News

CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (April 3, 2026) – All four Chelmsford ensembles that participated in the recent Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival earned gold medals, an unprecedented feat in Chelmsford Public Schools’ history.

Dr. Christy Whittlesey, K-12 fine and performing arts coordinator for the district, explained that MICCA is a rigorous, statewide adjudicated festival in which ensembles are evaluated by expert judges on musicality, technique and artistic performance.

“Earning a single gold is a significant accomplishment,” she said. “Four golds across four ensembles, from grade 5 through grade 12, is something our district has never seen before.”

The ensembles and their music directors who were victorious were:

• Grade 5–12 All Town Wind Ensemble — Vinny DeStefano and Matt Sexauer
• Grade 5–6 Parker Middle School Festival Orchestra — Lisa Tiano
• Grade 7–8 McCarthy Middle School Festival Orchestra — Luke Miller
• Chelmsford High School Orchestra — Kate Comeau

“This achievement belongs to the students who dedicated themselves to the work, and to Lisa, Kate, Matt, Vinny and Luke, whose skill and commitment made it possible,” Whittlesey said. “It also reflects the administrative support that makes our music programs strong.”

Sexauer said everyone involved had been working really hard to improve over the past year.

“They played really well and there’s a lot of musical growth from the time we first read the music to performing it,” he said. “You don’t just fall backwards into a gold medal.”

Although Chelmsford High School choir director Amanda Roeder didn’t send an ensemble to the festival this year, she has in the past, and said she is incredibly proud of her colleagues and the students for all their hard work.

“Having done it before, I can tell you their experience in the festival is very much a product of months, if not years of training, and we couldn’t be prouder to have this gold medal streak,” he said.

Comeau said the success this year is a testament to the support student-musicians have been receiving at all levels in the district, from middle school on up.

“If they didn’t have the support at the middle school, we would not be able to perform this music at this level,” she said. “There would be gaps in the knowledge.”

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.