Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/entertainment/)
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”
The following announcement was provided by Orchestra Without Borders:
As October draws to a close, preparations are underway for a multidisiplinary celebration of Armenia’s musical heritage in Watertown, home of New England’s largest Armenian community and a new statue of the Armenian musician Komitas.
A priest, composer, choir leader, and musicologist, Komitas (also known as Gomidas Vartabed) established much of the musical heritage of Armenia as we know it today. He collected folk tunes from all over the country, recording them for posterity in several published volumes. Although Komitas himself became a casualty of the Armenian Genocide (traumatized by what he experienced during his deportation, he died in a pyschiatric clinic), his music lives on, including in the set of Armenian folk songs transcribed for strings by Sergey Aslamazyan, founder of the renowned Komitas Quartet.
On December 12th at 8 p.m. at the historic St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, MA — where Komitas’s music forms part of the weekly liturgy — the Orchestra Without Borders of Boston, led by conductor Luca Antonucci, will perform the Armenian Folk Songs transcribed by Aslamazyan in collaboration with the women of the internationally-renowned Sayat Nova Dance Company, a leading Armenian dance organization. The concert, which is sponsored by the Watertown and Mass Cultural Councils and co-hosted by six local Armenian churches, also features a special archival display from the collection of NAASR, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research.
Rounding out the program are two rarely-heard works for string orchestra by composers from the Armenian Diaspora: New England native Alan Hovhannes and Soviet-era composer Alexander Arutiunian.
Composing in 1970s Soviet Armenia, Arutiunian forged a unique expressive musical voice that fused elements of Armenian folk music with aspects of the Russian musical lineage of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and, more recently, Shostakovich and Prokofiev.
An exhibit featuring the artwork of abstract expressionism artist Arshile Gorky will open at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown on Dec. 12. Gorky lived in Watertown for a time, arriving in 1920 as part of a third wave of Armenians immigrants looking to escape persecution. See more details in the announcement from the museum below. We are proud to announce the opening of a landmark exhibition, Arshile Gorky: Redrawing Community and Connections, on December 12, 2025.
Simone Zupka
A young dancer from Watertown is taking the stage with the Boston Ballet in this year’s production of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker.” See more details in the announcement from the Boston Ballet, below. Simone Zupka, of Watertown, is performing in Boston Ballet’s production of Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker in the role of Reindeer. Zupka has been a student at Boston Ballet School for 4 years. The Nutcracker runs Nov.
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”
Grace Chapel Watertown will host Jingle Jam on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m. See details from Grace Chapel, below. Save the Date for this years’ Jingle Jam: A Day of Fun Christmas Activities for the Whole Family!Looking for an exciting, FREE fun-filled evening the whole family will love?Take a break from the hustle and bustle — the baking, the shopping, the never-ending wrapping — and join us for a magical Christmas experience you won’t forget!
A joyful, interactive family experience including a Live Nativity. Raffle prizes for ALL ages, including a Family Raffle Basket! A perfect opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to prepare their hearts and meet Jesus.
The following announcement was provided by Light of Palestine:
On Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., a star-studded ensemble will perform in Watertown’s second annual Light of Palestine concert. Proceeds will support Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera provides humanitarian aid to families in Gaza. Grammy-nominated Palestinian percussionist Tareq Rantisi is serving as artistic director. Originally from Jerusalem, Rantisi has assembled a world-class ensemble:
• 20-year-old star Layan Hawila, oud (lute) and vocals.
Watertown’s Mosesian Center for the Arts is hosting the New England Watercolor Society 2025 Regional Juried Show, and the opening reception and awards ceremony will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. See more details in the announcement from the MCA, below. The New England Watercolor Society is pleased to announce the 2025 New England Regional Show at the Mosesian Center in Watertown. Eighty-nine meticulously selected watercolor artists from across the region will showcase the diversity and range of this most demanding medium.
This is a packed Watertown weekend with winter and holiday events. On Saturday afternoon there will be an art sale at the Mosesian Center for the Arts with a wide variety of arts including ceramics, paintings, ornaments and jewelry. It’s great for shopping locally and supporting our artists. Saturday evening at Gore Place there will be a dramatic reading by Johnny Kinsman of A Christmas Carol including musical accompaniment by Justin Ouellet and Ann Moss, both local musicians. On Sunday there is a hands-on intergenerational Lego building activity at the Jewish Community Day School, it’s a challenge to build the world’s tallest Chanukiah! Later Sunday afternoon at the library, you can go relax after all the holiday activities with a winter concert given by the Vivace Music School Faculty. No need to leave Watertown this weekend to find some holiday cheer!
