Haunting harmonies and spooky sounds will enter the halls of the Grafton Middle School at Apple Tree Arts’ Halloween Music Festival on Oct. 28, 1:00 p.m. The free event showcases the talents of the MetroWest Youth Symphony Orchestra (MetYSO). Come dressed in your favorite Halloween costume and enjoy healthy snacks. GMS is located at 22 Providence Rd. in Grafton. The public is welcome.
"We are delighted to introduce the MetYSO orchestra to the community at this special event," said Donna Blanchard, executive director of Apple Tree Arts. "Open rehearsals, an instrument petting zoo and concert performances will be featured," Ms. Blanchard said. GMS will be decorated with witches, goblins and other fun Halloween décor. The community music and theatre arts school is hosting the festival.
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The MetYSO is under the expert direction of Music Director and Conductor Paul Surapine, the founder, executive and artistic director of the Claflin Music Performance Foundation based in Milford, Mass. which includes the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra and the Claflin Hill Summer Winds. He also contributes to the CHSO as the occasional principal clarinetist. He is a faculty member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic School of Music, Apple Tree Arts and Indian Hill Music.
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"The youth orchestra is having a fine year with 45 musicians participating in the program,"explained Mr. Surapine. "We now have a fully staffed wind section and an additional two ensemble groups – MetroWest Repertory Ensemble (string) and a new MetYSO Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Our weekly Sunday rehearsals are the equivalent for a musician of going every week to a district festival. We are playing and performing 'real symphonic music' such as Brahms symphonies and selections by Copland," he said.
MetYSO was established 15 years ago by a parent group and is in residence at Massachusetts Bay Community College’s Framingham campus. Mr.Surapine became the director in 2005 bringing a high level of professionalism to the orchestra. The close affiliation with the Claflin Hill Symphony has fostered a mentoring program between the professional musicians and the young students. The MetYSO members have gained a better understanding of music and musicianship from the seasoned professionals.
The Music Festival features relaxed open rehearsals and three short concerts with Mr.Surapine talking to the audience about how an orchestra functions while he introduces its members and their instruments. Musicians will be dressed in Halloween costumes.
Apple Tree Arts will introduce its new Penny campaign established to assist with fundraising efforts to restore the second and third floors of the Grafton Town House into a performance arts center. Children are encouraged to bring their pennies to the festival.
The school has collaborated with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra for many years to bring concerts and educational programs to communities. Mr. Surapine wanted to introduce new people to the youth orchestra so he approached Donna Blanchard about working on a program together. "We consider Apple Tree Arts to be our educational partner at Claflin Hill and the region's music school," he explained.
Founded in 1989, Apple Tree Arts, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization has grown to serve over 1,000 children and adults annually with early childhood music classes, group keyboard lessons, private music and voice instruction, ensembles, theatre arts programs and concerts. For more information, visit www.appletreearts.org.