Thanks to the hard work of Sue Broudy, Larry Edoff, Chris Cougan, and the wonderful performers who joined them on March 9, 2012, Acoustic Weston earned close to $1000 which was donated to WestonArts for the needs based grants for 2012-2013. The concert was a thrill for all who attended, a great, warm, “feel-good” occasion. What great talent we have in Weston!

Zach Malett (from band Chillinsworth), guitar: “You Don’t Know Me” and “Lightbulb” (original song)
Bella Litvak (with Chris Coogan): “Valerie”
Janna Sturgis & Jenna Babyak (with Larry Edoff): “The Best Day”
Zach Weinstein, Alex Krigsman (singer), Jack Kerns (guitar/singer), Brennan McDonough (guitar) (from band Premonition): “Kids” and “Run” (original song)
Dianna Sturgis & Jack Seigenthaler (with Larry Edoff): “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” from Guys and Dolls
Barbara Schottenfeld (with Paul Bogaev): an original cabaret number
Renee Scaramuzza (with Larry Edoff): “Jar of Hearts”
Nancy Sturgis (with Larry Edoff): “As Long as He Needs Me”
Larry Edoff, performing on the piano

Ryan Bigelow & Matthew Proctor (from band Borrowed Glory): “Out of My Head” and “I Try”
Rob Carlson (guitar), Sue Broudy (guitar), Cole Smith (fiddle): “Killing the Blues”
Rob Carlson (guitar), Cole Smith (fiddle): “Dog on a Day” (original song)
Cole Smith (fiddle): feature solo fiddle
Bruce Taylor (banjo): “I’m My Own Grandpa”
Jill Rutsky, Scott Casher (bass), Cole Smith (fiddle), Chris Coogan (piano): “Angel”
Jill Rutsky, Ben Averick (guitar): “In My Life”
Margaret Broudy (with Chris Coogan): “Soon It’s Gonna Rain”
Chris Coogan (piano): “Lean on Me”

ACOUSTIC WESTON will hold auditions for high school students interested in expanding their exposure to acoustic music and increasing their opportunities to perform.  The next audition date is SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011 from 3:00 – 5:00 at the home studio of Larry Edoff.  Please contact Sue Broudy to schedule an audition or for more information.

WestonArts has formed an alliance with ACOUSTIC WESTON, recently founded by Westonite and musician Sue Broudy, who was inspired by a similar program formed in Wilton in 2009.  ACOUSTIC WESTON pairs young musicians in the community with ACOUSTIC WESTON mentors to collaborate and concentrate on the intimacy and artistry of the acoustic music experience.  Participation in this program is free, and is available through audition.  Click here for more information on ACOUSTIC WESTON.

Auditions will be held in the fall at the home studio of professional musician Larry Edoff, whose dedication to music has brought him success as an accomplished producer, bandleader, singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. Those interested in auditioning may call Sue to secure a slot at 203-856-9891, or email her at info@westonarts.org.

WestonArts presented 4 outstanding Weston High School graduates with scholarships in June 2011.  The awards are presented to students who will include study of the arts during their college years and have demonstrated passion, dedication and the ability to inspire others in the arts.

Jacob Aviner: WestonArts Scholarship Award for Music

Alex Fjeliberg-Swerdlowe: WestonArts Scholarship Award for Visual Arts

Samantha Rehr: WestonArts Scholarship Award for Theater Arts

Jeremy Doyle: WestonArts Scholarship for the Technical Theater Arts

Photo by Patricia Gay for the Weston Forum, Meredith Shepard, an eighth grade student at Weston Middle School, demonstrates a new printing press as art teacher Betsy Walsh and Kathy Meighan from WestonArts observe.

The Weston Forum covered a special thanks to WestonArts for the printing press it donated to the school last year.  The new press replaced one that was 10 years old and “not in very good shape,” according to Betsy Walsh, art teacher at the middle school.

As the Weston Forum reports, “We are thrilled to get this printing press and appreciate the generosity of WestonArts,” said Ms. Walsh.

The press is professional quality, high caliber, and will be used for art projects involving monoprints and italioprints.

Many thanks to Erik Paul, Sal LaRusso, and Jeff Holmes for donating their time to this event.

On April 7, WestonArts teamed up with three of our school district’s  fabulous instrument teachers, Sal LaRusso, Jeff Holmes and Erik Paul.  WestonArts is very grateful to these three for so generously donating their time and talent to this endeavor, and we appreciate those who donated instruments.  The instruments were taken to  Frank Devito in Norwalk for cleaning and repair, and all but one have been delivered to the Weston schools, ready for next falls students.

Included in the donations was a 1948 Conn euphonium, a professional model. This unusual instrument is used in bands.  The Weston School District does not use this instrument and WestonArts would like to sell it.  Anyone interested in acquiring this instrument may contact WestonArts by email at info@WestonArts.org.

WestonArts organization recently recognized the Westport Youth Film Festival (WYFF) with a $2,500 grant. WYFF is both an annual film festival that showcases the work of high school filmmakers from around the world, as well as a year-round film program that inspires community dialogue on the art of film through screenings and events open to Fairfield County residents and local teens.

WYFF 2011 BOARD

While WYFF is a program of the Westport Arts Center in Westport, CT,  the festival has always had deep roots in the Weston community. WYFF was started by Weston High School students Chris Casey, Emma Wiseman, and David Burstein in 2003, and each year a high percentage of WYFF’s Youth Board members hail from Weston High. This year, thirteen of the twenty Youth Board members are WHS students, including WYFF Festival Director, Matt Kalmans.

“WYFF’s Weston ties are very important to our organization. I, myself, am a Weston native and am constantly reminded of the incredible support WYFF has in this town—particularly within the Weston School system and in the classroom of WHS Videography teacher, Dave Eger, who has done so much to promote the young filmmakers and leaders who decide to participate in WYFF each year.” said WYFF Program Director, Kate Lupo. “We are proud to be supported by WestonArts, an organization that recognizes the importance of programs like WYFF that work to empower student creativity and leadership through the arts.”

The WestonArts Board released this statement about the grant: “Since its  grassroots inception, WYFF has served as a vehicle to motivate and inspire  young filmmakers in our community and beyond.  WYFF has developed into  a meaningful and long lasting institution, and is now a destination for  motivated film students from all over the US.  WestonArts is  honored to support WYFF in its annual quest to provide a platform for talented filmmakers.  May Sundance be the next stop!”

The WestonArts grant will help support WYFF programming and the production expenses of the annual festival, which will showcase students films from all over the world. This year, WYFF hopes to receive its most impressive films to date. WYFF’s new online platform for film submissions, powered by INDEE.TV, is now open for submissions. The online platform makes it easy for youth filmmakers from around the world to submit their films through the WYFF website: www.wyff.net. All filmmakers high school age or younger are encouraged to submit their films for consideration in the 2011 WYFF Festival. The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2011.

On July 1, 2010,  Sound Supervisor Tyler Erdman(Weston High School Alum, ’08), Technical Director Corey Loechner (Weston High School Alum ’04), Weston High School student Jeremy Doyle, and Kevin Maxwell of Altel met to install sound equipment funded by WestonArts in the Weston High School auditorium.  Many thanks to all our wonderful donors  for helping us to meet our goal.

Senior Awards at Awards Ceremony, June 2010

WestonArts presented 4 outstanding Weston High School graduates with scholarships in June 2010.  The awards are presented to students who will include study of the arts during their college years and have demonstrated passion, dedication and the ability to inspire others in the arts.

Carolyn Meighan: WestonArts Scholarship Award for Music

Jacqueline Dart: WestonArts Scholarship Award for Visual Arts

Travis James: WestonArts Scholarship Award for Theater Arts

Drew Zanghi: WestonArts Scholarship for the Technical Theater Arts

Weston Intermediate School Spanish teacher Soveira Davidow requested funds from WestonArts for a performance by the  INKASWASI Museum On Wheels / Andean concert and dance group for the third grade in support of the Spanish curriculum.