School of HONK is looking to find a new home, not just for Sunday afternoon sessions, but to expand our programming, meeting additional days and times of the week, to better meet our community’s aspirations and schedules. Imagine a potluck dinner after every Sunday session, or monthly Saturday night showcases, regular weekday sectionals, small group tutorials, advanced workshops, and other ensemble opportunities… with a full-time home, the possibilities seem endless! But finding the right place remains a challenge for us, so we’re reaching out for help.

Here’s an overview of what we’re looking for in a new home, somewhere in the Camberville or surrounding area. If you’ve got an idea, or other questions, drop us a line at schoolofhonk@gmail.com

Location:

* close to some public / commercial / neighborhood spaces, with built-in ad-hoc neighborhood audiences nearby for parading/performing

* easy car and public transit access

Space:

* at least one room with 120+ person capacity, with at least 10 ft high ceiling, not too “live”/echoey

* half a dozen separate medium-sized break-out rooms

* dedicated storage room

* accessibility – prefer ground floor or elevator access

* outdoor option as well on / near premises for warmer weather practices

Availability:

* Sunday afternoon and evenings, as well as weekday nights and ideally Saturdays as well

* no foreseeable noise issues with abutters for these hours

Lease: 

* negotiable, but would consider $1K-$2K/month depending on space and availability

* we would consider partnering with another organization, if their mission and values align with ours or a time-share with an entity that has extra/unused space outside of “business hours”/weekday 9-5 they can offer for our program

Join us on February 7th for School of HONK’s “Fat Sunday” Mardi Gras celebration! We will have an extended session on Sunday, from 3-7pm at First Church Somerville (89 College Ave).

And in conjunction with our business-as-usual, we’re excited to announce First Sunday Dance Parties! On the first Sunday of every month we will have dance mentors on-hand to lead dancers of all levels in some easy and powerfully fun dances. New and experienced, shy or bold, poised or wacky dancers are all welcome! (School of HONK musicians will practice and play per usual, but are also invited to put down their horns as they wish to do some dancing!)

There’ll be music, there’ll be dancing, there’ll be gumbo… come enjoy the festivities, and bring friends!

 

Photo by Leonardo March

www.mneyid.com

School of HONK’s online campaign went LIVE today. And just a few hours in, we’ve already raised more than 10% of our $5,000 goal, to help fund our 2016 plans, including afterschool, weeknight sectionals, and other additional opportunities to play.

Check out Patrick Johnson’s great video, and our nifty perks for donors to our year end campaign.

And please post on Facebook, forward this email to your friends and family, and shout it from the nearest available rooftop (if it’s safe)!

Our very first meeting (at sprout) was October 26, 2014. Since then, we have met up to play together every single Sunday (and sometimes other days) since those humble but very promising beginnings.

To celebrate, we went for an amazing parade to Crescent St in Cambridge, to help our neighbors really crank up the party. Tricks, treats and a lotta brass. Then we returned home for birthday cake, videos and memories of our first year passed.

(Photo by Leonardo March. For more, check out Leo’s other photos in our Flickr album.)

Those of us who traveled to HONK!TX have compiled pictures, videos, memories, and thank you’s to share with each other, the world, and our School of HONK bandmates who didn’t get to travel with us.

Check it out here.

On Tuesday, Sept 1 at 5 pm, School of HONK invites street musicians and performers to join us for a loud and proud musical parade from Central Square to Cambridge City Hall, to open a City Council committee meeting about busking and street performance policies, hosted by Councillor Nadeem Mazen. It’s a great opportunity to show our friends and neighbors and city officials what’s at stake in reclaiming and protecting the most public of spaces for street musicians and performers.

We’ll congregate at 5 pm in Lafayette Square (south of Central Square T, across from the fire station).

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TO: Interested Person(s)

FROM: Paula M. Crane
Deputy City Clerk
City Clerk’s Office

DATE: August 25, 2015

SUBJECT: Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee

Please be advised that Councillor Mazen, Chair of the Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee, has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sullivan Chamber, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.

The purpose of this hearing to discuss the city’s street performance, artist coordination, and busking policies. The meeting will engage local and Greater Cambridge artists in conversation with a view to increasing opportunities for public performance, while decreasing any barriers to entry that currently exist. Musicians will also be giving brief performances to conclude the meeting.

Your attention in this matter is greatly appreciated.

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Photo by Leonardo March