Catawba Valley Community College Music Department

04/03/2025

08/14/2023

Welcome back to school! We are glad to have you back.

08/11/2023

We are so excited to see you in a few days!
Welcome New and Current Students!

We are pleased to welcome our new instructors: Mrs. Stephanie Grey and Dr. Tyler Young, and Dr. Peter Swanson!

Catawba Valley Community College classes begin Monday, August 14.

08/02/2023

Join us tomorrow! Vocal Ensemble Auditions tomorrow! Starts at 10 AM.
For more information reach out to Caroline Simyon, [email protected]

05/11/2023

Have a Wonderful Summer Break!

05/09/2023

So proud of our CVCC choir graduates of Spring 2023!! Noah Messick and Falon Breedlove.
(Not pictured-Dharma Edwards and Paige Devin)

05/06/2023

TOMORROW!

CVCC Music Department proudly presents our spring concert “We Soar” to be held at Corinth Reformed Church in Hickory, NC. Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 3 pm. Our Concert Band, under direction of Dr. David Cortello, and Chorus, under direction of Mrs. Caroline Simyon, will be providing a concert to showcase the talents of our students. Please mark your calendars. We hope to see you there!

If you are not able to attend the concert in person we will prove a livestream on our Catawba Valley Community College Music Department page.

04/28/2023

04/16/2023

Our Graduate Students at the Student Recital at Bethany Lutheran Church.

We appreciate all the hard work you have done and it has paid off!

Featured Soloist:
Dharma Edwards
Falon Breedlove
Noah Messick

Instructors:
Caroline Cogdell Simyon
Freda Drummonds Herrell
Jennifer McNeely

04/15/2023

The Catawba Valley Community College Music Department is excited to announce our upcoming student recital tomorrow, April 16, 2023, at Bethany Lutheran Church for our graduate students. This event will showcase the incredible talent of our music students and highlight their hard work throughout their studies. Adding to the excitement, we'll also have selections from the Catawba Valley Voices who will be performing at Carnegie Hall! The performance will feature Mozart's Requiem in D Minor, a beautiful and haunting piece showcasing vocal talents. We invite everyone to join us for this special event and support our amazing musicians.

04/14/2023

The Catawba Valley Community College Music Department is celebrating the Class of 2023 with a student recital featuring impressive performances from the graduating students along with the Catawba Valley Voices on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 3:00pm at Bethany Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC.
Pictured:
Dharma Edwards
Falon Breedlove
Noah Messick

CLASS OF 2023 BIOGRAPHIES

Dharma Edwards

Dharma Edwards is a Classical Voice Mezzo-Soprano Vocalist from Statesville, NC. She will finish her AFA in Music and then transfer to Mitchell Community College to pursue cosmetology. She would like to thank her mom Geri Gurka, friends, Vocal Instructor Caroline Simyon, Collaborative Pianist Freda Herrell, and Theory Instructor, Dr. David Cortello for helping her. Dharma plans to work in a salon and use her musical talents in church choirs and community events. “Thank you for your involvement in my music study here at CVCC.” - Dharma

Falon Breedlove

Falon Breedlove is a 23-year-old Mezzo-soprano Classical/Spiritual Vocalist from Lenoir, NC. She will be transferring to Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC on a full tuition scholarship, to pursue a master’s degree in Sacred Music with a Vocal Performance Emphasis. Falon would like to thank her mom Sarah, her Vocal Instructor Jennifer McNeely, Collaborative Pianist Freda Herrell, Vocal Instructor Caroline Simyon, and her Theory/Aural Skills Instructor Dr. David Cortello for developing her musicianship. Falon plans to further her love of music through church music ministry. Falon’s interests are in the Contemporary Christian Performing Arts where she will spread the good news of the Gospel through her passions - Jesus Christ, and Music.

Noah Messick

Noah Messick is a Classical Bass-Baritone Vocalist born and raised in Vale, NC. During his time at CVCC. Noah won 1st place in the 2022 NC Classical NATS Singing Competition, 2nd in the Mid-Atlantic Regional competition, and placed in the Top 7 singers at the National level in Chicago where he competed live with the top voice students in the US. Noah also received the North Carolina Most Outstanding Male Singer award at State NATS, earning scores higher than every male college competitor. Noah has been accepted at major universities such as Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, University of Missouri in Kansas City, and Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Noah has decided that he will be transferring to Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL on a full tuition scholarship to pursue a bachelor's in Vocal Performance. Noah would like to thank his friends and family for all their support, his Voice Teacher Caroline Simyon, Accompanist Freda Herrell, and his Theory/Aural Skills Instructor Dr. David Cortello for pushing him beyond his limits. After college, Noah aspires to become a Professional Opera Singer.