CDMMEA Junior Festival

School login information
If you do not have a login name/password for your online Avenir portal, you will need to contact Michael Lapomardo. He can register your school and modify your login information. There is one login username and password for each school. It is the decision to have one sole person in charge of that information or share it with additional teachers.

Student registration opens later in the school year. That is when you will see a Junior Festival tab. Until then, you can modify your contact information. 

All home schooled students need to have and provide proof of their educational plan through an eligible Central District school system.
JUNIOR FESTIVAL AUDITIONS
Auditions Coordinator
Steve Archambault - ​[email protected]
Directors
​Please direct Audition related questions to the Coordinator
​Parents & Students
​All communication must go through your music director.
2025-2026 Festival Audition Day
Saturday, February 7, 2026 (Sunday, February 8, 2026 - Snow Date)
Grafton High School
24 Providence Road
Grafton, MA 01519
​
2025-2026 Junior High Audition List
For all MP3 and scale requirements, head to the downloads tab.
Score forms here

Who is eligible?
Students currently enrolled in grades 7-9 (ninth grade students please find additional information below) that attend a public, private, or home school located within Central District.

Audition Registration Dates
Monday, December 8 - Thursday, December 11 (10:00pm)

Registration Fees
$15.00 per audition (regular) **students who double audition pay per audition
$25.00 per audition (late fee after December 11)
Payment and principal form sent to Steve Archambault by January 7.
$25.00 fee will be added for any on-site changes

Audition Times
Audition times are now posted in your Avenir portal. Schools should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their assigned audition time.

Sight Reading
We will be using sight reading that is created using SightReadingFactory.com. Directors can reach out directly to Sight Reading Factory's support email to receive an educational discount. More specifics can be found here.

Audition Results
Audition results will be posted by the Monday after the audition day. You can access this information in your Avenir portal.

Cutoff Scores
​Uploaded to the downloads page after auditions.

Jazz Audition Reminder
As stated in the handbook, student musicians that double audition and qualify for Jazz Band will automatically be placed in the Jazz Band regardless of their other audition.
Directors:
Students must be an active participant in their school's music department and part of a school ensemble (if one is available).
The school director of the ensemble in which they perform must register all eligible students. The director must be an active NAfME member as of the date of the District held event. This information must be provided on the District website under "Modify Concert Information".
  1. To register students please login and update all contact information, including each ensemble director's NAfME # and expiration date.
  2. Click on the registration button and begin entering your student's information. Double check ALL SPELLING AND INSTRUMENT/VOICE PART ASSIGNMENTS before hitting submit.
  3. Please press submit before closing the window.
  4. You may check your registration by clicking on the Principal Form button. If a student's name does not appear, they are not registered.

Audition Policy Reminders
As a reminder we ask directors verify that all of their students are using the correct editions of the Central District audition pieces. You should confirm that private teachers have provided your students with the correct editions as well. Please review the editions listed on the official Central District Audition list.

Ninth Grade Student Participation
The CDMMEA Executive Board made the decision to allow 9th grade students eligible to audition and participate in the Junior Festival. Please make sure you are familiar with the following protocol.
  • Accepted for the Senior Festival may not audition for the Junior Festival, even if they are unable or decide not to participate in the Senior Festival.
  • Students auditioning for the Junior Festival do not need to have auditioned previously for the Senior Festival.
  • Students in grade 9 who auditioned for the Senior Festival but were not accepted to participate in the Senior Festival may register to audition for the Junior Festival.
JUNIOR FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Junior Festival Coordinator
Lindsey Sherman - [email protected]
Directors
Please direct Festival related questions to the Coordinator
​Parents & Students
​All communication must go through your music director.
 Junior Festival Registration Deadline
Participating students must be selected in your Avenir portal by:
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Payment and principal form sent to Henry Morel by February 27, 2026

Festival Registration Fee
$25.00 per student
$50.00 late fee per school

2025-2026 Junior Festival Details
Nissitissit Middle School
33 Chace Avenue
Pepperell, MA
Don't forget to have your students fill out the contract and medical form!

Junior Festival Rehearsals - Schools may arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of rehearsals
Tuesday, April 8, 2026 @3:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 @3:30-7:30pm
​
Junior Festival Concert
Saturday, May 2, 2026
***Location TBD

Dress rehearsals: Saturday morning
2:00pm - Concert #1 (Junior Festival Orchestra and Concert Band)
4:00pm - Concert #2 (Junior Festival Jazz Band and Chorus)

Tickets
$15.00 each
  • Students are reserved 3 tickets until the second rehearsal at 5:00pm.
  • The school music director is in charge or purchasing tickets. Tickets may be paid using cash or check (payable to CDMMEA)
  • After 5:00pm on the second rehearsal, any unsold tickets are available first come first served.
  • Tickets will be on sale roughly between 4:00-7:00pm on rehearsal days.
  • Music educators with a valid NAfME membership may pick up a free ticket to the concert.
  • Directors who have a family with students involved in both the 2pm and 4pm concerts, should contact Steve ahead of time for special arrangements.

Festival Recording
The festival concert will be professionally recorded for purchase through McIver Recording Studio. Junior Festival order page - coming soon.

Concert Attire
Students in each ensemble are required to wear ALL BLACK. Ensemble managers will provide more information during rehearsals.
MISSION STATEMENT
MMEA seeks to support comprehensive, quality music education for all students, through advocacy, professional development, and a commitment to lifelong learning.