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, Special Music, Musical Theatre, Show Choir, Piano Lab, Music Technology Lab, Music Theory, Introduction to Guitar, Guitar Lab, and Advanced Guitar Ensemble.

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

The Somerville Public Schools Music Department team provide music programming for students and community members of all ages.

Performance Calendar 2023–2024

September

13: K–8 Music Instrument Rental Night, 3–6 p.m.
14: K–8 Music Instrument Loaner Night, 3–6 p.m.
22: Football Game vs. Lynn Classical Pep Band Performance, 6–8 p.m.
23: FLUFF Festival, Music Department Fundraiser, 1–7 p.m. in Union Square
28: Exchanging Notes Concert w/Chorus at Swedenbourg Chapel, Cambridge, 5:30 p.m.
29: Exchanging Notes Concert w/Chorus at SHS, 7 p.m.

October

8: Honk! Parade Band Performance, 12–1 p.m.
12: Chorus/Orchestra/AP Open Dress at Symphony Hall, 10 a.m.
13: Football Game vs. Revere Pep Band Performance, 6–8 p.m.
20: Homecoming Football Game vs. Lynn English Pep Band Performance, 6–8 p.m.

November

23: Thanksgiving Day Football Game at CRLS, 10 a.m.
30: All City Middle School Winter Concert, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.          

December

7: HTC Musical Kinky Boots Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 8 p.m.)
7: Somerville Tree Lighting Ceremony, Somerville City Hall Plaza, City of Somerville + Music Department, 5 p.m.
8: HTC Musical Kinky Boots Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 5 p.m.)
9: HTC Musical Kinky Boots Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
12: Kennedy School (K–3) Winter Concert, JFK School, 9 a.m.
12: All City Middle School Winter Concert, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
13: Kennedy School (4–8) Winter Concert, 9 a.m., JFK School
14: SHS Winter Concert, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

January

11: Brown School Winter Concert, Somerville Theatre, 6 p.m.
24: East Somerville Community School (3–8) Ensemble Winter Concert, ESCS Auditorium, 9–11 a.m.
TBD: SomerStars 

February

9: Somerville Choral Festival, SHS Auditorium, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
14: Singing Valentines (Chorus)
16: Snow day for the  Somerville Choral Festival, SHS Auditorium, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

March

2–3: HTC Spring Play Baltimore Build Day, SHS Auditorium, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
4–13: HTC Spring Play Baltimore Dress Rehearsals, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m.
14: HTC Spring Play Baltimore Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 7 p.m.)
15: HTC Spring Play Baltimore Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 7 p.m.)
16: HTC Spring Play Baltimore Performances, SHS Auditorium, 12–10 p.m. (Curtain at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
21: Somerville Choral Festival, SHS Auditorium, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
27: ESCS (PK–6) General Music Concert, ESCS Auditorium, 9–11 a.m.

April

4-5: Chorus Trip to NYC (tentative)                     
11: An Evening of Song, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
15: Patriots Day Event (Band) (tentative)
18: Capuano Kindergarten Performance, Capuano School, 2:45 p.m.
30: All City Middle School Spring Concert, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

May

3: SHS Fringe Festival, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 7 p.m.)
4: SHS Fringe Festival, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 5 p.m.)
9: Dance Recital Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 5 p.m.)
10: Dance Recital Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 7 p.m.)
16: SHS Spring Concert & Art Exhibition, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
21: Tri M Music Honor Society Induction & Music Awards, Highlander Forum, 1:45 p.m.
22: ESCS (3–8) Ensemble Spring Concert, ESCS Auditorium, 9–11 a.m.
23: Spring String Fling, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
TBD: Memorial Day Parade
28: Kennedy School Spring (K–3) Concert, JFK School, 9 a.m.
28: Chamber Ensemble & Jazz Band Concert, SHS Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
29: Kennedy School Spring (4–8) Concert, JFK School, 9 a.m.
30: Brown School Spring Concert, Somerville Theatre, 6 p.m.

June

6: All City Musical Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 7 p.m.)
7: All City Musical Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 5 p.m.)
8: All City Musical Performance, SHS Auditorium, 3–10 p.m. (Curtain 2 p.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

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

Maxwell Evrard, Choral Director. Somerville High School and All City Middle School Chorus

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

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

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

James Mandart, General Music. Albert F. Argenziano School

Jennifer Miller, Theatre, Winter Hill Community Innovation School

Timothy Moyer, Band Director, Somerville High School and District–Wide. Band Website

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

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

Emily Wolf, General Music. East Somerville Community School. Ms. Wolf's Website

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