A Sense of Belonging
In 2024, Walnut Hill celebrated 131 years on the Hill, with the last 51 years as an arts school. In this edition of Behind Stowe, we highlight the people who have given themselves wholeheartedly to Walnut Hill, providing service year after year. We also highlight those who have become valuable resources to the Walnut Hill community. Most of all, through this edition of Behind Stowe, we want the reader to see the sense of belonging on campus and the strides we are taking to make Walnut Hill a home for everyone on and off the Hill.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Patrick Gullo
Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications
Becca Mayersohn
Digital Content Manager
Kat O’Connor
Social Media & Marketing
Assistant
DEVELOPMENT
Allison Cooley
Chief Development Officer
Washawn Jones
Director of Development
Cyrus Roxas
Director of Development Operations
Alexa Flinker
Associate Director of Parent Giving and Engagement
Talia Carpinteri
Associate Director of Alumni Giving & Engagement
Darvence Chery
Development Associate
CREATIVE DESIGN
Betsy Blazar
blazar design studio
PHOTOGRAPHY
Coffeepond Photography
Matt McKee
WRITING
Sarah C. Baldwin
Darvence Chery
Michele Levy
Caravan Brand Partners
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Judy Kiviat
Creativity and Leadership
ARTIST Spotlight on Simone Alyse '14
The Power of Friendship at Walnut Hil
Hill
With grateful hearts we say "THANK YOU"
ARTS EXCELLENCE
World Class Arts Training at Walnut Hill: Keila’s Story
A WALNUT They Graduated 50 Years Apart, but Came Together in the City by the Bay
ARTS LEADERSHIP Spotlight on Sean Waugh '04
Kicking Up Our Heels on Campus: Celebrating Love
A Note from Stowe
Dear Friends,
Beginning my third year as Head of School at Walnut Hill, I’ve witnessed the greatest transformation of a school community in my career to date. Our beloved School—the campus, the people, the education—has been catapulted from pandemic aftershock to be the dynamic, world-class, forward-looking school we know we can be. The hard work that our Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff, donors, and friends have put in has been extraordinary, and it can be seen through every facet of how we experience Walnut Hill.
This past year, we showed our love and appreciation for four treasured colleagues who retired in June with a combined 111 years of Walnut Hill experience. We welcomed two new arts department heads, Director of the Professional Division at Walnut Hill José Martín Trujillo and Director of Theater Stephen Agosto. Their arrival has ushered in a new era in the performing arts that has brought palpable excitement to our community. And it’s not just today’s students and families who are enthusiastic; a number of alumni, donors, and retired faculty members have reached out to me to express their elation for Walnut Hill’s bright future.
With the support of our incredible Board of Trustees, we are entering the second year of our ambitious Strategic Plan. This five-year plan will vault the School to become the preeminent arts high school in the world and will continue to have a profound impact on all dimensions of Walnut Hill for many years after the Plan is completed. This is not hyperbole. Walnut Hill’s foundation is built on well over a century of stellar education and community, and anyone who visits our campus can see that we are truly in an echelon all to ourselves. This year, we have been especially tenacious about putting into place expanded offerings for wellness and belonging in all its forms, using the most up-to-date and relevant research as our guide to improve the well-being of our entire community. Even the early results from this strategic shift have been life-changing for many of our students.
I’ve seen new friendships blossom, old acquaintances rekindled, and a new cohort of families act as exemplars of Walnut Hill’s greatest aspirations. The alumni and donor community has been especially impressive in this area, taking their generosity to new heights to positively impact the lives of our current students. Our young artists are expressive intellectuals, and they fiercely want to change the world through their artmaking. Their work impacts and improves our society in ways that I could never have imagined when I was their age. And for them to have supportive audiences built upon our community of faculty, staff, parents, local concertgoers, donors, and friends offers them the crucial experience they need at this stage of their development to find their voice and hone their craft. The Board of Trustees and I, along with the greater School community, deeply appreciate your generosity and support to assist us in reaching new heights. You are a vital part of this institution, and we wouldn’t be who we are today without you. Thank you and best wishes!
Sincerely,
Eric Barber Head of School
Creativity and Leadership . . . Wisdom from Practicing Artists
by Michele Levy
Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink '84 is an activist and artist, as well as a novelist, playwright, teacher, dreamer, and parent. A professor of English at Georgetown University, she helped found and direct Georgetown’s Program in Disability Studies. She has published seven awardwinning books, including the acclaimed ALL OUR FAMILIES: DisabilityLineageandthe FutureofKinship. Learn more at jennifernatalyafink.com.
Walnut Hill alumnae
Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink ’84 and Kristina Bermudez ’10 have each, in their own unique way, woven together diverse passions and skills to lead lives of prolific creativity while inspiring the next generation of artists and leaders. Since their days at Walnut Hill, each has been refining and expanding her role as a leader. Recently, they reflected with us on how their experiences as artists have defined their respective leadership styles. We have distilled those far-ranging conversations to three key points: show up, read the room, be brave.
SHOW UP.
Both of these alums have had significant training as dancers. Fink credits the rigors of dance for her ability to show up as a leader: “It’s nonnegotiable. As a dancer, you just show up, even if it’s difficult to do so. My friends know that I will always be there . . . on time, and prepared. As a leader, you have to show up with joy and excitement—to your life and to your work with others. That’s how you get people excited about your vision and avoid getting bogged down in the details, especially when the stakes are high.”
Through Project.KB, Bermudez is creating spaces for young people and others throughout the community to show up as entrepreneurs and as artists. One of the ways she does so is by including choreography classes in her essentials program for local youth. She remembers the impact that Walnut Hill choreography classes had on her as an emerging leader:
“The choreography classes allowed me to explore my voice, not to be afraid to express myself in front of my peers and teachers. They also set the expectation that it was a safe space to explore . . . that I would have the opportunity to show up as both an individual and an artist.”
READ THE ROOM.
Both alums point to their arts training, at Walnut Hill and beyond, as honing their listening skills. As Fink points out, a lot of acting and theater training involves listening and paying attention—to what is said and to what’s left unsaid. She explains, “It’s through listening and paying attention that you get to empathy.” Bermudez agrees, reflecting on her work with adult collaborators and youth participants in her program: “Empathy is one of my strongest leadership skills. I have to be
able to read the room and shift accordingly to be sure that everyone is feeling seen, heard, and is engaged.”
Of course, at some point, decisions must be made. While effective leaders are adept at creating safe spaces for expression and exploration, they also must provide consistency and clarity of vision. Fink spells out her philosophy:
“You have to be kind and generous, but you have to also be willing to make tough decisions, and be willing not to be loved. I have seen leaders, especially women, not want people to be angry with them. It’s important to remember that you can be collaborative with everyone, but you’re not all equals when it comes to making decisions. I learned a lot about that through casting and directing plays, and by running a performance group with other people.”
BE BRAVE.
Rejection is an ever-present fact of life for artists. Bermudez and Fink speak of being brave enough to risk rejection, and determined enough to overcome obstacles. As leaders, they are out front all the time, promoting their work.
Bermudez comments that “it takes a lot of bravery to stand outside and table events, hand out flyers, speak to people, sell the vision; promote and share information about the company and space. Dancers have a lot of experience with rejection; I know how to push through and persevere in the face of challenges. Growing up in the arts world, you learn problemsolving skills. As leaders, as pioneers, we need to problemsolve all the time with the things we love most."
Fink reflects that over a long career in the competitive field of the arts, she has faced a lot of rejection. Interestingly enough, as she ascends in her career, she faces more, not less, rejection. She speaks of a time when she was promoting a new academic initiative and facing a very hard “no”: “When everyone else sees an obstacle, I think, ‘Maybe we’re not approaching this the right way. Let’s try something else.’ ” ◆
Bermudez '10 is an actor, a choreographer and dancer, and the founding director of Project.KB, a multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to creating a sustainable economy through dance.
For more information about Project.KB please visit www.kristinabermudez.com
Kristina
New Act Begins as Department of Theater Welcomes Its Next Director: Stephen Agosto
by Sarah C. Baldwin
A passionate theater professional, Stephen Agosto brings to Walnut Hill more than three decades of experience at the high school, college, and professional levels. In addition to acting, he has served as a director, an arts administrator, and an educator. Here he shares his plans as the School’s next Director of Theater.
Q
A
What about this position appealed to you?
I want to impact our industry in the most positive way, and for me that means working with young people when they are still feeling inspired. I want to feed and nurture that inspiration with best practices, to give students practical ways to navigate both their artistry and the business.
Q
A
What are some things you want to teach Theater students?
Several things. I want to help build resiliency, which is probably more necessary in the arts than in most other industries, because art is personal.
I want to bring what I’ve learned over the last 35 years to these kids so that they understand what they’re stepping into and where their place in it is. I'm not looking to build performers. I'm looking to build artists who can impact an industry.
Also, in theater, we’re not always performing, so I want to teach the students that what we do between jobs doesn’t have to be outside of what we love. I want to share all the facets that make up this art form that we love, all the ways they can be active in it.
Q
What is your vision for the Theater Department?
AMy vision is to build up young citizen artists. I am interested in the character of who these young people are, not the characters that they play on stage. I want our faculty and student body to be thoughtful and careful with each other, as much off the stage as we are in our work. ◆
ABOVE Working with students before joining Walnut Hill. Photo by Steven Caras.
Former Artistic Director of Images Ballet Company in the UK Comes to Walnut Hill
by Sarah C. Baldwin
José Martín Trujillo, the new Director of Dance for Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division at Walnut Hill, has performed all over the world, including for 10 years as a Senior Soloist with the United Kingdom’s Royal Ballet. He believes that “the role of the arts is to reach people.” Here he shares his thoughts on his new position.
QWhat attracted you to this position?
AFirst, Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, whom I've known for over 30 years, has made the company a beacon in the ballet world. The other thing that drew me was the fact that this is such a perfect environment for a future professional dancer, surrounded by artists in drama, music, and visual art. For a young person going into ballet not only to have professional training, but also to be under such an incredibly diverse artistic umbrella as Walnut Hill School for the Arts—that would make any future dancer better in every way.
QWhat makes you well suited for this position?
AAs a student and a professional, I’ve studied and worked in the United States and in Europe, so I have seen different perspectives on where dance is, where dance is going. I
know what companies are looking for, so I know what students need to attain technically and artistically.
QWhat is your vision for the program?
AI want to enhance the student experience through collaboration with the other arts at Walnut Hill. I want to draw on the School’s artistic wealth and variety so the Professional Division can offer the most complete training possible for future professional ballet dancers. ◆
WalnutHill’sfacultyandstaffareattheheartofhowthisschoolprovidesworld-classtrainingand learningsothatourstudentsbecometheartiststheworldneedsthemtobe.Thefollowingretiring faculty and staff have collectively offered over 100 years of dedicated service to our community. Thank you,Whit,Mike,Joe,andHolly,forallyouhavedoneforourstudentsthroughoutyourremarkabletime at Walnut Hill. All articles by Darvence Chery.
WHITMAN BROWN RETIRES AFTER TWO DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
In his youth as a musician, Whitman Brown coined the nickname “Ten Jobs Whit” for his work ethic and ability to hold multiple musician and music education roles, in addition to other odd jobs. In 2000, Brown found a job that soon became his calling. For 21 years, Walnut Hill’s Head of Theory and Composition guided students throughout their journey at the School, overseeing countless hours of practice and rehearsals, leading hundreds of recitals, and empowering thousands of students in their musical talents.
“Right away, I could tell that the students were so happy to be there,” says Brown, describing his first impressions of being on campus. He taught music for three years at Walnut Hill before becoming the Head of Theory and Composition. Brown brought to the School his previous experience from teaching at Brandeis University, Boston University, and Longy School of Music. Yet he’s always felt something different about the students he instructed at Walnut Hill.
“The students I taught really enjoyed their music as an art form. I could tell that they were in music for the right reasons. They
felt lucky and amazed to be able to practice their art at Walnut Hill,” said Brown.
His last day at Walnut Hill was July 5, 2024. Just over a week later, he was teaching composition and theory at the Cremona International Music Academy and Festival in Cremona, Italy, a festival bringing together celebrated musicians from around the world and offering performances and instruction to young musicians across that country. He hopes to continue composing and teaching music going forward.
There is much that Brown says he will miss about Walnut Hill, but most of all its “level of commitment to and passion for the arts.” He will be greatly missed here in turn. ◆
ABOVE Brown in 2020 with Composition major Victor Xue '20 and Director of Music Jenny Elowitch
MAN OF MANY TALENTS: MIKE BUCCO RETIRES AFTER TWO DECADES AT WALNUT HILL
Working as a professional stage manager in New York in 1994, Mike Bucco was looking for a summer job to get himself out of the city. Answering an ad for a coed boarding school he had never heard of, Bucco began working as a stage manager for the Summer Theater Intensive at Walnut Hill.
“The campus was beautiful; there was something great about the School’s mission, teaching young artists; that’s something I wish I could have had growing up,” said Bucco about his first time on campus.
Shortly after, he was asked to become the Associate Artistic Director of the Summer Programs at Walnut Hill. Bucco would go on to manage productions like The Nutcracker and handle sound for other theatrical events during the academic year before being asked to be an admissions counselor in 2001.
“There was definitely a learning curve,” Bucco shared, having never worked in admissions before. “I’ve always felt like admissions work is about making people feel comfortable with the School. I believed in what the School was doing. The good things coming out of my mouth to kids and families about Walnut Hill was the truth.”
He would also use his theater background in admissions, with the understanding he had of
ABOVE Bucco on a trip to Asia for Walnut Hill's Admission Office
Walnut Hill’s Theater program. He did this work for over a decade, even serving as the Head of the Admission Office for a brief period under the direction of Antonio Viva. In 2001, Mike started to work in a newly created role as Director of Production and Events, a position he held until retiring in May 2024.
“I’m going to miss the people and the students I worked with at Walnut Hill,” Bucco said. “I’ll also miss seeing the new crop of young artists who would come in every year, which added excitement to the campus.”
Bucco did his best to instill professional courtesy in the students he would work
with when putting together theatrical productions. He believes many students benefited from his teaching along with the leadership of Joe Cabral, who retired as Director of Theater in May 2024.
“I wore a lot of different hats throughout my time at Walnut Hill,” explained Bucco. “I learned a lot about Walnut Hill during my time here. I just jumped in wherever I was needed.”
Bucco hopes to visit the campus and see future theater productions, this time from the relaxed perspective of an audience member. ◆
ARCHITECT OF WALNUT HILL’S THEATER PROGRAM, JOE CABRAL, RETIRES AFTER 31 YEARS
Having his feet firmly planted in the Walnut Hill Theater Department even before the Keiter Performing Arts Center was opened, Joe Cabral’s impact on the department will reach far beyond his 31 years at the School. Cabral, Director of Theater for over 31 years, retired from Walnut Hill in May 2024. He is considered to be the architect of Walnut Hill’s Theater program, influencing the lives of thousands of school-year and Summer Program students during his career. Former Head of School Stephanie Perrin convinced Joe to come to Walnut Hill as the Keiter Center for Performing Arts was being built, to envision and develop a program that emulated a B.F.A. undergraduate experience for highly talented theater artists. Cabral has been described as having an indisputable thirst for excellence. “The best way to give back to serve my students was to help them have an understanding of what authentic storytelling is
and know what it means to be in service of the story and have respect for the art,” Cabral said about how he viewed his roles as teacher and director.
Year after year, Cabral and his faculty built the program into a powerhouse by holding incredibly high expectations for themselves and their students, offering them educational and performance experiences that are unheard of in a high school. Cabral insisted that each student become a complete theater artist, deeply understanding not only acting, singing, and dance but all of the aspects of design and production as well. And for all those years, he coached students through the arduous processes of auditioning, casting, and college and conservatory applications.
“I always felt like it was important to take our roles as mentors seriously,” shared Cabral on what he tried to instill in his faculty.
His high standards led him to visit the top theater colleges around the world, and in turn to invite representatives from schools such as Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan, and Juilliard to visit and audit the Walnut Hill program. His students are some of the leading actors and designers on stages around the globe, as well as leaders in a myriad of creative industries. At our 2023 Reunion, Cabral was honored with the Earle Batchelder Award for Vision, a lifetime achievement award bestowed in honor of our 50th Anniversary as an arts school.
“What I will miss the most is being a part of the community of Walnut Hill,” noted Cabral in reflecting on his time at the School.
In January 2024, Kevin and Sandra Delbridge generously committed a gift of $750,000 to commemorate Cabral’s extraordinary efforts, as a part of the Honoring Joe Cabral Campaign that launched in the fall of 2024. Walnut Hill also began a merit scholarship for Theater students who show exceptional promise, called the Cabral Endowed Merit Scholarship for Excellence in Theater. These initiatives will keep building upon the outstanding foundation and solid structure that Cabral cemented in place. ◆
A DREAM COME TRUE: PHOTOGRAPHY
INSTRUCTOR HOLLY WORTHINGTON RETIRES AFTER 36 YEARS AT WALNUT HILL
“Please let me teach that,” recounts Holly Worthington, when there became an opening at Walnut Hill for a photography faculty member. After two years of working at the School, Worthington had the opportunity to teach a subject for which she had a deep passion: photography. More than three decades later, as she wraps up her tenure at Walnut Hill, Worthington is just as passionate about photography as when she started there.
“When I walked into the Visual Art Department, it smelled right. The smell of the paint, studios that students could be creative and messy in, and the setup was more like a college with these long afternoon classes. It was like a dream come true,” shared Worthington about her immediate impressions of the School.
Although she started teaching at Walnut Hill fresh from her graduate degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art, being at Walnut Hill was the home she came to know for more than three decades. Worthington lived on campus for over 20 years of her tenure at the School alongside her husband, Jim Woodside, a longtime director of our Visual Art Department. She was delighted to get to teach traditional, advanced, and darkroom photography to
students in the department. “I always viewed my photography as a way of performing the service of teaching. It always felt like a privilege and honor to be in these students’ lives at such a pivotal time in their lives,” noted Worthington.
She plans to still work on her own photography during her retirement. In 2016, she
began a volunteer role at the Photographic Historical Society of New England, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving historic photographic images, where she serves as the Director of School Outreach. Worthington clearly has additional dreams to fulfill. ◆
The Art of Field Notes
by Michele Levy
ThispastJanuary,15WalnutHill10thGraderstraveledtoSiena,Italy,forWalnutHill’sinauguralGlobal DiscoveryProgram,madepossiblebythegenerosityofJamesandDeAnnaBodenstedtP’16(whoalso ownMonasterinodellaConoscenza,themainhubfortheprogram).Facultymembers Matthew Seifert (Writing,Film&MediaArts)and Nick Zanussi(Science) developed the course and led the trip with Student Life team member Rachel Kadish.
INTERVIEW WITH COURSE DEVELOPERS
MATTHEW SEIFERT AND NICK ZANUSSI
Q What inspired The Art of Field Notes?
AThe School challenged faculty members to develop multidisciplinary programs for January Term, an opportunity for students and faculty to explore topics and art forms outside of their main area of focus. We thought it would be fun to collaborate and looked for a topic that took advantage of our respective interests and skill sets. The course taps into the scientific concept of taking notes in the field that you bring back for future study, and into the photo/film concepts of storyboards/quick reference images to capture experiences that inspire creation. The notes and images work together to capture the observations and experiences of being in a location. It’s
knowledge you can’t acquire inside a classroom, you have to be there.
QWhat were your goals for the course?
ASpecifically, we wanted students to be comfortable stepping outside technology—using handwritten notes to capture experiences. Before the trip, we talked about how you prepare to get the most out of an experience like this, how you can be sure to capture the details, across all of your senses. More broadly, we hoped that students would expand their capacity to be good global citizens—to understand how to engage respectfully; to be open to new experiences; and to be able to reflect thoughtfully on them later.
ABOVE Dancing in Florence OPPOSITE TOP Sketching in Siena OPPOSITE BOTTOM Group photo in Florence
Q
What impact do you think the course had on students?
A
We gave them a lot of freedom to be curious, to explore the city. That’s an important part of studying abroad, realizing that you don’t have all the answers. Sometimes you get lost, you have to figure out how to get back. That really builds independence, confidence, and resilience.
Those two weeks in Italy were some of the best in my life. I was fortunate to be granted this opportunity to travel with incredible people, learn about the rich history of such a beautiful place, and benefit from community growth and learning. I am beyond grateful for the things I learned, the time I spent in Italy— I would love to do something like it again.
—SolviUpdyke '26
QWhy do courses like this matter for Walnut Hill?
A
It’s right in our mission statement—we train artists to interact with the world, to become leaders. It’s impossible to do that unless you have a sense of what’s out there. Study abroad programs like this provide an educational structure that helps students understand the world in ways they can process as artists and young adults. ◆
A Nourishing Spin on Community Impact
by Darvence Chery
In January of 2024, a new course titled January Term Exploration: Empty Bowls Challenge was created to give Walnut Hill students the opportunity to give back to the Natick community. Taught by Eileen de Rosas, the Empty Bowls Challenge is inspired by the Empty Bowls movement, dating back over 30 years, through which artisans create bowls that are then sold (usually with a simple meal of soup in them) to raise money to support families in need via food pantries and soup kitchens.
Taking a unique spin on the concept, Teresa Whitfield ’25, a student in the Empty Bowls Challenge course, in partnership with Tina Noonan, the Director of Development and Outreach at the Natick Service Council, worked together to fundraise for the Natick Service Council’s Heart Healthy Food Pantry. On March 7, the students in the January Term course collaborated to create 325 bowls for an ice cream social held in The Delbridge Family Center for the Arts. The event featured ice cream provided by Lola’s Italian Kitchen and Market being served by students as well as a live performance from the student band Beautiful Stranger. More than 300 bowls were sold and over 250 pounds of food were donated toward the Natick Service Council. More than $5,000 was raised due to the efforts of the January Term course students in addition to members of Walnut Hill’s Community Service club. “I want to thank Teresa for coming up with such a brilliant idea and the team behind her that helped to make it happen,” shared Noonan in a thank-you post on Instagram after the event.
Walnut Hill’s January Term courses serve as a way for students to take a hands-on approach to their education, while learning how to make an impact on the communities around them. ◆
When Students Become Teachers
by Sarah C. Baldwin
Dance major Katherine Adolfsson ’25 was performing in Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker when she had a revelation. It was during a sensory-friendly performance, when the house lights were left on.
“As dancers, we’re instructed to touch the audience, to make an impact,” she said. Being able to see the audience, especially the children, respond to the performance was an inspiration. “I wanted to chase that feeling over and over again.”
She also wanted to enable other students to explore their art in new ways, and to share their expertise with others in the community who might not have much access or exposure to the arts.
Working with Head of Math and Science Tom Keenan, Adolfsson devised an Arts & Community class that would take place during J-Term, a threeweek period in January during which students can take interdisciplinary, project-based courses outside the traditional curriculum. Seeing the course as a way of bringing students out of the “Walnut Hill bubble” and into their community, she and Keenan proposed dance, painting, and musical experiences to various organizations in the MetroWest area.
As dancers, we’re instructed to touch the audience, to make an impact...
In total, 16 students took part. At one elementary school, Theater majors played improv with the students of one class, while Dance majors read and performed AngelinaBallerina during story time in another. Music majors performed at an elder-care center and a preschool program, and Visual Art majors taught painting to seniors in a community center. Keenan provided logistical support and transportation throughout.
ABOVE At Natick Preschool, L to R: Sam Igbo ’24, Oliver Ellsworth ’25, Billy Yang ’24 BELOW Visual Art students Vicky Chen '26 (far left) and Carolanne Jiang '25 (third from right) at a community center
Adolfsson, who took part in the AngelinaBallerina performance, saw her dream of reaching the audience come true.
“I noticed one boy had noise-canceling headphones,” she said, “but after the story he came right up and hugged each one of us.” His teacher told the performers it was the first time the boy had ever sat through a story time. “I almost cried,” Adolfsson said. “Ballet is how I like to speak. This was like finding the audience member who understood the language that I feel I speak the best.”
I told the ladies to start with paint and just go for it, and it worked well for them. They told me it made painting much more relaxing.
ˮ
Visual Art major Carolanne Jiang ’25 taught painting in a community center—and she learned a lot, too. “I was able to test out some hypotheses about painting,” she explained. “For example, people tell you it’s necessary to start with an accurate pencil sketch, but I’ve always thought that’s not a good use of time. I told the ladies to start with paint and just go for it, and that worked well for them. They told me it made painting much more relaxing.”
Jiang appreciated being outside her usual context, in a “verbal and interpersonal engagement with painting that is different than in art school. This was a unique and very meaningful experience.”
Working with people who were new to painting also gave her new ways of observing art, she added, “perspectives I would not have thought of before.”
The class was so well received—both by the students and by their partners in the community— that it will be offered during J-Term 2025. For their part, Adolfsson and Jiang formed a club when last J-Term ended as a way of enabling students to continue to bring their art off the Hill and to be active players in their community. ◆
ABOVE Dancers at Lilja Elementary School, L to R: Sisca Chan ’25, Isabella Wei ’26, Oceana Rose ’25, Katherine Adolfsson ’25
Spotlight on Simone Alyse '14
by Michele Levy
SimoneAlyse’14isMarketingandDevelopmentCoordinatorforMusicinCommon,anorganizationthat connects people across social divides to discover common ground through conversation and music.
QIt’s been an eventful 10 years since you graduated from Walnut Hill. What have been some of the pivotal moments of the past decade for you?
AAfter Walnut Hill, I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. But with so much happening in the world, so much outrage all around, I wanted to be someplace where I could more easily connect with a community and bring about change . . . so I transferred to Emory University in Atlanta, GA, where I majored in African American studies. A couple of years after graduation, my mom and I sold our house in Boston, quit our jobs, and moved to Atlanta. We arrived on March 4, 2020.
Q So, COVID.
AThat’s right. I was so excited to start a new life, but had to put it all on pause. I took that opportunity to dive deeper into my creative field, into the music and performing that heals me. I
ABOVE Simone's current headshot TOP RIGHT Performing in Walnut Hill's production of Songs for a New World BOTTOM RIGHT Performing in Walnut Hill's production of Spring Awakening
pursued my dreams of recording my own music— focusing on building my singer/songwriter career as Salyse.
QWhat lessons would you share from your experience?
ANo one could have prepared us for the world we find ourselves in today. I try not to let that get me down. I choose what I put my energy into, and I choose to espouse freedom and expand joy as I do what I can to improve my corner of the world. I’m particularly excited to be working with Music in Common right now. It’s amazing to see people coming from different backgrounds and different beliefs step into a creative space together and heal. ◆
The Power of Friendship at Walnut Hill
by Darvence Chery
In 1965, Walnut Hill’s Head of School, Earle Batchelder, wrote in his letter to students in the 1965 Yearbook that each student would “have their own impressions of their time on the Hill to be recalled when they return to Walnut Hill 10, 25, or 50 years from now.”
For some alumni, the memories and bonds they built at Walnut Hill have grown stronger with time. For others, it takes having friends at Walnut Hill who are committed to being friends long after their time at Walnut Hill.
Betsy McClendon, who served on Walnut Hill’s Board of Trustees for 25 years, is credited by her peers as keeping them together throughout all the different life stages they have experienced.
Both during her time in school at Walnut Hill and afterward, Betsy has taken pride in reconnecting Walnuts back to the Hill especially during her time serving on the Board of Trustees. The fruit of her labor has resulted in lifelong connections among her fellow Walnut Hill alums.
On July 23, the Development Office gathered alums from the Class of 1965 via Zoom to reflect on their time and friendship at Walnut Hill. Some of these alums have regularly stayed in touch decades after graduating, and others, although not connecting as much, feel a sense of belonging that transcends time and distance.
Walnut Hill is reimagining its alumni programming upon three pillars: resource, service, and belonging. "By reconnecting this close-knit circle of 1965 grads, we uphold the "belonging pillar" and set an example for more reconnections in the future,” shared Talia Carpinteri, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement at Walnut Hill.
“I’m grateful to Betsy (McClendon) and Mary (Mueller) for pulling me back into the fold,” shared Gail Gelb, a 1965 graduate. Betsy and Mary would meet with Gail over dinner in Boston to discuss life and reminisce about Walnut Hill.
Gail has been practicing law for over 20 years and continues to take the road trip with as many of her alumni friends as she can to Reunion Weekend faithfully.
Betsy’s companion in reconnecting Gail with Walnut Hill was Mary Mueller, a standout ballet performer during her time at Walnut Hill, who has enjoyed a long relationship with Walnut Hill, remaining an advocate for arts education long after her time on the Hill.
Carol Hauptfuhrer, another one of the longtime friends, came to Walnut Hill from Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, in 1962. She met Gail and Betsy through the Mischords club and felt like her time spent performing with her friends and practicing art together forged the bonds of friendship in a special way. Carol currently works at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Susan Birkett connected with Carol almost immediately, admiring her stature. Susan grew up in Dayton, Ohio, where she found women to be shorter in height, and she was amazed by Carol’s height and confidence. Susan remembers being so moved by a rendition of “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place" performed by Walnut Hill students that Carol had to step in for her mid-song. “For the rest of my life, I've never had a moment like that,” said Susan.
LEFT McClendon (second from left) with Earle Batchelder (far left) and classmates in the 1960s ABOVE RIGHT Class of 1965 on a Zoom call with Walnut Hill's Development Office, July 2024, clockwise from top left: Carol Haupthfuhrer '65, Director of Development Washawn Jones, Mary Mueller '65, Gail Gelb '65, Susan Birkett '65, Anne Carlson '65, Betsy McClendon '65, Development Associate Darvence Chery, and Gail Geib '65
“Betsy’s presence on campus brought us all together," shared Anne Winslow Carlson, who was Susan Birkett’s roommate for a year at Walnut Hill.
Despite being girls’ school alums, it was their bonding through art that brought them together.
Continued on page 18
Continued from page 17
“Our experience sharing music in Eliot Hall deepened our relationships during our time at Walnut Hill,” noted Carol. "The time we spent working on our art together superseded our experience living in the dorms together," added Carol.
This wasn’t the first time this group had all been brought back together. Since graduating in 1965, all of these women and more alums from their class have gathered for Zoom check-ins, Japanese dinners in Boston, and carpooling trips to Walnut Hill for Reunion Weekend.
“It wasn’t until our 10th or 20th Reunion where we started to feel a sense of intimacy as a group,” shared Carol on the group’s connection. “We had a sense of compassion and emotional understanding for each other the older we got.”
Betsy was known as being the most physically active player among the group in sports like field hockey and tennis. Yet it was her activity after
graduation, pulling everyone together, that made such a resounding impact on the group. The majority consensus within the group was that the longevity of their friendships made them so much more valuable.
“It doesn't matter if it’s the first day after you leave Walnut Hill or 40 years later; you will find each other when the time is right,” Betsy said regarding the value of maintaining friendships after graduation.
For these six friends from the Class of 1965, returning to Walnut Hill as alums has been as foundational for their friendship as the time they spent together as students. These ladies returned to Walnut Hill in May 2024 for Reunion Weekend to reconnect but also to connect with the future, inspiring current students in their art journey, including Arkida Saiwai '24 whom they saw perform at Reunion. They hope to rekindle more friendships in their class as well as offer whatever service they can provide to alumni and students. ◆
LEFT Reunion 2024: Gail Gelb '65, Carol Hauptfuhrer '65, Arkida Saiwai '24, Betsy McClendon '65, Mary Mueller '65
OPPOSITE Photo by Cait Bourgeault
Keila’s Story
WORLD CLASS ARTS TRAINING AT WALNUT HILL
Life is full of stories, and this one is mine.”
When Keila Wakao, Walnut Hill Class of ’24, spoke these words in 2017 at TEDxYouth, it was apparent that her star was only beginning to shine.
Keila is a world-renowned violinist who has been mastering her craft since she was three years old. Now accepted into the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) Class of ’28 to study under Miriam Fried, she dreams of pursuing a master's degree in Europe.
Now she's a member of the Walnut Hill alumni community, and we are honored to celebrate her accomplishments alongside her, and to follow what will likely be an exceptional musical journey throughout her life. Keila thrived at Walnut Hill, and the future is promising for her as she continues to hone her craft.
“I wanted to find an arts high school where I had the flexibility I needed to balance academics and music, but also being in a community where music and the arts is appreciated. I could see myself in this kind of community,” said Keila.
KEILA’S JOURNEY TO WALNUT HILL
A hometown girl, Keila knew about Walnut Hill long before she was able to attend. Born and raised in Boston, she comes from a talented musical family—her father, Keisuke Wakao, has been Assistant Principal Oboe of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) since 1990 and is on the faculty at NEC. And Keila's relationship with the Boston Symphony extends further than family connections; last year she performed as a soloist with the BSO on a Family Concert, and this year she had the honor of performing at the Opening Night Gala, along with Lang Lang, Susan Graham, and others.
Keila was accepted as a student of former BSO concertmaster Joseph Silverstein when she was only six years old. Three short years later, she became a student of Donald Weilerstein and performed her first solo with orchestra, and eventually played alongside Itzhak Perlman and Soovin Kim, all accomplished and worldrenowned violinists.
Here’s a short list of some of the awards and achievements Keila earned during her time as a student at Walnut Hill:
• First Prize in the 2021 Menuhin International Violin Competition Junior Division
• Gold Medal and Bach Prize at the 2021 Stulberg International String Competition
• Aoyama Music Foundation Award in Japan in 2023 for upcoming artists
• Charlotte White’s Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant in New York
• Next Generation Distinguished Cultural Achievement Award from the Japan Society of Boston
A SCHOOL TO CALL HOME
As a determined middle school student, she was already looking ahead to her high school years. Having experienced challenges balancing academic requirements and musical priorities prior to her high school years, Keila recognized that choosing an arts high school—one that understood and embraced the schedules of artists and musicians like herself—would be her best option. It became apparent that she needed to find a high school that not only accommodated her performance schedule, but celebrated it.
As a private arts high school focused on balancing arts and rigorous academics, Walnut Hill was the perfect place for Keila to prioritize her passion for music alongside her academic aspirations.
“I was looking for a high school where I could still pursue my musical path and concert engagements that also has a strong academic background. Then I found out about Walnut Hill,” said Keila.
After auditioning, she was accepted to Walnut Hill her sophomore year.
AN IMMERSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION
Students at Walnut Hill study far more than just their chosen major. Most days, from around 8:00am to 1:00pm, they attend typical high school classes, fulfilling credit requirements for a diploma. In the afternoon, Keila’s time was focused on practicing her craft—for as long as five hours a day spent in practice rooms or rehearsals.
She adds that it’s the community that surrounded her at Walnut Hill that made her high school years so special.
“There's lots of different levels and skills within each music department, but it's just a genuine community of people who really just love music, and it's nice to be able to connect with people who really love what you do.”
Not only did she spend her days with other artists who love their craft as much as she does, Keila noted the support she received from Walnut Hill teachers when she had to miss school, once for a period of three weeks.
“My teacher would always ask me, ‘Is everything okay? Anything I can help with, anything I can support you with?’ My art was celebrated, and then my teacher would meet me on a Zoom call to talk through everything I missed," she explained.
Keila notes that Ms. Elowitch, Ms. Thielke, and Ms. Sher were particularly supportive of her during this hectic but exhilarating time.
KEILA SHARES WHY STUDENTS SHOULD CHOOSE
WALNUT HILL
When asked what she might say to a student considering applying to Walnut Hill, Keila’s answer was simple: it doesn’t matter if you don’t plan on making music or the arts your career, attending Walnut Hill allows students to explore their artistic expression while balancing their high school education and is the perfect way to avoid compromising on your passions and talent.
OPPOSITE Wakao performs the second movement of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (October 28, 2023) ABOVE Photo by Jenny Chou
“Even if you have doubts about making music your career, there's still so much you can learn from being here. If you decide you want to pursue something completely different, you still have the academic support you need, and you'll still meet wonderful people that share the same interests as you. You can still go to great universities after coming to an arts school," she said. "I personally want to do music for the rest of my life. If music or practicing your art is something that you're really passionate about, Walnut Hill is a great option."
They Graduated 50 Years Apart, but Came Together in the City by the Bay
by Sarah C. Baldwin
When Patricia Silver ’62 attended Walnut Hill, it was still a boarding school for girls, with no majors in the arts. But, she said, that didn’t stop her from doing “as much theater as much as I could” with the Footlighters, as the theater club was called.
Two years into her studies at Brandeis University, Silver attended a performance by the San Francisco Mime Troupe, a political theater company. “They were funny and political and very professional,” she recalled. “I saw them and thought, Yes, that’s what I want to do.” She
followed the company back to California, was a member of the company for the next 14 years, and has been a working actor ever since.
Which is how, in November 2023, Silver found herself treading the boards with another Walnut, dancer and choreographer Moscelyne ParkeHarrison ’15. The two were performing in In the Presence of Absence, a multimedia show about the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic created by Deborah Slater, the artistic director of the Deborah Slater Dance Theater, which she founded in San Francisco in 1989.
ParkeHarrison had danced with Slater before, during a residency with DSDT, and considers her a mentor. After watching an early preview of In the Presence of Absence, ParkeHarrison told Slater she’d enjoyed it and would love the opportunity to collaborate with her someday. “Later Deborah reached out to me and said, ‘I need a dancer for this show,’ ” she recalled.
Getting to know ParkeHarrison and sharing memories of Walnut Hill was “a real kick, a delight,” said Silver, who is a charter member of Word for Word, an ensemble that performs short works of classic and contemporary fiction in their entirety.
“Patty is such an amazing performer,” said ParkeHarrison, whose dance company, BODYSONNET, co-founded by fellow Walnut Sean Lammer ’15, has held a residency at Walnut Hill. “And she’s really great in the room—very focused, very engaged. A real leader.”
Both Silver and ParkeHarrison say they enjoyed the collaboration and hope to work together again. ◆
ABOVE Moscelyne and Patty together BELOW Patty performing. Photo by Robbie Sweeney
Spotlight On Sean Waugh '04
by Michele Levy
SeanWaughisExecutiveDirectoroftheMerolaOperaPrograminSanFrancisco,CA,oneoftheoldest andmostprestigiousoperatrainingprogramsintheworld.Previously,SeanwasDirectorofArtistic Strategy & Innovation at Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale and was on the artistic planning team at San Francisco Opera for over a decade.
QCongratulations on this new role! What is most exciting to you about this next step in your career?
AIt’s incredibly inspiring to be part of an organization that has played such a pivotal role in shaping the careers of so many opera stars. Merola has a rich history, and I’m excited to build on that legacy by expanding our reach and impact. My experience with Philharmonia Baroque and San Francisco Opera has shown me the potential to engage new, particularly younger, audiences in the arts. San Francisco offers a unique opportunity to connect with a vibrant community, especially among young professionals in tech who have the capacity and interest to support the arts in meaningful ways. In this role, I look forward to breaking down the barriers often associated with opera, making it more accessible and appealing
to broader audiences. My goal is not only to strengthen Merola’s presence locally but also to amplify our impact on a national and international scale.
QWhat have you carried with you from Walnut Hill over the past 20 years?
AWalnut Hill was where I first got my hands dirty in the world of arts management. I was a curious kid, eager to immerse myself in everything, so I reached out to the Development team, wanting to learn the business side of the arts world. They took me under their wing, opening the door to arts management as a potential path. While it wasn’t until later, after college and more hands-on experience, that I fully committed to it, Walnut Hill planted the seed. But more than shaping my career, Walnut Hill saved my life. As a young gay kid in small-town Massachusetts, I saw Walnut Hill as a sanctuary, an oasis where I could thrive—and it became just that for me. ◆
RIGHT Sean Waugh '04 (far left) with Julia Doupe '05, Craig Smithson, Barbara Smithson '64, staff members Alexa Flinker and Allison Cooley, Brian Libicki P'25/27 and Alyce Finwall P'25/27
Reunion Weekend took place on May 16 and May 17 at Walnut Hill as we welcomed alumni of all classes back to the place they all once called home, and the weekend featured opportunities for alums to observe an arts course and have the chance to interact with current students and faculty. Reunion Weekend also featured dinners for each of the different alumni demographics at the Head’s House with Eric Barber, on the Delbridge Patio, and inside the Byrnes Performance Studio. Throughout the weekend, students and faculty got the opportunity to interact with our alums through Jazz brunch, campus tours, and open classes, and the weekend culminated with the Reunion Showcase, where alumni and students had the opportunity to perform in front of their peers. The Reunion Showcase saw us recognize Nicole Gakidis with the Non Nobis Solum Award for exemplifying the spirit of Walnut Hill in her service to the Walnut Hill Community. ◆
During the Reunion Showcase on Saturday night, we honored Trustee, Alumna, and Parent of Alum NICOLE GAKIDIS '81 with the Non Nobis Solum Award.
Class Notes at Walnut Hill
Submit Class Notes online at walnuthillarts.org/ alumni or email alumni@ walnuthillarts.org.
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Class Notes received as of July 2024
1951
LOLA FORTMILLER
BALDWIN wrote that she was looking forward to Reunion this year, which came just after a trip on the Snake and
Columbia Rivers to follow the trip west taken by Lewis and Clark. She also visited MARTY COX in Florida last February.
1958
WENDY VILAS
GRAHAM writes: “Happy to report my husband of seven years, Georges, and I are very happy and well. I am a VP CFP investment advisor at Washington Securities in Chevy Chase, MD, and truly enjoy making money for our clients through building portfolios of stocks and bonds. Georges is brilliant and kind and witty . . . I never get bored! I am President of an investment club and make long presentations every month about the capital markets, global economy, individual stocks, etc. Great fun. We will be traveling to Paris, Geneva, and Romania (several places) soon. Here is our photograph . . . no touch-ups either.”
1976
PHYLLIS DETWILER wrote that she speaks to LISA “MARGO”
GAFFIN BROWN a couple of times a year and keeps track of everyone else online. While pandemic Zoom
calls were helpful and fun, the classmates haven’t done that in a while, now that things have finally returned to some kind of normal.
ABOVE Wendy Vilas Graham ’58 and husband Georges
ABOVE Phyllis Detwiler '76
ABOVE 1951 alumna Lola Baldwin's 90th birthday celebration
Courtney Collado '98
1995 Congratulations to CHIH YUAN MICHAEL CHANG , who was awarded First Prize at the 2023 Bucharest Music Institute International Conducting Competition. As the First Prize winner, he will conduct one full
symphony performance with the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra in an Award Gala Concert, in addition to three concerts with the Arad, Oradea & Satu Mare State Philharmonic Orchestras within the 2024 season.
1993/1994/1995/1997
During Reunion Weekend, a group of Walnuts enjoyed a gathering at the home of Sabreena Kiviat Kropp in Needham, MA. (L-R) RICH TAYLOR '94, JORDAN MCCULLOUGH '94, JEREMY CONN '94, JOHN BROOKS '97, SABREENA KIVIAT KROPP '94, ALIX DECOLLIBUS '93, and CAROLINE LOCKE FLANDERS '95
1998
COURTNEY COLLADO writes: “After a career in dance, a couple of moves, and finishing my M.F.A. at Hollins University in 2022, I have been hired as the Arts Program Resource Leader at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO. Paseo is a public middle school and high school where students in grades 9–12 choose a major area of focus in one of 10 arts disciplines for intensive study through the high school years.”
2000
MARY GARCIA CHARUMILIND , who goes by the professional name of Autumn Luz, writes: “I released my debut EP this April, with a premiere in Happy Mag, who said, ‘To deliver such captivating tracks on love and loss would be a feat for any artist, but Fragments is doubly impressive given that it is Luz’s debut effort.’ (See https://happymag. tv/autumn-luz-epfragments/.) I have been
ABOVE Science faculty member Kathy Liu (left) with Teresa Yu '00 visiting from California
ABOVE Mary Garcia Charumilind ’00
ABOVE
enjoying airplay and top chart positions on radio stations across the US and Canada while I work on producing my next release. More at AutumnLuz.com.”
2001
ZOE RABINOWITZ writes: “My performance piece ‘This is How We Remember’ will be presented at the Philly Fringe Festival on September 21 and 22, 2024. You can find more information via this link: https://phillyfringe.org/ events/this-is-how-weremember/. All the best!”
2004
JIMMY FOWLIE has found success writing comedy for Saturday NightLive, for which he began writing in 2022. He describes his comedic style as "irreverent, upsetting, and dumb," as he works to get the most laughs and finds the best results by recognizing absurd elements in storytelling. By not taking his work or himself too seriously, Jimmy has found high levels of recognition, including being nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Series in 2023. Another project still in motion is his comedy show Trauma Blonding, in partnership with fellow SNL star Ceara O'Sullivan, where they “host” an "unhinged dating seminar" in
RIGHT An Off-Broadway show created and lead produced by Cooper Jordan ’10
drag. Check online for upcoming dates and locations.
SEAN WAUGH writes:
“Excited to share that I've been appointed Executive Director of the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, leading one of the most renowned opera training programs in the world. I worked previously as Director of Strategy & Innovation at Philharmonia Baroque after over a decade at San Francisco Opera. I also am excited to share that I joined the board of Boston Baroque, bringing me a little bit closer to my old stomping grounds at Walnut Hill, and hope to make a visit soon.”
2005
RILEY ROSE CRITCHLOW and VALEN SHORE appeared in Chriskirkpatrickmas, a satirical all-female drag musical about the vocal group NSYNC, at Pleasance Courtyard for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! Valen co-created the show and starred as Chris Kirkpatrick, while
Riley played Lance Bass in addition to her role as assistant director.
2008
On August 11, SARAH SHIN released a new CD, MozartConcertosfor Flute and Orchestra No. 1 &No.2, which is out now on all music platforms. Congratulations, Sarah! She is currently the Lecturer of Flute at Princeton University, and is on the faculty of Rutgers University MGSA Community Arts as a flute instructor and chamber
music coach. Sarah is a Haynes Artist, and has given master classes and workshops throughout the nation, in addition to performing around the world.
2010
COOPER JORDAN lead produces SAW The Musical, which premiered in NYC a year ago and is still an Off-Broadway hit, now at the New Box Theater.
ABOVE Daniel Salas '12, Anya Wilkening '12, Elizabeth Bonis '11, Bailey Moon '11
Marie Altynbaeva ’14
2014
MARIE ALTYNBAEVA
writes that after her years as a Theater major at Walnut Hill, she studied at The New School in NYC for her undergraduate degree and then moved to and lived in L.A. for four years. She adds: “I got into RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London, England, and am now an acting student there. It's a threeyear ‘B.A. course’ that accepts 28 people out of about 5,000 applicants. I wanted to let you know just in case any Walnuts want to apply to drama schools but don't feel confident enough that they'll get in because of the competition; I encourage them to go for it and fight for their dreams, as I auditioned for RADA for five years and got rejected four years in a row before getting in. All the best!”
2016
MARY RZEPCZYNSKI
just completed her first year as a Yenching Scholar at Peking University in Beijing, where she is studying Chinese architectural history. In addition to her research focusing on late imperial and early modern architecture, Mary continues to play viola as a member of the Peking University Symphony Orchestra.
HARLEY CHAMANDY’S
debut feature film, Allen Sunshine, has been awarded the annual Werner Herzog Film Award by the legendary filmmaker himself. The film had its world premiere at the 41st Munich International Film Festival in early June. Learn more at https:// variety.com/2024/film/ global/werner-herzogfilm-award-allensunshine-1236078107/ amp/.
2018
LIAM BIXBY performed at Summerhall this summer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Party Scene,a dance theater show produced by the group THISISPOPBABY.
TRAVIS DOUGHTY appeared in a production of Constellations, a two-person play by Nick Payne, performed at Wild Project in NYC. Learn more at underbellyproductions.org.
JENNA HOWARDDELMAN , using her stage name Jenna Sage, had “lots of fun” performing as Suzie/ Harry/Myrtle in the Chicago premier of PUFFS with the Otherworld Theatre Company for a nine-week run with a three-week extension.
CAPUCINE ZELENKO graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design
in 2022 with a degree in iIllustration, then spent time between Boston and Paris, France. She notes: “I was thrilled to see Walnut Hill and Ringling alums while working as an illustrator and graphic designer with Life Beyond Studios (formerly Darewise) in Paris. Would love to catch up with any alums on either side of the Atlantic! Currently working on a project for Save the Children, and looking forward to future collaborations. A huge shout-out to the hardworking Visual Art Department of Walnut Hill, whose incredible instructors prepared me well for my future. The best in the US—there is no other school like it, anywhere. Check me out on ArtStation.”
RIGHT Mary Rzepczynski ’16
ABOVE Liam Bixby '18 performing (Photo by Olga Kuzmenko)
ABOVE
2020
TIA MARIE APICELLA performed all summer at Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth, NH, playing the role of Audrey in LittleShopofHorrors
GRAHAM CAMPBELL appeared in the cast of the Broadway play Appropriate, which finished its current run at the end of June. The Deadline reviewer referred to Graham’s “terrific Broadway debut as the gloomy, ready-toexplode Rhys.”
KANNEN GLANZ will be one of the 16 dancers taking part in the College Danza at La Biennale di Venezia, under the artistic direction of Wayne McGregor. Kannen will spend three months
ABOVE Poster from Mackenzie Wilcox '20 show
ABOVE Tia Marie Apicella '20 in LittleShopofHorrors.
ABOVE Kannen Glanz ’20
in Venice working with various international artists and working in residency preparing multiple new creations for the 18th International Festival of Contemporary Dance.
Visual artist KEARA MCHAFFIE had a show running during the summer at Natick's Morse Institute Library, just down the hill from our campus! In addition to the exhibit inside the library, Keara had an installation out on the library's front lawn.
MACKENZIE WILCOX performed in the show SCOTS at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from August 18 to 28.
2022
ANNIE FITZPATRICK
and KOA CHUN participated in this summer's Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble program at Jacob's Pillow, located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. As Performance Ensemble dancers, they had the opportunity to premiere ballets created on them by choreographers Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Andrew McNicol before live and livestreamed Jacob’s Pillow Festival audiences, in addition to attending workshops, seminars, and more.
NASTIA GODDARD performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer, portraying the role of Dara in the world premiere of Adam Szymkowicz’s play TheNightChildren with students from Northwestern University in partnership with Los Angeles Theatre Initiative. The show ran August 5–12 at the Emerald Theatre.
2024
SAEHYUN KIM won the Senior Division of the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. Performing with the Canton Symphony Orchestra in the Cleveland Museum of Art's Gartner Auditorium, Saehyun clinched the title with a stunning performance of the first movement of Chopin's Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11, in the concerto round. Two days prior, he performed a movement from Brahms's Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8, with members of the Cleveland Orchestra in the chamber round. Placing first in the competition comes with a $10,000 prize. In addition, he won two separate special prizes: the Senior Division Audience Prize and the Senior Division Junior Jury, each worth $500. His piano teacher, HaeSun Paik, Co-Chair of Piano at the New England Conservatory and herself an alumna of Walnut Hill, says of Saehyun: "He is already an artist with phenomenal talent and a brilliant mind, which is served by uncompromising self-discipline: a rare combination. I can't wait to see how he will develop further in the future.”
Meet Our New Trustees
JEAN ROWLEY ROBERTSON ’83
Jean Robertson is a financial restructuring and corporate bankruptcy attorney in Cleveland, OH. Before going to law school at Ohio State University, she earned her B.A. in art education and art history, intending to be a museum curator. (Law school was plan B.) Jean served on the boards of trustees for the American Heart Association and the Cleveland Zoological Society. She is also a founder of two chapters of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, as well as a founder of In Counsel With Women. Jean is a stroke survivor and grateful for every day—and hoping to spread her gratitude at Walnut Hill.
MINGI KIM P'26
Mingi Kim is an auditor and advisor for Dong-Kwang Petrochemical company in Seoul, South Korea. She holds a B.A. in communications from Indiana University. She is the mother of two girls, Soho '26, who is studying ballet at Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division at Walnut Hill, and Siho, who is studying piano at Yewon School in South Korea. Mingi also serves on the advisory committee of Yewon School. Her family are members of the sponsoring group for both the Korean National Ballet and the Korean National Museum.
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In Memoriam We fondly remember the following members of the Walnut Hill alumni community. (As of July 25, 2024)
CYNTHIA GOODHART
DIETZ TRACY ’36 passed away on December 25, 2023, at the age of 104. She was born in Syracuse, NY, and got her name from a gravestone that her parents liked. Cynthia attended Central High School in Syracuse before graduating from Walnut Hill. She then studied history at Smith College, where she competed with the college's synchronized swimming team, and graduated in 1940. She also worked as a counselor at Camp Wyonegonic in Maine. Cynthia was a deeply caring person who believed in helping others, and this ethos, goodwill, and deep respect for humanity guided her life. She and her first husband, Gerry Johnson Dietz, met at a summer dance at the Skaneateles Country Club and courted for over a year before marrying in Syracuse in 1940. The pair enjoyed traveling together throughout the world while Gerry served as the president and chairman of the board of the R.E. Dietz Company. Sons Hugh and Michael joined the family, and twin daughters Susan and Cynthia followed shortly thereafter. The family enjoyed happy years on Burlingame Road in the Sedgwick neighborhood and summers sailing and swimming at Skaneateles Lake. Gerry passed away
in 1993. Cynthia knew the second love of her life, Charles “Ted” Sedgwick Tracy from childhood. They reconnected and married in 1994. They treasured their 16 years together and enjoyed rooting for hockey at Ted's alma mater, Cornell; reading and traveling; and hosting grandchildren and step-grandchildren during summers at the lake. Cynthia found much joy in public service, especially at the Consortium for Children's Services in Syracuse, which she helped found and where she served as a board member for many years. She also served for 15 years on the board of the Huntington Family Center, and was a member of the Corinthian and Century Clubs in Syracuse and of the Skaneateles Country Club. She was a keen bridge player and an avid reader, including three newspapers every day, and her capacity to remember details about friends' and families' lives remained constant throughout her long and fruitful life. Treasured by her family and her community, she was the recipient of a 1972 Post-Standard Woman of Achievement recognition. Cynthia is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, as well as being the stepmother and
step-grandmother to the Tracy family.
PRISCILLA JANE
BUTTNER BRECK ’42 passed away on September 27, 2023, at the age of 98. Born in Springfield, MA, “Buttons” (as she was nicknamed) grew up in Plymouth, MA, and spent several winters in St. Petersburg, FL. She attended Plymouth Carver High School and St. Petersburg High School, before spending her senior year at Walnut Hill. She attended Syracuse University and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. After graduating in 1946, Priscilla moved to Boston and was working in the personnel office at MIT when she met her future husband and love of her life, Bob Breck, at a water fountain on campus. They were married in 1948 in Plymouth, lived in Hancock Village in Boston, and then moved to the suburb of Weston, MA, where they lived for 40 years. Priscilla was active in the Weston "Friendly" Society and had a lifelong passion for golf, tennis, skiing, swimming, travel, bridge, and social activities with family and friends. In 1995, Priscilla and Bob moved permanently to their vacation residence in Newbury, NH, overlooking Lake Sunapee. They were active members of the Lake Sunapee Country
Club. Priscilla will always be remembered for her zest for life, positive attitude, and caring and giving personality. Predeceased by her husband, she is survived by their two children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
MARGARET HOGG UPHAM
’44
passed away September 24, 2023, at the age of 96. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, she grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH, where her father was head of the science department. She spent many summers with relatives in England and was there when WWII broke out in Europe. In September 1939, she and her father secured passage on the ship Vandyke for a perilous trip back to the States. Margaret attended Walnut Hill, Grinnell College (B.A.), and Simmons College (certificate in physical therapy). She married Thompson Upham in 1955, and the couple lived sequentially in Washington, DC; Mountain Lakes, NJ; Woodstock, CT; and Exeter, NH, at RiverWoods, during their 60 years of marriage. Predeceased by her husband, Margaret is survived by their two children and five grandchildren.
WITHIN A DAUGHTER'S EYES: REMEMBERING JESSIE SCHELL
On a warm November day, not long after what would have been her 82nd birthday, Boswell Recital Hall was full to the brim with alumni, current and former faculty, and family and friends to honor the life of my mother, Jessie Schell, who passed away in September 2023. It was glorious to celebrate my mother in a space that had hosted so many of her own students and with so many people for whom my mother was impactful, influential, important, and dare I say magical.
Always a daughter of the Deep South, my mother was an award-winning novelist, short story writer, and poet who drew from her upbringing in Greenville, MS, in all of her work. My mother was a lover of birds, stickers, pimento cheese, “Girl from Ipanema,” long flowing skirts, reading, wine, and good music. My mother was a master with words, but she was also a natural and gifted teacher. She served as a senior English teacher and founded the Walnut Hill Creative Writing Department in 1990, leading it for 13 years until her retirement. She helped bring students to campus who may never have found their way to a place like Walnut Hill otherwise—who felt just as celebrated for their work on a page as those who performed onstage. She brought back to life The Blue Pencil, the School’s literary magazine, showcasing her writers, but also the work of Visual Art students on campus. She brought acclaimed authors to campus to share their work with the Walnut Hill community. She loved poetry and prose so much and loved people so much, it was like she had died and gone to heaven. People often assumed it was difficult for me to be my mother’s student, but it wasn’t. She was transformed in front of that room. I was as mesmerized by her as anyone else was. It all boiled down to her understanding and celebrating the human heart, and teaching allowed her to do that. She proved that loving and honoring who each student is, is far more important than content. My mother’s greatest gospel to all those who would listen was love yourself, with all of your flaws and gifts, and use those flaws and gifts to help others see the world
Susanna'spoemfromthe1996editionof The Blue Pencil,republishedinthe2003issuetohonorhermom's retirement
through your eyes and through your words. And boy . . . could she also inspire and encourage and help young people master the craft of writing.
When I think of my mother, I think of flowers and trees. And of how I recently learned that for decades, my mother would send leaves gathered in the Massachusetts autumn to a friend down in New Orleans just to share the beauty. And how when I suffered she would say to me, “I’m going to lift you up to the leaves and the trees.” Live oaks or maples or pines or dogwoods. And I think of gardens. My mother was an incredible gardener. She would always point to a cosmo or a pansy and say, “Look how happy that flower is.” She would always share the flowers she grew with everyone around her. In coffee cans, water glasses, small blue vases. How could I not see these acts and these words as her way of sharing a sacrament? Perhaps we should all take a page from her book and gather a handful of beautiful fallen New England leaves and send them to someone in the South. Perhaps we should sow seeds each spring and share the abundance of flowers with those around us. And please know that in each of those moments my mother is smiling or laughing or clapping her hands, and most likely saying, “Oh, sweetheart, be still my heart. I love you so.”
—Susanna Schell Cerrato ’98
CYNTHIA WOTRING HENRITZY ’46
passed away on July 21, 2023, at age 95, with her family by her side at Kirkland Village in Bethlehem, PA. She was born a minister’s daughter in Walla Walla, WA. Her family moved to Duluth, MN, and later Hinsdale, IL, where she attended Hinsdale Central High School, before moving to Massachusetts, where she graduated from Walnut Hill in 1946. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Wells College in 1950, and later went on to earn a master’s degree in elementary education (PA Teacher’s Certificate) from Lehigh University and also in-service graduate credits in developing children’s oral language. Cynthia was married to Paul Henritzy in 1953 in a ceremony performed by her father at Rowankill Farm, their home in Bath, PA. They lived in Clarks Summit, PA, later moving to Dallas, PA, where their children were born, and then to Bethlehem. Cynthia’s many jobs included assistant nursery school teacher, clerical worker for the Union Church in Illinois, editorial assistant for the Commerce Clearing House in Chicago, and case worker for the Lehigh County Children's Aid Society before marriage. While raising her family, she worked as a substitute teacher, tutor, and guidance aide at East Hills Junior High School and as a teacher's aide at
elementary schools in the Bethlehem Area School District, before retiring in 1992. Community involvement included leadership in various women’s organizations, Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout assistant, Co-Chairman of the Education Committee of the American Association of University Women, and service on the board of the Lehigh Valley Society of Crippled Children & Adults. She was a recipient of the Humanitarian Service Award from the United Cerebral Palsy Association. She volunteered at Phoebe Nursing Home, in Allentown, PA, receiving the Deaconess Award in 1995 for starting the music listening program. She also visited residents at Gracedale Nursing Home. Cynthia enjoyed playing tennis, painting, watching and identifying the types of birds attracted to her backyard birdhouses, and spending time with her grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband, Cynthia is survived by their three children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
MARY LILA WHITE GREGG ’49
passed away peacefully in her home on September 29, 2023, at the age of 93, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was born and raised in Waban, MA. During the summers, Mary Lila and her family rented farms in
and around Brattleboro, VT, and in 1942 bought a farm on Stoney Hill in Guilford, VT. Her father was an avid antique car collector, and Mary Lila loved sharing stories of learning how to drive in a Model T as her mom hid behind the barn. At 19 years old, Mary Lila drove in a race in Greenfield, MA, proudly beating out the other women. After Walnut Hill, she attended Bradford Junior College and then the School of Nursing at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where she met Michael Gregg. After graduating with a B.S. in nursing, Mary Lila married Mike in 1958 and began what would become an eventful life together. They lived for a short time in Hamilton, MT, then moved to Baltimore, MD, where their first daughter, Pamela, was born. Mike then took a job with the Public Health Service and off they went to Lahore, Pakistan, where their second daughter, Marianne, was born. Eventually, they landed in Atlanta, GA, where they lived for 35 years and their third daughter, Jennifer, was born. Mary Lila became the chaperone all the classmates wanted on field trips, a fearless Girl Scout leader, and an all-around wonderful mother and wife, while also traveling all over the world with Mike. Upon his retirement, he and Mary Lila moved up to the farm in Guilford. Reestablishing her roots
there, she volunteered with several local groups: Guilford Cares, Windham Child Care, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and Meals on Wheels. She fulfilled her endless curiosities, such as driving a bulldozer, working as a short-order cook, driving a tractor-trailer truck, and trying her hand at blacksmithing. A busy member of the Guilford Community Church, she supported its annual Christmas Bazaar with a donation of an American Girl doll for their raffle for over 15 years. Mary Lila will be remembered as a funny, generous, loving woman. Predeceased by her husband, she is survived by their three daughters, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
PATRICIA “PAT” DELANEY
SNIDER ’50 passed away on October 28, 2023, at CC Young Senior Living in Dallas, TX, after a slow decline with dementia. She was 91 years old. Born in Ada, OK, she was the youngest of three sisters by 20 years. Pat made friends easily, whether playing marbles with boys in grade school or inviting out-of-town girls over to swim, who were visiting relatives nearby. Beginning in junior high, she enjoyed grooming and riding her horse, Traveler, on a daily basis. Like her sister Phyllis Delaney Sturman ’38, Pat attended Walnut Hill; she then transferred to Holland Hall in Tulsa, OK, for her senior year,
graduating valedictorian in 1950. That summer, Pat attended a frat party at OU and was introduced to her late husband, William Stephen “Steve” Snider. She attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in journalism. While at OU, she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, the OU Union Activities Board, and the Mortar Board. In 1954, Steve and Pat married and resided in a five-floor walkup in New York City. She was a copywriter at J. Walter Thompson, and in 1956 she joined the nascent organization Keep America Beautiful, managing media promotion and special projects, including the first public service announcements. In 1959, Steve joined Bloom Advertising in Dallas, and Pat soon followed and continued working for Keep America Beautiful. They had two children. In 1960, Steve and Pat formed Steve Snider, Inc., a commercial construction firm, later specializing in custom residences. They were members of Brook Hollow Golf Club, season ticket holders of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years, and devoted church congregants. Pat was a member of the Crystal Charity Ball and served on the Altar Guild and Vestry at St. Michael's Church. Integrity, loyalty, and a sharp mind were hallmarks of her personal and professional life. In
1977, she became business manager at St. Michael's and oversaw construction of the Henning Hall Educational Building. In 1981, she joined The Hockaday School as business manager and head of operations, overseeing multiple capital construction projects. Ahead of its time, she started a summer computer camp in 1984, by asking Texas Instruments to supply computers and instruction. Since the 1950s, Pat and Steve loved visiting and sailing around Mount Desert Island, ME. Pure joy for Pat was spending 43 summers with her children and grandchildren on Little Cranberry Island, off Mount Desert, where her neighbors fondly watched her mow the lawn every week until she was 84 years old. Predeceased by her husband and son, Pat is survived by her daughter, two granddaughters, and nieces and nephews.
JOAN VINCENT
DONELAN ’51 passed away on September 30, 2023, at the age of 91. Born in Norwood, MA, she grew up in Falmouth Heights. MA, where she passed many years appreciating the beauty of Martha's Vineyard Sound. After Walnut Hill, she went to Colby-Sawyer Junior College, where she earned an associate degree. Upon graduation, Joan met her husband, Thomas Donelan Jr., on Falmouth Heights Beach and
started a family of nine children. Although one child passed away after only two days, Joan raised eight children with love, a strong moral compass, Christian principles, and the importance of education, hard work, generosity, and kindness to all. During the family’s years in New Canaan, CT, she volunteered at the St. Aloysius Church fundraising drives (making donuts), driving the elderly to church, and helping on Election Day, all while raising her children. She always had time, skill, and enthusiasm for those in need. She was an accomplished nature photographer, seamstress, and cook, especially as a baker of apple and blueberry pies. Joan was an authentic patriot and proud of her country, and she enjoyed a raucous celebration at her house for all the July 4th celebrations in Falmouth. Predeceased by her husband and three of their daughters, Joan is survived by her remaining children, 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, with more on the way.
JACQUELINE “JACKIE”
BAINE KEELEY ’57 passed away on September 14, 2023, at the age of 84, following a long illness. Born in Cambridge, MA, Jackie grew up in Weston, MA, attending local schools prior to her graduation from Walnut Hill. She was presented to society at the Country Ball in Concord, MA. After
receiving an A.A. degree from Marymount College, Jackie relocated to New York City, where she became employed in corporate human resources responsibilities. In one memorable assignment, she was associated with the global cosmetics firm Helena Rubenstein, Inc., while the flamboyant founder was still active in management; working with “Madame” was unique. In NYC, she met her future husband at a gathering of mutual friends. They married in 1965 and began a 58-year journey together. They moved to Darien, CT, in 1968, where Jackie became active with the Yellow Balloon Thrift Shop and other Junior League programs, played tennis, and later devoted herself to the Darien Community Association. Elected to its Board of Directors, she directed the DCA’s philanthropic activities and co-managed its annual Holiday Bazaar craft show fundraiser. An attentive mother to her three children, she was noted for hosting holiday gatherings for large numbers of extended family members. An appetite for travel motivated numerous family adventures, and eventually a second home was added in Colorado ski country. Retirement years found Jackie and Ed relocating to the warmer climes of Hilton Head Island, SC, and taking many cruises to destinations around the world. In
addition to her husband, Jackie is survived by their three children, two granddaughters, two great-grandsons, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
ANN GOUGER DAVIS
’57
passed away in her home in East Hampton, NY, on May 7, 2024, at the age of 84. Born in New Castle, PA, she grew up on the Gouger family farm in Pennsylvania and on Long Island. At Walnut Hill, according to her family, she won 12 of the 13 awards presented to graduating seniors at the annual award ceremony. She then attended Vassar College, where she was introduced to her roommate’s twin brother, George H. Davis, whom she married in 1961. The
DANA CHANG '25 passed away on April 11, 2024. Born on April 5, 2007, in Brookline, MA, she was the loving daughter of John and June Chang and younger sister of Dayoon. Following in her sister’s footsteps, she picked up a violin at age 2. From that moment on, Dana showed incredible dedication, determination, and will, leading to her acceptance at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Her motivation in violin came to fruition when she won First Place at the 2018 Massachusetts Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Bay State Competition and Third Place at the 2021 New England Conservatory (NEC) Preparatory School Concerto Competition. Dana was also an avid member of the Chamber Music Intensive Preparatory Seminar (CHIPS) and the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra at New England Conservatory. Before her passing, Dana won First Place at the 2023 Boston Civic Symphony Concerto Competition, and as a result, she performed as a soloist with the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra in Jordan Hall.
Dana not only embraced playing the violin but also developed a passion for figure skating, participating multiple years in the New England Regional Championships before attending Walnut Hill.
newlyweds relocated to Illinois, where Ann earned her M.A.T. in English and George earned his Ph.D. in American history at the University of Chicago. Ann taught English at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Illinois from 1962 to 1966 before the couple moved to Crawfordsville, IN. During her early years there, she taught at Purdue University, gave birth to two children, and excelled as a stay-at-home mom. She served on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood of Lafayette, and the Montgomery County Youth Services Bureau. She was a member of the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, chair of the Crawfordsville United Fund, and chair of the Crawfordsville Commission on the Status of Women. Switching
gears in 1975, she earned a J.D. degree and practiced law in Indiana for 25 years. After retiring in 2004, she and her husband relocated to East Hampton, where she continued to serve her community. Ann is survived by her husband, their two children, and four granddaughters.
ELIZABETH “BETSEY”
FRENCH VANGUNDY ’65
passed away on August 4, 2023, of Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gregg; two children; and two granddaughters.
ANDREA M. HERRICK ’87
passed away at home on June 15, 2023, at age 54, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Born in Boston, she graduated from Salve Regina with a bachelor's
degree in microbiology, Framingham State College with a bachelor's degree in nursing, and St. Joseph School of Nursing. Andrea was a phlebotomist at Leonard Morse Hospital in Framingham, MA, before becoming a labor and delivery nurse at Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford, MA, where she loved taking care of mothers and their babies. She was the recipient of a Nurse of Distinction Award in 2014 through MRMC for her dedication, bedside manner, and compassion. Prior to MRMC, Andrea was a member of the Board of Registrars in Millville, MA, for many years. She had a love of seeing the world and made many friends during her travels. Predeceased by her father, she is survived by her mother; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and devoted friends.
JOHN BYRNES
Walnut Hill has lost a dedicated supporter in John Byrnes, who with his wife of 56 years, Mollie Tower Byrnes ’63, has added immeasurably to the School’s growth and success. Together, John and Mollie used their philanthropy to strengthen organizations that helped those who needed assistance in bettering their lives as well as cultural organizations that gave educational outreach to the community.
John passed away on November 9, 2023, just four days shy of his 80th birthday, after an eight-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Boston, he graduated from Stoughton High School and attended Emerson College. He then decided to enlist in the US Army. After basic training, he was sent to Germany for a few years, where he learned programming in the early days of computers. That was the start of his long career in high tech. He started out as a salesperson in several computer companies and rose to be regional sales manager.
John met his future wife in Boston at work. They lived in the Boston area until near retirement. In 2000, they moved to Cape Ann, which became their favorite place with its people, scenery, and cultural organizations.
John's many interests included travel, concerts, plays, art, gardening, reading everything he could lay his hands on,
poker, and being with people. He was witty with a great sense of humor. He served as a trustee on the Pathways for Children board, the Tower Foundation board, the Rockport Music Council, and the Essex County Community Foundation Council. In addition to his wife, John is survived by two sons and a granddaughter.
ALBERT “AL” ARTHUR FALLON
passed away on May 24, 2023, at the young age of 79. Father of Dr. Michele Fallon Scott ’90, Al was born near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and lived in Yeadon and Upper Darby, PA, until the family moved to Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. He grew up there and spent high school vacations in Abqaiq until entering college in Florida. Albert started his working career with the Pennsylvania Railroad. After honorably serving with the Army Scout Dogs in Vietnam, he went to school to become an electrical designer and worked at that until hired by Saudi Aramco, in Saudi Arabia, where he worked as an electrical inspector until his retirement in 1999. An avid bowler from his teen years until 2018, his nickname was Bionic Man because of the gadgets he wore on his wrist and arm and his winning scores. While in Arabia, he played softball and coached Little League Baseball. He was also quite good at racquetball. The love he had for his family was unsurpassed.
He was a gentleman's gentleman, quiet, kind, and well liked. Albert is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Karen Fallon; the two grew up together in Saudi Arabia and knew each other since 1956. He is also survived by Michele and her brother, Stewart; three grandsons; and a niece, a nephew, grandnieces, and cousins.
RICHARD FAULSTICH
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Faulstich, father of Julie Faulstich, who served for many years at Walnut Hill as Head of the English Department, Academic Dean, and Assistant Head of School. A veteran of the Korean War, Richard became an accomplished business executive, culminating in a role at the international headquarters of the Raytheon Corporation and serving as a faculty member at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. Richard is survived by his wife, Ann McCarthy Faulstich; two daughters; two granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.
Congratulations to the Class of 2024
Walnut Hill’s 131st graduating class had a week of senior activities before the penultimate graduation ceremony. On the Friday before graduation, Walnut Hill held their annual awards ceremony celebrating the students' academic, social, and artistic achievements. This year featured the inaugural Dana Chang ‘25 Friendship Award named after Walnut Hill junior Dana Chang ’25 who passed unexpectedly on April 12, 2024 (see page 40). The recipient of the award was Soleil Vailes, who also received the Hester R. Davies Citizenship Cup Award for exceptional citizenship at Walnut Hill. Among the other award recipients were Owen Price receiving the Joanna Rappaport '96 Award for resilience and determination, and Zijing Bloom Wu receiving the Smith College Book Award for academic excellence.
Graduation morning was beautiful—the sun shone on the Hill as our cap-and-gown-clad seniors
processed with faculty down to the tent on the field, with an enthusiastic crowd of friends and family members there to greet them. We were welcomed by Board Chair Jenny Toolin McAuliffe P’15 and Head of School Eric Barber before hearing uplifting addresses from our featured speakers: Senior Speaker and Visual Artist Lily Fonseca '24, and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Linda Hughes, who presented her Commencement address, “Mama Linda's 7 Essential Life Lessons.” Speeches were interspersed with musical interludes from Music students, Theater students, and faculty. After the presentation of diplomas and the turning of the tassel, our new graduates celebrated out on the field with family and friends. Barber, in his opening remarks, said: "One of the things I love about your class is that you know how much of a true privilege it is to be here. You are not entitled; you see the world in abundance rather than scarcity. Possibilities rather than
Class of 2024 Acceptance and Matriculation
COLLEGE/ CONSERVATORY
AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American International College
American University
The American University of Paris
Arizona State University
Ball State University
Bard College
Bard Conservatory
Berklee College of Music
Binghamton University
Boston Conservatory
Boston University
Brandeis University
Butler University
California College of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
California State University, Northridge
California State University, San Bernardino
Carnegie Mellon University
Central Saint Martins
Champlain College
Chapman University
Chelsea College of Arts
Cleveland Institute of Music
Coastal Carolina University College for Creative Studies
College of Charleston
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia University
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Cornell University
Dean College
Denison University
DePaul University
Dickinson College
Drew University
Drexel University
Eastman School of Music
Elon University
Emerson College
Emory University
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Fashion Institute of Technology
Fordham University
Framingham State University
George Mason University
Gordon College
Hampshire College
Harvard University (NEC Dual Degree Program)
Hofstra University
Howard University
Indiana University
Ithaca College
Johnson & Wales University
The Juilliard School
Kenyon College
Lasell University
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark College
LIM College
Louisiana State University
Loyola Marymount University
Maine College of Art & Design
Manhattan College
Manhattan School of Music
Mannes College (The New School)
Marist College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Marymount Manhattan College
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
McGill University
Merrimack College
Miami University–Oxford
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
Molloy University
Muhlenberg College
The New England Conservatory of Music
New York University
Norfolk State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Oberlin Conservatory
Otis College of Art of Design
Pace University
Parsons School of Design (The New School)
Pennsylvania State University
Point Park University
Pratt Institute
Purdue University
Quinnipiac University
Reed College
Regent’s University London
Rhode Island School of Design
Rice University
Rider University
Ringling College of Art and Design
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rollins College
Roosevelt University
Rutgers University
Salem State University
San Diego State University
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art & Design
The School of Drama (The New School)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of Visual Arts
Scripps College
Skidmore College
Spelman College
Springfield College
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY Oswego
Syracuse University
Temple University
Texas Christian University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of Buffalo
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado
Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Hartford
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Maine
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of New England
University of New Hampshire
University of Rhode Island
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
The University of Tampa
University of the Arts (PA)
University of the Arts
London
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Washington–Seattle
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Ursinus College
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wagner College
Western Michigan University
Western New England University
Wheaton College (MA)
Xavier University of Louisiana
COMPANY
Alonzo King LINES Ballet Trainee
American Contemporary Ballet Company
Ballet Austin Trainee
Ballet Met Trainee
Boston Ballet Graduate Program
Boston Ballet II
Cincinnati Ballet Trainee
English National Ballet School
GradPro International
Joffrey Ballet Trainee
Philadelphia Ballet Trainee
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Program
Richmond Ballet Trainee
Royal Winnipeg Ballet Aspirant Program
Sacramento Ballet Trainee
Sarasota Ballet Trainee
State Street Ballet Trainee
Texas Ballet Theatre Trainee
