By Chloe Frantzis
Managing Editor of Arts
This past Wednesday at 7:30 pm, Newton South’s Madrigals, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band performed their selections for this year’s MICCA festival.
The MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association) festival is an annual concert that middle and high school musicians from all over Massachusetts attend to play in front of a select panel of judges in hopes of taking home a gold medal, which will guarantee them a performance slot at Symphony Hall as well.
To start off the night, Madrigals performed a slow moving, elegant song in Italian called, “Il Bianco e Dolce Cigno.” Next they sang a piece which was accompanied by a pianist called, “Across the Vast Eternal Sky,” which was also very graceful and flowing. The Madrigals then ended their portion of the show with an energetic, upbeat tune called “Joshua Fit the Battle.”
Next went the Orchestra who first played an iconic, well known string piece called,“Die Feldermaus Overture” accompanied by a few select wind instruments and percussion. They then played several more extended pieces just with string instruments.
The Wind Ensemble, which consists of select members from the Symphonic Band, followed the Orchestra with three pieces: the first classic march called “Second Suite” and then a much calmer and serene song called “Salvation is Created.” Lastly, they played “Mendelssohn Overture”, which is another slow piece with drawn out chords.
To wrap up the night, the Symphonic band opened their portion of the show with a bang playing a lively march called, “The Royal Air Force March.” They then took a turn and played a piece called “At Morning’s First Light” which, as the name suggests, captures the noises heard at the break of dawn. Lastly, after many fantastic performances, the Band closed with a five movement piece called “Color.”
Band director Lisa Linde states that overall, “the concert went very well,” but she also believes that the band is “not as prepared as we should be for MICCA.”
Sophomore Josh Kos explains that this was probably “because of bad scheduling. The band hadn’t played anything as a full group since the week before, and so we weren’t as prepared.”
“Of course it sounds good to the audience,” says Linde, “but the judges and players can definitely hear the little places where we messed up.”
Unfortunately the stakes are much higher at MICCA and there is little room for error, so not being unprepared now can become an issue.
“Like most concerts, there are parts that were good, and other parts that we have done better in rehearsal,” senior Emma Henderson said. “I think the key for us for MICCA is being able to bring everything we have worked on and learned from our performance in the concert. Overall, the concert was a really good learning experience.”
Although there were a few mishaps during the concert, Kos believes that the band only has “a few minor things to touch up upon, but we will certainly be ready [for MICCA].”
Orchestra and Madrigals will perform at MICCA this Friday, April 1. The Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will also be playing this same weekend, but on Sunday, April 3 instead in Lexington. All family and friends are welcomed and encouraged to come cheer them on.
For videos of the concert, click here.
