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Music

The Walnut Hill Music Department is the only high school program linking a major conservatory, New England Conservatory (NEC), with an independent school. This partnership engages students in a diverse and comprehensive music curriculum delivered at both Walnut Hill and NEC. Students can major in an orchestral instrument, piano, voice, composition, or jazz. The curriculum is enhanced by innovative performance projects, master classes by dynamic guest artists, and the thoughtful integration of contemporary topics such as entrepreneurship and civic engagement. Walnut Hill’s proximity to Boston allows students to attend a wide variety of concerts by major ensembles and soloists at the city's world-class concert halls. Our program—offered within an inspiring and creative community—prepares graduates to thrive in a conservatory, university, or college setting.

 

Music Department January Project: Giannini Concerto Grosso

Featuring the Parker Quartet

Courses in Music

Types of Gifts

Annual Gifts

Our fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Annual gifts, both unrestricted and restricted, provide essential current-use funds.

Leadership Gifts

Annual Fund gifts of $1,000 or more paid in a single fiscal year, or gifts of $25,000 or more paid over 5 years are considered leadership gifts. Gifts may be restricted by donors in accordance with the gift acceptance policies of the school.

Planned Gifts

A Planned Gift is a donation from your assets instead of cash. With it you can create a meaningful philanthropic legacy through a bequest, beneficiary designation, trust, or annuity, while gaining tax benefits and/or life income.

Endowed Gifts

An endowed gift is a long-term investment in Walnut Hill. The minimum gift to create an endowed fund is $50,000. Funds may be restricted by donors in accordance with the gift acceptance policies of the school.

Memorial & Honorary Gifts

Making a memorial or honorary gift is a meaningful way to both recognize an individual's importance to you and to support Walnut Hill. These special contributions could acknowledge a birthday, special achievement, or milestone.

Gifts-In-Kind

Walnut Hill does accept select gifts-in-kind. Good condition Steinway pianos, new building materials, art supplies, among other items and services are welcomed.

Types of Gifts

Annual Gifts

Our fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Annual gifts, both unrestricted and restricted, provide essential current-use funds.

Leadership Gifts

Annual Fund gifts of $1,000 or more paid in a single fiscal year, or gifts of $25,000 or more paid over 5 years are considered leadership gifts. Gifts may be restricted by donors in accordance with the gift acceptance policies of the school.

Planned Gifts

A Planned Gift is a donation from your assets instead of cash. With it you can create a meaningful philanthropic legacy through a bequest, beneficiary designation, trust, or annuity, while gaining tax benefits and/or life income.

Endowed Gifts

An endowed gift is a long-term investment in Walnut Hill. The minimum gift to create an endowed fund is $50,000. Funds may be restricted by donors in accordance with the gift acceptance policies of the school.

Memorial & Honorary Gifts

Making a memorial or honorary gift is a meaningful way to both recognize an individual's importance to you and to support Walnut Hill. These special contributions could acknowledge a birthday, special achievement, or milestone.

Gifts-In-Kind

Walnut Hill does accept select gifts-in-kind. Good condition Steinway pianos, new building materials, art supplies, among other items and services are welcomed.

Student Work

WH @ Rockport Music: Mendelssohn Octet in E flat major, Op. 20


Keila Wakao '24, violin
Samuel Igbo '24, violin
John Harry Clark '19, viola 
Seah Yu '24, cello

and the
Parker Quartet
2023–24 Quartet-in-Residence at Walnut Hill 

Chamber Music: Shostakovich Trio

Walnut Hill Jazz Ensemble

Opera: Dido and Aeneas

Points of Pride

2024 

Chopin International Piano Competition
Dennis Le '25 — Third Place, Young Artist Category

NEC Prep Concerto Competition 
Seokyoung (Sean) Hong '25, piano — First Place
Yuxuan (Daniel) Ma '25, french horn — Second Place
Jiyu Oh '25, violin — Third Place

Classical Singer All-State Winners
Xinyi (Synthia) Lin '24 (MA)
Emmie Williams '25 (MA)
Lydia Jin '25 (GA)

2023 

Boston Symphony Concerto Competition 
Keila Wakao '24, violin — First Place
Jiyu Oh '25, violin — Second Place
Yuxuan Daniel Ma '25, french horn — Third Place
Andrew Sijie Li '25, piano — Third Place

From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
Jiyu Oh ‘24, violin

Boston Civic Symphony Concerto Competition
Dana Chang '25, First Prize

Brockton Symphony Concerto Competition
Jessica Kartawidjaja '24, First Prize

Concord Orchestra Young Artist Competition
Jiyu Oh '25, First Prize
Jessica Kartawidjaja '24, Runner-Up

Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists
Saehyun Kim ‘24, piano — First Prize, Audience Prize, Junior Jury Prize

Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition
Seokyoung Hong '25, piano — Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize & Audience Award

New England Conservatory Preparatory School Concerto Competition
Saehyun Kim '24, piano — First Place
Jiyu Oh '25, violin — Second Place

Yamaha USASU International Junior Piano Competition
Seokyoung Hong '25 — First Prize Winner
Andrew Li '25 — Second Prize Winner

Yamaha Rising Pianists Concert (Tokyo, Japan)
Saehyun Kim '24, piano 

Aoyama Music Foundation Award (Tokyo, Japan)
Keila Wakao '24, violin

Penn State University Ballora-Wang Young Composers Award  
Ravi Nguyen '23, composition

YoungArts Competition
Kate Li '23, voice — Finalist
Alex Aranzabal '23, cello — Merit Award

Harvard Musical Association Achievement Awards
Saehyun Kim '24, piano — Winner

Schmidt Vocal Arts Competition (MA)
Riley Music '23 — Second Place 
Marissa (Emmie) Torii Williams '25 — Finalist
Allen Gurvits '24 — Finalist

UMass Amherst Young Artist Awards Competition, Voice Division
Marissa (Emmie) Torii Williams '25 — First Place
Marley Matejka '24 — Second Place

NATS New England Region Student Auditions
Classical Treble Voice
Kate Li '23 — First Place
Riley Musi '23 — Third Place
Marissa (Emmie) Torii Williams '25 — Finalist

Classical Tenor/Bass/Baritone
Clark Xiong '23 — First Place
Allen Gurvits '24 — Finalist

New England Conservatory Preparatory School
String Department Award: Alex Aranzabel '23, cello
Brass Department Award: Freddie Poor '23, trumpet
Woodwind Department Award: Ye Sol (Joanna) Yi '23, bassoon
Jazz Ensemble Awards: Aidan Collins '23 and Freddie Poor '23
Seth Kimmelman Scholarship: Saehyun Kim '24, piano

Music Faculty

Teresa Blume

Teresa Blume

Head of Voice
Whitman Brown

Whitman Brown

Head of Theory and Composition
Jennifer Elowitch

Jennifer Elowitch

Director of Music
Laura Thielke

Laura Thielke

Director of Chamber Music
Matthew Anderson

Matthew Anderson

Voice Teacher, Classical & Musical Theater
Jung-A Bang

Jung-A Bang

Collaborative Pianist and Chamber Music Coach
Lisa Caliri

Lisa Caliri

Secondary Piano Teacher
Elizabeth Canterbury

Elizabeth Canterbury

Voice Teacher (Classical and Musical Theater)
William Cooper

William Cooper

Theory and Composition Teacher
Craig Juricka

Craig Juricka

Voice Teacher (Classical and Musical Theater)
Elliot Lazar

Elliot Lazar

Voice Instructor
Lori L'Italien

Lori L'Italien

Voice Instructor
Cailin Manson

Cailin Manson

Conductor of Chamber Choir
Zipporah Peddle

Zipporah Peddle

Voice Faculty, Classical & Musical Theater
Hannah Shields

Hannah Shields

Secondary Piano Teacher
Doina Simovici

Doina Simovici

Secondary Piano Teacher
Elaine Smith-Purcell

Elaine Smith-Purcell

Collaborative Pianist, Vocal Coach, Music Director (Opera)
David Zoffer

David Zoffer

Jazz Teacher

Course Catalog

Steps to Apply