The Medfield High School Jazz Choir performed at the Boston Esplanade Hatch Shell on Sunday, May 15. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
The Medfield High School Concert Band performed at the MICCA Gold Medal Showcase at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday, April 10. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
The Blake Middle School 7th/8th Band performed at the MICCA Gold Medal Showcase at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday, April 10. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools)
MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden is pleased to announce the recent success of several music groups in the Medfield Public Schools.
Music ensembles at both Blake Middle School and Medfield High School received high marks at two statewide festivals this spring. Students took part in both the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival and the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators (MAJE) Festival.
Results from the festivals included:
MICCA Festival
- Medfield High Chorus and Orchestra received silver medals
- Medfield High Concert Band and Blake Middle School 7th/8th Band received gold medals (and as a result, performed at the MICCA Gold Medal Showcase at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday, April 10)
MAJE Festival
- Medfield High Jazz Band received a silver medal at the State Finals
- Medfield High Jazz Choir received a gold medal at the State Choral Festival (and as a result performed at the Boston Esplanade Hatch Shell on Sunday, May 15)
- Blake Middle School Jazz Band received a gold medal at the MAJE Junior Festival
Last year school districts severely limited or eliminated their music programs due to the social distancing guidelines brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. For all of the 2020-2021 school year, bands and choruses were required to provide spacing of 10 feet (when indoors) between students.
These distancing restrictions were not possible for many school districts to accommodate, given the large sizes of ensembles. Medfield, however, made it a priority to help these groups continue as much as possible.
“Medfield schools were fortunate to have administrations at all schools that allowed us to offer music classes and ensemble rehearsals for the entire year using gyms, cafeterias, auditoriums and outdoor spaces as classrooms,” said Jason Bielik, K-12 Music Department Head and Medfield High Band Director. “As a result, our programs not only survived the year, but also allowed students to continue growing as musicians.”
Both the MICCA and MAJE organizations decided that, although enrollment in this year’s festivals was lower than in pre-COVID years, judges would still maintain their traditional high standards when rating performances.
“Given that students were still expected to perform at such a high level, we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work our students put in this year to distinguish Medfield as a thriving music program,” Bielik said. “We want to acknowledge all our music students for their dedication, and also our schools and community for supporting music education here in town.”
###
