Uniting the Cypress Music Scene: The Story of Joyce Skala and CMS Music Fest
Anyone who knows Joyce Skala would tell you about her unbridled passion for music and her deep-seated love for her hometown, Cypress. Joyce, the brainchild behind the thriving Facebook music community Cypress Music Scene (CMS) and the orchestrator of the successful CMS Music Fest, is truly an inspiration for many.
Growing up in Cypress, Joyce’s love for music was nurtured, and she saw how it connected people, irrespective of their backgrounds. As she puts it, "Cypress is my hometown. I’m currently 43 and I’ve lived here most of my life. When music became part of my world, Cypress was the area that made the most sense to me. At the time, I honestly didn’t consider any other areas other than Cypress."
Joyce Skala, owner and operator for Cypress Music Scene and event organizer for CMS Music Fest, Her dream to create an active music community began with CMS, a Facebook group. As the founder and operator, Joyce has dedicated countless hours to maintaining the group and constantly updating it with relevant live music events, garnering more than 8,000 followers since its inception. This was no easy feat. Joyce recalls, "Within each of my personal achievements, or attempts, is a person who believed in me enough to inspire me to act. Without them, I would not be where I am today, looking back at the achievements that are part of my history now."
The CMS Music Fest, however, was Joyce's most ambitious endeavor. It first came to her in 2021, following a smaller-scale event that unfortunately met with a rain out. But Joyce was not deterred, as she held onto the dream to host a full-blown music festival in her beloved hometown. With the assistance of local media outlets, supportive residents, business proprietors, local organizations and musicians, CMS Music Fest was born.
Attendees enjoying live music performed by Father Figures, a Cypress-based"I could think of no other way that I would prefer to interact with the world. If music is the resource, I’m pleased to be the conduit and share what I know, and offer what I can, with my hometown community and its moving parts," Joyce explains passionately.
CMS Music Fest was a pivotal event for Joyce, and more importantly, for the Cypress community. From 1:00 PM to after 10:00 PM on March 23, the event drew in an audience of over 700 festival-goers at The Barn in Cypress, had a volunteer staff of 45, and provided a platform for local bands to shine including headliner Mike Ryan.
Attendees at CMS Music Fest enjoying samples of Jack Daniel's spirits. (Photo: LEL Photography)In addition to soaking up a wide range of top notch live music throughout the day, attendees shopped from local artisans in the Vendor Village, enjoyed corn hole and axe throwing, and indulged in spicy crawfish and Texas barbecue. Best of all, the festival created awareness for Cy-Fair Helping Hands and Tunnel to Towers Greater Houston Area, both non-profit organizations dear to Joyce's heart.
"Music is what I love. It’s what I live. It’s what I breathe. Not the kind you read on paper or learn about in school, but the kind a person learns on the streets and on the wide-open stages. I’ve never had formal lessons; it was how music made me feel that got me addicted," she shares.
A group of attendees enjoying the CMS Music Fest at The Barn in Cypress. (Photo: Apollo Productions)While Joyce remains undetermined about the 2025 CMS Music Fest, she is open to exploring partnerships with suitable venues. Her dedication to improving each event ensures that no matter what the future holds, the Cypress community can look forward to more memorable music experiences.
Joyce Skala's journey is a testament to the power of a dream and the enduring love for one's community. Her story serves as a reminder that music can unite people, inspire change, and create a lasting impact.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
