Seven SHS Student-Musicians Selected to MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival
William Towne, Linus Owen, Kaitlin Modaff Earn Auditions to MMEA All-State Festival; Towne, Finn Hanger both repeat selections
SALEM (Nov. 25, 2024) – Junior William Towne and sophomore Finn Hanger led seven student-musicians representing the Salem High School Band and Chorus to be accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Northeast Senior District Festival, the MMEA announced last week.
Mr. Towne, who plays tuba, and Mr. Hanger, a trombonist, joined senior Linus Owen (jazz baritone saxophone), juniors Wyn Stevick (trumpet) and Daniel Alley (trumpet) and sophomores Kaitlin Modaff (chorus) and Frances Jones (chorus) to make the field for the Northeast Senior District Music Festival.
The Festival is scheduled to run Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 8-11 at Lexington High School. Rehearsals will be conducted Wednesday and Friday (4-8:30 p.m.) and Saturday morning (8 a.m.-10 a.m.) with two performances on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 12 is bookmarked in case of a snow day.
Mr. Towne and Mr. Hanger will mark their second appearances at the Festival in as many years.
Additionally, Mr. Towne, Mr. Owen and Ms. Modaff each qualified to audition for the MMEA All-State Festival Saturday, Jan. 25 at Shrewsbury High School.
“The Salem High School Music Department is incredibly proud of all of our students who challenged themselves to prepare for this highly competitive audition,” said Ben Chertok, Coordinator of Music at Salem Public Schools, who noted 27 students from Salem auditioned.
“The students who were selected to participate in the ensembles at the Senior District Festival will be performing alongside top musicians from throughout the Northeast Region of Massachusetts. All of the students who auditioned have demonstrated a high level of commitment to their musicianship and are role models for their peers within our department.”
The achievement is the latest of what has thus far been a historic year for the SHS band. In early November, the SHS Marching Band and Colorguard captured the New England Marching Band Association Division 3 Championship, which capped a fall season of near flawless performances at several competitions.
The achievement also aligns with the District’s Strategic Plan, particularly elevating learning and centering belonging.
Student-Musician | Previous Years | Distinction | Instrument
- Daniel Alley (Jr.) | – | Band | Trumpet
- Finn Hanger (So.) | 2023 | Band | Trombone
- Frances Jones (So.) | – | Chorus | –
- Linus Owen (Sr.) | – | Band | Jazz Baritone Saxophone
- Kaitlin Modaff (So.) | – | Chorus | –
- Wyn Stevick (Jr.) | – | Band | Trumpet
- William Towne (Jr.) | 2023 | Band | Tuba
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
