In my living room, there is a framed print of two children in a sailboat at night, looking at a sky full of stars. Around the border of the print, these words are inscribed: “The darker the night, the brighter the stars.” The image, whimsical and beautiful, reminds me of the wonder of childhood and the optimism that a starry night inspires. So, as we head into the weekend on the heels of another beautiful and joyful Winter Concert—one that celebrated the sky and stars and all of the magic, wonder, and light that they bring—I am reminded of the powerful ways in which music and community can be just as inspiring.

Music has a long tradition of excellence here at Belmont Day. One need look no further than the award-winning director of our orchestra ensemble, Meghan Carye ’91, who is regarded as one of the leading strings teachers in New England. Meghan’s roots at BDS helped nurture a love of music that ultimately became a career. Truly, each of our ensemble teachers—Kristian Baverstam, David Warren Harewood, and Arlene Kunardi—taps into their passions very early each Wednesday morning during the school year to teach and inspire our young musicians. 

And, of course, the two music teachers at Belmont Day who led the Winter Concert from start to finish—Tyler Cotner and Kassie Bettinelli—are wondrous in their own right and round out this extraordinary team of educators. Our ensembles teachers help each of our students find light and magic in themselves as burgeoning musicians and draw it out with joy and patience. This morning’s concert is just the latest example of how music offers our students an outlet to shine.

I suspect that it may not surprise this audience to learn that when the National Institute of Health did a study on the ways that musical training affects cognitive development in children, they found that “children who undergo musical training have better verbal memory, second language pronunciation accuracy, reading ability, and executive functions. Learning to play an instrument as a child may even predict academic performance and IQ in young adulthood.” What the NIH does not account for in its study is how music brings community together—whether that is the community of a given ensemble or band, a family around the dinner table, a place of worship, or at our beloved school, listening to children celebrating the brightness of those stars.

Particularly in these darkest months of the year, music binds us closer together. As we cast our eyes to a joyful winter break, I hope you do so with the song of Belmont Day in your heart, and the magic, wonder, and light it provides.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!