Music and Theater Arts
Music & Theater Arts
At Somerville High School, music and theater arts give students opportunities to explore their creativity, build confidence, and find their voice.
Through a range of courses and performance experiences, students can develop their skills as musicians, actors, and artists while collaborating with peers and engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning.
Whether students are pursuing a passion, discovering a new interest, or preparing for further study, the arts are an important part of the vibrant student experience at SHS.
Music Studies
Read our Music Learning Objectives for grades prekindergarten through 6th grade. Somerville students engage with the larger music community through events like Grooversity and HONKFest as well.
Somerville Public Schools offers FREE instrument instruction in applicable grades. Visit the Instrument Instruction page to learn about the programs and find information about instrument rental. Information about Instrumental Music for School Year 2025–2026
Students in grades 6–8 may join several city-wide music groups by invitation. These include the All City Middle School Chorus, All City Middle School Band, and All City Middle School Orchestra.
For students from elementary school through middle grades throughout the district. The East Somerville Community School hosts the innovative El Sistema After-school Strings Program. Please visit the webpage to learn more.
Classes include Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, String Orchestra, Drum Line, World Percussion Ensemble, Music One, Musical Theatre, Piano Lab, Advanced Piano, Music Technology, Music Theory, AP Music Theory, Introduction to Guitar, Guitar Lab, and Advanced Guitar Ensemble and more.
Each year, the Somerville Public Schools Music Department organizes a two week summer orchestra program which includes chamber music, improv, chorus, fiddle, technique, music theory, and orchestra rehearsals for woodwinds, brass and string instruments. Students will perform in a concert near the end of the two week program for families and friends.
December 2026
Somerville Tree Lighting
El Sistema Dress Rehearsal
El Sistema Concert
All City Middle School Winter Concert
March 2027
Choral Festival
El Sistema Dress Rehearsal
El Sistema Concert
April 2027
All City Middle School Spring Concert
May 2027
Spring String Fling
Chamber Ensemble and Jazz Band Concert
June 2027
All City Weekend Build
El Sistema Dress Rehearsal
All Middle School Dress Rehearsals
All Middle School Dress Rehearsals
All Middle School Dress Rehearsals
All Middle School Dress Rehearsals
Theater
The SPS Theatre Arts program provides Somerville students with the tools to grow as communicators, collaborators, and creative thinkers through active engagement in the study, development, and production of live theatre. Theatre provides a place where every student can succeed. Through collaboration, every student is valued for the unique perspective that they bring to the creative process. With such a wide array of opportunities – from designing, building, and production management to acting, writing, and directing – there are so many ways for every learner to thrive.
Explore the history of the American Musical and its various forms from operetta to currently running musicals on Broadway. Students will have the choice of concentrating on performance technique or musical production. Students concentrating on performance will learn foundational vocal technique and the musical theatre style; students concentrating on production will focus on the business and technical roles in a musical. All students will have the opportunity to apply these techniques to a live musical performance.
Students in Fundamentals of Acting will explore the study of acting, from the various interpretations of the Stanislavski “method” to performance styles and techniques such as improvisation, voice/dialects, and movement for the actor. Students will study and perform in monologues and scenes from classic and contemporary plays and will learn basic audition techniques. Students will also have the opportunity to showcase their work in a live performance at the end of the term.
This is a great course for students with an interest in theatre, but don’t know where to begin! In Introduction to Theatre, we will explore a little bit of everything. Students will learn the basics of how to read and discuss a play, and exploring the many roles that go into mounting a full production, from acting, directing, and writing, to lighting, sound, props, and costumes. At the end of the term, students will have the opportunity to step into the director’s chair of their very own production.
This advanced course explores the social and political roles that theatre has played in history. Students will learn about various social movements by exploring the theatre created in response to those movements. Students will explore how political theatre continues to evolve and activate audiences today. The course will culminate in an original piece of theatre, created by the students, that addresses a contemporary issue or issues important to the Somerville High School Community. Students may decide if they want to earn 2.5 Theater Credits or 2.5 Social Studies Credits when they enroll in the course.
This is a great course for students interested in working backstage! In Technical Theatre and Design, students will learn about the various technical roles involved in producing a play or musical. Topics will include: Stage, Management, Producing, Lighting Design, Set Design, Sound Design, Costume Design and Makeup Design. At the end of the term, students will have the opportunity to complete and present their own design. The final project in this course may be used for college portfolios and festival submissions.
This course introduces students to the discipline of playwriting. Students will learn the fundamentals of play structure and composition, as well as the functional tools necessary to produce a playscript. Elements for playwriting will include narrative structure, crafting dialogue, formatting your script, copyright, and “pitching” your script. Students will leave the course haven written an original short play which may be featured during an evening of stage readings produced by the Highlander Theatre Company.
This program provides specialized instruction for students with language-based disabilities, including multisensory, structured reading instruction and support for expressive and receptive language development.
Grades 9–12 | Somerville High School
PATH is a therapeutic program for students experiencing significant social-emotional challenges that may affect school attendance or participation. Students receive individual and group counseling and develop coping, social, and self-advocacy skills while participating in the general education environment when appropriate.
Ages 18–22 | Somerville High School and off-campus locations
The Transition Program helps students prepare for greater independence through vocational and job training, community and travel skills, self-advocacy, functional life skills, and postsecondary experiences. Students may participate in community-based work experiences, college enrollment, and other off-campus learning opportunities.
The Highlander Theatre Company
Every Somerville High School student is eligible to participate after-school with the Highlander Theatre Company (HTC), the resident theatre company of Somerville High School. Established in 2017 as an expansion of the Musical and Drama Clubs at Somerville High School, the mission of the Highlander Theatre Company is to create the opportunity for every Somerville High School student to participate in the creation, production, and performance of live theatre. For more information on this year’s HTC season, visit www.highlandertheatre.org.
Middle School Students Theatre Arts
The All-City Middle School Musical is an all-inclusive opportunity for SPS students in grades 6-8 to be a part of a large-scale musical production under the mentorship of the Highlander Theatre Company. Rehearsals and performances take place at the Centennial Auditorium at Somerville High School. Visit www.highlandertheartre.org for more information!
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
The Winter Hill Community Innovation School offers theatre to all its students as a fifth specialist class. Students approach theatre through movement, character development, story development, and writing.
SPS Art Staff
May Chau, Art Educator and K-12 Supervisor of Visual Arts