Concert In Wayland Will Spotlight Underrepresented Musicians

WAYLAND, MA — A Wayland music school will host its first ever concert in a new diversity program, featuring work by underrepresented composers played by local students. PlayTogether Go will also feature a "musical treasure hunt".

Here's more from a Wayland School of Music news release:

PlayTogether Go 2022: Free Community Event for MetroWest Families, Featuring Digital “Musical Treasure Hunt” and Performance

• PlayTogether Go is a new multimedia program committed to the support of cultural diversity and vitality in our community.
• Featuring young musicians, local underrepresented composers, and a fun “Musical Treasure Hunt” for the whole family.

In January, the Wayland School of Music/PTG commissioned six local professional composers — Jorge Ibanez, Tomoko Iwaoto, Andrew Marshall, Carmen Marulanda, Tayja Sallie and Charles Shadle — from underrepresented groups to write new music for student ensembles. The young musicians will now give the world premiere of this music written especially for them, with the six composers present to hear them.

Thirty-six local music students age 7 to adult, in ten ensembles, have received professional coaching to learn their music, have met with the composer of their piece for informal discussion of the composer’s life, inspiration and influences, and will be performing the world premiere of this new music written specifically for them.

The students also invented game characters, creating digital “playing cards” combining their artwork with recorded music snippets. These will feature in a community wide outdoor “musical treasure hunt” inspired by the Game Pokemon Go, before the performance.

At 3:30 p.m., students will give the world premiere performance of these new pieces that were written for them, with the composers in attendance, at The W Gallery. Families can hear whether they matched the game pieces correctly into ensembles.

At 4:30 p.m., there will be a raffle with prizes donated by local merchants and businesses. Raffle proceeds will go towards supporting future programs (including scholarships) through the new Wayland School of Music Equity of Access fund.

Game and performance are free, family-friendly and open to all.

Date: May 22
Time: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (check-in 2 to 2:30)
Location: The W Gallery, 57 Andrew Ave., Wayland
Sample rehearsal: Composer Carmen Marulanda shares the rhythms and instruments of her native Colombia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g91vxyytLpc. The students play her commissioned composition for her (excerpt): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ED6BGrN0k&feature=youtu.be.

We are very grateful to our event sponsors: MA Cultural Council; Wayland Cultural Council; Middlesex Savings Bank; Harmoney Bookkeeping Company; Nicolette Mascari/Compass Real Estate; and donors including Giacomo’s Restaurant, Btone Fitness, Forever Slender Medspa, Johnson Strings Instruments and others.

About Wayland School of Music

Founded in 1997 by Wayland Resident, Director Penny Wayne-Shapiro, a former first violinist with the London Philharmonic, Wayland School of Music has long had a reputation in the community for musical excellence, a warm welcome to all students, and contribution to the community. WSM Instructors are required to be successful professional musicians and experienced teachers (minimum 10 years). The school offers private lessons, group classes (including at-cost classes through Wayland recreation), and community performances, and is committed to contributing to cultural vitality and diversity in the MetroWest area.

To reach WSM Founder and Director Penny Wayne-Shapiro, please email her at penny@waylandmusic.com or call 508 358 7835. For more information about Wayland School of Music, please visit https://waylandmusic.com/about-us. For information about PlayTogether Go specifically, including links to bios for our 2022 composers, please visit https://waylandmusic.com/programs/playtogether-go.