Tables once decked in books are now covered with vibrant table cloths. Students who once were surrounded by a bustling cafeteria are now serenaded by their peers. The shelves have turned to an amphitheater as students turn their heads, embracing their communal appreciation for music.
The WA music department hosted their first Listening Lunch of the year on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the Wright Library. During all four lunch blocks, students and staff were able to eat their lunches at organized tables in the library while a group of students performed individually selected songs.
There were around 30 student performers whose acts ranged from two to four minutes long. Performances were composed of a variety of singing and instrumentals, with both solo and group productions. However, there were no strict limitations to performances, allowing students in electronic music class to also submit pieces to be played.
“[Listening Lunch] is very different, because it allows individual performers to get out there in front [of an audience] and do something for the school,” music teacher Karen St. George said. “It’s something that they wouldn’t normally do in their ensemble, which is everybody performing together in a large group.”
The event was primarily student-led, with Music Honor Society, or Tri-M Honors, members coordinating both technical and logistical aspects of set up. Alongside the Tri-M members, other music groups were encouraged to sign up including Chorus, Jazz Band, WACapella, and more. However, the music department welcomes all sign ups to perform at Listening Lunches.
“[WA music] is just fun because it’s a really inclusive and fun community. And you just hang out and you get to make music,” senior Tri-M member Helen Yee said. “Once you start doing music at a competitive level, you see all these other really great, talented musicians.”
The idea was originally pioneered by former WA librarian, Elaine Petrus, who was inspired by another New England school she had visited. She thought Listening Lunches would be a great way to make the school culture more vibrant, and quickly brought the idea to WA. Since establishing Listening Lunches nearly ten years ago, the event has flourished as a way to bring the community together through music.
“Listening Lunch is really interesting because you get to sit and just hear what other people have worked on for so long,” Yee said. “A lot of musicians practice for years and years, and then that’s how they can be at that level. It’s just a fun opportunity to go sit in the library, looking for other people to display their talents.”
Like many other departments, the WA music department has been working to recover from budget cuts due to the budget deficit. The Listening Lunches serve as a way to continue to showcase the talents of students, as well as giving viewers a change in scenery to enjoy their lunches.
“Music is a vibrant part of the Westford Academy community. It’s mentioned in the trustees graduation speech every year, and it’s a very important piece of a student’s well rounded education,” St. George said. “We know that students benefit from a music education as part of the rest of their education. So [Listening Lunch] is just for us to say, ‘Hey, we’re here, and we do this wonderful thing for our community, and we make this school a brighter, beautiful sounding place.’”
The frequency of Listening Lunches is dictated by the will of students in the music department, with previous years holding as many as four. They are tentatively planning another around February and aim for three by the end of the year.
In addition to Listening Lunches, the WA music department also showcases their work in an annual performance, the Winter Concert. The 2024 Winter Concert will be on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. this year and will feature performances from a combination of musical groups at WA.
