So, school is out for the summer. Any thoughts that might have been reserved for the pursuit of “ologies” — if there were any — have been packed away and replaced with thoughts of late mornings and even later nights. Which is perfect, because the first lesson of summer school doesn’t take place in a classroom. It takes place in the smoky rooms and loud crowds of the local nightlife. Luckily enough for the “students,” there is one more “ology” that has yet to be discovered, led by a pair of young musicians who have recently graduated with honors, the first-ever recipients of a coveted degree in Voxology.

“Vox” — the Latin word for “voice.” “Logy” — a Greek suffix that refers to “the study of.” Kevin Neidig and Les Vonderlin have combined the two terms and invented their own curriculum. In creating Voxology, they have given birth to a vocal science that is every bit as memorable as their name.

“I knew that we had to have something original,” says Vonderlin, who founded the acoustic duo with boyfriend Kevin Neidig last year. The two of them had previously worked together in the popular folk band Inursha before Kevin left the area for Nashville to study music. Upon his return to Mechanicsburg, Neidig approached Les with the idea of forming a new act, and Voxology was born.

“I really think that we have something that is unusual, I think that our sound is very different,” says Les. “A lot of people ask us if we’re related because our voices blend so well together.” The fact that she and Kevin are a couple seems only to enhance their vocal collaboration. Joining the ranks of Sonny and Cher, The Captain and Tennille, and Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, Voxology has set out to prove that couples indeed make the most beautiful music.

Their style is contemporary folk with a touch of bluegrass added just for fun. With a blend of familiar cover tunes and a collection of beautifully written original songs, the music of Voxology reflects the mood of an intimate coffeehouse, a smoke-filled tavern, and a summer folk festival under the stars.

The relaxed sound of acoustic folk is a departure for Kevin Neidig, who began his career in the hard-edged world of metallic rock. He admits that the softer pace offered him a musical challenge that he has met head-on. “It’s a lot more difficult than heavy metal or anything like that,” he says. “Acoustic music is so much more difficult because you have to pay attention to the tone and everything is just right there. You don’t have distortion or loud drums to cover you up.”

Kevin’s command of the guitar and tenor banjo are the perfect complement to Vonderlin’s stunning vocals, which emerge as a sonic instrument all on their own. Together as Voxology, Les and Kevin have built an exciting and imaginative act that has led them to a stream of steady gigs, a debut recording, and an audition for Lilith Fair. With dates throughout the area and weekly appearances at The Gingerbread Man in Mechanicsburg, Voxology is attracting a large and loyal following.

“We’ve got some folks who are at almost every gig,” Les reports. “We’ve found a fan base, a really loyal group of people that are also tremendously supportive.” Their listeners were first in line to buy the duo’s self-titled CD, an album that is both brilliant and immediately addictive. Among the tracks are a Jamaican spiritual, the haunting original tune “Shores of Dream,” and an enjoyable cover of Emmylou Harris’ “Wayfaring Stranger”.

The album was a labor of love for Kevin and Les, both of whom nurtured childhood dreams of a career in music. “From the age of 3 to 23, it was music all the way,” says Neidig. “I have my guitar in my hands all the time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

So now that they have earned their doctorate in the science of Voxology, what lies ahead? When a young Madonna first appeared on “American Bandstand,” she informed Dick Clark that her objective was to rule the world. Kevin Neidig’s response to the same question is every bit as ambitious. “I want to play the world,” he says. “I want to play in Sri Lanka, in Egypt, and all over the place.”

With one taste of Voxology’s music, you’ll agree that they had better get those passports ready.