Kris Russell and I talk about the 15th Anniversary of The Drummers Studio (audio)

FM #1461 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1461 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation about the 15th Anniversary of The Drummers Studio. I talk with Kris Russell, owner, operator, and drummer extraordinaire. We recorded this conversation in the “Honeycomb Hive” or “Chemistry Lab” on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. 

We cover the following in our conversation

• Kris’ journey to Franklin

• Creation of The Drummers Studio

• Educational approach

• 15th Anniversary celebration June 21 at Bellingham High

• Kris gives us about a 2 minute musical sample, the drum track to David Bowie's Let’s Dance song.

The recording runs about 53 minutes

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1461-15th-anniversary-of-the-drummers-studio-05-2825/

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The Drummers Studio -> https://thedrummersstudio.com/ 

Info on the 15th Anniversary celebration at Bellingham High on June 21

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/the-drummers-studio-15th-anniversary.html

Kris plays the drum part of David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, about 2 minutes worth …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbD_kBJc_gI 

Links to some of the items mentioned during our conversation 

• 

  The Drummers' Studio 15th Anniversary Celebration - June 21

  The California based drum corp -> https://muiralumnidrumcorp.org/  (Note: link may not work in all browsers, must be some host based security setting at issue)

• Recent guest to the Studio -> https://www.carlitomendoza.com/ 

• The eclectic drum kits referenced -> https://www.roland.com/us/categories/drums_percussion/v-drums_kits/ 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know 

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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The FSPA Open House includes the Little Music School - Weds, May 21 from 10 AM to 7:30 PM

Little Music School - Weds, May 21

Unique to FSPA, Little Music School teaches children as young as 18 months to play the piano, engaging them from the earliest age in the joys of music-making and exploration of the arts! Under the direction of Kim Rezendes, FSPA is pleased to be the only school in the United States to offer this unique program!

FSPA is excited to host an Open House for prospective students and families this Wednesday from 10 AM - 7:30 PM!

FREE LITTLE MUSIC SCHOOL TRIAL CLASSES

• Little Music School (ages 18 months-3) 3:30-4:00
• Little Music School (ages 4 + 5) 5:00-5:30

~Additional trials available on different days!~

Franklin School for the Performing Arts, 38 Main Street, Franklin ● 508-528-8668

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Check out the DJ party scheduled for the Maha Juice Bar - May 24

Maha Juice Bar DJ party - May 24

Hey Franklin! We are having a DJ party to celebrate the 7th year anniversary of Maha Juice Bar this weekend!

On May 24th from 12-3 PM come enjoy your favorite bites from MJB-Franklin.

We will be serving samples and giving out prizes.

You don’t want to miss this! It’s our way to say Thank You for embracing us from the start!

Saturday May 24th from 12-3 PM

395 E Central St.

Franklin-MA

See you there!— in Franklin.

Shared from -> Facebook post

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, May 18, 2025 ???

Sunday, May 18

7:30am All You Can Eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

11:00am Sunday Brunch (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm 3rd Sunday Music (Franklin Historical Museum)

7:00pm Voice of Faith: Concert of "Hope" (Interfaith Council at Church of Latter-day Saints)

7:00pm Rehearsal for Distinguished Young Women (Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center)

8:00pm Sunday at Sunset (St John's Episcopal Church)

** NO  Town Meetings today   **

 

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What's happening today in Franklin? 

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

School of Rock in Franklin, MA - scheduled to open later this year

School of Rock in Franklin, MA

Looking for Local Events to Sponsor, Set Up a Booth, and Help Promote! 🎉

My name is Philip Regan, and I'm the proud owner of the School of Rock in Franklin, MA — a rock-n-roll music school opening later this year!

I am currently looking for in-person community events where I can:

✅ Sponsor or support your event to our growing local audience

✅ Set up a booth with fun, music-themed activities for kids and families

✅ Pay for booth/vendor space (I'm not asking for freebies — I'm here to contribute!)

If you're organizing a fair, festival, concert, open market, or family-focused gathering, let’s chat. I would love to be part of what makes your event special — and bring some rock & roll energy to the day!

I've already done events at the Holliston Holiday Stroll, Hopedale Winter Stroll, Tri-County Chamber of Commerce Family Fest and Home Show, and will be doing more at the Franklin Strawberry Stroll, and the Hopedale Fairy Walk!

📩 Drop me a message or tag someone who’s planning an event in the following towns: Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Millville, Northbridge, Upton, Wrentham

I really appreciate any leads you send my way!

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EfPdH54uz/

Lowell Folk Festival starts revealing their performer lineup for 2025

2025 THE LOWELL FOLK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST GROUP OF PERFORMERS!

Cajun Legend BeauSoleil, Irish Favorites Solas, Blues Rockers Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, and Bhangra Sensation Red Baraat among the artists set to play this free multi-stage festival July 25-27.

The 2025 Lowell Folk Festival has announced the first group of artists scheduled to perform at one of America’s most popular free summer events. With folk music traditions that span the globe, world-class musicians will bring the world to Downtown Lowell July 25-27 on stages throughout the Mill City.

Lowell Folk Festival

“The Lowell Folk Festival has celebrated the extraordinary spectrum of folk music from around the world for nearly 40 years,” said Art Sutcliffe, Chairman of the Lowell Festival Foundation. “Musicians from Louisiana to Ireland, Colombia to Chicago, Spain to Quebec, and more will share traditions on multiple stages throughout downtown Lowell.”

Featured Performers

• BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet – celebrating their 50th anniversary with Louisiana’s irresistible Cajun music
• Cécilia – bringing Québécois and Celtic music from Eastern Canada
• Crooked Road Revival – honoring Virginia’s Crooked Road with bluegrass, old-time, and gospel
• Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials – classic Chicago blues and house-rockin' energy
• LOS RICOS featuring Sonia & Ismael – intimate, graceful, powerful flamenco traditions
• Red Baraat – a huge brass band sound fusing South Asian, Bollywood, jazz, and hip hop
• Solas – a force in the Irish music scene since debuting at the 1994 Lowell Folk Festival
• Yeison Landero – carrying the legacy of Andrés Landero, king of Colombian cumbia

Check out the lineup with more to be announced at https://lowellfolkfestival.org/

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5 Franklin High School Music Students Perform at Annual All-State Concert

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Director of Visual & Performing Arts Diane Plouffe are pleased to share that five Franklin High School musicians recently performed in the Annual All-State Concert.

Each year, the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) hosts the All-State Concert, featuring performances from some of Massachusetts' best student-musicians in chorus, concert band, jazz band, orchestra, and treble chorus.

Five students in the Franklin High School music program auditioned and were accepted into the All-State Honor Ensembles. The performances took place on March 29 at Symphony Hall in Boston.

Alexander Fioravanti (euphonium) and Sophia Francis Fracassa (French horn) performed in the All-State Band. Chongyu Liu (violin), Abram “Ace” Eagerman (bass), and Emma Anderson (French horn) perform with the All-State Orchestra.

Five Franklin High School students — from left, Emma Anderson, Chongyu Liu, Sophia Francis Fracassa, Abram Eagerman, and Alexander Fioravanti — recently participated in the All-State Concert. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

"I am incredibly proud of our five Franklin High School students who were selected to perform in the All-State Concert," Plouffe said. "This prestigious event brings together the top musicians from across Massachusetts, and it is a true honor for our students to be a part of it."

"Congratulations to our talented Franklin High School student-musicians for this honorable achievement," Superintendent Giguere said. "Performing alongside some of their most talented peers in the state showcases their dedication and artistry and is an experience they can carry with them for years to come."

MICCA showcase recordings - WOW!!! (video)

via Ruthann O'Sullivan:

Good morning! 

I wanted to congratulate our FHS musicians on their performance at the 2025 Gold Medal MICCA Showcase concert.  Performing were the FHS Wind Ensemble, Repertory Orchestra and String Orchestra.  See YouTube link below. This performance was held at the Groton Hill Music Center on Sunday.  It was not only a beautiful venue in which to perform, but it was also an opportunity for the top music programs in the state to hear each other perform and support each other.  It is always a proud moment to be invited to such an elite event.  

It is my hope that we can use this as a reminder of the special music program we have in Franklin.  I've said it before, but this program is not a luxury to have in our schools, it is a necessity. While looking at the program linked above, it is interesting to take note of the schools who earned gold medals.  For the most part, these schools are also some of the highest achieving schools academically.  This is not a coincidence. 

Please continue to fight to protect what we have.  These performances are a result of a supported program K-12.  We have an enormous responsibility to maintain this gem for future generations.  

Our Director, Diane Plouff, received this email from an attendee from Ashland following the performance.

Ms. Plouffe,

 

I attended the MICCA Gold Medal Showcase this afternoon. I heard the FHS Orchestra's performance and was stunned! The emotion and precision with which the students performed moved me, particularly the first piece they performed. I would appreciate it if you would send me the names of the pieces performed today.

 

Please pass along my congratulations! Your students performed remarkably!

 

Diane Umholtz

Vice President

Ashland Music Association

The playlist of performances ->  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9Bs1M9EbM8ggqeQTlauFyOPSRosxzmdE&si=UN96TWL7eVwJaH2R

FHS Musicians bring back MICCA awards

Congratulations to FHS Repertory and Symphony orchestras! Both received gold medals at MICCA!

 

FHS Symphony orchestra

 

FHS Repertory Orchestra

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15ijT4eADL/

 

Congratulations to the FHS Wind Ensemble and Concert band for their Gold and Silver medals at MICCA today!

 

FHS Wind Ensemble

FHS Concert band

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EAX2kTAu3/

FHS All-State Festival Performance at Symphony Hall

"Grit is key to success. Music teaches grit.

FHS All-State Festival Performance at Symphony Hall

FHS students here played in the All-State Festival @ Symphony Hall.

They were inspired, taught to read music, to work to improve & perform under pressure by the brilliant & dedicated music educators Franklin employs.

@TOFranklinMA"
@FranklinPSNews  @FranklinHS @fhspanthertv

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Franklin Historical Museum: The Joy of 12-Tone Music - Sunday, March 30

Beyond Do, Re, Mi -  We Will `Scale New Heights’ of Musical Appreciation with TWO Franklin Music Educators as we discover…

The Joy of 12-Tone Music

Our March "Music at the Museum" program has been rescheduled to March 30. The program offers a deep (but accessible!) dive into 12-tone or serial composition -- a very influential aspect of "modern" music that emerged in Vienna about a century ago and was widely championed by composer Arnold Schoenberg.  Over time, the technique increased greatly in popularity and eventually became widely influential on Mid 20th-century and later composers.

The Joy of 12-Tone Music - March 30

The "joy" of 12-tone music, or dodecaphony, lies in its unique and challenging approach to musical structure, where all 12 notes of the chromatic scale are treated as equally important, leading to a potentially more complex soundscape. Learning about 12-tone music (also known as 12-tone technique or serialism) can offer a new perspective on how music can be organized and can help you develop your creativity across different musical languages as well as your appreciation of modern pop and classical music where 12-tone has been influential.

Using all 12 notes of the chromatic scale equally, avoids the traditional emphasis on a "home" key or tonal center.  Our guides are Franklin native, Randy LaRosa, a multi-instrumentalist who has played with many of the greats – even including Duke Ellington-- and took classes with 12-tone pioneer Karlheinz Stockhausen. He will be joined by Jon Mitchell, a composer (including the Franklin-premiered Opera, Mary Anning: Fossilel Hunter) and retired conductor. Come to be amazed and entertained at this free event at the Franklin Historical Museum, on Sunday, March 30.  

The Museum is open 1-4, program starts at 1:15. 

Open Mic Night; Music & Spoken Word at Brichwood Bakery April 10

4/10 6:30-8:30pm (6:15pm sign up)

Brichwood Bakery April 10

• 15 SLOTS - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
• 2 SONGS OR 8 MIN SPOKEN WORD
PA & CABLES PROVIDED
• GUITAR & MIC INPUTS (NO KEYBOARD OR DRUMS)

Contact JESSI.FANUELE @GMAIL.COM @jessijmusic for details

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