By Rama K. Ramaswamy
The Sinfonia and Honors Chamber Orchestra, directed by Dr. Sergey Khanukaev, performed last week as part of the WHS Performing Arts Spring Concert Nights series. Orchestra compositions included Antonin Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings in E. Major, Op. 22 - Moderato and Tempo di Valse, Igor Frolov’s Divertisment, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Polka from the ballet “The Golden Age,” Op. 22, and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” featuring the WHS Wind Ensemble. Participants, performers and parents enjoyed cake afterwards, a celebration organized by the Wellesley POPS (Parents of Performing Students).
Wellesley POPS, in partnership with WPS Performing Arts staff, supports programs such as these. Each performing arts teacher has a POPS parent representative who helps with publicity, apparel, coordinates volunteers, provides behind-the-scenes assistance for each performance, and gives ongoing staff support throughout the school year.
Each year, the POPS Grant program funds special requests from the performing arts staff. This year, POPS awarded $20,000 for the following 2017 grants:
• One French horn
• Six rolling stands for the Fiske Music Classroom,
• Guest choreographer and guest performing group fees for Footnotes dance concert.
• Lights, headsets and audio/video recording equipment for WHS Auditorium and Black Box.
• An annual stipend to every K-12 WPS Performing Arts teacher for classroom materials.
According to one POPS parent, Martha Collins, “our Sinfonia and Honors Chamber Orchestra have flourished under Dr. Khanukaev’s guidance, and it was a pleasure listening to today’s performances.”
For more information on POPS, visit www.wellesleypops.org.
And to see a video of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” finale, visit youtu.be/m0JnOeQ5C-8.
