The following information was provided by Friends of Watertown Music:
Friends of Watertown Music (FoWM) presents its 8th annual MusicFest fundraiser, Friday, March 22, 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Avenue, Watertown, MA.
The event features over fifty performances by musicians, students, community members, and professional musicians, as well as an instrument petting zoo. 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 8th 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.”
Friends of Watertown Music was formed by Watertown parents in 2011 in the wake of school budget constraints. To date, the nonprofit has raised over $58,000 in individual donations and organizational grants.
“We are extremely proud that our funds have contributed toward increased teaching for adaptive music, middle school jazz band, and instrument instruction,” says Lowry. “We are in the second year of establishing the string program in 3rd grade, and this December we received another School-based grant from the Watertown Community Foundation for a third elementary bass. We also purchased a bass for the middle school along with an oboe, French horn, guitars, and amps for the middle and high schools.”
“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 we have supported them with percussion and keyboard purchases through the Watertown Community Foundation’s grant program and our own Meehan Memorial Fund. Most recently, we have also inaugurated a Visiting Performer Fund to bring professional musicians into the schools.
“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.