Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/tag/music/page/2/)
Watertown’s young musicians and stage performers will be featured in some upcoming events. Bandarama features musicians from around the district, and Watertown Middle School will present the musical “Willy Wonka Jr.” See details provided by the Watertown Public Schools, below. Watertown Middle School presents “Willy Wonka Jr.” March 6-8, 2026 at the WMS Auditorium.
The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
The Mosesian Center for the Arts continues its relaunched jazz series, Chords and Cocktails, with an evening of expressive jazz, lyrical storytelling, and world-class musicianship. On Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM, acclaimed vocalist Kris Adams is joined by legendary trumpeter, composer, and arranger Greg Hopkins, along with an ensemble of distinguished musicians, for an intimate performance in the Dinah Lane Theater. Known for her warm tone, emotional clarity, and deep connection to lyric and melody, Adams is a celebrated jazz vocalist and educator whose work bridges classic jazz traditions and contemporary expression. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory, she has performed internationally at festivals and venues across the United States and Europe, including Italy’s Fara Sabina Jazz Festival. Her recordings have been praised for their nuance, sensitivity, and musical honesty.
Rick Saunders, on keyboard, performs at the Watertown Arts Market, 2025. High School students can apply for the “Business of Music” internship created by the City of Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture program and the Watertown Fine & Performing Arts. See details below. The City of Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture program, in partnership with Watertown Fine & Performing Arts (WFPA), invites local high school students to apply for the 2026 “Business of Music” Internship. Specifically designed for Watertown students entering grades 10 through 12, this program pulls back the curtain on the professional music world.
The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
The Mosesian Center for the Arts brings its relaunched jazz series, Chords and Cocktails, into the new year with an evening of soulful storytelling and virtuosic musicianship. On Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m., acclaimed vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Paul Jost is joined by pianist and composer Jim Ridl for an intimate and compelling performance in the Charles Mosesian Theater. Hailed as “one of the most soulful jazz vocalists of his generation,” Jost is known for his passionate delivery, inventive phrasing, and deeply expressive approach to song. A multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer, he has performed at leading venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the 55 Bar, SMOKE Jazz Club, and major international festivals worldwide.
Dolata, from top left counter clockwise, Madi Donlan, Joe Froeber, Reilly Somach, and Amelia Allison. Dolata, a band out of Watertown featuring dual lead singers, recently released its debut single, and will soon host a listening party for its first EP. Co-lead singers, Madi Donlan, of Watertown, and Joe Froeber, a native of the North Shore, teamed up recently to form the the new band. In November, Dolata released its first song, “Friday Girl,” which Donlan wrote based on her own experiences. “When I first started writing it, it was about a best friend of mine, Jill, who passed away a few years back,” Donlan said.
The following announcement was provided by Orchestra Without Borders:
As October draws to a close, preparations are underway for a multidisiplinary celebration of Armenia’s musical heritage in Watertown, home of New England’s largest Armenian community and a new statue of the Armenian musician Komitas.
A priest, composer, choir leader, and musicologist, Komitas (also known as Gomidas Vartabed) established much of the musical heritage of Armenia as we know it today. He collected folk tunes from all over the country, recording them for posterity in several published volumes. Although Komitas himself became a casualty of the Armenian Genocide (traumatized by what he experienced during his deportation, he died in a pyschiatric clinic), his music lives on, including in the set of Armenian folk songs transcribed for strings by Sergey Aslamazyan, founder of the renowned Komitas Quartet.
On December 12th at 8 p.m. at the historic St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, MA — where Komitas’s music forms part of the weekly liturgy — the Orchestra Without Borders of Boston, led by conductor Luca Antonucci, will perform the Armenian Folk Songs transcribed by Aslamazyan in collaboration with the women of the internationally-renowned Sayat Nova Dance Company, a leading Armenian dance organization. The concert, which is sponsored by the Watertown and Mass Cultural Councils and co-hosted by six local Armenian churches, also features a special archival display from the collection of NAASR, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research.
Rounding out the program are two rarely-heard works for string orchestra by composers from the Armenian Diaspora: New England native Alan Hovhannes and Soviet-era composer Alexander Arutiunian.
Composing in 1970s Soviet Armenia, Arutiunian forged a unique expressive musical voice that fused elements of Armenian folk music with aspects of the Russian musical lineage of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and, more recently, Shostakovich and Prokofiev.
The following announcement was provided by Light of Palestine:
On Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., a star-studded ensemble will perform in Watertown’s second annual Light of Palestine concert. Proceeds will support Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera provides humanitarian aid to families in Gaza. Grammy-nominated Palestinian percussionist Tareq Rantisi is serving as artistic director. Originally from Jerusalem, Rantisi has assembled a world-class ensemble:
• 20-year-old star Layan Hawila, oud (lute) and vocals.
The Mosesian Center for the Arts continues its newly relaunched jazz series, Chords and Cocktails, with an unforgettable evening of music and community. On Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Boston Blow Up takes the stage featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Donna McElroy. This concert promises electrifying performances by world-class artists in a setting that’s as inviting as it is inspiring. Boston Blow Up celebrates Boston’s rich jazz legacy with a powerhouse lineup of Berklee faculty, alumni, and New England’s finest players.