President's Message - Summer 2022

Dear Membership,

Well, we finally made it through another year and are still wrestling with the remnants of the pandemic. While I do believe that we're finally beginning to see the Covid 19 menace in our rear view mirrors, I’m reminded of that old saying “Never Say Never”. In any case, I am looking forward to a return to normalcy when we begin the 2022-23 school year. I do have to be honest that as I write this message it is June 13, and the last day of school for our district. When I say that I’m looking forward to the next school year, I am in no rush to get there. 

First and foremost, I would like to thank you all for giving my colleague David Miller and I the opportunity to host the 2022 concert festival this past March. Although it was anything but our normal style festival, the most important aspects were that the students were able to make music together again and that our performances were in-person and with a living, breathing audience. While we all had to make some adjustments and be a bit more flexible I hope the experience was a rewarding one for you and your students. That festival in March marks the fourth time Lewis S. Mills High School has hosted our concert festival since 2010. We have continued to do it because hosting has been such an amazing experience for all of us in the district. It brings not only our department together but the entire school and community together as well. It is something I highly recommend to anyone who is considering hosting themselves, I stand ready to assist you in any way I can.

As I take on the responsibility of the presidency of the New England Music Festival Association, I would like to thank you all for giving me this opportunity to serve this organization that I have been a part of for over thirty years and to work with all of you for the purpose of making a difference in our student’s lives. I wish you all a terrific summer break and hope that it gives you the chance to relax, rejuvenate and recharge before September arrives and it begins again.

Musically Yours,