SHS Band students playing on the street during the HONK Festival

Music and Theatre Arts

Welcome! 

As Music Educators, it is our mission to inspire and guide every student in active music making through the use of a sequential and creative curriculum that nurtures the human spirit and promotes cultural understanding. 

Read our Music Learning Objectives for grades prekindergarten through 6th grade. Somerville students engage with the larger music community through events like Grooversity and HONKFest Visit the Theatre webpage to learn more about Theatre Arts in Somerville Public Schools.

About our Programming

Free Instrument Instruction

Somerville Public Schools offers FREE instrument instruction in applicable grades. Visit the Instrument Instruction page to learn about the programs and find information about instrument rental.

All City Music Groups

Students in grades 6–8 may join several city-wide music groups by invitation. These include the All City Middle School Chorus, All City Middle School Band, and All City Middle School Orchestra.

El Sistema After-school Music Program

For students from elementary school through middle grades throughout the district. The East Somerville Community School hosts the innovative El Sistema After-school Strings Program. Please visit the webpage to learn more.

Music at Somerville High School

Classes include Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, String Orchestra, Drum Line, World Percussion Ensemble, Music One, Musical Theatre, Piano Lab, Advanced Piano, Music Technology, Music Theory, AP Music Theory, Introduction to Guitar, Guitar Lab, and Advanced Guitar Ensemble and more.

Theatre Arts 

SPS Theatre Arts programming provides Somerville students with the tools to grow as communicators, collaborators, and creative thinkers through active engagement in the study, development, and production of live theatre. Theatre provides a place where every student can succeed.

Summer Music Programming

Each year, the Somerville Public Schools Music Department organizes a two week summer orchestra program which includes chamber music, improv, chorus, fiddle, technique, music theory, and orchestra rehearsals for woodwinds, brass and string instruments. Students will perform in a concert near the end of the two week program for families and friends.

Performance Calendar 2024–2025

September 

11        K-8 Music Instrument Rental Night
12        K-8 Music Instrument Loaner Night
20        Fluff prep day
21        Fluff Festival

October

4          SHS Band (Homecoming football game vs. Medford - Tufts Classic) 
11        SHS Chorus (Providence Bruins Game) 3–9:00 p.m.

November

2          MMEA Eastern District auditions (Milton High School)
25-26   Highlander Theatre Company technical rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.

December

2-4      Highlander Theatre Company Dress Rehearsals (SHS auditorium) at 3–9:00 p.m.
5         Somerville tree lighting
5         Somerville High School Musical (SHS auditorium) at 8:00 p.m.
6         Somerville High School Musical (SHS auditorium) at 5:00 p.m.
7         Somerville High School Musical (SHS auditorium) at 2:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m.
10       Kennedy School grades K-3 Winter Concert at 9:00 a.m.
11       Kennedy School grades 4-8 Winter Concert at 9:00 a.m.
12       East Somerville Community School Winter Concert at 9:00 a.m.
12       Healey School Winter Concert, Students and Staff Only, grades 3–8 at 9:00 a.m. and  grades 3–8 at 1:40 p.m.
12       All City Middle School Winter Concert (SHS auditorium) 6:30 p.m.
13       WHCIS Winter Concert (ESCS Auditorium) grades 4–8 at 9:15 a.m. and grades K-3 at 1:30 p.m. 
13       Argenziano Winter Concert grades PK–4 at 9:15 a.m. and grades 5–8 at 1:30 p.m.
13       SHS Chorus, (Somerville Museum) at 7:30 p.m.
16       Healey School, Parents and Community Only, grades 3–8 Winter Concert  at 9:00 a.m.
17       El Sistema, (East Somerville Community School) 4:00 p.m.
19       Somerville High School Winter Concert & Art Exhibition at 5:00 p.m. art show and concert at 6:00 p.m. 

January

10–11  MMEA Senior District Festival
14        West Somerville Neighborhood School Winter Concert at 9:00 AM
16        Benjamin G. Brown School Winter Concert 6:00pm Somerville Theatre
16        Brown School Winter Concert (Somerville Theatre) 6:00 p.m.
16        Snow date: WSNS Winter Concert at 9:00 a.m. 
23        An Evening of Song

February

1          Junior MMEA Eastern District Auditions (Bedford High School)
7          Choral Festival
8          Massachusetts Thespians Festival
10–11  SomerStars audition dates
14        Singing Valentines

March

3–7       Highlander Theatre Company technical rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.
6           SomerStars Dress Rehearsal during block 3
7           SomerStars performances, blocks 3–6
7–8       Junior MMEA Eastern District Festival (Bedford High)

10-12    Highlander Theatre Company dress rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.

13         Highlander Theatre Company SHS spring play performance (SHS auditorium) 9:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m.
14         Highlander Theatre Company SHS spring play performance (SHS auditorium) 9:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m.
15         Highlander Theatre Company SHS spring play performance (SHS auditorium) 2:00 p.m.
18         El Sistema Concert (ESCS) 4:00 p.m.

April

8           All City Middle School Spring Concert (SHS Auditorium) at 6:30 p.m. 
11         Capuano Kindergarten Informance (Capuano Cafetorium) at 9:15am
20         Patriots Day Parade, SHS Band. Tentative
28–30   Highlander Theatre Company dress and technical rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.
 
May
1           SHS Fringe Festival (SHS auditorium) at 7:00 p.m.
2           SHS Fringe Festival & Thespians Inductions (SHS auditorium) at 5:00 p.m.
7           Tri M Induction and Music Awards (Highlander Forum) at12:48 p.m. 
8           Spring String Fling (auditorium) at 6:30 p.m.
15         Somerville High School Spring Concert & Art Exhibition, at 5:00 p.m. art show and 6:00 p.m. concert
21         Brown School Spring Concert (Somerville Theatre) at 6:00 p.m.
22         ESCS Spring Concert
23         WHCIS Spring Concert (ESCS Auditorium) grades 4–8 at 9:15 a.m. and grades K–3 at 1:30 p.m.
25         SHS Band, Memorial Day Parade Tentative
27         Chamber Ensemble & Jazz Band Concert 6:30 p.m.
27         Kennedy School grades K–3 Spring Concert 9:00 a.m.
28         Kennedy School grades 4–8 Spring Concert 9:00 a.m.
28–30   All City technical rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.
29         Argenziano grades PK–4 Spring Concert at 9:15 a.m.
29         Argenziano grades 5–8 Spring Concert at 1:30 p.m.

 

June

2-4        All City Middle School Musical dress rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.
3           West Somerville Neighborhood School Spring Concert at 9:00 a.m.
5           All City Middle School Musical performance (SHS auditorium) at 7:00 p.m.
6           All City Middle School Musical performance (SHS auditorium) at 5:00 p.m.
6           Healey School grades 4–8 Instrumental Spring Concert at 9:00 a.m.
7           All City Middle School Musical performance (SHS auditorium) at 2:00 p.m.
10         El Sistema concert (ESCS auditorium) at 4:00 p.m.
13         Healey School grades K–2, students and staff only, Spring Concert at 9:00 a.m.
13         Healey School grades K–2, parents and community only, Spring Concert at 9:00 a.m.

 

 

Music & Theatre Teaching Staff

Beverly J. Mosby, Supervisor of Music and Theatre Arts. Somerville Public Schools

Andrew Blickenderfer, Strings. Director of the High School Orchestra and All City Middle School Orchestra. Somerville High School & District-Wide. Strings Website

Ashton Bowles, Band Director, Somerville High School and District–Wide. Band Website

Patrick Charles, Percussion, ESCS, Healey, JFK, WHCIS, Next Wave

Joshua DaPonte, General Music, Albert F. Argenziano School and East Somerville Community School. Mr. DaPonte's Website

Daon Drisdom, General Music. East Somerville Community School. 

Maxwell Evrard, Choral Director. Somerville High School 

Vanessa Fitzgerald, Strings, WHCIS, ESCS, AFAS, Healey

Jake Gabriszeski, Percussion. Somerville High School Drumline and District–Wide. Band Website

Phill Grannan, Guitar. Somerville High School and Director of the Somerville High School Jazz Band. Mr. Grannan's website.

Charles Jabour, Theatre/Drama. Director of the Highlander Theatre Company. Somerville High School and The Next Wave. Highlander Theatre Company Website

Yi Liu, General Music. Arthur D. Healey School. Ms. Liu's Website

James Mandart, General Music. Albert F. Argenziano School

Jennifer Miller, Theatre, Winter Hill Community Innovation School

Evan Perry, Director, El Sistema Somerville

Cayla Puglisi, General Music. Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center and Benjamin G. Brown School. Ms. Puglisi's Website

Joanne Sadler, Strings. District-Wide, Co-Director of the Somerville All City Middle School Orchestra. Strings Website

Marcus Santos, World Percussion. Somerville High School

Rosemary Sears, Band. District-Wide and Director of the All City Middle School Band. Band Website

Dana Sheridan, General Music. West Somerville Neighborhood School and Director of All City Middle School Chorus. Website.

Kristin Stier, General Music. Winter Hill Community Innovation School. Ms. Stier's Website

Cathy Ward, General Music. John F. Kennedy School. Ms. Ward's Website

Immei Wong, Strings. WHCIS, ESCS, AFAS, Healey, SHS Strings Website

Lu Yu, Strings, WHCIS, ESCS, AFAS, Healey