Member News Briefs

Ring in the Season at Tree Lighting
Get in the holiday spirit at the annual Lansdowne tree lighting ceremony. Join your friends and neighbors at the mini-park on Lansdowne Avenue (across from the theater) on Saturday, December 1. The night begins with a performance by the Penn Wood High School Brass Ensemble at 5:15 p.m., to be followed by the Don's Dance World Dancers at 6 p.m. The tree will be lit at 6:45, after which Santa will arrive bearing gifts. Free hot chocolate will be available, so don't miss this annual Lansdowne tradition!

LSO Presents Handel's Messiah, Youth Concert
The Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra and music director Irving Ludwig will present a special performance of Handel's Messiah at 8 p.m. December 8 at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. Additionally, the LSO is presenting the Irving Ludwig Youth Concert at 2 p.m. December 2, also at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. Call 610-622-1189 for tickets.

Kelly Bliss offers keys to "Healthy Holidays"
Take care of the most important business asset that you have— you!
Every Thursday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, join Kelly for
these fun, informative classes teaching how to enjoy the holidays and
still eat healthy. Learn how to really taste your food while eating less; how to meet your needs without using food; how to avoid holiday binges; and how to reduce holiday stress so you have more time to take care of yourself. The cost is $80; sessions begin at 7:30 each Thursday at the Lansdowne Trinity United Methodist Church. Call Kelly at 610-394-2547.

Holiday Happenings at Before Our Time Antiques
Before Our Time Antiques will be having a pre-Christmas clearance sale, featuring a number of items that have been reduced from 20 to 40% off. Additionally, the store's annual holiday Open House will be held on Sunday, December 2 from 1:00-5:30 pm. Refreshments and wine will be served, lots of new merchandise will be on display, and drawings for gift certificates will be held. Before Our Time now has patriotic scarves and Swarovski crystal patriotic jewelry in stock. A portion of proceeds from the sale of these will be donated to the NYC Police and Firefighters Widows and Children's Fund.

Monthly Dinner at Lansdowne Station
Lansdowne Station Cafe's monthly dinners will be held at 7 p.m. November 16 and 17. Reservations are a must; call 610-259-8240 Five-course dinners are $39.99; Three-course dinners are $29.99.

Give the Gift of Dance Instruction
Don's Dance World has gift certificates available for the holidays, and offers eight-week courses in jitterbug, disco, hustle, swing, ballroom, wedding dances, rock-n-roll, and country line dancing. Ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop classes are available for children and adults of all ages. Registration for all classes is accepted year round. For more information call 610-622-6029.

Member Spotlight: St. Cecilia Conservatory

Located in historic Rome, Italy, St. Cecilia Academy has long been regarded as one of the finest music schools in the world. Perhaps someday, St.Cecilia Conservatory — right here in historic Lansdowne — will be held in a
similarly high regard.

St. Cecilia Conservatory was founded three years ago by Director Dolores Ciavola, who chose the name as a nod to the more famous music school in Rome. According to Ciavola, the purpose of the conservatory is to provide a music school that is dedicated to achieving and maintaining the highest level of excellence in all its many activities and courses of study. The school offers instruction for all ages and levels in piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, trumpet, clarinet, flute, voice, and all levels of music theory. Additionally, the school offers a full line of Kindermusik classes designed especially for children, from newborn to 7 years of age.

Building upon a solid foundation of traditional theory and technique, the school features a faculty of artist-teachers who employ the latest advances in educational methods and psychology to give each student a highly individualized course of study. Ciavola herself has studied music her entire life, and received two degrees from the Philadelphia Music Academy (now known as the University of the Arts). She later earned her Masters at New York University, where she studied for her Ph.D. under the renowned Eugene List.

She began her music teaching career in 1972 at the Philadelphia Music Academy, where she worked in the school's conservatory division, handling recitals and developing a workshop program. Later, Ciavola began doing her own outside performances, eventually leaving the school due to program cuts.

A native of Havertown, Ciavola then decided to bring her considerable talent and ideas to the Lansdowne area. She developed a piano competition through the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, which increased in size and scope over the course of a seven-year run. But her lifelong dream was always to someday open a true conservatory, featuring a music school, chamber music, and comprehensive study of music theory.

Students at the Conservatory range in a age from four months to 73 years old and come from an amazingly diverse array of backgrounds. According to Ciavola, no matter what the students' origins are, they all receive the same wonderful benefits of studying there.

"The benefits of music instruction are well known, she says. "Self-esteem, self-discipline, responsibility, imagination, respect for authority, cooperation, accountability, and teamwork...these are just a few of the important aspects of life they learn here."

Through frequent recitals and workshops, students develop their poise, confidence and a love of sharing their talents with others. The conservatory's optional performance exams give students a written record of their progress. Ciavola has also started a drama club at the school, and has begun teaching some students basic Latin.

"They are all so enthusiastic," she explains. " I honestly have to say that the students here in Lansdowne are the best. The kids are highly self-motivated and interested in the music, and the family support is tremendous. Not only are these young people honing their musicianship, but they discover the importance of constructive suggestions. It's a very positive and supportive setting,everyone learns that everybody makes mistake. We don't use the term ‘criticism'."

The building, which also is Ciavola's home, provides an environment quite conducive to enriching students musical and life skills. "This is my home," she says, "but it's also where people come to be with me and share music. What really makes me happiest is that some of the kids want to hang out here aside from their lessons.

St. Cecilia Conservatory students give recitals three times a year — once in the spring, once during the Christmas holiday and once in the summer. The students — which now total more than 70 — also play at local nursing homes and other community-based events.

"I really want to let the community know how far reaching music study is," she adds. "It does so much for young people — discipline, team work, responsibility, imagination and self-reliance. The students learn principles and problem-solving, which makes it easy for them. These are things they don't get in normal teaching."

Group lessons begin at as little as $10 per session, and Ciavola is flexible with her scheduling. "I do live here," she says, "so I'm often teaching seven days a week."

St. Cecilia Conservatory is located at 131 North Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne. For more information, call Dolores CIavola at 610-259-4057, or visit the school's website, www.stceciliaconservatory.com.