About the Athens Community Music School

Founded in 1979, the Athens Community Music School (ACMS) is truly community-wide in mission and in scope as it is the principal source of organized and qualified music instruction in southeast Ohio and portions of West Virginia. We offer individual private lessons in piano, woodwind, brass, percussion, and stringed instruments as well as voice. We offer group instruction in a variety of areas based on factors including availability of qualified instructors, sequence of instruction, and interest of participants.

Goals for the Athens Community Music School

Our goals were developed with a focus on providing rewarding and enriching musical experiences. 

• To hire and retain highly qualified instructors to provide exceptional instruction.
• To offer group classes to children and adults on a variety of topics to help fill-in gaps in musical training or present opportunities to discover new musical experiences.
• To sponsor and support the Athens Children’s Chorus.
• To sponsor and support the Athens String Orchestra(s).
• To work with the Music Therapy department in order to enable community access to music therapy services.
• To provide performance opportunities for participants each semester in settings such as, but not limited to, recitals  and concerts on and/or off campus.
• To provide substantive written feedback to students annually via written progress reports.
• To provide need-based financial assistance to all who qualify in the form of tuition reduction.

To develop ideas for additional musical enrichment opportunities for students and the broader community based on demonstrated interest and need.

Policies for Lessons, Classes, and Ensembles 

ACMS policies have been established to ensure that students and teachers have productive and rewarding musical experiences.

• Promptness, preparation, and readiness at lessons, classes, and rehearsals are expected.
• A make-up lesson will be given only for reasons of illness or family emergency and only when adequate notification is received. Please contact instructors for their specific studio policy regarding make-up lessons.
• Lessons and/or classes missed by teachers will be rescheduled.
• ACMS students will have the opportunity to evaluate their teachers annually.
• Payment is required prior to the beginning of instruction. Those who are on payment plans must pay promptly or services will be cancelled.
• All payments are final. The Director reserves the right to award or deny refunds on an individual basis.

Parking Information

We are located in the North Green area on the campus of Ohio University in Glidden Hall. 

Directions to the Glidden Hall School of Music

After US-33 E joins US-50W in Athens, take the exit for OH-682 N. Turn right at the traffic circle onto Richland Avenue
over the Hocking River and get in the left lane. Proceed past the football stadium and continue straight up a small hill.
Bear right on President Street. Turn left on S Court Street and then make the first right on E Union Street. Go through
the light past College Street and take the first left between the green #143 and building #36 on the map. Follow Health
Center Drive to the front of Glidden Hall which is building #40 on the map.

Parking

There are limited metered spots in front of the school in Lot #37 and in the Visitor Garage Parking in Jefferson (building
#46). If you cannot find parking in the metered lots, there is metered parking available on E Union and College Streets as
well. These meters have a 2-hour time limit. Also, there is metered parking at the city parking garage (#28). The city
garage has an 8-hour limit. The meters accept change or payment through an app that can be installed on most mobile
devices.

Lots #40, 41, 43, and 44 are available with no parking permit after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

History of ACMS

1979 - Founded by J. Marilyn Remonko as the “Preparatory Division” of the Ohio University School of Music

 

1979-80 - Private lessons only

 

1980-81- Private lessons and percussion ensemble

 

1982 - Children’s Chorus, Patricia Yeago, director

 

1983 - Name changed to Athens Community Music School

 

1983-89 - Adult classes offered: banjo, guitar, piano, voice (piano & voice continued until 1997)

 

1983-85 - Pre-school music classes, Dr. Dorothy Bryant, instructor

 

1984 - Advisory Board established

 

1985-95 - Children’s Concert Band, Dr. Dorothy Bryant, director

 

1986 - Scholarship Program established

 

1987 - Athens Children’s Chorus (ACC) established, Marsha Reilly, director

 

1988 - “Albert & Tiberius” – children’s opera

 

1989 - “Scarecrow” – children’s opera

 

1990 - “Solar” – children’s opera

 

1991 - “Jonah” – children’s opera

 

1992 - “Sail Away” – musical written by ACC members with accompaniment by ACMS Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band

 

1992-95 - Hosts Young Band Festival

 

1993 - “Hamelin Town” – children’s opera

 

1994 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival

 

1995 - “Scarecrow” – children’s opera; Children’s Chorus Festival

 

1996 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival

 

1996-00 - Suzuki Strings; Chamber Ensembles

 

1997 - “Clowns” – children’s opera; Children’s Chorus Festival

 

1997-05 - Youth Jazz Ensemble, Professor Ernie Bastin, director

 

1998 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival

 

1999  - Melanie Horne becomes director of the Athens Children’s Chorus

 

1999 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival/Chorus Reunion

 

2001 - KidSing! classes begin; taught by Melanie Horne

 

2003 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio

 

2005 - Marilyn Remonko retires; Elizabeth Braun becomes director

 

2006 (Winter) - Affiliate Faculty begin being paid through OU payroll and ACMS bears financial responsibility for STRS, workers comp, and Medicare

 

2006 (Winter) - Scholarship Application and supporting documentation now required of all families
                     requesting assistance

 

2006 - Hosts11th Annual Southeast Ohio Children’s Chorus Festival, ?, guest conductor

 

2006 - ACMS participates in OU Homecoming Parade and takes 3rd in “Community Banner” division

 

2006 - Receives OAC “Capacity Building” Grant for consultancy with Bill Howley

 

2007- Provides support for community performance workshops by “Imaginary Folklorist” Fellé Vega

 

2007 - Athens Children's Chorus participated in the OU Opera production of "Hansel and Gretel"

 

2007 - Hosts 1st Annual String Fling

 

2007 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio

 

2008 - Receives OAC “Arts Access” Grant to help fund 14th Annual Southeast Ohio Children’s Chorus Festival

 

2008 - Hosts 13th Annual Southeast Ohio Children’s Chorus Festival, Robyn Lana, guest conductor

 

2008 - Hosts 2nd Annual String Fling with guest artist Randy Sabien, jazz violin (with financial support from Hocking Valley Bank)

 

2008 - Provides funding support for buses to bring nearly 1000 elementary-aged school children and chaperones from Athens, Alexander, Nelsonville-York, and Federal-Hocking to “Halloween Concert” presented by the School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2008 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio

 

2009 - Hosts 3rd Annual String Fling with guest artist Brad Phillips, fiddler

 

2009 - Provides funding for busses to bring nearly 1500 elementary-aged school children and chaperones from Athens, Alexander, Nelsonville-York, Federal-Hocking, and Trimble to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2009 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio

 

2010 - Hosts 15th Annual Southeast Ohio Children’s Chorus Festival, Emily Gil, guest conductor

 

2010 - Hosts 4th Annual String Fling with guest artist Matt Turner, cellist/improv artist

 

2010 - Celebrates 30th Anniversary year and hosts ticketed dinner with performances by ACMS faculty and slideshow

 

2010 - Provides funding support for buses to bring 1,615 elementary-aged school children and chaperones from Athens, Alexander, Meigs and Trimble to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2010 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio

 

2011 - Hosts 5th Annual String Fling with guest artists PROJECT Trio

 

2011 - Provides funding for busses to bring 1,336 elementary-aged school children and
chaperones from Athens, Nelsonville-York, and Meigs to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2011 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio

 

2012 - Hosts 17th Annual Southeast Ohio Children’s Chorus Festival, Selina Cosby Midkiff, guest conductor

 

2012 - Hosts 6th Annual String Fling with guest artist David Wallace, violist, Juilliard School

 

2012 - Provides funding support for buses to bring 1,394 elementary-aged school children and chaperones from Athens, Alexander, and Meigs to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2013 - Becomes “Founding School” for Royal Conservatory Music Development Program

 

2013 - Hosts 7th Annual String Fling with guest artist, Bob Phillips, ASTA President and Strings Editor, Alfred Music

 

2013 - Host site for Royal Conservatory Music Development Program Assessments

 

2013 - Provides funding support for buses to bring 1,508 elementary-aged school children and chaperones from Athens, Alexander, Meigs and Federal Hocking to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2014 - Host site for Royal Conservatory Music Development Program Assessments

 

2014 - Hosts 19th Annual Southeast Ohio Children’s Chorus Festival, Kimberly Ruse Davidson, guest conductor

 

2014 - Partners with collegiate chapter of MTNA to present ListenUp! initiative

 

2014 - Provides funding support for buses to bring 1,418 elementary-aged school children and chaperones from Athens, Alexander, Meigs, and Galipolis to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2015 - Partners with collegiate chapter of MTNA to present ListenUp! initiative

 

2015 - Athens Children's Chorus participates in "Unity Concert 2" with Choral Union, Women's Ensemble, and Nelsonville-York Advanced Choir

 

2015 - Host site for Royal Conservatory Music Development Program Assessments

 

2015 - Provides funding support for buses to bring 1,770 elementary-aged school children and
chaperones from Athens, Alexander, Federal Hocking, Meigs, and Trimble to “Hallowpalooza” performance by School of Music in Memorial Auditorium

 

2017 - Wendy Blackwood appointed Interim Director

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2017 - Provides funding support for buses to bring 1,806 school-aged students and chaperones from Alexander, Athens, Belpre, Federal Hocking, Trimble, and Vinton to Hallowpalooza X performance by School of Music students and faculty in Memorial Auditorium