by Jennie Oemig
CHELMSFORD – This year, many of Chelmsford’s band, chorus, and orchestra students have worked diligently with their ensemble and private lesson teachers to prepare for state-level music events, including the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) Northeast District Junior District Festival.
After auditions of approximately 1,000 students from more than 95 public and private schools on January 27, students from grades seven through nine were selected to participate in the prestigious MMEA Northeastern Junior District Festival.
The program is offered by the MMEA as an enrichment opportunity providing a musical experience to dedicated young musicians. The students were selected to perform in the Junior District Concert Band, Orchestra, SSA Treble Chorus, and SATB Concert Chorus. They will rehearse with guest conductors and then perform in a concert to be held at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield, MA on March 16.
This year, 36 students from Chelmsford High School and McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford have been selected to participate in the MMEA Northeast Junior District Festival!
CPS Students Selected to Participate in the MMEA Junior District Festival:
Chelmsford High School
Lou Bergeron, String Bass, Orchestra
Caleb Cohen, String Bass, Orchestra
Isabel Coulsey, Alto, SSA
Ever Drewicz, Tenor, SATB
Ethan January, Oboe, Band
Liam January **, Trumpet, Orchestra
Xander Krikorian, Trumpet, Band
Teagan Krochune, Alto, SSA
Alex Kurth, Tenor, SATB
Sidney Masterson, Alto, SSA
Gabe Rosen, Euphonium-Baritone, Band
Jackson SooHoo***, Mallets, Jazz
Lindsay Spengler, Alto, SSA
Charlotte Vitt, Flute, Band
Molly Zeng, Tenor, SATB
McCarthy Middle School
Henry Brennan, Tenor, SATB
Julia DeSimone, Soprano, SSA
Tejas Devarasetty, Tenor, SATB
Kevin Hennessey, Trumpet, Band
Connor January*, Baritone Saxophone, Band
Diya Karthik, Soprano, SSA
William LaCava, Trombone, Band
Emma Marino, Soprano, SATB
Jack McCreery, String Bass, Orchestra
Aarvi Patel, Soprano, SSA
Reva Pendharkar, Soprano, SATB
Charlotte Rice, Soprano, SSA
Bethany Rijo, Alto, SSA
Lauren Rutherford, Soprano, SSA
Sreekanta Saha, Tenor, SATB
Riya Sarode, Soprano, SSA
Lucy Sheehan, Alto, SSA
Lars Skoog, Tuba, Band
Riya Surapaneni, Soprano, SSA
Amrutha Thota, Soprano, SSA
Andrew Ulgana, String Bass, Orchestra
*Denotes first chair position (principal player)
** Denotes band student selected for orchestra
***Denotes band student selected for jazz
The McCarthy and CHS ensemble directors worked diligently to facilitate their students’ auditions and develop their musical skills and knowledge. These directors are:
Kate Comeau, CHS Orchestra Amanda Roeder, CHS Chorus Matthew Sexauer, CHS Band Luke Miller, McCarthy Orchestra
Jodi Richardson, McCarthy Chorus Vincent DeStefano, McCarthy Band
Special thanks to Chelmsford Friends of Music; this organization generously covers registration fees of students participating in the Junior District Festival.
For more information, please contact Christy Whittlesey, Fine and Performing Arts Department Coordinator, at whittleseyc@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.
