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C.A. House To Present ‘Music All Over’ Show

A special concert is planned next weekend to support and expand a blossoming music program at the Children’s Home of Wheeling.

CA House Music is presenting a band performance concert, “Music All Over,” at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre, 2118 Market St., Wheeling, at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17. All proceeds will be given to the Children’s Home of Wheeling music program. Tickets can be purchased at the CA House Music store in St. Clairsville or by credit card by calling 740-695-5929. Tickets also can be purchased at the door if seats are still available on the night of the concert.

Over the past two years, the Children’s Home has developed a special after-school and weekend music instruction program for its residents. The voluntary activity includes exposure to a variety of instruments and individualized music lessons. The lessons combine learning with fun.

Two qualified area musicians provide instruction at the home one night each week. Robert Troeger teaches electric keyboard and voice to the residents. Travis Hoard teaches guitar.

Troeger also is spearheading an effort to add a drum project to the home’s musical mix. “Drums are a nice counterpoint to the keyboard work,” he said. In addition, he would like to have a small ensemble of Orff instruments in place for the home’s music program.

Troeger is music director, choirmaster and organist of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Wheeling. He also works with Wheeling Jesuit University’s chamber choir and campus ministry.

Citing the benefits of the music program for the home’s residents, Hoard said, “It gives them another coping skill and it fosters their creativity.”

Hoard, an accomplished guitarist and music major, is an employee at the home and works in the residential treatment program.

Acquiring more guitars has been beneficial for the music instruction. “They’re learning the same things together, and the guitar donations have really helped. Now there is a guitar for every youth,” Hoard said.

Music companies that have professional relationships with CA House Music also have contributed to the home’s music program. Melissa Ceo-Hartle of CA House Music said Yahama has donated a guitar to the home, while Alfred Music sent two ukelele packs and sets of playing cards featuring images of famous composers.

“We are grateful to CA House Music and are hoping that others in the community will also be interested in supporting the continuation of this worthwhile program.” said Louise M. Paree, executive director of the Children’s Home of Wheeling.

The idea for an on-campus music program was inspired by an adolescent who came from an environment of severe abuse and neglect. He told staff at the home that he wanted to learn to play a snare drum and to become a member of Wheeling Park High School’s marching band. He dreamed of playing in the Christmas parade and Festival of Sound. Another young man had an old acoustic guitar that he always wanted someone to teach him to play.

“Music has the power to develop potential talents, increase self-esteem, reduce stress and give our adolescents and teens a very uplifting experience,” said Erica Icenhower, the home’s clinical director. Many of the youth in the residential program have had little or no exposure to the arts.

In the project’s initial phase, the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Children’s Christmas Fund provided two acoustic and two electric guitars, two electric keyboards and bongos. Later, the home purchased a microphone, amplifier and two music stands. In 2014, the home received a funding match from the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley for six months of contracted music instruction to help get the program started.

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