Now it its fourth year, the Friends of Watertown MusicFest will be held in March, and musicians are still being sought to play at the event.
The fundraiser for the music program in the Watertown Public Schools will be held Friday, March 6, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Ave. in Watertown.
The event features over 50 performances by musicians of all ages, musical styles, and abilities, and an instrument petting zoo.
“MusicFest is a lively, eclectic evening of music for the whole community,” says FoWM Board Member Heidi Greisch. “With performances on four stages, you can enjoy classical, jazz, rock, world, and more. It’s a great opportunity to experience the excitement and thrill of live musical performance. For younger children, we even have an instrument petting zoo from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.”
MusicFest seeks musicians of all ages, styles, and abilities. Soloists and groups. Students, amateurs, and professionals. Performances can be of any length up to a maximum of 20 minutes.
Performers need to pre-register at www.watertownmusic.org by February 22. For more information, please go to www.watertownmusic.org or email hellowatertownmusic@gmail.com.
For those interested in attending MusicFest, the suggested donations are $8/person and $25/family. T-shirts and other merchandise, pizza, and baked goods will also be on sale.
The FoWM was formed by Watertown parents in 2011 to support the Watertown Public Schools Music Department in the wake of school budget constraints.
“Our fundraising efforts have created additional teaching positions at the elementary schools, established a middle school jazz band, and supported instrument repair and acquisition,” explains Greisch.
“We’re so lucky in Watertown to have an instrumental music program available free to all of our students,” says Alice Holt, another FoWM Board Member. “Playing an instrument has been shown to improve cognitive abilities, instill self-discipline, and teach teamwork skills.” Holt adds, “The FoWM is all about celebrating music in Watertown and our goal is to make sure all of our students have the opportunity to learn and play for years to come.”
The Friends of Watertown Music is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to develop and maintain the music programs in Watertown Public Schools. All donations are fully tax deductible within the limits of the law.