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. Information about Instrumental Music for School Year 2025–2026

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 2025–2026

September 

10        K-8 Music Instrument Rental Night
11        K-8 Music Instrument Loaner Night

October

November

1          Senior MMEA Eastern District Auditions (Concord-Carlisle High School)
13       SHS ensembles field trip to the BSO Open Rehearsal

December

4          Somerville tree lighting
8          Brown School Informance Part 1 (all day)
9          Brown School Informance Part 2 (all day)
11       All City Middle School Winter Concert (SHS auditorium) 6:30 p.m.
11       AFAS Winter Concert, general music and grade 4 and band, 9:15 a.m.
11       AFAS Winter Concert, ensembles, 1:30 p.m.
12       WHCIS Winter Concert, grades 4–8, 9:15 a.m.
12       WHCIS Winter Concert, grades K–3, 1:30 p.m.
15       El Sistema dress rehearsal,  (East Somerville Community School Auditorium) 4:00–6:00 p.m.
16       Kennedy Winter Concert, grades K–3,  (Kennedy Cafeteria) 9:00–10:00 a.m.
16       El Sistema concert, (East Somerville Community School Auditorium) 4:00 p.m.
17       Kennedy Winter Concert, grades 4–8, (Kennedy Cafeteria) 9:00–10:30 a.m.
18       ESCS Winter Concert, ensembles, 9:00 a.m.
18       ESCS Winter Concert, general music, 1:30 p.m.
18       Somerville High School Winter Concert & Art Exhibition at 5:00 p.m. and Art Show / Concert at 6:30 p.m.
 

January

3         Chorus Providence Bruins Trip, 3:00 p.m.
9-10  MMEA Senior Eastern District auditions (Concord-Carlisle High School)
14       WSNS Winter Concert, grades prekindergarten–3, 9:00 a.m.
15       WSNS Winter Concert, grades 4–8, band and orchestra, 9:00 a.m.
15       Healey Winter Concert, grades K–3, 8:45 a.m.
16       Healey Winter Concert, grades 4–8, band and orchestra,  8:45 a.m.
24       MMEA all-state auditions
24–26       Between the Lines: tech week, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
26–28       Between the Lines: evening rehearsals, 3:00–10:00 p.m.
29       Between the Lines: curtain, 7:00 p.m.
30       Between the Lines: curtain, 5:00 p.m.
31       Between the Lines: curtain, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
31       Junior MMEA Eastern District Auditions (Bedford High School)
 
February
7         Massachusetts Thespian Festival
24–25     SomerStars auditions
 
March
6        SomerStars performances
6–7    Junior MMEA Eastern District Festival (Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School)
13      Choral Festival
19–20     MMEA Conference
21–22     Highlander Theatre: tech week, 1:00–6:00 p.m.
23–25     Highlander Theatre evening rehearsals, 3:00–10:00 p.m.
26       Highlander Theatre Performance curtain, 7:00 p.m.
27       Highlander Theatre Performance curtain for student matinee, 10:00 a.m.
27       Highlander Theatre Performance curtain, 7:00 p.m.
30       El Sistema dress rehearsal,  (East Somerville Community School Auditorium) 4:00–6:00 p.m.
31       El Sistema concert , (East Somerville Community School Auditorium) 4:00 p.m.

April

2          Evening of Song @ 6:30pm 
7          All City Middle School Spring Concert (SHS Auditorium), 6:30 p.m. 
9–11       Music Department trip
17       Capuano Kindergarten Informance, 9:15 a.m.
27-29      SHS Fringe Festival Technical Rehearsals (SHS Auditorium) 3–10:00 p.m.
30        SHS Fringe Festival Performance, 7:00 p.m.
 
May
1           ACMS Ensembles Trip to Great East, all day
1          SHS Fringe Festival (SHS Auditorium) 5 p.m. 
2          SHS Fringe Festival (SHS Auditorium) 2 p.m.
4          SHS Thespian Honor Society Induction 5:30 p.m.
5          Spring String Fling (auditorium) at 6:30 p.m.
12        Brown School Spring Concert, Somerville Theatre, Time TBD (during school day)        
13        Spring Concert Dress Rehearsal
14        Somerville High School Spring Concert & Art Exhibition 5:00 (Art)  6:30 (Concert)
14        Arthur D. Healey School, grades K–3, 8:45 a.m.
15        Arthur D. Healey School, grades 4– 8, band, strings, 8:45 a.m.
18        West Somerville Neighborhood School, grades 4– 8, band, orchestra,9 a.m.     
19        West Somerville Neighborhood School, grades prekindergarten–3, 9 a.m.
20        Tri M Induction and Music Awards 12:48 p.m. (Highlander Forum)
21        ESCS Spring Concert - 9 a.m. Ensembles Concert, 1:30 p.m. General Music Concert
22        Winter Hill Spring Concert, 9:15 a.m. grades 4-8 1:30 p.m. grades K-3
26        Chamber Ensemble & Jazz Band Concert 6:30 p.m.  (Highlander Forum)
26        Kennedy K-3 Spring Concert (Kennedy Cafeteria) 9-10 a.m. 
27        Kennedy 4-8 Spring Concert (Kennedy Cafeteria) 9-10:30am
28        AFAS Spring Concert, general music and grade 4 Band, 9:15 a.m.
28        AFAS Spring Concert, grades 4-8 and ensembles, 1:30 p.m.
29        SHS Senior Class Day
30        All City weekend build, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
31        All City weekend build, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

June

1-3      All City Middle School Musical dress rehearsals (SHS auditorium) 3–9:00 p.m.
4           All City Middle School Musical performance (SHS auditorium) at 7:00 p.m.
5           All City Middle School Musical performance (SHS auditorium) at 5:00 p.m.
6           All City Middle School Musical performance (SHS auditorium) at 2:00 p.m.
8           El Sistema Dress Rehearsal (ESCS Auditorium), 4:00–6:00 p.m.
9           El Sistema concert (ESCS auditorium) at 4:00 p.m.
 


 

 

Music & Theatre Teaching Staff

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

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 and Director of All City Middle School Chorus.

Maxwell Evrard, Choral Director, Somerville High School. 

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.

Ryan Holland, General Music. Arthur D. Healey School. 

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

Hilary Lewis, Strings. Co-Director of the High School Orchestra and All City Middle School Orchestra, district-wide. Strings Website

James Mandart, General Music. Albert F. Argenziano School.

Jennifer Miller, Theatre, Winter Hill Community Innovation School.

Rosalyn Taylor, 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. Director of the Somerville High School Orchestra and the All City Middle School Orchestra, district-wide. Strings Website

Marcus Santos, World Percussion. Somerville High School.

Sara Santos, General Music. West Somerville Neighborhood School. 

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

Megan Van Wie, Strings, WHCIS, ESCS, AFAS, Healey, El Sistema.

Immei Wong, Strings, Co-Director of Somerville High School Orchestra, district-wide. Strings Website