WHS musicians, artists to showcase talents

Watertown High’s orchestra and studio artists will team up for their biannual collaboration — a hybrid chamber music concert and gallery showcase — on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. 

Watertown High teachers Donna Calleja and Dr. Frederik Schuetze have been putting on this event for years, and it’s always a great opportunity for the art students, the instrumentalists, and the rest of the community to come to the school and see the work that their peers and students are doing.

The music department competes at a festival in New York City every other year, but on the off-years the orchestra breaks into smaller groups to perform everything from duets to quintets. Dr. Schuetze, who grew up placing in chamber groups, says, “It’s something special to do. I think I learned how to be a really good musician by playing chamber music with no conductor, having to watch, learn, and follow everybody else.

“Plus it’s just a lot of fun to break up into smaller groups and be with people that maybe you don’t know that well.

“Chamber music teaches you how to be independent and a part of an ensemble at the same time, so that you’re not dependent on the stick-waver.”

Jeremy Breen, a senior who’s been playing cello for eight years, is playing “Midnight Serenade.”

“I enjoy being broken down into smaller groups and playing for the rest of the class, it’s a fun change of pace,” he said. “We’ve put a lot of time into this, we’re taking time out of our regular rehearsal periods to practice these [pieces] … so it’s a big deal for us, and it’s going to be awesome.”

Ms. Calleja and her studio art students are just as excited. Senior Briana Guillory, who is participating in the showcase for the first time, said, “I always see [the showcase] when I’m walking into that little area and everything’s so pretty and I’m just like, ‘I wonder how it’d be if my art was there?’ And now that it is, it’s really exciting and I can’t wait to see it.”

Julia Harrington, who will be attending Mass Art in the fall, said, “Last year each one of [the students] had to make an exhibit, but seeing as we’ve already done that this year, we only have to show one piece. I’m really excited and I hope that everyone that sees our work really likes it!”

If anyone is still dubious about whether to attend, the artists want everyone to know that “it’s good art, and good music, and there’s food!”

Don’t miss out on this chance April 13 to spend an evening supporting and enjoying the wonderful art and music happening at Watertown High School. See you there!

–April 8, 2016–