Eight Student-Musicians Accepted to MMEA Northeastern District Junior Festival
Salem student-musicians to perform at Northeastern District Junior Festival Concert Mar. 16 at Wakefield’s Galvin Middle School
SALEM (Feb. 15, 2023) – Freshman Ethan Roses and eighth-grader Jocelyn Murphy received the highest scores in their categories and led eight Salem Public Schools student-musicians who were accepted to the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Northeastern Junior District Festival, CMS music educator Ben Chertok announced recently.
Mr. Roses, a student at Salem High School, received the highest score District-wide among classical and jazz trumpet players while Ms. Murphy, who attends Collins Middle School, received the highest score among soprano vocalists.
Six other student-musicians will join them at the MMEA Northeast District Junior Festival, including SHS freshman trombonist James Chesley and freshman trumpetist Thrace Dinkel.
Joining Ms. Murphy from Collins Middle School is eighth grader Olivia Baldwin (French horn) and seventh-grade trumpet player Abigail Alley. Saltonstall School eighth-grader Jenna Phelps (flute) and seventh-grader Hannah Phelps (clarinet) were also accepted to the Festival.
Auditions took place on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Tenney Grammar School in Methuen.
The MMEA Northeastern District Junior Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 16 at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield, Mass. The first concert will begin at 10:30 a.m. while the second performance is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Rehearsals are slated for Wednesday, Mar. 13, and Friday, Mar. 15 (3:30-7:30 p.m.), and Saturday morning, Mar. 16 (8:30 a.m.).
The Northeastern District Festival acceptance is the latest musical highlight of a very successful year for SPS student musicians.
In December, 11 SHS students were accepted into the MMEA Northeastern District Senior Festival while three – seniors Will Napierkowski (trumpet), Emi Whitfield (flute) and sophomore Will Towne (tuba) – were accepted into the MMEA All-State Concert Mar. 23 at Symphony Hall in Boston.
Each was part of the SHS Marching Band which earned a gold medal at the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) Fall Final in November.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
