Arts in the News
Student-to-Student: Speech Team Coaching is a Two-Way Street
Speech at Milton is popular—60 Middle School students and 51 Upper School students compete on two distinct teams. Many of these “speechies” achieve great success at both the regional and national level. Middle School speech team coach Debbie Simon says a key to this success is the coaching program, in which 42 Upper School students—current and former team members—pair up with Middle School students weekly as mentors. Middle School faculty members, parents, and Upper School speech team faculty also play important roles as Middle School speech coaches.
“Coaching a speech team takes more than a village,” says Ms. Simon. “We are a collaborative group who work together to cultivate a team of young people passionate about speech. Our coaches inspire the young speakers and help them learn to stand up in front of an audience and find their voice.”
Earlier this month, the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) asked Ms. Simon if she—with students and coaches—would participate in a webinar, sharing with other NSDA members around the country the success of this unique coaching program. Ms. Simon gathered the group, and they filmed the webinar from her English classroom in Ware Hall.
Mack Makishima (I), captain of the Upper School team and a national speech finalist, participated with one of his mentees—Michael George (IV), now on the Upper School team and coaching his own Middle School student.
“Mack was such an amazing coach for me; he really helped me in every way,” says Michael in the webinar. “He helped my Duo Interpretation partner and I with eye contact and how to portray certain characters. He also helped my partner and I with bonding, which is an important feature for a Duo event.”
“I had a really great Upper School coach when I was on the Middle School team,” says Mack. “He was so important in my speech career, because he taught me the artistry of speech, and he helped me develop and practice these skills.”
Marshal Sloane (II), a national junior champion, former Middle School team member, and current Upper School team member coached Adrian Hackney (IV) last year.
“When Adrian started in Impromptu last year, he was brand new to it, but it gave me an opportunity to teach someone how it works and how to formulate a speech. That naturally… helped me develop my own talents in my category of Extemporary. It was really a two-way relationship. It was a rewarding experience and I wouldn’t give that up for anything.”
Adrian, now in the Upper School, is coaching his own Middle School student. “Being an Upper School coach is very valuable—it allows me to continue my own growth but also share the gifts that Marshall gave me with someone from the Middle School and help them to grow,” says Adrian.
Isabel Alex is a Middle School team member, competing in Demonstration Speaking and Duo Interpretation.
“I’ve had two amazing Upper School coaches,” says Isabel. “They’ve pushed me forward and helped me prepare for nationals. They take time out of their busy schedules to meet with you and show you what to do. They help you progress from the beginning of the year to the very end, and it’s such a dramatic change. They dedicate their time to us so we can have our best shot.”
Photojournalist Lynsey Addario in Milton’s Nesto Gallery
The work of world-renowned war photographer and author, Lynsey Addario, will be on display starting this Wednesday, October 28, in the Nesto Gallery. Lynsey Addario is an American photojournalist based in London, who photographs for the New York Times, National Geographic and Time magazine.
In the year 2000, Ms. Addario traveled to Afghanistan to document life and oppression under the Taliban. She has since covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Darfur, Congo and Libya.
She has received numerous awards, including the MacArthur Genius Grant Fellowship. In 2009 she was part of the New York Times team that won a Pulitzer Prize for the photographs of Talibanistan. She won the Overseas Press Club’s Award for Veiled Rebellion, documenting the plight of women in Afghanistan. In 2011 and 2012, she was named by Newsweek magazine as one of “150 Fearless Women.” In 2015, American Photo Magazine named her as one of five most influential photographers of the past 25 years, saying she changed the way we saw the world’s conflicts.
Ms. Addario’s recent work includes ongoing reportage on Syrian refugees for the New York Times, ISIS’ push into Iraq, the civil war in South Sudan, and African and Middle Eastern migrants arriving on the shores of Sicily. She was the official photographer of the Nobel Peace Center’s 2014 winners Malala Yousefzai and Kailash Satyarthi in Oslo, Norway in December 2014.
Ms. Addario is also the author of the recently published memoir titled It Is What I Do – A Photographer’s Life of Love and War. Her story will be developed into a movie to be directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jennifer Lawrence. In her book she writes, “As a war correspondent and a mother, I’ve learned to live in peace and to witness war – to experience the worst in people but to remember the beauty.”
An opening for Lynsey’s exhibit, Veiled Rebellion, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Nesto Gallery is located on the lower level of the Art and Media Center.
Fall Theatre Season Kicks Off with Hairspray
This fall’s performing arts line-up offers everything from a sophisticated four-actor ensemble to a play-within-a-play to a rollicking, fun musical. First up on the calendar is Hairspray, an American musical set in 1962 Baltimore. Performing arts faculty Kelli Edwards will direct the cast of over 40 students and 10 crew members. Music faculty member Ted Whalen is the music director. A live band will be on the stage during the entire performance.
“It’s a huge production, because all the numbers require dancing, even the solos,” says Kelli. “But I had been hearing through the grapevine that students really wanted to do this musical, so we decided to take it on. It’s a good time to talk about the issues that the show brings up—race, gender, body image. Serious issues handled in a comedic, campy but effective way. It is my hope that the show makes you think while you are also having a good time.”
Hairspray begins Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m.
Wheelwright’s Nesto Exhibit Ends This Friday
This is the last week. Joseph Wheelwright’s sculptures of stones, trees, bones and other natural materials will only be on display in Milton’s Nesto Gallery through Friday, October 23. If you have not been able to visit the Gallery, take a moment to view these photos from the show. If you are in the area, don’t miss the real thing. Admission is free. The exhibit is open to everyone from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Nesto Gallery is located on the lower level of the Art and Media Center.
About Joseph Wheelwright
Joseph Wheelwright is a master carver of natural materials. He lives and works in Boston and Vermont, where he maintains a foundry for casting his tree personages into bronze. He is represented in New York by Allan Stone Gallery; in Boston by Boston Sculptors Gallery; and in Miami by Oxenberg Fine Art.
Watch Joseph Wheelwright explain his proposal to build a head in the Sacred Valley of Peru.
Jazz: Real Time, Real People
Milton students are busy. Tests, papers, plays, sports and activities all compete for the finite time allotted in a Milton day. So, when students answer the call to volunteer their time and talents, it’s a big deal. This month, in particular, Milton Academy jazz students have been answering that call time and again.
On Sunday, October 4, ten students volunteered to perform a spirited set of South African tunes in front of hundreds in attendance at “Celebrate Milton,” an event hosted by the town of Milton and supported by Milton’s community service program. Class IV jazz students will offer their first performance of the year during Parents’ Weekend this Saturday, October 17. On Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m., Milton Academy’s three advanced jazz groups take the stage in King Theatre for the 25th Annual Fall Jazz Concert. This year’s performance will be a tribute to the music of Thelonious Monk.
“This music is fun, quirky and profound all at the same time,” says Milton Jazz Director Bob Sinicrope. “Twenty-six students will delight their audience by setting his tunes to contemporary styles such as hip-hop, reggae and afro-cuban rhythms.”
The very next evening the group will provide dinner and cocktail-hour music for Milton’s historic, on-campus launch of Dare: The Campaign for Milton. To finish the month, Milton’s jazz volunteers share their talents with younger students from the Park School in Brookline as they perform during their morning assembly on October 28.
The Year Ahead in Jazz
The advanced jazz classes travel to Louisville in early January to perform and participate in clinics as part of the Jazz Education Network (JEN) 7th annual conference.
“This is a repeat of an amazingly impactful experience Milton students had at the 5th annual conference in Dallas,” says Bob Sinicrope.
Bob is the president of JEN (the first high school educator to hold the post). Milton graduates Aaron Goldberg ’91 and his trio will be featured on the main stage; Jason Yeager ’05 will present a clinic at this gathering of over 3,000 jazz musicians, directors, students and enthusiasts from all over the world. Visit www.jazzednet.org for more information.
Bob Sinicrope has also been invited to organize and direct a weekend workshop for 40 teachers and a weeklong jazz workshop for 100 students in South Africa during the January exam week. Milton’s jazz program enjoys a strong connection with South Africa as students tour the country every other year.
“The Milton groups cherish their meaningful connections with several South African schools and organizations,” says Bob. “Our students have delivered over $170,000 worth of donated instruments and materials to school programs in need there.”
