New England Music Festival Association, Inc. | |
June 2025 - Summer Issue | Volume LXXXIX, No. 3 | | |
John Deeb
New England Music Festival Association President
president@nemfa.org
deebj@region10ct.org
(860) 673-0423, ext. 15419
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President's Letter to the Membership
New England Music Festival Association
June 11, 2025
A Note from Your President
John Deeb
President’s Message Summer 2025
As we reflect on another school year that has come and gone, it’s hard to believe how swiftly the last twelve months have passed. As I write this, the NEMFA Executive Board has already had its June meeting featuring a packed agenda covering items to wrap up the 2024-25 year and prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 year.
Before we close out this year, I want to express my deep gratitude to Stephanie Zak and her team at Middletown High School for their outstanding planning and execution of the 2025 NEMFA Concert Festival. Their hard work, along with that of the ensemble managers and Steffen Parker, Ray Churchill, and Lauren Churchill—were the key factors in making this year’s festival truly outstanding!
Hosting a NEMFA concert festival is an incredible experience, and one I highly recommend. Securing festival locations remains one of the most challenging responsibilities for the NEMFA leadership. The success of the New England Music Festival relies on our members stepping up to host the event. If you’re considering hosting but unsure if your situation allows it, please feel free to contact me. We can discuss the possibility without any pressure to commit. You might find that hosting is entirely doable and a great fit for your program.
As my third year as President of the New England Music Festival Association comes to a close, I am deeply honored to serve this organization. I am passionate about our goals and objectives, which center around making a difference in our students’ lives and promoting music education. Your continued support and engagement are invaluable as we move forward.
As we prepare in the next two years for the 100th anniversary of the New England Music Festival Association, there are great things going on right now in which we can participate. Please look below for the fund-raising initiative that we have begun for the 100th anniversary already, thanks to the efforts of NEMFA President-Elect Jennifer Chambers. As of this writing, we have already raised over $1,000.00 so far!
Wishing you all a restful break and hoping it provides time for relaxation and reflection. Come September, let’s hit the ground running!
Musically Yours,
John
John Deeb - President
New England Music Festival Association
president@nemfa.org
deebj@region10ct.org
(860) 673-0423, ext. 15419
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2027 NEMFA
100th Anniversary Fund
🎵 Support the Next Century of Music Excellence!
🎵 Since 1927, the New England Music Festival Association (NEMFA) has been a vital part of the musical journey for high school students across the region. Our community of music educators, youth ensemble leaders, private instructors, and supportive parents is dedicated to providing students with transformative musical experiences through solo, ensemble, and concert festivals.
🔗 Donate today!!
🎵 We are raising money to make the 100th Anniversary of NEMFA extra special in 2027. Whether you’re a NEMFA alum, a parent, or simply a lover of the arts, your donation can make a difference. Together, we can inspire the next generation of musicians and keep music thriving in New England.
To donate, simple scan the QR code above or click here. Let’s celebrate 100 years by securing 100 more! Thank you for your support!
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NOTICE OF VOTE – NEMFA CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
Dear Members of the New England Music Festival Association (NEMFA),
In accordance with our governing procedures, this message serves as official notice (warrant) that we will be calling for a vote from the membership on proposed updates to the NEMFA Constitution and Bylaws.
The attached draft includes all recommended changes. For clarity:
- Red text indicates removals
- Yellow highlighted text indicates additions or edits
These updates have been carefully reviewed, by the Executive Board and reflect efforts to clarify language, align with current practice, and ensure the document meets the evolving needs of our organization.
If you have any questions or would like clarification regarding the proposed changes, please do not hesitate to contact Eddie, Frank, or Rob.
Additional details on the voting timeline and process will follow via email in within 30 days.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support of NEMFA.
To review the proposed updated NEMFA Constitution, please click here.
To review the proposed updated NEMFA By-Laws, please click here.
Keep Smiling,
Dr. Eddie Wilkin (reach Eddie by email here)
| | 2025-26 NEMFA Concert Festival News | | NEMFA Concert Festival Dress Code | |
The NEMFA Executive Board recently voted on a revision to the Dress Code for all NEMFA Concert Ensemble as follows:
Dress code - The dress code for all ensembles in performance will be: Dark suit (black preferred, black tuxedos are also acceptable) with a tie, and a collared white shirt, OR black sleeve top (no bare midriffs, shoulders or low neckline) and a solid black bottom (below the knees black skirt or black dress pants), OR a black long gown/dress that goes below the knees. Dark shoes and dark socks or hose. No sport shoes or sandals allowed. All concert dress will be in conservative good taste.
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Professional Development at 2026 NEMFA Concert Festival
As we prepare for this year’s NEMFA Concert Festival, we are seeking professional development session ideas that will inspire, support, and engage our music educators. Please share your ideas with Eddie — your voice helps shape meaningful learning for all.
If you are interested in receiving any credits or PDP's from attending any Professional Development sessions during the 2026 NEMFA Concert Festival, stay tuned for more information. Keep watching on the NEMFA website and in future issues of the Bulletin for Professional Development opportunities being organized and presented by Dr. Eddie Wilkin in cooperation with Castleton University / Vermont State University.
Please reach out to Eddie if you have any questions!!
Keep Smiling,
Dr. Eddie Wilkin (reach Eddie by email here)
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Anthony Brackett
NEMFA Orchestra Manager
ppierce@windsorct.org
| | | | March 2026 Orchestra Conductor | |
Dear NEMFA Members,
The New England Music Festival Association is proud to announce that Francisco Noya, the music director of the Boston Civic Symphony will serve as the conductor of the 2026 NEMFA Orchestra. He also holds the distinction of being a member of the conducting faculty at the Berklee College of Music. Noya's professional journey began in Venezuela as conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Valencia, one of the original ensembles of El Sistema. He has also been the music director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra, leading the ensemble on European tours and at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood.
To read Mr. Noya's full bio, please click here.
Anthony Brackett is the Orchestra Manager.
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Angelica Jackson, Kevin Lam
NEMFA Band Managers
ajackson@swindsor.k12.ct.us
KLam@reg4.k12.ct.us
| | | | March 2026 Band Conductor | |
Hello NEMFA community!
We are looking forward to the 2026 NEMFA Concert Festival. The band will be conducted by Dr. Mike Lebrias. Dr. Lebrias is a conductor, music educator, & content creator residing in Austin, Texas. He currently serves as an Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Creative Media for the University of Texas Bands department, where he co-teaches the Longhorn Band & Longhorn Pep Band, conducts the Austin Youth Wind Ensemble, and oversees content creation efforts for the department of bands.
To read Dr. Lebrias' full bio, please click here.
We are looking forward to serving as the NEMFA Band Manager and to seeing you at the Concert Festival in March!
Sincerely,
Angelica Jackson and Kevin Lam
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Molly Clark
NEMFA Chorus Manager
mclark@huusd.org
| | | | March 2026 Chorus Conductor | |
Dear NEMFA Members,
We are happy to report that Dr. Diana V. Sáez will be the conductor of the 2026 NEMFA Chorus. Dr. Sáez is the Director of Choral Activities at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, directing the University Chorale, Women’s Choir, and Choral Society. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Sáez served as Visiting Choir Director at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and Visiting Choir Conductor at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Dr. Sáez also directed the Catholic University Women’s Choir for six years and served as artistic director of the World Bank-IMF Chorus for sixteen years.
For information about Dr. Sáez, please click here .
We look forward to another great year of music making with the 2026 NEMFA Chorus!
Best,
Molly Clark
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Wayne Splettstoeszer
NEMFA Jazz Ensemble Manager
jazzbandmanager@nemfa.org
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March 2026 Jazz Ensemble Conductor
Dear NEMFA Members,
The New England Music Festival Association is proud to present the third NEMFA Jazz Ensemble, which will be conducted by Dr. Colleen Clark. Dr. Clark comes to us as a Jazz faculty member of the University of South Carolina School of Music. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the University of South Carolina’s Jazz Girls Day®. Dr. Clark is the only woman and drummer to earn a doctoral degree in jazz from the University of North Texas.
Dr. Clark has shared the stage with jazz luminaries including: Branford Marsalis, Rodney Whitaker, Catherine Russell, Camille Thurman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Mimi Jones. Clark has been featured in DOWNBEAT magazine and is also an ASCAP winning composer. Clark was invited by the ASCAP Foundation to lead her band at the Kennedy Center. Clark is the Drumset Editor for Percussive Notes and serves on the PAS Drumset Committee.
To read Dr. Clark's full bio, click here.
Wayne Splettstoeszer is the Jazz Ensemble Manager.
| | | NEMFA Vocal Ensemble and Winds & Percussion Performance Lists Revisions in Third Year | | |
Thanks so much to Amy Ranta of The Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, CT and Lauren Churchill of Griswold High School in Jewett City, CT for organizing revisions to the lists of the NEMFA Vocal Ensemble and Winds Performance Repertoire. Another person who deserves appreciation for work on our lists is Talia Millas, a percussion student at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, who also participated in NEMFA festivals as a high school student. Talia has been working on a Percussion List revision proposal for NEMFA as well. The revised lists for Vocal Ensembles and Winds are already being used now. Amy notes that when she is working with her students on a NEMFA Vocal Ensemble selection, she incorporates it into the concert that her group is preparing at the time so that is not an extra piece to prepare, but may be performed both in the NEMFA Solo and Ensemble Festival and in her own school concert.
NEMFA Choral Directors who are interested in commenting on this Vocal Ensemble Revision List should contact Amy Ranta at aranta@woodstockcademy.org . Comments regarding the NEMFA Winds and Percussion Performance Lists should be directed to Lauren Churchill at LChurchill@griswoldpublicschools.org . Work is continuing on the Percussion List and information about the use off any revisions to this list will be announced in the near future. Thank you to all for your efforts!
| | Lowell Mason House Report | | |
LOWELL MASON HOUSE CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS
[Medfield, Massachusetts] – The Lowell Mason House is excited to announce that it is working in conjunction with the Arts Management Graduate Program at Boston University to create and execute a major Capital Campaign to raise the needed funds to complete the project in order for it to be opened to the public. The competition of tasks for the Feasibility and Technical Assistance Grant was was received from the Mass Cultural Council for $35,000 brings this phase of the project close to completion, as the group is moving into a permitting and construction phase of the project. Video interior room renderings have been developed for the Lowell Mason House presentations as the group moves into the beginnings of a $600,000 Capital Campaign which will provide the necessary funds to complete the building and turn it into a music education advocacy center. Specs for an elevator for the facility have been completed and an ADA Compliant Wing has been designed... we are now entering the permitting phase of the project to allow us to begin construction. This addition is the key to making the house handicapped-accessible, allowing the house to be enjoyed by all without worrying about physical impediments. Grant funding has been provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the state of Massachusetts administered through a collaborative arrangement between Mass Development and the Mass Cultural Council.
The LMH recently accepted the donation of a 1902 Mason & Hamlin upright piano that will be fully restored and placed in one of the practice rooms that is doubling as a score study room for directors of choral, orchestral, wind band, and jazz ensembles. A variety of scores and music resource books are also being donated for that room as well.
The Mission of the Lowell Mason House is to create and program an active space for music making, music and arts education advocacy, and historical preservation within the original structure of the Lowell Mason birthplace. The architecturally significant house was already decades old when Lowell Mason was born in 1792. Portions of the house have been age dated using dendrochronology to 1651, making the house among the oldest in Massachusetts and North America. The Lowell Mason House has raised over $900,000.00 up to this date for the purpose of turning it into a study, collections, practice/chamber performance space, and a meeting place for arts education advocates. We are grateful to the music educators associations around the United States that have made contributions towards its restoration, including the New England Music Festival Association. Your continued interest and support in this project is very much appreciated.
Thank you for considering making a tax deductible donation today. Please make checks payable to: The Lowell Mason House, P. O. Box 913 Medfield, MA 02052. If you prefer, you may also donate directly online by going to our website at http://www.lowellmasonhouse.net . Your contribution is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution to the extent provided by U.S. tax.
| | John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band Festival - Upcoming Dates: July 12-15, 2026 | | |
THE JOHN PHILIP SOUSA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HONOR BAND IS BEING PLANNED TO BE HELD FROM JULY 14-18, 2024 in Massachusetts This would be the 16th biannual edition of the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band for 2026, showcasing high achieving musicians from across the US. More information will be released shortly about this event. Michael J. Colburn, former conductor of the "President's Own" United States Marine Band and former New England Music Festival Association Guest Conductor and Student member from Vermont will again lead the 2026 John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band Festival.
Keep watching our website for breaking news about the version of the Sousa National Honor Band to be held in July 12-15, 2026. at https://www.sousanhsband.com.
BAND WEBSITE:
https://www.sousanhsband.com
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The 2024 John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band - July 17, 2024, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA.
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Meghan Ferris Web Design - meghaneferris@gmail.com | | | | |
