On April 5th, the CRLS orchestra participated in the annual competition held by the Massachusetts Instrumental Choral & Conductors Association (MICCA). This year, more than 200 schools showcased their musical prowess over three days across eight locations in Massachusetts. MICCA is an esteemed regional festival where high-school and middle-school ensembles are evaluated by reputable musical adjudicators and educators. After performing, ensembles receive feedback recorded live by judges and a written evaluation of their performance. Based on this evaluation, schools can receive the following awards: participatory, bronze, silver, and gold. The orchestra left CRLS at approximately 4:50 PM for a two-hour drive to Danvers High School, where the competition lasted until 10:00 PM.
In a thrilling turn of events, the long day of rehearsals and overwhelming nerves ended in triumph. The orchestra brought home a prestigious gold medal—the only gold awarded to a high school that day at Danvers and the first ever in CRLS history.
After having won gold, the excitement and enthusiasm of students was intense.
Adrien Currier ’27, told the Register Forum, “[We] just couldn’t believe it…We had just received the most honorable reward.”
The CRLS orchestra performed three pieces intotal, beginning with Rimsky-Korsakov’s compelling “Scheherazade,” easing into the intricate melody of “Dreaming” by Brian Balmages, and finally, ending with the first movement of Mozart’s “Requiem Mass in D minor,” a stark and dramatic reminder of bittersweet death. The rich repertoire and exceptional delivery through careful dynamics and controlled phrases were the highlights of praise from judges and audience members alike. After the performance, Laura Thomas, one of the judges for the competition, warmly promised to send a recording to Balmages, expressing that he “would be delighted to hear [the] performance.”
However, the event wasn’t just about the glittery gold award or the praise received by the orchestra. To some of the members, the highlight of the evening was also the experience of bonding with fellow musicians. Hazel McDiarmid ’26 told the Register Forum, “It was such a special experience to be able to share these pieces on a different stage and with other people.” She added, “We had a great time as a group of students and as an orchestra.”
But most of all, the competition was crucial in recognizing and memorializing the growth of the CRLS orchestra over the years. Laura Umbro, the director and conductor of the CRLS orchestra, recollected to the Register Forum, “Somewhere down the line, the orchestra numbers faded to the point of a small chamber group…By the time I took over, there were only six musicians!” However, for the last sixteen years, developing strong relationships with other string teachers in the school district and providing extra opportunities to learn about the orchestra opened up new paths and eventually, cultivated a strong ensemble with over 40 young musicians. “It feels incredibly validating to earn a gold rating, [but] what feels the best is seeing the excitement and pride in my students,” Umbro said.“I always knew they were playing at a high level, but I’m not sure they were aware of just how special they were…They deserve to celebrate!”
