Enriching our community in Northeastern Pennsylvania for over 15 years
Located in Hawley, Pennsylvania – 570-226-7606
The Black Bear Conservatory of Music is more than a place for weekly lessons; it is an institution dedicated to “Excellence in Music Education.”
Our faculty boasts advanced degrees from some of the finest institutions at home and abroad. Private instruction is the hallmark of excellence at the Black Bear Conservatory. Students of all ages work side-by-side with musicians who frequently perform everywhere from local to regional venues, touring groups, and the nation’s leading concert halls. Work with them to build a program of study that is right for you.
Our comprehensive curriculum is complemented by education in music rudiments, history, technique, performance, and theory which provide for a holistic educational experience. Conservatory recitals allow young artists of all levels to practice performing and gain confidence. Yearly jury exams ensure that you get the most out of your investment as our administration closely monitors the progress of each musician.
As a school, we are concerned with the whole student and how each member is able to integrate music into his/her own life in a meaningful way. At Black Bear, we are more than music. We remain an institution dedicated to the preservation of culture in the community of which we are proud to be a part.
News and Blog
- John Maurer
John Maurer is a critically acclaimed trumpet and flugelhorn artist as well as a highly respected music educator, who travels, performs and teaches throughout North America. John is one of the lead Teaching Artists at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York, the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
As a soloist, John has performed in various venues including the TD Garden, Arizona Biltmore, Xfinity Mobile Arena, Bryce Jordan Center, the Lincoln Center – Alice Tully Hall, PPL Center, Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Curtis Institute of Music and the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. In 2014 and 2015, John was given the opportunity to perform in a musical and cultural exploration tour of Cuba; traveling from Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad and Havana. In March 2014, John was selected as a semi-finalist for the “National Trumpet Competition”. From 2015 to 2016, John held the trumpet chair at the American Music Theatre located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. John has also performed as a soloist for public figures such as Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and the late Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Maurer’s rendition of, “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been nationally recognized, and he has performed the United States National Anthem for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Pocono Raceway, Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Drum Corps International Eastern Classic and for such teams as the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Wings, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Sussex County Miners, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Hudson Valley Renegades, Penn State NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball and Penn State NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey.
John has shared the stage and recorded with many known musicians and ensembles such as Juma Sultan, Jens Lindemann, Howard Johnson, Awadagin Pratt, Eddie Henderson, Slide Hampton, Les Brown, Jr., and Dan Tepfer.
As an educator, Maurer has conducted a number of residencies and masterclasses in many renowned colleges and universities such as Misericordia University, Millersville University, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster Bible College, Elizabethtown College, SUNY – Purchase, University of Richmond, Weber State University and Arkansas State University. John held the Lecturer of Trumpet position at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 2024-2026. He has also been featured by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (P.M.E.A.) as a guest clinician for a number of festivals.
Maurer graduated as the trumpet graduate assistant at the Pennsylvania State University with his master’s degree in Trumpet Performance and received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. John had the honor of studying under Larry Davidson, Dr. Langston J. Fitzgerald, III, Dr. N. Keith Wiley and Jumaane Smith, with additional studies from Bobby Shew, Allen Vizzutti and Wynton Marsalis.
John’s debut album, “Songs For My Son” was released in 2018 and has been praised in reviews by the International Trumpet Guild and texture. It is available for streaming worldwide. He exclusively uses “Pickett Brass” mouthpieces and “Gard Bags“.
John now happily lives in North Eastern Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons. Along with being a musician and educator, he is an advocate for autism acceptance and is on the Board of Directors for the Pike Autism Support Services of NEPA, Inc. (PASS) John is also an amateur triathlete, being a member of Team Zoot and completed his first Ironman 70.3 in June of 2024!
- Fundraiser
BBCM Legacy Campaign – CLICK HERE
Dear Supporters,
The last several months have been challenging for many community-based art schools. We are no exception. The obstacles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with shifts in demographics, have placed numerous stresses on our organization. Nevertheless, we are just as committed now to serving the lake region as we were when we first opened our doors in 2006. For nearly two decades, we have been offering high quality, personalized music education to thousands of children and adults alike. BBCM remains the region’s only full time, non-profit community conservatory. In keeping with our mission of offering “excellence in music education,” we have begun work to renew our commitment to serving our region. In just the past two months alone, we have doubled the size of our faculty and expanded opportunities in voice, guitar, piano, and more.
But we cannot do this valuable work alone. As always, we rely on the community’s financial support to guarantee that BBCM will be here for the next twenty years and beyond. Therefore, we cordially invite you to join BBCM’s Legacy Campaign. 100% of proceeds will go directly to community programming. And all donations will have a direct impact on safeguarding a legacy of personalized, one-on-one instruction for our neighbors. Please considering joining us on this journey.
And visit our updated website at https://blackbearmusic.net/ to learn more about BBCM!!!
With all best wishes,
Stephen Faubel, President, Jason Merrill, Secretary & Ryan Weber, Executive Director
Legacy Campaign co-chairs
- New Domain and Website
Black Bear Conservatory of Music has changed from blackbearmusic dot ORG, to the page you’re currently seeing, blackbearmusic.net – and there are more changes in the works, so stay tuned!