As the school year kicks off at Marblehead High School, the performing arts department is already in full swing. This year is full of exciting events and opportunities for student performers, be they vocalists, instrumentalists or thespians. Choir teacher Andrew Scoglio, band teacher Rachel Michtom, orchestra teacher Julie Frias and drama director Ashley Skeffington shared their plans and hopes for the upcoming school year.
Scoglio, Michtom and Frias teach classes and extracurriculars at both MHS and Veterans Middle School, so the first week of school can be an especially fun time as they witness old students from eighth grade join the high school programs.
“I get to know the students early on,” said Frias, “and it’s always exciting to see how that community can grow together.”
Scoglio added that since most high school musicians stay in the program all four years, he often gets to see them grow and begin to nurture younger students.
The various high school singing groups — including mixed choir, treble choir and after-school a cappella groups Luminescence and The Jewel Tones — are already preparing for their annual debut at the Veterans Day ceremony at Abbot Hall on Nov. 11. They will be keeping with their traditional song choices of the national anthem, “Marblehead Forever,” and “America the Beautiful.”
Meanwhile, the concert band is hard at work learning pep songs to rally school spirit. This year is the first the orchestra will join the band on the field during football games, and Michtom is excited for the opportunity. Heading into the winter, all musical groups will be preparing for their Winter Concert on December 12. While most high school students are easing into the fall, the musicians of MHS are jumping into pieces such as “The Christmas Tree Ship,” “‘The Snow” and “The Nutcracker” medleys.
When asked what the music staff were most looking forward to this year, the answer was unanimous: Ireland. Over April break, music students who choose will embark on a tour through Ireland to perform in concert venues in three different Irish cities. According to Scoglio, they are looking forward to good audience turnouts due to the cooperation between the tour companies and local governments of Kilkenny, Killarney and Limerick. The trip will round out with an exchange with a local high school music program. Scoglio, Michtom and Frias are working closely with the Friends of the Performing Arts to raise funds so every student has the opportunity to go on the trip.
In the theater department, directors Ashley Skeffington and Tom Rash are looking forward to starting work on this year’s winter play “The Sleepwalker.” Rehearsals and auditions will begin in late fall and continue until March 1, when the first round of the 2025 Drama Festival will take place. Performances for the community at the Veterans School will be held Feb. 27 and 28.
