High School Arts Leaders-in-Training

Over the months of October and November, a five-member high school chamber group from From The Top's Center for the Development of Arts Leaders (CDAL) worked with seven members of the Dudamel Orchestra as the first part of their yearlong intensive arts leadership project. On Thursday, November 15th, the seven 5th and 6th graders performed as a Chamber Group for their friends and family for the first time.  The two chamber groups rehearsed side by side and performed Hornpipe by Handel, Suite in F Major, for the rest of the Dudamel Orchestra.  Watch the performance on YouTube!

Before the performance, the five Arts Leaders introduced the students and the project, noting how impressed they were with the musicality and dedication of "their" students.  After the seven members of the Chamber Group played, they took questions along with the Arts Leaders about the process and what they learned.  They described what it was like to be part of a musical group with no leader; they each had to take responsibility for not only their own part, but also the coordination of the piece as a whole.  They had to look at one another and had to note when one instrument or another was setting the tempo.  They also had to discuss and agree on the dynamics throughout the piece.  Sometimes they had different ideas and, according to Jose Fuentes (violin), had to experiment and listen to one another until they could agree.

The weekly rehearsals leading up to this performance were a rich learning experience for all involved.  Juree Kim, a junior from the Walnut Hill School, said she loved watching the process, "to see them getting better every single week".  These high schoolers learned to watch their students carefully for understanding and all five noted how enthusiastically the young musicians responded when they put the piece together for the first time.  Chris Rogers-Beadle, a sophomore at Hingham High School, noted that our students "had great ideas and were very musical".  They were more advanced than the Arts Leaders were expecting which made teaching both a challenge and a joy.

The first Chamber Group featured Stella Dzialas and Maya James on flute, Jose Fuentes on violin, Kelly Exilus on viola, Trayvon Ricks on bass and Nora Feeney and Niya Maniez on cello.  The Arts Leaders will be back in January to lead another group of Conservatory Lab chamber musicians. Linda Gerstle, the Director of Education and Community Partnerships at From The Top said, "This has been ideal.  The Arts Leaders are learning and the Conservatory Lab students are learning and that makes the partnership sing!"

Second Graders Kick Off Snake Expedition 

The 2nd grade class has kicked off their eagerly anticipated Expedition on snakes this week, taking their first fieldwork trip to the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. Students met Joy Marzolf, a local herpetologist and author of a leading field guide on Massachusetts snakes, who has been a guest expert in the past two years of the 2nd grade snake expedition. They explored the habitats of snakes and had opportunities to hold and interact with several different kinds of snakes.

School Advisory Circle   

We are excited to announce a tremendous service opportunity for parents: The Conservatory Lab School Advisory Circle.

The Advisory Circle is comprised of 3 parents, the school Principal, and other staff members (this year we will include the Director of Operations and a teacher) who work together to discuss and explore procedures and initiatives that support our school.  The members of our school PAC will elect one of the parent volunteers.

Volunteer members of the Advisory Circle can expect to:

• Meet 3-4 times per year,
• Collaboratively review policy
• Share joys and concerns from the community
• Work to strengthen programming and systems
• Report to PAC the minutes of the School Advisory Circle meetings
• Support the initiatives outlined in the School's Work Plan

If you are interested in joining the School Advisory Circle, please email Suzy Spressert, Director of Human Services, at sspressert@conservatorylab.org no later than November 30th.  We expect many parents will be excited to join this committee.  If there are more than three interested parents, we will have a lottery to determine final members of the committee this year.

We hope that the members of our School Advisory Circle represent the diversity of our school; we strongly encourage African-American, Latino, and Asian parents to apply.

We hope to hold meetings in December, February, April, and June (if necessary).

Thank You, Volunteers!

Afternoon Volunteer Corps are in week 3 of their 6 week commitment to afternoon enrichment with K1, K2 and Abreu. These parents have been engaging with the youngest Conservatory Lab scholars to bring support and enrichment for the final school periods. These end-of-day sessions include recess support, Science Center, Fitness Club, Soccer and Kickball.  

Five parents completed orientation on October 26 and are currently our first group in the Afternoon Volunteer Corps. Calvin Lewis (Dad to Kyle 1st, Brooklyn K1) Casimir Deronette (Dad to Cashmere 3rd), Karen Lombard (Mom to Liam K2), Jonas Cox (Dad to Olivia 4th, Jasper 1st), Doug Bellow (Dad to Emmett 1st  and Calleigh K1).

"As parents, we are not passengers; we too are part of the Crew," explained Beth Green, mother of Marguerite in 2nd grade, Joseph in K2, and Michael in K1, who has helped to organize this effort,  "it has been exhilarating to watch the parents have fun and experience the joy and energy of our students."

Calvin Lewis is debuting as a first time volunteer. He has rearranged his work schedule to allow him the opportunity to pick up his daughters from school. In addition, he is sharing his day off as an afternoon volunteer. Thank you Calvin for being a great example of perseverance and responsibility!

There are still openings for volunteers for the next session, January through February. Volunteers are needed from 3:45 - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Volunteers commit to helping out once a week for six weeks. 

Orientation will take place on Friday Nov. 30th at 3:30 pm with Ms. Levi. We welcome all ideas and no experience is necessary.

Please contact Beth Greene 617-999-5620 beth.greene@comcast.net or Ms. Levi rlevi@conservatorylab.org with any questions.

Special Invitation from The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 

Dear Conservatory Lab Community,

We warmly invite all of Conservatory Lab students, faculty, and families to the debut of the newly launched Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Benjamin Zander, Conductor, on Sunday, November 25 at 3:00 in Symphony Hall, Boston.  Experience 116 passionate and highly accomplished young artists pour their hearts and extraordinary talents into Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben", Beethoven's "Egmont Overture," and Elgar's "Cello Concerto" with one of the world's leading young performers, Alisa Weilerstein.  The Elgar Concerto will be conducted by the brilliant young Venezuelan Rafael Payare. 

We're happy to provide free tickets.  Just call the Boston Philharmonic at 617-236-0999 and mention that you are from the Conservatory Lab School Community.  

Please support these extraordinary young people, celebrate the launch of an exciting new Boston musical institution, and enjoy an amazing performance!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra