Weston High School (Massachusetts) - Music and Theater

Music and Theater

Weston's music program is directed by Christopher Memoli, while Dr. Therese Provenzano directs the chorus. Weston also offers an AP Music Theory Class, taught by Patrick Dandrea. 31 students were accepted to the MMEA Northeastern Sr. Districts Festival in January 2007, and 13 students were accepted to the MMEA All-State Conference.

The High School Chorus, along with the Community Chorus and InCoro Novo, has a performance at Regis College every year when they perform a selection from the vocal repertoire. In 2006, the work was Bach's Magnificat and in 2007, the work was Mozart's Requiem. The 2008 piece was Carmina Burana. The 2009 piece was Mozart's Coronation Mass. The 2010 selection was John Rutter's Requiem. The work for 2011 was Antonio Vivaldi's 'Gloria.' The large chorus is accompanied by selected high school orchestra members and adult musicians.

Weston's Music Department also runs the Weston Friends of Music, a parent group that has regular meetings and helps collect tickets during concerts and other tasks that help contribute to the well-being of the Weston school music department.

In addition, Weston has a theater program after school. The Weston High School Theater Company performs three plays a year (Fall and Winter play, Spring musical) and competes in the Boston Globe's Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) festival annually. The company holds several state titles, having won finals at the 2005 and 2008 MHSDG festivals. They advanced to finals in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and most recently in 2011, where they nearly clenched the state title yet again. Under the direction of John Minigan, the Weston High Theater Co. has high expectations for those involved and several members have gone on and act in college and professionally.

In addition to a full concert choir and chorus, the Weston High School has three student run a cappella groups called the Town Criers (for boys), the Pralines (for girls) and Team AC (mixed). The Town Criers, the Pralines and Team AC are all extremely successful groups and the Town Criers currently have two albums on iTunes, as well as a third in the making. In 2010, the Town Criers also took third place in the International Competition of High School A Cappella in New York City. They were also honored as the number one group in New England, the top all male group, and the top student-run organization in the competition. Additionally, they received top honors for their choreography as well as an individual award for the best solo performance (Nolan Neu). All three groups perform at monthly all-school assemblies.

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