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.