Districts

What is Districts and All State?

The Massachusetts Music Educator's association - MMEA - is an organization that holds both Junior and Senior festival concerts every year. Concert participants are selected by audition at a regional (District) and state-wide (All State) level. Newton is located in the Eastern District of MMEA. 7th-9th graders are eligible to audition for Junior Districts, which means Bigelow's 7th and 8th graders can participate. All State is reserved for 9th-12th graders.

Students prepare specific scales, an assigned piece and work on sight reading for in-person auditions.

benefits

Auditioning helps students improve their musical skills, gain performance experience and receive feedback from a music expert. Playing with other young people who are practicing consistently is an enriching experience and is a great way to make friends. Rehearsing and performing in a large group with other like-minded students is also a great learning experience and is fun!

Jr. District Festival participation parent to-do list

IF your child passed the 2025-26 Jr. Districtic audition please follow these instructions

1. Be sure your student is available March 6, 7 (rehearsal, performance) and March 8, 2026 (snow date)

2. Read Jr. District Festival info letter

3. Let me know if your student will be participating by 2/5/26. I will register them when you do.

4. Fill out digital student contract and medical form

5. To cover $40 Jr. District student participation fee, make a $40 donation to here indicating your child's name and "2025/26 MMEA-ED Jr. Districts rehearsals/concert"

6. Link to the Band music is here. Students should begin practicing now.

Jr. Districts Itinerary

Friday, March 6, 2026

Chaperones: Shon Brown (Day MS) 

8:20 am- student arrival- check in at Newton North HS/ Theatre Entrance

8:30 am- departure for Lincoln-Sudbury H.S. (arrival for 915am)

915am: registration/paperwork

9:30 am-5:30 pm Rehearsal at L-S.

5:30 pm-6:15 pm Travel back to NNHS

Saturday, March 7, 2026 Chaperone: TBD

8 am- student arrival- check in at Newton North HS

8:15 am- departure for Lincoln-Sudbury H.S.

9 am- 12-noon rehearsal at L-S

12-1 pm Students eat lunch and change for performances

1-3 pm performances

1:00 p.m. Orchestra

2:00 p.m. Band

3:00 p.m. Jazz Band/Mixed Chorus

*** Students must arrange transportation home from the festival after the performances on Saturday.

Auditions

1. Please read this detailed information regarding auditions, registration and then fill out the consent form

2. Please pay the audition fee here

3. You must also let me know that your 7th or 8th grader would like to audition. I can begin registering students on November 10, 2025

4. If your child is interested in auditioning, they should be practicing the audition materials 

Eastern Jr. District Auditions: Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Bedford High School, 9 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730

• 9:15-9:30 AM Drop your student off at Newton North High School (theater entrance)

• 9:30 AM Busses depart NNHS for Bedford High School

• 10:00 AM Busses arrive at Bedford High School, teachers check in and register

• 10:00-11:00 AM Settle in, warm up (group warm up spaces will be provided)

• 11:00am-12:45 PM Newton schools audition window. Your student will be auditioning sometime during this window (we won’t have more specific information on timing until teachers check in on the morning of the auditions)

• 1:00 PM (approx.) Busses depart Bedford High School for Newton North High School

• 1:45-2:00 PM Busses arrive at Newton North High School (same as the drop off)

Eastern Jr. District Music Festival: Friday & Saturday, March 6 & 7, 2025, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School,  Sudbury, MA 01776

Please email Mr. Harlow if you have any questions.