The Hopkinton High School concert band won a gold medal at last weekend’s MICCA Festival. PHOTO/DENISE ANTAKI

Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Hopkinton Public Schools Music Department once again hosted and participated in the 2022 Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Concert and Choral Festival the weekend of April 1-3.

Hopkinton took home a number of awards, led by the Hopkinton High School concert band winning a gold medal. Silver medals went to the HHS singing group Noteworthy, the HHS chorus, the HHS orchestra, the Grade 8 band and the Grade 8 orchestra.

The purpose of the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association is to encourage and support the development of elementary, middle and high school performing ensembles in an educational, non-competitive festival setting. The Concert and Choral Festivals provide an opportunity for evaluation by nationally acclaimed adjudicators. Each group performs three selections within a 30-minute time slot. Then each group receives a 25-minute clinic from one of the adjudicators, as well as scoresheets from each of the adjudicators, recorded adjudicators’ comments and a performance recording. Gold Medal Showcase for Concert and Choral ensembles will take place at Mechanics Hall in Worcester this Sunday (April 10).

Hopkinton Middle School was one of five locations hosting the Concert Festival concurrently with Belchertown High School, Bellingham High School, Foxboro High School and King Philip Regional High School. The MICCA Choral Festival ran concurrently at two locations: Westborough High School and Norwood High School.

“We would like to thank all of the parent volunteers from the Hopkinton Music Association, student volunteers and HPS music teachers for all of their efforts in making the Hopkinton MICCA site a success,” Hopkinton Public Schools Music Director Craig Hay stated.

The Hopkinton Middle School Grade 8 orchestra won a silver medal at last weekend’s MICCA Festival. PHOTO/DENISE ANTAKI