A holiday treat from Wellesley public school musicians

December 24, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley High School Performing Arts Department assembled a Virtual Holiday Concert to share with the community.

The Wellesley High Concert Band, Two O’Clock Jazz Band, Keynote Singers, Rice Street Singers, and Wind Ensemble, as well as Wellesley Middle School 8th grade band, perform.

Each one of these pieces represents hours of work.

“We applaud our students for continuing to find a way to keep music active in their lives during this time and for putting in the effort to make this special performance for the Wellesley community,” writes WHS Band Director Steve Scott.

Musical Wellesley family’s holiday gift: ‘I’ll stay home for Christmas’

December 18, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

How can you ignore a Christmas song with lyrics that include the term “immunocompromised”?

Wellesley’s Dr. Shira Doron, Tufts Medical Center Infectious Disease Physician and Hospital Epidemiologist, belts out the tune “I’ll Stay Home for Christmas,” and stars in the music video.

Her son Jadon Czerniach, a Wellesley High junior, arranged and performed the music, and produced the audio.

They collaborated with what Doron, who performs with a band called Off Label, describes as “some talented folks at Tufts Medical Center.”

Wellesley Choral Society online all the time this season

September 5, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

From The Wellesley Choral Society:

Every September, the WCS invites singers to attend free Open Rehearsals in order to get to know the group and hopefully become a member. This year, in addition to new singers, we invite those who have an interest in music, singing, and music history or those looking for an engaging, interesting, and social activity to join us for our online fall and winter season. We will not be singing in person but instead will offer 15 weekly Zoom sessions on Monday nights from September 14^th through January 2021 with our director, Edward Whalen, as instructor.

We plan to present a concert in May 2021 titled “A Celebration of Women Composers.”

If you are looking to try us out without having to come in person; if your chorus is not meeting this fall; if you wish to learn more about music and the WCS; or if you just have some free time and are looking for a new activity for the fall and winter, please try us out during one or all of our three Open Sessions Monday, September 14^th, September 21^st, and September 28^th. For information on our schedule, how to register, and other details, please visit the Choral Society’s website.

Members-only rehearsals begin Oct. 5. If you wish to become a member, dues are $150 for a full-year membership, $75 for a half year.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra seeks input on its future

July 28, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra is reaching out to patrons to get input on its future, which includes hiring a music director for fall of 2022 and hopefully getting back to performing concerts. Current music director and conductor Max Hobart is stepping down following the 2020-21 season.

The online survey from the orchestra is comprehensive, covering everything from the orchestra’s role in the community to audience interaction with the musicians. The survey also touches on the importance of the orchestra performing music from composers of color, women composers, and local ones.

The anonymous survey must be completed by Aug. 10.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra director & conductor stepping down next year

July 14, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Max Hobart, Wellesley Symphony Orchestra — Maestro Max Hobart, (photo courtesy of Wellesley Symphony Orchestra)

Max Hobart, music director and conductor for the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra for the past 27 years, is stepping down following the 2020-2021 season. It remains to be seen when that season will be able to start under the state’s reopening plan, but it won’t be until at least next year.

Hobart’s bio on the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra website describes him as “a highly respected position as a performer, conductor and teacher” who previously spent 27 years with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He served as assistant concertmaster of the BSO under Erich Leinsdorf, William Steinberg and Seiji Ozawa and performed as featured soloist with the Pops under Arthur Fiedler and John Williams. Hobart has performed in the United States at Tanglewood and Carnegie Hall, and he has played in South America, Canada, Europe and beyond. He’s taught at Boston University, Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory and the Tanglewood Music Center.

Expect a tribute to the maestro to be slated.

Orchestra, community and board members are joining to find a new music director for the non-profit institution.

More: Wellesley Symphony musicians perform al fresco for nursing home & rehab residents

Wellesley Symphony musicians perform al fresco for nursing home & rehab residents

May 26, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Emil Altschuler, violinist — Violinist Emil Altschuler, (photo by Mickey Goldin)

Members of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra haven’t been able to perform their usual concerts since February, but individual members recently performed live on a smaller scale at the Elizabeth Seton Residence skilled nursing and rehab facility in Wellesley.

Visiting the campus has been off-limits since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, but orchestra members Emil Altschuler (violin) and Seth MacLeod (cello) were able to perform outside at the campus, with isolated residents at Elizabeth Seton Residence and the adjoining Marillac Residence rest home listening in through open windows. Staff, which has been under pressure providing healthcare services, enjoyed the music, too.

The effort was fitting in that the orchestra has used space on the campus over the years for practice sessions.

Cellist Seth MacLeod playing in the courtyard (Photo by Mickey Goldin)

elizabeth seton resident listens to music — Resident enjoys the music (photo by Lori Ferrante)

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You’ll be a sucker for Wellesley High a cappella group’s charity video

May 16, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Members of the Wellesley High School a cappella group “Inchordination” missed out on performing at the annual spring Acastock concert and other events due to the coronavirus crisis, but they’ve put their voices and other skills together on a new video produced to help out the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life online event this weekend.

WHS senior Will Cohen-Pratt orchestrated the audio mix for this rendition of “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers, as arranged by WHS Choral Accompanist Chad Weirick and edited by parent Steve Mendes (Melchor Becker handled beatboxing).

Cohen-Pratt wrote that “We chose ‘Sucker’ for our video because we thought the catchy hook and up-beat energy of the tune would lend itself well to a Zoom grid. We hope to lighten a few people’s day to make up for the postponed or cancelled performances this season.”