June 2025 - There is a lot of great news and thanks in this final Clocker Beats of the 2024-2025 school year.
Embedded Files
THANK YOU Ed Miksis!
June 2025 - With immense gratitude and a touch of sadness, the AMA Board says goodbye to our Treasurer, Ed Miksis. Ed joined the board in 2018 when the AMA was facing a volunteer crisis. Ed’s children were involved in the music programs and he recognized the important work the AMA did to keep music education viable in the Ashland schools. Ed was instrumental in keeping the AMA alive during the COVID years and in building the current, vibrant board.
When asked about memorable moments, Ed noted last year’s high school MICCA Gold Medal performance and the large number of students participating in the Central District MMEA Festival this year. And very notable were the two years that Ed’s daughter, Sarah, earned a trumpet chair at the All-State Festival! Ed remarked that, “Every band and chorus performance was a joy to watch the students perform.”
In parting, Ed stated “I’ve always been impressed by the generosity from the people of Ashland.”
Thank you, Ed, for your generous donation of time to support the Ashland music education programs!
Update on the 2025 Ashland Summer Band Season
June 2025 - Due to critical maintenance on the fire alarm system at Ashland High School, the band room and auditorium are not available for use this summer. After an unsuccessful search to find an alternate space suitable for the roughly 150 musicians, Mr. Koning made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s summer band.
For high school-level musicians (ages 14 and up) looking to stay involved with music this summer, Mr. Koning recommends the Hopkinton Community Summer Band, which rehearses Tuesday evenings from 6:30–8:00 p.m. in the Hopkinton High School band room. They have two late July performances, one of which is at Polar Park in Worcester. Sign up form for Hopkinton Community Band.
We look forward to welcoming Ashland Summer Band back to the stage in 2026.
Ashland School Music Programs Getting a Boost
June 2025 - Next school year marks an exciting expansion of Ashland’s music programs, with new opportunities for students to engage, grow, and thrive through music.
At a glance:
At Mindess Elementary School, band instruction and in-school lessons will expand from the 5th grade to the 4th grade, and chorus will be introduced for 3rd-5th grade students.
At Ashland Middle School, band and chorus will transition from a part-time to full-time schedule.
These changes lay the foundation to grow and elevate music education across the district.
Starting this fall, Mindess Elementary School will see dynamic changes to its music programs—reintroducing 4th grade band for the first time in over 20 years and bringing back chorus for grades 3–5 after several years’ absence. To support these changes, the school will welcome a full-time band and music teacher to join the United Arts team. This new educator will lead chorus and teach musical instruments, band, and general elementary music, helping to enrich the musical experiences of our students and strengthen the overall arts program at the school.
The upcoming changes will bring key benefits to the school’s band program, not only allowing students to begin their instrumental education earlier, but also enabling more personalized instruction through smaller in-school group lessons made possible by increased staffing.
The staffing change at Mindess will allow band teacher Brian Koning, who currently splits his time between Mindess and AMS, to shift full-time to the middle school, where he can dedicate his full efforts to strengthen the band program there. At AMS, band instruction will transition to a full-time program, giving students a consistent schedule that enhances instructional continuity. Mr. Koning hopes that the additional rehearsal time will build on the bands’ existing strengths and provide even more opportunities for AMS students to reach new levels of musical excellence.
At the same time, chorus at AMS will also expand to a full-time program, under the direction of music and chorus teacher Ariana Shaban. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to grow the chorus program at AMS!” says Mrs. Shaban. “We’ll be able to offer a more well-rounded experience for our singers, with more time dedicated to vocal technique, exploring more repertoire, and providing more performance opportunities.”
These changes mark a significant step forward for Ashland's music programs, encouraging greater participation and musical development at both the elementary and middle school levels. These changes will help build a stronger pipeline of well-prepared students advancing into the high school music programs—laying the foundation to grow and elevate music education across the district.
These foundational investments reflect the Ashland Public School District's strong commitment to fostering a well-rounded education through access to quality music instruction. The AMA would like to thank Mindess School Principal Jenna Larrenaga, AMS Principal Erin Lachapelle, Superintendent Jim Adams and the Ashland School Committee for their continued support of the music programs.
We look forward to the creativity, growth, and joy these changes will bring to our students, our schools, and our community!
Spring Festival Recap
June 2025 - This spring was a flurry of festivals for Ashland’s middle and high school musicians, as they showcased their talents at some of the region’s most prestigious music concerts and festivals. Their hard work and commitment to musical excellence earned them well-deserved recognition at these events.
MMEA All-State Concert
Two standout students from Ashland High School took center stage at Boston’s iconic Symphony Hall on Saturday, March 29th, as they joined the ranks of the state’s most accomplished young musicians at the 2025 Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Concert.
Senior trumpet player Sarah Miksis made an impressive return to the All-State Concert Band for the second year in a row, while gifted alto Gabriella Ilin, a junior, earned her place in the All-State Chorus. Their selection followed an intense, statewide audition process—an honor that reflects not only their exceptional talent but also their unwavering commitment to musical excellence.
MICCA Concert and Choral Festival
The annual Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Concert and Choral Festival is a three-day event held in eight locations across the state. The festival offers ensembles the opportunity to be evaluated by expert adjudicators from across the country, who assess each performance against a rigorous standard of musical excellence. This year’s festival, which took place April 4–6th, featured strong participation from the AHS Concert Bands, the AHS Concert Choir and the AMS Wind Ensemble.
The AHS Concert Choir and both of the AHS Concert Bands (Blue and White) earned Silver Medals, showcasing their incredible musicianship and hard work, and marking impressive achievements for the high school’s music program.
After earning a silver medal last year, the AMS Wind Ensemble was ecstatic to receive a Gold Medal this year. But the excitement didn’t stop there! This talented group was selected to perform in the prestigious Gold Medal Showcase a week later, held at the stunning Groton Hill Music Center, a venue renowned for its acoustics and beauty.
CDMMEA Junior High Festival
Five talented young musicians, four from AMS and one from AHS, represented the town with excellence at the Central District MMEA Junior High Festival Concert on Saturday, May 3rd, held at Blackstone-Millville Regional High School. The sold-out crowd was treated to a stunning showcase of talent, thanks to the dedication and hard work of these student performers.
In the Junior Festival Orchestra, French horn player Jonah Bloom earned recognition as principal player, delivering a standout performance alongside bassoonist Ben Deibler. In the Junior Festival Concert Band, clarinetist Sam Apostola, French horn player Mark Mayatskikh, and oboist Kaiya Smits, who also earned the role of principal player, showcased their remarkable musical talents. Their preparation for the concert was intense (two four-hour rehearsals in April, plus an all-day session the day of the concert), but the practice paid off, as they performed magnificently to a full and appreciative audience.
Great East Music Festivals
The final festival of the season saw the AMS 8th Grade Band perform on Saturday, June 7th at Timberlane Performing Arts Center in Plaistow, NH, as part of the Great East Music Festivals. Held throughout May and June at various locations across New England, Great East Music Festivals provide school music programs with valuable performance opportunities, featuring expert adjudication and constructive educational clinics that emphasize growth, excellence, and musical development. The 8th Grade Band earned a Platinum Medal, a special ranking for the rare group that performs above and beyond a gold medal rating, capping off their middle school performance experience on an especially high note.
The AMA is proud to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our students! We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ashland Select Board and Bach Knives for generous grants that have supported our students’ participation in these festivals and concerts in the 2024-2025 season. We are thrilled to have been awarded a 2025 BAA Grant from the Ashland Select Board to support our students’ continued participation in these opportunities next year.
Apparel Artwork Design Contest Winner
June 2025 - We have a winner! Congratulations to Samantha Yung, 7th grade clarinetist, for her winning entry in the AMA’s Apparel Artwork Design Contest! Samantha offered this insight on her music themed artwork:
My design is about how when you open your music book and play, the sound kind of starts okay but as you go on deeper into the piece you hear the other instruments and the build up of the music getting louder. So, in this design, I included all the instruments I possibly could and I drew the percussion to stand out because even if they are at the back of the band, they all work hard to learn the different kinds of rhythms to keep the band together.
The AMA appreciates Samantha’s design and her commitment to her music education. As the winner of the contest, Samantha receives bragging rights for creating the official Ashland Music artwork and a FREE t-shirt featuring her winning design!
Samantha’s t-shirt design is available for purchase in the AMA’s Merch Store. Check it out today!
Meet the AMA Interns!
June 2025 - We’re excited to welcome three incredible student interns to the AMA team! Each will play a vital role in helping us stay connected to the APS’ music performance programs and ensuring that student voices, events, and achievements are celebrated across the community. We’re so fortunate to have these thoughtful and enthusiastic students on board. With their help, we’re confident the music will reach even more hearts in Ashland this year!
Hasini Reddy (Class of 2026) – AHS Liaison: Hello, my name is Hasini Reddy, and I have been involved in the Ashland Public Schools’ Music program for the past seven years! I’m currently a junior at Ashland High School and play the tuba in the Concert Band. Outside of school, I’ve been a member of the Worcester Youth Wind Ensemble for the past four years. My favorite hobbies include reading and playing volleyball, especially during the summer. I’m looking forward to being involved with the AMA in my final year of high school and hope to share students’ music throughout the community!
Millie Jaiswal (Class of 2028) – Mindess & AMS Liaison - Millie Jaiswal is a passionate high school freshman who finds deep joy in playing the bass clarinet. With a growing dedication to musical excellence, she has already performed in three honors ensembles, most notably as a member of the 2025 CDMMEA Senior District Concert Band. Her experience in high-level ensembles has refined her technique and deepened her expressive musicality. As a member of her band’s Leadership Team and an active volunteer with the Brookline Symphony Orchestra, where she hopes to one day perform, Millie continues to seek new opportunities to grow as both a soloist and ensemble musician.
Meara Donald (Class of 2026) – Social Media Intern - Meet the AMA Social Media Intern, Meara! She is a rising senior at AHS who loves all things musical and creative. Meara brings nearly two years of experience in social media management and marketing to the role and is excited to further develop her skills through this internship. Her favorite color is fuchsia, she loves sunsets, and her favorite musical artist is Keane. Meara plans to use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to grow AMA’s online presence, foster community engagement, and raise awareness of the AMA’s efforts to support APS bands, choirs, and other performing groups.
AMA Seeks Business Sponsors for the ‘25 - ‘26 Concert Season
June 2025 - The AMA is excited to launch our new Business Sponsorship Program, an opportunity for local businesses to support the music performance programs in the Ashland Public Schools while gaining visibility with the nearly 3000 community members that attend band and choral concerts. Our sponsorship program offers three partnership levels, with benefits that include recognition on our website, social media shoutouts, and visibility at concerts and events throughout the year. Sponsorship is a tax-deductible donation and will directly support students and help us build strong musical futures in Ashland. Sponsorship opportunities are limited—secure your spot today!
We Surpassed Our Fundraising Goal! THANK YOU!
June 2025 - The AMA is thrilled to share that, thanks to the incredible generosity of our grantors, sponsors, and donors, we have surpassed our annual fundraising goal for the 2024–2025 school year!
As a parent volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization, the AMA provides financial and volunteer support to music performance groups across the Ashland Public Schools. Your support helps make vibrant, high-quality music education possible for our students, and we’re so grateful.
Special thanks to:
Ashland Select Board for their continued support in the form of BAA grant awards. These awards support the AMA’s ability to fund student participation in music festivals and competitions and offset the roughly $6000 in APS-owned instrument repairs we fund each year.
Bach Knives for their generous grant to support transportation for a record number of students that qualified for the Central District Music Festival.
The Ashland Cultural Council for their generous grant in support of the AMA Winter Fair & the 2024 -2025 concert season.
Needham Bank for sponsoring the 2024 - 2025 concert season.
WACA for recording the APS Fall concerts.
BAM Films for their videography support at the Winter Fair.
Price Chopper and Shaws for their support of the AMA Winter Fair.
Visit AshlandMusic.org/support to learn how you can support music education in Ashland.
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