Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.

Passion and positivity. These two qualities have guided Connor McClennen ’25 through his relationship with the clarinet since he was nine years old, allowing him to hone his craft and share his talent with others.

“Connor has been a great help in sectionals, offering wise insights and encouragement to the clarinet section! Not only is he a proactive clarinetist, [but] he is also always prepared for every rehearsal, bringing a cheerful and earnest attitude,” said Grace Lin ’26, one of McClennen’s bandmates. 

McClennen’s fervent music career began in second grade at his brother’s clarinet recital. Hearing the instrument sparked his interest and led him to pick up clarinet in third grade. 

“I looked up to my older brother a lot…[and] I thought that the clarinet sounded really good…from that I just decided to start the next year,” said McClennen.

At the high school, McClennen is in the Wind Ensemble, a band-intensive student, and is a Junior and Senior Districts qualifier.  

The Wind Ensemble performs in the high school’s auditorium and competes annually at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA). If they win gold, they continue to perform at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. 

McClennen’s involvement in the Wind Ensemble began in his freshman year when he recorded and submitted an audition tape while managing to keep practicing for districts. Freshly out of COVID-19, McClennen felt less experienced compared to the other members of the high-level group, but the positive reinforcement from the senior intensive students helped him overcome this. They created an accepting and encouraging environment, especially for the clarinets. 

During McClennen’s freshman year MICCA performance with the Wind Ensemble, he struggled with the “Roccata Marziale” piece – a “whirlwind of notes and difficult rhythms”. 

The Ensemble’s intimidating reputation and the lack of practice due to COVID-19 made it difficult to connect the parts. Yet, the group worked hard to overcome the challenge. They won a gold medal for their MICCA performance, a core memory in McClennen’s high school experience.

A closeness within this ensemble allows them to perform smoothly. Compared to his other group – the Rivers Ensemble, made up of a larger group that rehearses less frequently – McClennen believes it’s easier for the Wind Ensemble to put their pieces together with less direction, as they understand their parts within the group more.

Furthermore, when he struggled with the “Toccata Marziale,” the seniors in the Wind Ensemble urged McClennen to accept his mistakes and keep practicing.

“[Their advice] was very influential as I navigated how to figure out a piece that was a good portion above my current skill level,” said McClennen.

McClennen faced a similar challenge at the 2024 MICCA competition. They had to perform “At Morning’s First Light.” For the first 10-20 measures, he and the other first clarinet in the Wind Ensemble played a moving ⅛ note pattern. 

“It’s kind of the backbone of everything because we’re keeping time,” said McClennen. 

He especially struggled with this due to his weaker rhythm reading. McClennen emphasized his focus during these practices, listening to others and watching the conductor at an even higher level than usual. He had to be very attentive throughout the piece. 

The constructive community within Wind Ensemble has motivated McClennen to continue pursuing music. 

“Everyone understands that while they all have their own parts to play, it’s also about playing all the parts together…creating a blend, and just balancing the whole group,” said McClennen.

Mr. Steven Scott, the high school’s band teacher, has remained a positive constant throughout McClennen’s high school career.  Scott highly values him as a member of the band.

“Connor has a maturity and focus in his work that makes our rehearsals both productive and fun. He is simply always on task…working to help his section and the ensemble refine its performance and take it to the next level,” said Scott.

McClennen values this mentorship as well, including helpful practice strategies. When having difficulty with a high and quick-moving part, McClennen wrestled with slurring, which caused all the notes to blend. Scott had them try “tonguing” each note, hitting part of the clarinet with their tongue to get a better sense of timing, which improved the piece dramatically.

Scott also praised McClennen’s  “exceptional preparation and attention to detail in each rehearsal. He performs with musicality, thoughtful nuance, and poise.”

This positive mindset has kept McClennen motivated throughout his musical endeavors and is infectious to those around him.

“Connor is a really positive and fun person who is an invaluable part of…the Wind Ensemble…He makes our rehearsals feel easy and fun as a result of his positive, can-do attitude,” Scott said.

Outside of school, he plays in the Rivers Youth Wind Ensemble, takes clarinet classes, and is in the Three-O-Clock Jazz Band — a recreational group with his friends that performs at venues such as the library or when volunteering for community events. 

In addition to music, McClennen plays volleyball and boulders. He sees bouldering as practicing his part on the clarinet—it’s about his own actions, with no one else affecting the outcome. Additionally, volleyball is like playing in an ensemble, where everyone works as a team to achieve a goal.

McClennen hopes to play in musical groups in college. He plans to continue his study of music, take lessons when possible, and enroll in classes on music theory.

The family created through music is one of the most memorable parts of his high school career.

“What continues to bring me back to the band room is the thought of all the people there I’m playing with,” said McClennen.

Article written by WHS Bradford Opinions Editor Ayesha Kapoor ’26 and Staff Writer Aura Sehdev ’26.

Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.

While Brooke Simko ’25 had been involved with the performing arts, dance, and theater throughout her tenure as a student at the Meadowbrook and later the Middlesex School, it wasn’t until her junior year that she arrived on the high school’s extracurricular theater scene.

“Transferring to Wellesley High School at the beginning of junior year meant a tragically late start to my involvement in Wellesley High School arts,” said Simko.

Before transferring to the high school, Simko danced on the varsity team at the Middlesex School, where she was able to choreograph group pieces and contemporary solos. Additionally, she performed in conjunction with Wellesley Theatre Project. 

Although Simko started her participation in Wellesley High School’s Drama Society through her dual performances as Juror #3 in 12 Angry Jurors (2024) and William Dunn in Men on Boats (2024), she has since joined one of the audition-only a cappella groups at the high school: Ladies First A Cappella. 

Though her participation in the choral department is notable, Simko’s contribution in the drama department as student choreographer in Mean Girls (2024) and dance captain in Anything Goes (2025) has left an enduring impression. 

Addie Sanft ’26, Simko’s co-star in Men on Boats and Mean Girls and co-member of Ladies First, said, “She really will do anything to see other people be happy, and that is one of the most admirable traits she has. She brings so much energy and fun into the performing arts environment. She’s just radiating happiness everywhere that she goes and she always is making everyone smile.”

As a member of the performing arts community, Simko has participated both on stage and behind the scenes. She helped with costuming during The Insanity of Mary Girard (2024), the high school’s competition piece for the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild, for which she won a state-level award. 

Her excellence in everything she puts her mind to is noted not only by her peers but by her instructors.

Mr. Skylar Grossman, director and acting teacher, said, “She brings a polished sense of self and she really is what we like to call a director’s actor, meaning someone that a director thoroughly enjoys working with because they’re able to bring in their own thoughts to the table but also keep an open mind for what the director providing.”

Simko supports others by staying after rehearsal to help with dances and lending a hand even when she isn’t specifically called. 

Despite her late start to the performing arts at the high school, she has participated in seven shows while also co-leading the Outdoors Club and making strides to become a metals intensive outside of performing arts. Whether it be on a stage or outside, Simko is readily available and shows commitment to each character she plays. She takes charge when needed and leads through admirable examples, demonstrating that the true heart of being an actor is having a passion for what one does. 

As a seasoned performer, Simko speaks with an earned confidence and easy humor. She can dance, sing, act, and lead all in the span of a single show, but her greatest trait is her ability to collaborate with others towards a common goal.

Eva Meraw ’25, Ladies First A Cappella Music Leader, co-starred with Simko in Small Mouth Sounds (2025). She shares how Brooke has made positive changes to the competitive nature of a performing arts environment.

“Brooke is absolutely a joy. She’s only been at the high school for two years, and in that time, she’s transformed the environment of acting, especially performing arts. It’s so inherently a competitive environment, and it has become less so because she is the person that she is. I enjoy being [in performing arts] so much more than I did,” said Meraw.

This past winter season Simko undertook the challenge of participating in a leadership role within the musical Anything Goes, as well as performing in this year’s competition piece, Small Mouth Sounds. 

“I knew going into senior fall that I was going to be busy out the wazoo, but I still auditioned for all I could, and I don’t regret it. There are highs and lows, but theater is such a dependable constant in my life—it keeps me level even when I’m swamped,” said Simko.

In the near future Simko hopes to major in environmental science while maintaining a healthy relationship with performing through minoring in dance or participating in an intramural dance team.

Article written by WHS Bradford Arts Editor Evie Simon ’27 and Staff Writer Kaya Charoensiddhi ’27

Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.

“One, two, three, four,” Ethan Liu counts before the lights brighten over the heads of Acapella Anonymous performers, setting the stage for yet another great performance.

As a music leader of Acapella Anonymous (AA), one of the school’s four student-led a capella groups, Liu keeps time during performances. He is also a member of Rice Street Singers, an audition-only jazz ensemble and Subharmonics, a choir made up solely of tenors and basses. 

“I really like creating music, especially with other people, and I feel like the chorus is a really good way of doing that,” said Liu. 

Liu works with the other music leaders, Jamie Duffy, and the business leader, Samantha Hirschey, to prepare different songs and arrangements for his a cappella group’s various performances such as Acastock and Acatober, as well as carols during the winter season.

“Ethan is the best person to work with ever. Whenever we have to work on an arrangement for [Acapella Anonymous], he is so unbelievably committed to helping out. His generosity makes life much easier, especially when we work together to arrange music,” said Duffy. 

Liu has been musically inclined since a young age. Before making the switch from orchestra to chorus in ninth grade, Liu played the cello since elementary school.  Liu’s love for music and dedication as a music leader shine through in his arrangements for his a cappella group. 

“Ethan’s musicality is unbelievable,” said Duffy. “His arrangements for AA are incredibly creative, and what he brings to the table in AA is brilliant, especially how vocally talented he is.”

Liu takes it upon himself to support his fellow musicians in other ways, too. 

“Beyond his musical contributions, he shines through with his inclusive attitude,” said Maximilian Chen, a member of Acapella Anonymous. “Ethan is great at making everyone feel valued and listening to everyone’s opinions. His ability to lead without dominating creates a fun and collaborative environment, especially during a cappella which keeps the stress low while still having productive rehearsals.”

While Liu provides significant contributions to his a cappella group, he is also supported off stage, either through alleviating some of his duties as music leader or simply providing moral support. 

“Everyone in the choir is really enthusiastic and energetic. I’m not exactly that type of person, so being around them helps bring my energy up and helps me create a better sound for my voice,” said Liu. 

Outside of the sense of community that a cappella provides, the opportunity to make music as well as the ability to share love for the arts with younger students are also integral aspects of the performing arts society. Now, Liu is trying to pass that torch to future generations of Acapella Anonymous members as past music leaders once did for him. 

“As an underclassman, you receive the guidance of the older leaders and get to experience the choir at a really high quality for the first time,” Liu said. “Once you become a leader, you get to do the same. It’s a cycle.”

Liu is an accomplished musician outside of school groups as well. He has received honors such as being a part of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Eastern Division Honors Choir as well as MMEA All-State. Moreover, Liu has been recognized as one of the best high school singers in the twelve eastern states as a member of the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) choir.

“It is exceptionally rare to receive this recognition. However, it is well-deserved and accurate,” said Dr. Kevin McDonald, director of choral music at the high school. “Ethan is one of the hardest workers and most developed musicians in our program with the highest degree of humility.”

Liu also uses music to continue to make a positive impact on others in his community. As one of the lead singers on the worship team at his church, Liu performs for the congregation and helps lead people in song on Fridays and Sundays. He is also a member of Continuo, a student-run music organization that puts on performances at community centers. 

As for the future, Liu wishes to continue singing and performing either in another a capella group or choir while in college.

“I’ve been able to see and hear a lot of collegiate a cappella groups in ICCA, the International Collegiate Competition for Acapella, and some other events. It’s really eye-opening to see how much more that they can do compared to a high school group,” said Liu.  

Liu has managed to have a tremendous effect on those in the performing arts community, not only as a music leader but as a person. 

“In addition to his amazing versatility as a singer, he is also an amazing human being who cares for others and wants to help others be the best they can be. Having the right skill set and the right attitude towards music making allows him to have a great impact,” said McDonald. 

Article written by WHS Bradford Features Editor Josie Song.