Entertainment

Folk Singer Cosy Sheridan Performing at First Parish Church

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This month’s Tremedal Concert features folk singer Cosy Sheridan. The concert organizers wrote:

She came to prominence in 1992 when she won the songwriting contest at The Kerrville Folk Festival and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The Boston Globe wrote, “She is now being called one of the best new singer/songwriters,” upon release of her CD Quietly Led on Waterbug Records. Her concerts are wide-ranging explorations: love songs for adults and practical philosophy for  a complicated world. She has written about the stock market crash of 2008 and fall-out from uranium mining in the American southwest.

Entertainment

Pianist Performing Music from the Harlem Renaissance at the Library

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The Watertown Free Public Library will host a pianist who will perform a variety of music from the Harlem Renaissance as part of the events associated with the One Book, One Watertown book Homegoing. The library sent out the following announcement:

Due to unforseen circumstances, the Uptown String Quartet will not be able to perform this Sunday as planned. We didn’t want to leave you without a fun Sunday afternoon of music, so we’ve invited Piano Phil DeVille to perform in the same time slot. Piano Phil DeVille will take a musical journey through the sounds of the Harlem Renaissance. From Eubie Blake’s Ragtime stylings, through early Boogie, and onto the titans of Harlem Stride: Willie “The Lion” Smith, Fats Waller, and James P. Johnson.

Commander's Mansion

Acadian & Cajun Music, Culture Featured in the Revels Salon Series

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The Revels Salon Series presents Franco-American singer and tradition bearer Josée Vachon and Revels artistic director Patrick Swanson at the historic Commander’s Mansion in Watertown. Eclectic in content and social in nature, the Revels Salon Series offers a place for guests  to gather, enjoy wine and cheese, and hear talks about various subjects relating to Revels and our upcoming productions. Salons are held once a month on Friday evenings in October and November at the historic Commander’s Mansion in Watertown. This year’s Salons focus on Acadian and Cajun music and culture as we prepare for this year’s Christmas Revels opening Dec. 9 at Sanders Theatre. Salons include a wine and cheese reception from 7:30-8 p.m. followed by a one-hour interactive presentation from 8-9 p.m. The evening ends with more libations and conversation.

Schools

Gift from Ernie Boch Jr. to Watertown Schools Will Make Sweet Music

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Watertown students will be making some sweet music on some new instruments thanks to a gift of $10,000 worth of new music equipment given to the Watertown Public Schools by Ernie Boch Jr.

The Norwood-based automotive dealer recently donated 18 pieces of new music equipment for the music program through a grant from his charity Music Drives Us. Boch visited Watertown High School Wednesday to present a plaque commemorating the award, and to listen to the 30 member high school band perform. He said that he started the charity 10 years ago to supplement budget cuts to school music programs.

“Every study tells us that if you study music at a younger age it makes you a better person in many, many ways,” Boch said. “It actually rewires your brain. It helps you learn a second language easier, music is a second language.

Entertainment

Tremedal Concert Series Starts on March 19 with a Twin Bill

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Tremedal will kick off its 2016 Coffeehouse Concert series this month with an evening of music featuring two musical acts. The concerts are at First Parish Church in Watertown, and the first one includes David Dodson and John & Rachel Nicholas. The concert will be on Saturday, March 19 at 8p.m. at First Parish Unitarian Church, 35 Church St., Watertown. Proceeds from the events help students from Watertown’s Sister Community in El Salvador, Nueva Esperanza, attend high school and college. Three concerts have been planned.:

Sat., Mar.

Charity

See Photos from This Year’s Watertown MusicFest

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Dozens of musicians, young and old, performed at the fourth-annual MusicFest, which benefited the Friends of Watertown Music. The event was held on March 6 at Watertown Middle School and featured multiple stages. MusicFest is organized by the Friends of Watertown Music. All donations go directly to the Music Department of the WPS. Donations are tax-deductible and gratefully accepted year-round.

Letters

LETTER: Your Gift Can Support Music in Watertown Schools

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Dear friends,

Friends of Watertown Music was formed in the summer of 2011 in response to severe budget cuts in the Watertown Public Schools music program.  Since then, we have raised funds and awarded grants that include salaries to expand teaching positions, teacher initiatives for their classrooms, and instrument needs.  By offering partial funding for critical needs in the music program, we create immediate music opportunities for students and provide the Schools a way to incorporate the full cost into the general school budget. Please consider joining us in our efforts to continue to enrich, sustain, and develop the music program in the Watertown Public Schools.  May we include your name in our 4th Annual MusicFest program?  We have four donor levels:  Soprano (up to $25), Alto ($50), Tenor ($75) and Bass ($100 or more).   You can donate with PayPal or any credit card on our website:  http://watertownmusic.org/, or checks may be sent to Friends of Watertown Music, 43 Paul St., Watertown, MA 02472

This year we have been pleased to award a $5,863 grant to the WPS music program to ensure that all elementary students receive music education classes with an appropriate student:teacher ratio.  This support will help reduce the burden on overextended music teachers throughout the system by adding a new teacher.  The Schools are matching our funds in a 2.5 to 1 ratio, creating a 0.4 FTE at the Hosmer School that also includes pre-school and pre-kindergarten music classes. The Middle School Jazz Band, originally funded by a 2012-13 Friends of Watertown Music grant of $6,800, is now fully integrated into the music program.  One of our key goals has been to fund initiatives that are then sustained in the general school budget.  We have every expectation that this year’s grant will also function as seed money and allow the cost of the new position to become a permanent part of the music program. 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.