See How You Can Support the Friends of Watertown Music

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To support music in Watertown’s schools, Friends of Watertown Music was formed in the summer of 2011 in response to severe budget cuts in the Watertown Public Schools music program, the said in an announcement. Since then, through the generosity of our donors, we have awarded three major grants and several small grants totaling over $18,000 to the Watertown Public Schools in order to expand and enhance music instruction. Additionally, through grants from outside institutions, we have acquired approximately $15,000 worth of new instruments to be used by students in all of Watertown’s public schools. Friends of Watertown Music continues to prioritize using donations to make grants that expand teaching staff and support teacher-student interaction. We also seek grants from outside sources to provide instruments to expand opportunities for students to learn to play instruments.

As this year comes to a close, won’t you please consider joining us in our efforts to continue to enrich, sustain, and develop the music program in the Watertown Public Schools?  We have five donor levels:  Soprano (up to $25), Alto ($50), Tenor ($75), Bass ($100), Conductor ($250) or Maestro ($500 and up) and your generous contribution will be acknowledged in our Sixth Annual MusicFest program book.  (Save the date:  March 31, 2017!) You can donate with PayPal or any credit card on our website: https://watertownmusic.org/donate/ or checks may be sent to Friends of Watertown Music, 43 Paul St., Watertown, MA 02472

Thank you all for your support,

Friends of Watertown Music

Highlights from 2016

• Our 2015-16 grant for a 0.1 FTE (full-time equivalent) teacher for adaptive music has been incorporated into the school budget for 2016-17. Also for the current year, the schools have also increased teaching positions across the elementary program so that all instruments are offered at all three elementary schools for the first time.

• Our Fifth Annual MusicFest on Friday, April 8, 2015 was a great success!  We featured solos, duos, trios, quartets, quintets, and an octet. Professional, conservatory, and high school ensembles and bands and Bach, Berklee jazz, acid Blues, and even Surf music! We raised over $3500 in this one night alone!

• Through a matching grant from Classics for Kids Foundation, Friends of Watertown Music were able to purchase two cellos for the Watertown Public Schools. Many thanks to CFKF for their generosity!

• Thanks to the Music Drives Us Foundation, Friends of Watertown Music received approximately $10,000 worth of musical instruments, which will be used in all five of Watertown’s Public Schools!  This generous grant included hand drums for elementary general music classes, a p-bone trombone, two bass clarinets, a baritone saxophone and two portable electronic pianos. This grant was celebrated by a visit in person from Ernie Boch featuring a wonderful performance from the Watertown High School Band, followed by a fun Q+A session.

Our Sixth Annual MusicFest will be on Friday, March 31, 2017 at Watertown Middle School Please consider performing, recruiting performers amongst your musician friends, or volunteering. Follow us on Facebook for updates.

Friends of Watertown Music, Inc., incorporated in 2014, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  All donations are fully tax deductible within the limits of the law.

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