Contributor Corner

Concert Highlights Local Youth Musicians

Marlborough musicians are among those who will perform and receive scholarships in the Anick 15th Young People's Performing Arts Festival Concert.

Two Marlborough musicians are among the six finalists who will perform in the third concert of the Yacyshyn Concert Series on Wednesday, May 23. The concert, presented by the Friends of the Marlborough Public Library, will showcase six finalists from auditions held in March.  The concert will be presented in the Bigelow Auditorium of the Marlborough Public Library, 35 West Main St., and is free and open to the public. Performing will be Chris Syers, trombone, Marlborough;  Elizabeth & Ben Anderson, violin & cello, Westboro; Kayleigh Fay, clarinet, Marlborough; Karen Bouchard, piano, Ayer and Fuming Qiu, piano, Shrewsbury.  Each will receive a scholarship Award plus the “Anick Award for Musical Excellence” named in Honor of Connie Anick for…

• Photos (2)

The Scene

Rust Never Sleeps: a Taste of Neil Young Warms Up Firefly's

Rust Never Sleeps covers the extensive catalog of Neil Young on Friday night at Firefly's.

Well hey hey, my my. According to Rust Never Sleeps' website, the band "is a unique, live rock show that celebrates the music, and musical career of Neil Young. Based in the Greater Boston area, Rust Never Sleeps pays tribute to Neil Young and his music the best way they know how... with integrity." Marlborough Patch asked drummer Jeremy Esposito five questions before the band hits the stage on Friday. Marlborough Patch: Why Neil Young? JE: Neil is a major influence on all of us. We love his music. MP: Does anyone in the band have hair like Neil Young? JE: Yes … our fearless leader … Kenny Gibson. MP: Who is most likely to defect from the band and form a Crosby, Stills and Nash tribute? JE: Not likely to happen. It’s all about Neil’s …

• Photos (1)

VIDEO: Mastersingers Celebrate 35 Years

The Assabet Valley Mastersingers celebrate 35 years strong with "Music of the Theater."

Robert Eaton, who taught choral music at Algonquin Regional High School until 2005, noticed that there weren't a lot of choruses in the area. In fact, there were essentially none. He talked to some friends, and was inspired to change the fact that this chorus was lacking. Less than a year later, he hosted a rehearsal and 28 singers showed up, giving birth to the Assabet Valley Mastersingers, which has members from Marlborough. Now 35 years later, Eaton, who is retired from Algonquin, still directs these Mastersingers, and it is stronger than ever, featuring vocalists from all over MetroWest.  The Assabet Valley Mastersingers will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a performance called "Music of the Theater" on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the …

• Photos (22)
• Videos (1)

Winners Announced in Library's Teen Writing Contest

The winners have been named in the Marlborough Public Library's first writing competition for students grades 7 through 12.

The Marlborough Public Library recently held its first Teen Writing Competition for youths from Marlborough, or who attend a school in Marlborough. Participants were encouraged to send in their stories and poetry for a chance to win the grand prize of $100. The judges were selected based on their writing experience and interest in young adult literature. A special thanks to them for reading all of the submissions and selecting the winners: Jenny O’Connell (local YA author), Mary Bonina (local poet and author), Paul Crocetti (editor and writer for the Marlborough Enterprise), Lois Black (a writer for Marlborough Patch), Sarah Sapienza (co-host for Worcester’s Poets’ Asylum), Diane McKamy, Necia Blundy and Bonny Anderson (all local …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Viewfinder

IMAGE GALLERY: Easter Cantata Brings Churches, Community Together

Greater Grace Christian Fellowship staged an elaborate Easter production this past weekend that reached hundreds of area residents.

It was a community event this past weekend at Greater Grace Christian Fellowship on Pleasant Street. Several local churches and more than 60 individuals took a part in staging "Walk to Calvary—An Easter Cantata: A Prelude to the Resurrection." The church said Sunday morning that approximately 375 people attended the production over the course of four days.  Marlborough Patch stopped by moments before the cast members took to the stage in their first performance Wednesday evening, and captured some of the sets (transformed areas of the church) and the bustle before the show.  Did you go to the cantata? Tell us about your experience in the comments.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest Marlborough news, or …

• Photos (16)

AMSA Student Writes Science Fiction Series

Sterling Kelly, son of Horace and Dreama Sloan-Kelly, talked to Patch about his first book and his plans to make it a series.

Sterling Kelly is a 14-year-old young man who is the oldest child in his family. He attends the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School (AMSA), plays basketball, runs track and loves to program computers. In addition, Kelly is also a Johns Hopkins Central for Talented Youth (CTY) honors scholar with one of the highest scores in the country and has recently published a book. Kelly wrote The Jato Lee Chronicles Book One: The Unknown when he was 12 years old. Printed in 2011, the story is about a 14-year-old ninja named Jato Lee who woke up alone in a cavern in Hirosaki (the name of this world a combination of Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and cannot remember anything from before he got there. "Jato can do all of the things the other …

• Photos (1)

Tickets on Sale for Second Annual Taste of MetroWest

This region-wide event showcases food and beverages from some of the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, gourmet and ethnic markets, wineries, brew houses and local purveyors of fine liquors.

Almost 1,000 people attended the first-ever Taste of MetroWest sponsored by the  MetroWest Chamber of Commerce. The event was so successful, that the Chamber will hold the 2nd Annual Taste of MetroWest Tuesday, March 13, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference. This region-wide event showcases delectable food and beverages from the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, gourmet and ethnic markets, wineries, brew houses and local purveyors of fine liquors.  The Marlborough Country Club will be among the exhibitors this year. In addition to food and beverage providers, local civic and cultural institutions, entertainment and sports venues and community based nonprofits have been invited to participate in this event. “…

• Photos (1)

Frugal Family

Free Admission to area Art Museums

Many Massachusetts art museums offer free admission at the beginning of the month. Find out how you and your family can receive free admission to the deCordova Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Worcester Art Museum and more in this week’s Frugal Family

Have you taken your kids to an art museum recently? They might be skeptical, but see what happens when you arrive at the museum. My children took out their pencils and paper and the magic began. We've stopped on stairways to draw large ceramic vases, copied ancient designs and hieroglyphs, and sketched a three-dimensional cube seen in a modern painting. It’s a wonderful thing when your children are inspired. Here are a few museums around Massachusetts to visit that have free or discounted admission so your outing won’t break the bank. Some of the museum admissions can be covered by museum passes that you can borrow from the Marlborough Public Library. Talk with your kids about the visit before you go. Discuss the plan for the day, the …

• Photos (1)

A Mixed Bag, a Piece of Art

Post Road Art Center is accepting entries for their new art show entitled "It's in the Bag."

For $25, you get a bag filled with 12 secret items and your entrance fee is included for the upcoming "It's in the Bag" art show at the Post Road Art Center. It is then up to the individual artist to make works of art using only those items, said owner Randi Isaacson.  "No one knows what is in the bag until they buy one," said Isaacson. "Once we hang the show then we will lay out a display of everything we put in the bag so that people viewing the show can see what they are looking at."  Each participant is allowed to enter one piece for the show and cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, third and fourth place based on popular vote. "I can’t wait to see everything that everyone has created," said Isaacson. "People are really …

• Photos (2)