The annual celebration of music in Watertown – MusicFest – will feature Russo’s Singing Deli Worker Gilly Assunção, organizers announced.The Russo’s employee who became a Facebook sensation last Christmas who recently been accepted to Berklee College of Music, will be singing at the event at Watertown Middle School on Friday.
The Friends sent out the following announcement:
Friends of Watertown Music (FoWM) presents its 7th annual MusicFest fundraiser, Friday, April 6, 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA.
The event features over forty performances by musicians by students, community members, and professional musicians, and an instrument petting zoo.
This year Gilly Assunção, the singing sensation from Russo’s Market, will close out the evening for us.
Proceeds benefit the Music Department of the Watertown Public Schools. Suggested donations are $8/person and $25/family. T-shirts and other merchandise, pizza, and baked goods will also be on sale.
“This is our 7th MusicFest and it’s still a highlight of our year. It’s a chance for the whole community to get together to play and listen to music,” says FoWM President Chris Lowry. “It’s a great opportunity to experience the distinctive quality of live music close to home, whether classical, jazz, folk, or rock. For younger children, we have an instrument petting zoo from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. where they can try out instruments themselves.”
FoWM was formed by Watertown parents in 2011 in the wake of school budget constraints. To date, the nonprofit has raised over $44,000 in individual donations and organizational grants, and several more grants to the music department are in the works this spring.
“We are extremely proud that our funds have contributed toward increased teaching for adaptive music, middle school jazz band, and instrument instruction,” says Lowry. “This year, for the first time, third graders were able to begin a string instrument, another step for the program following all of our elementary students gaining equal access and instruction on all of the instruments offered in the school music program.”
“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.
“We’re also pleased that general music offerings have increased, and our most recent school program grant through the Watertown Community Foundation/Watertown Education Foundation joint initiative supports the middle school percussion classes.” Holt adds. “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.”
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. For more information or to volunteer to help, please go to www.watertownmusic.org.