WHS students participate in annual District Festival Five students performed in Southeastern District's annual event

By Gianna Pompeo Staff Writer

Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA)

Junior and Senior District Festivals are state-wide music programs that require auditions and acceptances in order for students to take part in them.

From Walpole, five students were accepted into the Junior and Senior Southeastern District Festivals from orchestra, chorus and band. Senior Zoe Jagelski was accepted into the senior orchestra for viola and received an All-State recommendation based off of her audition score. Seniors Aden Levenson and Gianna Pompeo, both of whom also received AllState recommendations, were accepted into the senior chorus ensemble along with junior Arvind Narayan. Lastly, freshman Julianna Avelar was accepted into the junior band ensemble.

This year’s district festival was Levenson’s first time audi- tioning for it and also participating in it. Although auditioning for districts is no easy task, he still approached it with an open mind and a willing attitude, which led to a positive festival experience.

“It was a great experience. I got to sing with over 200 people, so it was fun to participate in a chorus with people from all over the Southeastern District,” said Levenson.

All within 48 hours, students learn new music with a conductor that they do not know. On Friday Jan. 6, students who were accepted into the festival attended a rehearsal at Somerset Berkley

Regional High School from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m under the supervision of WHS orchestra teacher, Andrew Bedrossian. During this rehearsal, the WHS students met up with accepted students from schools within the Southeastern District of Massachusetts. Singers and instrumentalists alike rehearsed for hours, preparing for their performance the next day.

On Saturday Jan. 7, the students departed with WHS band teacher, Tim Flemming, from Walpole at 7:40 a.m. in order to rehearse their repertoire one more time before their concerts. At 1 p.m., the con- certs of Jazz Band, Treble Choir and Mixed Choir began. After those concerts finished, Orchestra and Symphonic Band performed their concerts at 3 p.m. WHS chorus teacher, Kendra Nutting, was chosen to be the manager of the Southeastern District Treble Choir Ensemble this year. As manager, Nutting’s job consisted of finding a conductor, picking the program, ordering the music, organizing the singers, finding accompanists and maintaining timelines and organization.

“I think the festival went amazing. This was the first normally functioning festival we have had in two years. I’m proud of [the students] for working together under such a short time span,” said Nutting. Within the choruses, the orchestra and the band groups, the success was spread throughout the festival’s ensembles as each group was able to learn their music and perform it all within 48 hours.