Chase Well-Represented at CMEA Southern Region HS Festival

Waterbury, CT -This year, three Chase Collegiate School students will be participating in the Connecticut Music Educators Association Southern Region High School Festival. Sarah Svitlik (‘21, Waterbury) will be playing flute in the band, led by notable conductor and composer Vincent LaMonica. Emily Segal (‘21, Southbury) and Maggie McGuire (‘20, New Milford) will be singing in the mixed choir, conducted by Dr. Carolina Flores, Associate Professor of Music at Manchester Community College. The festival will take place January 10-11 (with snow dates on January 17-18) at Maloney High School in Meriden, CT. Tickets for the concert on January 11 are $10.

Students who wish to participate in this prestigious festival must be in good standing with their high school band or chorus and audition for one of the limited spots by performing a provided solo, scales, and sightreading. All three Chase students who auditioned were selected to participate in the festival.

“We are in a very competitive region, but they have been working diligently since the beginning of the summer,” said Chase Music Teacher Stephen Lyons. “We are quite proud of them.”

“This is my second year doing regionals, and it is such an enjoyable experience, because I love singing and meeting new people who have the same interests. I am so happy that I have the opportunity to perform again,” said senior Maggie McGuire, who will be attending college in the fall with a major focus in Theater and English.

The CMEA has been advocating for teaching music in Connecticut for 87 years, and is one of the oldest state music educators associations in the nation. With over 1,000 active members, CMEA represents music education at every level and discipline.

For more information about CMEA or the Southern Region High School Festival, visit their website: https://cmea.org/.