Renowned artists Emily Martin-Moberly and Jill Arbetter performed.

Submitted by Stacy Routhier, Watkinson School

On Friday Sept. 5, 2014, Watkinson School in Hartford officially installed Teri Schrader as the 10th Head of School.  

Peter Lisi of West Hartford and Watkinson Board of Trustee Chair with Teri Schrader New Head of Watkinson School. Submitted photo.

During the ceremony Board President Peter Lisi of West Hartford formally charged Schrader with the Head of School’s duties as outlined in the school’s bylaws. 

Noted guests included opera singer Emily Martin-Moberley ’90 and violinist Jill Arbetter ’85.

Ms. Martin-Moberly has been performing professionally for the last 10 years with such companies as The Santa Fe Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Palm Beach Opera and Opera Grand Rapids and she often appears in concert, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall as well as appearing as a soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Currently a Visiting Professor of Music in voice and opera at Bucknell University, Ms. Martin-Moberly returned to Watkinson to honor Schrader (her former teacher) by performing an aria.  

Ms. Arbetter is currently deputy director of Skinner Auctioneers Fine Musical Instruments department with a particular focus on artist relations, played a piece on her violin. Prior to Skinner, Jill owned and directed Arbetter Artists, an artist management agency in Zurich, Switzerland with more than twelve conductors and instrumentalists under contract. She also presented international tours for the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Belgrade Philharmonic, the Budapest Concert Orchestra, and numerous other orchestras throughout Europe.  

Brandonlee Cruz of East Hartford and Watkinson Student Trustee represented the Watkinson upper school and Lily Toomey and Michael Francalangia of West Hartford spoke on behalf of the middle school. Each spoke of Schrader’s leadership and their excitement to have her as the new Watkinson School Head.

West Hartford residents Michael Francalangia and Elizabeth Toomey and 8th graders at Watkinson stand with Teri Schrader. Submitted photo.

Schrader succeeds John Bracker, who announced in the spring of 2013 that he accepted the position of Head of School for the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, CA, after a 17-year tenure at Watkinson. Schrader’s appointment marks her return to Watkinson as she began as Director of Theatre and became Director of the school’s prestigious Creative Arts Program from 1982 to 1996.  Schrader will be the tenth head since Watkinson’s founding in 1881. She was selected by a Search Committee composed of trustees, administrators, parents, and faculty members, with the aid of the educational consulting firm, Gregory Floyd & Associates, Inc.

 

Hartford’s oldest independent school, Watkinson is a co-ed day school for grades 6-PG.  The school’s next open house for prospective students is Oct. 18, at 1 p.m.