Subject: 🎶 June News from MCMA 🌼

Studio Updates

June 2026

It's June! As we reach the end of our 14th spring semester at Midcoast Music Academy, it's heartwarming to reflect on a year of growth. We've had the privilege of watching our students and faculty pursue their goals, overcome challenges, and build skills, confidence, and support systems that will serve them for a lifetime; all while embracing the joy and sense of family that define MCMA. Thank you for being part of it!

We are proud of our students as they prepare for the spring recital, and as a few of them prepare to graduate high school! It is incredibly rewarding to watch the growth of each student as they develop their music through lots of hard work, and it is wonderful to see them find their own, unique sound.

Before the recital, we're also looking forward to the much-anticipated Jazz In June festival! Read on to learn more about these events and our graduates, to meet our Student of the Month, learn about summer ensembles, and to mark your calendar for lots more music as we kick off the first precious month of summer in Maine!

YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL!

Fundraising is essential to the success of MCMA's mission. As we launch into our summer semester, please consider a donation to help support our summer tuition assistance fund, so that we can continue to never turn a dedicated student away due to financial constraints. Thank you!

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MEET OUR JUNE STUDENT OF THE MONTH!

Katie Urey began studying guitar at MCMA in January with Zack Bence, who had this to say about his student:

"Katie is completing her first semester on guitar here at MCMA, but in that short time has exemplified a number of traits essential to progressing on an instrument. Chief among these traits are her great attitude and willingness to invest the time and effort it takes outside of our lessons.

Nothing makes a teacher happier than seeing a student achieve gains due to persistent practice. Katie really embodies the idea that progress is proportional to the energy you invest. It’s been truly awesome to watch her confidently play chords that may have seemed nearly unattainable when she first started.

Katie is currently working on rhythm and strum patterns with the Green Day song ‘Good Riddance’ and is absolutely crushing it!"

CONGRATULATIONS 2026 GRADUATES!

A warm congratulations to MCMA’s 2026 High School Graduates! Clockwise from top left: Cyrus Huff (Homeschool), Karis Burns (Medomak Valley High School), Ananias Huff (Homeschool), and Lyric Murgita (Oceanside High School). We are so proud of how far you've come, and looking forward to seeing where your music takes you in the years ahead!

JAZZ IN JUNE

Photos above and and top by Pete Kalajian.

MCMA is excited to once again be a part of the Jazz In June festival, presented by the Camden Opera House. This wonderful kickoff to summer is a chance to celebrate jazz and enjoy great music all over Camden!

MCMA will kick off the festival on Friday, June 12th at 12:30pm, with a performance on the Village Green in Camden. Led by jazz pianist, composer, and MCMA instructor Tom Luther, the opening set will feature a dynamic mix of performers. Student Cyrus Huff has arranged one of the pieces this year, and our student jazz ensemble will be playing in addition to the faculty group! Audiences can look forward to an engaging program that highlights the collaborative spirit of jazz music and the MCMA community. This event is free, and all are welcome! The music will be from 12:30-1:30pm, but folks are encouraged to come at noon and bring a picnic.

Another MCMA-produced event is the Late Night Jam, which celebrates the spirit of jazz and the memory of Eric Davis, led by MCMA's Dan Wenger on keys and trombone, Bill Batty on drums, David Clarke on guitar and Ezra Rugg on bass. The jam is sponsored by the Eric Davis Jazz Fund, and donations for the fund will be collected at the Jam to support jazz education and performance. Camden's new traditional Irish pub, 8 Bells, is hosting this joyful event, which is from 9-11pm, Friday June 12th, right after the Savani Latin Jazz Quartet finishes their show on the main stage at the Camden Opera House. All players are welcome!

For more information about all of the amazing performances on offer during the Jazz In June festival, visit the link below.

Jazz In June

SPRING RECITAL!

Join us Sunday, June 21 at 12:30pm for our Spring Recital, sponsored by Maine State Credit Union!

We are delighted to invite the public to celebrate our students and a semester’s worth of hard work at our favorite home away from home stage, the beautiful Strand Theatre in Rockland. We are so grateful to the Strand for their constant support and longtime partnership!

Enjoy the wide range of music from classical strings to big band to three different rock groups, featuring musicians from age 8 to 78!

All donations are gratefully accepted, and will support our summer tuition assistance program.

Recital Donations

SUMMER LESSONS & ENSEMBLES

We have amazing ensemble opportunities for all ages this summer! Click the link below for information about how to get involved in:

Ear Training with Dan Wenger 5:30-6:30pm Mondays
Adult Guitar Group 12:30-1:30pm Wednesdays
Strings Attached 5:30-6:30pm Wednesdays
Adult Rock 6:30-7:30pm Wednesdays
Violin All Stars (ages 5-7) 4-4:30pm Thursdays
Girls Rock 5:30-6:30pm Thursdays

Summer Ensembles

Don't miss your chance to register for summer lessons! Summer is a flexible 8-week session running June 29 to August 21. There is time to take as many lessons as you like during that time period, or even to try a new instrument or ensemble. For more information on summer lessons and to set up an intro, click the button below!

Summer Lessons

FACULTY UPDATES

Dan Wenger

You have several opportunities to hear Dan live this month, in addition to playing at Jazz In June! June 6: Stone Street Cidery with Fully Funktional. June 7: 0km at Primo with the BUrban Band. June 14: 0km at Primo with the Sugar Snaps.