Immediately following the end of the academic school year, for nearly four decades, the music school has its start after administrators, teachers and volunteers have spent countless months preparing for its success. As the program wraps up for the year, there will be an open house Friday, during its last day, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m.

What began as a school for musicians has grown into one for all artists. A three week-immersion of instruction in introductory and advanced courses, students choose from among more than 70 different class offerings in instrumental and vocal music, dance, theatre arts, music theory and visual arts.

The mission of the Warren County Summer Music School is to encourage and develop the study, performance and appreciation of the fine arts. The staff consists of nearly 30 teachers, a director, administrator and registrar. Along with them are student interns who assist faculty musically, artistically, and in administrative duties. There are 135 students enrolled this year, of which, 16 are adult learners.

Tara Dunn, administrator, a former WCSMS student and intern, is a multi-instrumentalist now based in Iowa who came back to the music school as the parent of a new student in 2025. She returned this year by stepping into the role of administrator. Dunn works remotely in the position and travels to Warren to stay during the three weeks of summer for the program.

Warren County Summer Music school is wrapping up its 37th year and invites the community to their annual open house Friday. Pictured here are the administrative staff, left to right: Michelle Belleau-Peterson, Denise Pearson and Tara Dunn.

Michelle Belleau-Peterson, registrar and financial secretary, is native to Warren and has been a student, an intern, and an instructor. Earning a degree in music business and organizational management, she traveled extensively working in the concert and recording industry, appreciating where music can take people. Since her return to Warren, she has become a member of the Warren Philharmonic in which she plays bass.

Denise A. Pearson, school director, earned her undergraduate degree in music education and pursued graduate study through several universities. A music teacher in the Warren County School District for 20 years, she taught choirs at all levels, elementary and middle school general music, elementary instrumental and strings lessons, and assisted with marching band. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and has conducted several PMEA elementary and junior high choral festivals as well as serving as piccolo judge for All-State ensembles. She served in Warren’s First Lutheran Church as choirs director for 27 years and directs the church’s handbell choir. “The caliber of professionals that we gather together for three weeks is unreal,” said Belleau-Peterson. “The faculty bring their talent and passion for the arts to every lesson, the school district donates their space, student interns show up with their own talents and fantastic attitudes every day – there are a lot of moving parts to pull this off every year. We are so grateful for our community partners that share our vision. This program has changed many lives. No exaggeration. Whether it’s a first opportunity in the industry, or a lifelong skill learned. This is why we have lasted for so many seasons. We are all here solely to back up that mission that Mrs Mead, Dr Bauer, Mrs Logan and other founding mothers put down on paper back when I was a little kid.”

For more information visit www.wcsms.org or the Warren County Summer Music School’s Facebook page.