By Gil Alon
Arts Reporter
For the first time in Newton South’s history, the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble earned gold medals at the annual Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival.
Congregating at Lexington High School, bands from around the state performed for a panel of judges, all of them striving for gold.
Eighty students from South embarked on this trip.
“All 80 are in the symphonic band and then 20 of those kids are in the wind ensemble, who then play another three songs,” senior saxophonist Hannah Lass said. “The first song we played was a march, the second was a slower song that featured the clarinets, and the last was a really intricate and long piece called ‘Vesuvius’ that featured a few saxophone solos.”
This year, every band member collaborated to create a beautiful, unique sound with every song, enabling the team to win a gold medal for the first time in its history.
“Everyone really came together,” Lass said.
To make up for all the snow days, all the students had to put in extra practice time on top of their four class periods a week. Upperclassmen displayed their dedication by working with the newer members to help everyone achieve perfection.
“It’s definitely good to have people in the band to look up to. It helps me play better,” freshman Melissa Butchard said. “It was also all the extra rehearsals we put in and everyone’s dedication [that helped us win gold]. We had some rehearsals in the morning on the MCAS days, and one at night. Everyone also just tried to be extra focused during class in the weeks leading up to MICCA.”
By combining their talent with dedication, practice, and a strong sense of community, the Symphonic Band was able to play its way to the gold.
