Subject: 🎻 September News from MCMA 🎵

Studio Updates

September 2026

photo by Siri Jones Photography

The Fall semester is in full swing! The days are getting crisper, and our studio is busy with the start of fall classes, but there is still time to register for lessons, and still room in a few of our ensembles and group classes (see below).

We hope you've been savoring the last days of summer, and we can't wait to see you in the studio or at an event soon!
On October 24th, we especially hope to see you at our
Fall Fundraiser Concert with The Speed of Sound and MKTrio! These two bands feature dear friends of MCMA, and we anticipate it being a joyful and cozy evening of music and friendship. Read on to hear more about this and other upcoming events, to learn about our new Songwriting Lab, and to see photos of last week's CamFest performance by student band, Amplify!

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SONGWRITING LAB

We are thrilled that Kate Fiano is offering a Songwriting Lab this semester! This small, collaborative class of 2–4 students is focused on developing songwriting skills and creative voice. Students will write, share, and refine original songs in a supportive environment.

In addition to Kate Fiano's impressive resume (a B.S. in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Music, with experience as a music director and music teacher at schools in California and Maine, including her new role as music teacher at Medomak Valley Middle School), she also walks the talk as an accomplished singer-songwriter. Kate has released two albums, 2008's Finding the Brighter Side, and 2012's Revolution, and has taken the stage at popular venues across the country. Since moving to Maine, she has been writing new songs and performing throughout the Midcoast, and was the winner of the Maine Songwriters Association 2025 Songwriting Contest. On October 17th she will join the singer-songwriter rounds at the All Roads Music Festival.

The Songwriting Lab will be held at MCMA Mondays 4:15-5:15pm. Contact us using the button below if you're interested in joining.

ENSEMBLE OPENINGS!

photo by Siri Jones Photography

We still have the following openings in our ensembles for the Fall semester:

Teen Rock: guitar, bass, vocals and keys

Jazz Ensemble: drums, vocals, horns and guitar

Ear Training: students of all ages

Hand Drumming: students of all ages

Adult Guitar Group: adult players who are comfortable changing between chords and willing to take some risks

Youth Choir: ages 7-11

Visit our website at the link below for more details and to contact us about enrolling in an ensemble:

Ensembles

MUSIC TOGETHER^® FALL CLASSES

Registration is still open for the fall session of mixed-age classes with Music Together® at MCMA!

Join instructors Alyssa Kelly and Amelia Watson (new name, same beloved teacher) for the Bongos collection this fall. Mixed-Age classes are for children from birth through age 5 and the grownups who love them. All classes are active music-making and movement experiences, designed to teach the way children learn: through play with the grownups they love.

Choose between classes at Waterfall Arts in Belfast on Tuesdays or Thursdays, or right here at Midcoast Music Academy in Rockport.

Click the button below for details, full schedules and to register.

Music Together

MCMA FUNDRAISER CONCERT!

Join us for an evening of live music with The Speed of Sound and MKTrio - Maine bands with deep ties to MCMA.

Great Music with Good Friends: A Fundraiser Concert

October 24th, 7-10pm, Watts Hall, Thomaston

The Speed of Sound is a Maine-based indie band that blends sharp musicianship, melodic sensibilities, and a love for timeless songwriting. Fronted by our good friend Spencer Albee on lead vocals, vintage keyboards, and rhythm guitar, the group also features MCMA instructor Zachary Bence (lead guitar, background vocals), Jake Greenlaw (drums, background vocals), and Caleb Sweet (bass, background vocals). The band has a hankering for Wonder, Hendrix, Little Feat, McCartney, The Meters, Zeppelin, Hancock, Bowie, Zevon, and Detroit-era Motown. They are currently releasing their first album together - be sure to follow them to catch the latest drops.

MKtrio is Myles Kelley (keys), August Duclos (bass), and Owen Markowitz (drums). MCMA alumni Myles and Owen grew up in the Midcoast, forever in debt to the angels at MCMA, but August is from The Big Apple. They describe their music as loud, quiet, medium, good, bad, ugly, locally grown and unflinching. Check out their latest album House On Fire!

This all-ages fundraiser features a cash bar and raffle, with proceeds supporting Midcoast Music Academy's founding principal to never turn a dedicated student away. Tickets are $30 in advance ($15 for students) or $35 at the door. Click the link below to get yours!

Tickets

AMPLIFY, LIVE AT CAMFEST!

On September 5th the MCMA student band, Amplify, performed at the first ever CamFest, a fundraiser music festival put on by the Cameron Frisone Cancer Foundation in Thomaston! It was a day full of great music, food, and fun, with all proceeds going to families battling childhood cancer. We're so proud of Amplify for rocking the stage for a good cause.

FACULTY PLAYLIST

This series highlights the natural habits of MCMA's faculty as individuals who engage with music regularly (and passionately). This month's "soundbite" is from Tom Luther:

“My personal listening recommendation is actually a community freeform radio station called WFMU. They are based in the NY/NJ metro area and have an incredibly diverse variety of programs. My personal favorites include "It's Complicated" (progressive rock), "Out Here in the Field" (field recordings and sound effects), "Bucci" ( an extremely strange and wonderful call in program), and "Sinner's Crossroads" (gospel). You can stream them at WFMU.org.”

FACULTY UPDATES

Kate Fiano

Kate will be performing at All Roads Music Festival in Belfast on October 17th as part of the Songwriters Circle at the Bazz at 5:45pm. Tickets and info here!

Tom Luther

If you haven't experienced Tom Luther's incredible Meditations on Perihelion yet, here's an opportunity to witness its latest iteration! The show is an immersive presentation featuring full-dome video partnered with live and recorded music. The work is presented in seven movements that explore the different possibilities of connections between science and art.

Sat, Sep 19 @ 7:00 pm, Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium, Orono. Tickets and info here