TEAMWORK
The work of Around Hear happens through deep and ongoing communication between our leadership team, guest artists, partner organizations, and community members to help us deliver musical and educational programming that is relevant, educational, uplifting, and accessible for our intergenerational, multicultural, socio-economically diverse audiences and students.
The photo below illustrates an example of the people power driving this project: on Feb. 26, 2018, a grand piano arrived at the Mystic Activity Center, a community center at the heart of Somerville's largest family public housing facility. The team below — two artists, the director of the Mystic Learning Center (a child care center for low-income families), a representative of the Somerville Housing Authority, and the president of the Mystic Tenant Association — had spent months working together to welcome the instrument into the Mystic community room.
From left to right: Around Hear co-founders Marji & Dan, Mystic Learning Center's (now retired) executive director Fluffy Bergmann, Mystic Activity Center program coordinator Jose Filho (also now retired), and Mystic Tenant Association president Stephanson Aman (may he rest in peace).
Since the arrival of this instrument, Around Hear has partnered with the SHA to place and maintain pianos in three additional community spaces, provide more than 1,200 hours of classes and lessons, and present over 100 free concerts for youth, senior, and intergenerational audiences.
STAFF
Photography by Jennifer Moy
Since 2017, co-founders and co-directors Marji Gere and Dan Sedgwick have worked to establish, nurture, and lead Around Hear, a project that was borne of their shared passion for chamber music and a desire to create free, regular opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and life experiences to learn, make, and enjoy music together.
As partners in marriage and art, Marji and Dan share more than two decades of experience playing chamber music and creating projects together. They have lived in Somerville since 2009.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Our concerts bring together artists who are steeped in the classical music canon with practitioners who traffic in other styles and art forms. Beyond a shared trait of artistic excellence, openness, and originality, the common denominators among our guest artists are a commitment to community-building and a desire for continued personal growth, discovery, and connection. Below is the full list of artists who have participated in our concert tours since 2017.
WINDS & STRINGS
Flute: Vanessa Holroyd Clarinet: Peter Arvantely Eric Thomas Yhasmin Valenzuela-Blanchard Oboe: Rafael Natan Bassoon: Nisreen Nor Tamara Plummer Leyla Zamora Horn: Marina Krickler Shachar Ziv Violin: Joshua Addison Sarah Darling Marji Gere Rohan Gregory Shadwa Mussad Rafael Natan Viola: Jason Amos Lila Brown Jenn Chang Ashley Frith Gillian Gallagher Zoe Kemmerling Cello: Javier Caballero Ariana Falk Eli Kaynor Jacob MacKay Patrick McGuire Josh Packard Tony Rymer Adrienne Taylor Double Bass: Eric Farnan Richard Hartshorne Max Zeugner
PIANO, VOICE & BEYOND
Piano/Harpsichord: Dan Sedgwick Miles Walter Shachar Ziv Miscellaneous instruments: Jacob Barton - udderbot Adam Schutzman - foley art, bucket bass Voice: Jacob Barton Will Green Laura Grill-Jaye Harshitha Krishnan Jazimina MacNeil Nora Maynard Rafael Natan Shachar Ziv Spoken Word/Storytelling: Tamara Plummer Adult ESOL students from The Welcome Project Puppetry: John Bell Ziggy Bird-Roberts Trudi Cohen Marji Gere Zoe Kemmerling Isabella Milanowski Esmay Pricejones Adam Schutzman Dan Sedgwick Dance: Ashton "Stiggity Stackz" Lites Essy Sosa Michael Winward Composition & arrangement: Jacob Barton Adrienne Taylor Eric Thomas Shachar Ziv Marji Gere Visual Art: Srivi Kalyan (watercolors) Allison Tanenhaus & Vidumami (video) Jef Czekaj (cartoons) Marji Gere (cantastoria & cartoons) Mystic Learning Center youth (backdrop art) Healey School 3rd-5th graders (crankies)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marjorie Gere, board president
Florence Bergmann, board clerk - retired executive director of the Mystic Learning Center
Dan Sedgwick, board treasurer
Tracey Stearns, board member - executive director of the Mystic Learning Center
Marie Fede, board member - Around Hear violin student & parent
Tamara Plummer, board member - musician, poet, administrator (NYC)