Arts and Lifestyle — The St. Marker

by Jasmine Liu ‘25

*Photo: St. Mark’s School’s official plaque for the Tri-M Honor Society chapter*
*Photo credits: Mr. Fontes*

Starting from last year, St. Mark’s School implemented student leader positions for Fifth and Sixth form students who have a passion for art: whether it be music, visual arts, ceramics, or theater. These leaders help represent the St. Mark’s Art Department by planning and facilitating significant events like opening nights and One-Act performances for theater, music performances and trips, ceramic studio help, gallery set-ups, and art show curation. Through an application and selection process, the music department chose four music prefects – Erin Rasmussen (VI), Abby Hayes (VI), Jasmine Liu (V), and Hannah Cha (V) – to facilitate the arrival of our new music director, Mr. Fontes, and assist him with any musical initiatives, including Tri-M Honors Society.

Tri-M Honors Society is a program of the National Association of Music Education (NAfME) focused on creating future leaders in service and music advocacy. In essence, Tri-M provides students with leadership opportunities to make a difference in their communities through music and/or service-based projects including performing music for local senior centers & hospitals, fundraising, and tutoring younger musicians. To be a member, students would have to be a Vth or VIth Form student in one of the primary ensembles (jazz band, choir, orchestra) and be admitted through an application process involving a brief essay and performance with their primary instrument.

On October 4th, 2023, St. Mark’s School became the 9507th chapter of the Tri-M Honors Society across the US. A few weeks ago, the music prefects announced the establishment of the chapter in an all-school meeting, welcoming students for an information session. To get the chapter running, the department opened applications for the Honor Society. With the implementation of this new chapter, student musicians at St. Mark’s are able to become more involved in their local communities through outside performances, engage in fundraising projects, and collaborate with other schools under a shared passion for music.

by Lily Oh '27

On January 26th and 27th, the 2024 WICK Choral Music Festival was held in the Class of '45 Hall in the Putnam Family Arts Center. The festival featured groups from St. Mark's, Middlesex, Algonquin Regional High School, Tufts University, Roxbury Latin, The Wheeler School, Noble & Greenough School, and Boston College. We thank Roxbury Latin and Middlesex for their continued dedication to the WICK festival and also other schools that show wonderful performances! Brianna Kivugo '27 elaborated that the concert aroused her interest in acapella concerts and that she liked the atmosphere where everyone was enjoying and welcoming the music.

The Wick Choral Festival was first established in 1992 through the generosity of the Wick family and friends to honor Myron A. Wick '33. The Festival was first arranged as a music competition, but as time passed, it transformed into a Choral Music Festival concentrated on acapella so that everyone could enjoy the music.

Mr. Fontes, the director of the music department, said that it is important to continue the WICK Choral festival as an annual tradition so that students gain motivation to continue their dedication to music and to feel inspired watching performances from other schools.

We thank all the faculty members and students who worked hard to organize and make this festival such a success. We hope the WICK Choral Festival continues as a core tradition at St. Mark's!