Mrs. Sweeney, known to many Belmont Hill students and faculty as a role model, biology teacher, and rowing coach, outside of academics has pursued music, starting in her childhood. Growing up, Mrs. Sweeney learned the piano but has since come to love the French horn, stating, “I want to pick it up and get involved in a local orchestra.” Her main musical interests as a child were pop and classical rock and artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, BTO, The Who, The Doors, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin. As Mrs. Sweeney transitioned into college, she was exposed to other genres of music, such as Southern Rock, leading her to book bands. Today, country music has become a part of Mrs. Sweeney’s appreciation of music. Songs such as “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Elish, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John, and “Galileo” by the Indigo Girls speak to her due to the intricate melodies and harmonies weaved into the poetic lyrics of the songs. These in turn have inspired Mrs. Sweeney to make “being part of a group…a more significant part of my life.”
As a musician, Mrs. Sweeney’s most memorable highlight occurred in her junior year of high school. According to her, she “was chosen to play with the United States Marine Corps orchestra.” This orchestra had arrived in her town and was performing while there. At the beginning of the concert, “they had a spotlight on me, and as I walked over to the horn section,” as an officer, “stood up so I could take his place.” This experience to her was “one of my greatest privileges.” Since then, Mrs. Sweeney has continued playing in bands and orchestras within her community. Before coming to Belmont Hill, she taught at Worcester Academy, where she played with the Assumption College Band. In addition to playing a variety of sports games, such as football and basketball, in this band, she joined a brass choir for services on Sundays.
To Mrs. Sweeney, music is irreplaceable. As she puts it, “Everyone should find music that they like. It brings a different kind of joy.” Music brings people together, is as strong a remedy as any medicine, and, most importantly, brings a feeling of freedom and life into one’s life. Mrs. Sweeney experienced this, especially while playing in the Belmont Hill orchestra a few years ago. “It was one of my favorite times at Belmont Hill. I felt like a musician, not a teacher…It was fantastic to get out of the classroom and make music with the talented students in the orchestra.” These experiences are what make music so meaningful to her. As a way to bring this out-of-world feeling to her audiences, in her performances, Mrs. Sweeney aims for “people to enjoy the music and have it make them feel like I do when I play it: joy.”
