News

CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (January 30, 2024) – 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 Jan. 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 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.

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.