Record numbers of Bromfield musicians have been selected to represent the school in festivals in the 2006–2007 school year. The music department sent, or will send, students to the Central District Music Festival, the New England Music Festival, and Massachusetts All-State Music Festival.
Out of approximately 20 Bromfield students who auditioned for places in the New England Music Festival, seven were selected to participate in the Solo and Ensemble Festival held at the Smith Middle School in Glastonbury, Connecticut December 9. This was the largest number of students Bromfield has ever had in this festival. Students performed an accompanied solo work from the standard repertoire with accompanist Lois Toeppner of Westborough, and also performed in small vocal and instrumental trios and quartets.
Fourteen Bromfield students performed at the Central District Music Festival in Worcester January 13. Out of these performers, nine scored high enough to audition for the All-State Music Festival at the end of January. “That’s the largest number we’ve had ever,” Mr. Reynolds said. “The students have worked hard and it’s something that I think they have taken very seriously.”
Approximately half of the Bromfield students who auditioned for the festival were accepted into the chorus, orchestra, or band. “We’re considered one of the larger contributors of musicians to the festival,” explained band conductor Mr. Reynolds, “[even though] we’re one of the smallest schools that takes part in it.”
The audition process for Central District consisted of performing a piece from a standard method book, playing two scales, and sight-reading a final piece of music, all strengths among Bromfield’s musicians.
“Lydia Maurer got the highest score in the entire district on flute,” Mr. Reynolds said proudly.
Joining Maurer on flute were junior Amy Valladares, senior Kaitlin Zupancic, and freshman Sarah Steranka. “Flute is very competitive,” Reynolds said. “There were 18 [flutists] selected in all, and four were from Bromfield. That’s remarkable and I’m very proud of them.”
In the voice audition, students had to prepare an aria and a chorale, which they performed in front of a judge, while the remaining three parts of the harmony played on tape. “This tests your ability to harmonize and sing a part independently within an ensemble,” explained Emma O’Rourke-Friel, who was accepted into Central District’s chorus.
These students will be some of the 450 students who will visit Bromfield March 15 through 17 for the 80th annual NEMFA Concert Festival, which Bromfield is hosting. One of the concerts will be held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell. This auditorium was also the site of the 8th annual festival held May 27, 1935. The students will form a 250-voice chorus, a 90-piece symphony orchestra, and a 110-piece symphonic band, all conducted by nationally and internationally renowned conductors. Bromfield will be represented in all three ensembles.
Seven Bromfield students performed at the auditions for Massachusetts All-State Music Festival at Littleton High School last Saturday, and five were accepted into the Massachusetts All-State Music Festival, which will be March 22 through 24 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, with the performance in Boston’s Symphony Hall Saturday, March 24. This will be the first year that so many students were accepted into All-State, and, like the New England Music Festival, there will be Bromfield representation in the All-State band, chorus, and orchestra. The audition process for All-State consisted of performing a piece from the standard solo literature, playing one major and one melodic minor scale, and sight-reading a final piece of music, a similar process to the one that these same musicians endured for Central District.
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| (Left to right) Bromfield music teacher Tom Reynolds, Paul Jordan Talbot, Amy Valladares, Kyle Quarles, Vanessa Jacobson, Kristina Kronauer, and Tim Smetana. (Courtesy photo by Charles Kronauer) |
The Performers
New England Music Festival
Amy Valladares, flute; Vanessa Jacobson, clarinet; Timothy Smetana, trumpet; Kristina Kronauer, viola; Paul Jordan Talbot, tenor; Tyler Alderson, tenor; Kyle Quarles, bass.
All-State
Lydia Maurer, flute; Marissa Dickson, violoncello; Mary Ferrillo, viola; Jeffrey Lee, violin; Kelsey Marksteiner, soprano.
Central District
Lydia Maurer, flute; Amy Valladares, flute; Sarah Steranka, flute; Kaitlin Zupancic, flute; Marissa Dickson, violoncello; Mary Ferrillo, viola; Kristina Kronauer, viola, Jeff Lee, violin; Vivian Ferrillo, oboe; Emma O’Rourke-Friel, alto; Alyson Cotton, alto; Lily Narbonne, alto; Kelsey Marksteiner, soprano; Samantha Allen, soprano.
For tickets or further information about the New England Music Festival and the Massachusetts All-State Music Festival, call Bromfield music director Thomas Reynolds at (978) 456-4152, extension 571 or (617) 529-9402.
Part of this article was originally printed in Bromfield’s newspaper, The Mirror.