February Newsletter

WPS Middle and High School Orchestras

Check Out What's Happening in Watertown!

Our Watertown Fine and Performing Arts Facebook page is consistently updated with events and highlights from the school day.

A Job Well Done

Congratulations!

Well done on a beautiful performance from our WMS and WHS orchestra students!

Unfortunately, my camera flipped upside down before we started the concert, so I have a lovely recording of the ceiling; but, since Miss Varsos took so many photos, I put those alongside the audio to make a concert video. Thanks, Varsos!

As a side note, some WMS students are having a hard time remembering to bring their instruments back to school once they've removed them from the building. Please try and help our young musicians keep up in class by reminding them to bring their instrument home. Students should be regularly bringing their instrument home to practice (at least on the weekends) so should be in the habit of bringing them back and forth.

Our next concert will be Tuesday, April 4, 2023. This is our String Spectacular (orchestra pyramid concert featuring all students grades 4 - 12). I'll send home updated information soon in the form of a concert flyer, as well as in our March Newsletter.

Concert Photo Album

Six Flags (7/8 + Festival Orchestra)

We will be restarting our annual trip to Six Flags to participate in Music In the Parks Adjudication this spring!

Typically this trip is just 7th and 8th-grade students; however, this year we are also opening it up to students who participate in Festival Orchestra (which is starting up again next week, February 7th). Festival Orchestra students who sign up to participate in the Six Flags Music In The Parks Adjudication trip are expected to attend rehearsals and learn the music well enough to perform it at the event.

Six Flags Music In The Parks Permission Slip

Other Stuff

Welcome, Mr. Xu!

We have a student teacher with us until mid-March! Luchao Xu joins us from Longy School of Music. He will begin leading classes next week.

Festival Orchestra

We're back on Tuesday afternoons from 3:15 - 4:00! See you on Tuesday. All City is currently on a brief hiatus.

Materials (violin/viola)

Most, if not all, of our students, are playing on full-size violins or 15 - 16" violas. At this point, all of our students should have shoulder rests. I recommend Kun or Everest as solid brands - my Kun lasted me from middle school all through college! Highly recommend. Both of these brands offer adjustable rests if the musician is still between upper-level sizes.

MusicFest!

MusicFest is (we think) coming back! Keep an eye out for more information about MusicFest in the coming weeks. For those who are new to Watertown, MusicFest is an evening of local and student acts put on by the Friends of Watertown Music as a fundraiser for our performing arts program in Watertown. It has been on hiatus since 2020 and we're excited at the possibility of it making a comeback! Students, families, and friends are welcome to sign up for a slot to perform, whether it be a piano solo, a string quartet, a brass band, an accordion...anything you want to share!

NYC 2023

Families participating in this trip will receive a separate update specifically about New York.

Performing Arts T-shirts

If you're interested in a WPS Performing Arts T-shirt, you are welcome to purchase one. The elementary students are purchasing these shirts to wear for their concerts and events and we have had some older students ask about the possibility of getting one as well. This is not required or even expected, but in case anyone wants one: T-shirt order form

Friends of Watertown Music

The Friends of Watertown Music is a parent organization that has been a major supporter of the fine arts program in Watertown for over ten years. FoWM is beginning to plan for our first MusicFest since 2019 and invites all parents who would like to help in any way. Email HelloWatertownMusic@gmail.com or call Chris Lowry at 617-923-0502 to learn more.

8th Grade Families

It's hard to believe but it's almost time for our eighth graders to start building their HS schedule! The high school orchestra meets every day for an hour (with one drop in the seven-day rotation). There is an expectation at the high school that all students who sign up are willing participants who will do their best both behaviorally and musically to enhance the ensemble.

Concert Dress

For our performances, we ask students to dress "professionally" with black dress clothes on the bottom and a white dress top, or in all black (black dress pants/skirt/dress and black top). Black shoes are also preferred if possible.

Local Symphony Performances

Being near the city we have lots of amazing orchestras performing all of the time! These groups are made up of community members; all musicians, but not all musicians in a professional sense. It's always amazing to see the Boston Symphony, but our local groups showcase how we can continue being musicians as a hobby throughout our lives, while still working in our chosen fields.

Lexington Symphony: Sat. Feb 4/7:30 PM @ Lexington Cary Hall
Brookline Symphony: Sat. March 18/8 PM @ All Saint's Parish, Brookline
Rivers Symphony: Sun. March 19/3 PM @ Regis College, Weston
Boston Civic Symphony: Sun. March 19/3 PM @ Northeastern

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Concert Dates

This year, we are trying out 6th -12th-grade Orchestra Concerts. These concerts will be hosted at the high school.

Our concert dates are as follows:

High School only - New York City (Optional): Friday, March 31, 2023 - Sunday, April 2nd, 2023
String Spectacular: Tuesday, April 4th, 2023 @ 7:00 PM (dress rehearsal after school 3:00 - 5:30) at WHS
Music In The Parks: Friday, May 19th, 2023 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM - Students in 7/8th Grade and Festival Orchestra will have the option to opt into our spring Music in the Parks Festival at Six Flags
Spring Concert: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 @ 7:00PM (arrive 5:50 for 6:00 sound check on stage) at WHS
High School/interested middle school students - Graduation: Friday, June 2nd, 2023 (time TBD)

All City and Festival Orchestras: Every Tuesday!

Festival Orchestra (6 - 8th grade): Festival Orchestra club will meet right after school on Tuesdays, from 3:05 - 4:15 or so. Open to all string students at WMS who are in at least their fourth year of playing, this group will perform for assemblies, field trips, Six Flags, etc. 7th and 8th-grade students who are not in this group but want to attend the Six Flags trip (likely May 19, 2023) will be given the opportunity to learn the music.

All-City Orchestra (First, Second, and Third Year Players): We will also continue to have All-City Orchestra, which will primarily be first and second-year players, as well as 6 - 12th-grade mentors. WMS and WHS students interested in earning community service hours can join us on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 5:30 to mentor the younger players, offer sectionals, etc.

Private Lesson Teacher List