Chelmsford High School, Middle School Ensembles Capture Eight Medals at 2023 MICCA Festival
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CHS Symphonic Band, Orchestra, McCarthy Festival Band, Parker Festival Orchestra earn silver medals
CHELMSFORD, MA (May 1, 2023) – Eight musical ensembles from Chelmsford Public Schools were awarded medals at the 2023 Massachusetts Instrumental and Chorus Conductors Association (MICCA) Concert Band and Orchestra Festival, held from Apr. 5-7.
The Festival attracted more than 100 ensembles statewide and was held at several different venues around greater Boston. Ensembles that participated were judged on qualities such as tone, balance and blend, intonation, expression style and phrasing, rhythm precision and repertoire among other rubrics.
Ensembles were awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals according to the rubrics.
The Chelmsford High School Symphonic Band, led by conductor/director Matt Sexauer, and the CHS Orchestra, led by Kate Comeau, each received silver medals while the CHS Treble Choir and Concert Choir, each led by Amanda Roeder, received bronze medals.
Additionally, the McCarthy Middle School Festival Band, led by Sean Wright, and the Parker Middle School Festival Orchestra, led by Lisa Tiano, took home silver medals while the McCarthy Festival Orchestra, led by Luke Miller, received a bronze medal.
The Grade 6-12 All-Town Wind Ensemble, led by Mr. Sexauer and Mr. Wright, also received a silver medal, performing “Alamo March” by Karl King, “Bloom” by Steven Bryant, and “Ruckus” by Randall Standridge at Hopkinton H.S.
The CHS Symphonic Band, performing at Hopkinton H.S., has won medals each year dating back to the 1990s. The CHS band performed “March Ponderoso” by Mr. King, “Solas Ane” by Samuel Hazo, and “K2” by Julie Giroux.
The CHS Orchestra, which appeared at Danvers H.S., performed “Hungarian Dance No. 5” by Johannes Brahms, “Snowberry” by Yukiko Nishimura, and “Acrobats” by Richard Meyer.
The Parker orchestra appeared at King Phillip H.S. and performed “Sahara Crossing” and “Night Shift” by Mr. Meyer, as well as “Voices of the Unheard” by Shawn Johnson (commissioned by Ms. Tiano) for the first time publicly.
The McCarthy Middle School Festival Band led by Mr. Wright appeared at Hopkinton H.S. and performed “Valley Forge March” by Mr. King, “Song of Hope by James Swearingen, and “Blue Ridge Reel” by Brian Balmages.
The CHS Concert Choir and the Treble Choir, both performing at Westborough H.S., each earned bronze medals. The CHS Concert Choir sang “All Too Soon” by Stephen Hatfield, “Jenny” by Nick Myers, and “Neighbors’ Chorus” by Jacques Offenbach. The CHS Treble Choir performed “Lift Thine Eyes to the Mountains” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Weep No More” by David N. Childs, and “And Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sandi Peaslee.
The McCarthy Middle School Festival Orchestra appeared at Danvers H.S. and took home a bronze medal. The McCarthy orchestra performed “Legend of the Night” by Chris Thomas; “Jupiter,” by Gustav Holst (arranged by Deborah Baker Monday), and “Rhapsodic” by Janelle Zook Canalata.
The Parker Middle School Festival Band, which meets after school and is comprised of students in grades 5-8, also performed at Hopkinton H.S. and chose the option of receiving a critique instead of medaling. Led by Eric Linsner, the Parker Band performed “Andalucia” by Victor Lopez, “A Song for Friends” by Larry Daehn, and “Afterburn” by Mr. Standridge.
About Chelmsford Public Schools
The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential. This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students. For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.