin is a passionate mentor to students across all genres, from classical to pop and musical theater. His students have earned leading roles in school productions, participated in PMEA festivals, and even brought home honors at Pittsburgh’s Gene Kelly Awards. We’re thrilled to have Kevin on our team, where his professional excellence and heart for teaching continue to inspire the next generation of vocalists.