IMADA News

IMADA, the Ipswich Music, Art & Drama Association, is a 501(c)3 volunteer charitable organization that partners with the Ipswich, Massachusetts public middle & high schools to support and promote fine arts education and appreciation. Our mission is to advocate for the fine arts as an integral part of secondary education, enhance performing and visual arts education experiences, and help ensure that all students have access to the highest quality arts education.

We are gearing up for fall, which means an new program book and new fundraising initiatives, and we hope to have some new members to share their time and talents with us! Please click here to complete our Volunteer Interest Survey and let us know how you would like to help!

IMADA hosted a reception to launch the Peter & Brooks McPhail Memorial Fund this past May. The scholarship honors two brothers who graduated from Ipswich High School: Peter, class of 1982, who passed away in 1983, and Brooks, Class of 1988, who passed away in 2018. Peter was active in sports and theater, and Brooks was a passionate performer, who graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

In attendance at the reception were Mary Caldwell, mother of Brooks and Peter; Melissa McPhail, Brooks' widow; Representative Kristin Kassner, 2nd Essex District; State Senator Bruce Tarr; Wayne Castonguay, Family Friend; Debra Dion Faust, English, Speech and Theater teacher and Director of Theater, Ipswich High School, 1983 - 2012; Stephen Chaggaris, Percussionist and Music Educator.

The fund, honoring both men, is designated to help students in need take part in the schools’ arts programs, including instrument rental or purchase or lessons. IMADA sincerely thanks the family for their generous support of the Ipswich arts programs.

IMADA will welcome three new Student Ambassadors to our board this fall: Cory Binette, Class of 2025, Maddison Dodge, Class of 2026, and Emily Siebertz, Class of 2029. We look forward to hearing their input and shared feedback from their classmates! Thank you to our graduating Student Ambassadors, Joey Powers and Angelica De la Cruz, for your service to IMADA.

Congratulations to our rising 7th - 12th grade students, who received funding towards enrichment or instruction in order to continue to pursue their artistic studies over the summer months! Thank you to all who donated to these grants, including those who contributed to our Giving Tuesday fundraiser and the Shalin Liu concert!

IMADA helped to coordinate our first off-site Senior Music Banquet at Boone Hall on May 10th. The event was well attended, awards were given, and tears were shed as the music staff bid farewell to students they have taught for the past seven years! IMADA provided swag bags, and announced their scholarship recipients, who are described below. We hope this will become an annual tradition!

Band Awards:

Louis Armstrong Award: Peter Joss-Green

John Philip Sousa Award: Lucas Wilt

Band Director’s Award: Ella Niederhelman

Mary Lou Williams Award: Corinne Anderson

Band Spirit Award: Amelia Mooradd, Brooke Bodwell, James Jewell

Outstanding Musician in Band: Natalie Whitten

Outstanding Progress in Band: Nathan Baise. Alexander Nelson

Semper Fidelis Award: Charlotte Donahue, Connor Neill

Band Book Award: Ella Niederhelman

Band Officers:

President, Lucas Wilt

Vice President, Natalie Whitten

Librarian/Secretary, Sau-Lok Ma

Orchestra Awards:

National Orchestra Award: Joey Powers

Outstanding Musician in Orchestra: Collette Love, Sophia DeGrappo

Outstanding Progress in Orchestra: Norah Hickey, Isabell Wetter

Concert Orchestra Director’s Award: Anneliese Johnson, Sarah Eliot

Chamber Orchestra Director’s Award: Moira Healey, Emma Casella

Symphony Orchestra Director's Award: Connor Neill

Orchestra Book Award: Behnjamin Dessources

Orchestra Officers:

President, Behnjamin Dessources

Vice President, Anneliese Johnson

Treasurer, Sarah Eliot

Secretary, Moira Healey

Librarian, Maddison Dodge

Assistant Librarian, Addison Pillis

Choir Awards:

National School Choral Award: Annabel Morris, Evan Kilgour

Outstanding Choral Musician: Tim Kercher

Outstanding Progress in Choral Music: Angelica de la Cruz, Anna Pitner

Concert Choir Director’s Award: Talia Duff, Sophia Dalton

Bel Canto Director’s Award: Mary Hannah Gallagher, Kaley Fantasia

Chamber Singers Director’s Award: Will Butler, Dustin Lombardo

Choir Book Award Annabel Morris

Choir Officers:

President Annabel Morris, Tim Kercher

Secretary: Maddie Gray, Chloe DeFrank

Librarian: Evan Morris, Lizzy Mosco

General Awards:

Gerald D. Dolan Award: Seamus Kelley

Theresa Z. Natti Award: Behnjamin Dessources

Rookie Artist: Eve Melzack

Emerging Digital Artist: Phoebe Turner

Painting: Sydney Poblenz

Printmaking: Soren Shearer

Drawing: Thomas Strangman

Ceramics: Abbie Wallace-Tastad

Designer of the Year: Raiyne Carlton

Photographer of the Year: James Dick

Digital Interdisciplinary Award: Amelia Perna

MVP Portfolio: Bella Gallegos

Art Club: Maeve Carlton, Vivian Vince, Charlie Quimby

Permanent Collection Visual Art Medal: Corrine Anderson

Permanent Collection Digital Media: Finley Sweeney

Visual Art Book Award: Abigail Cooper

Congratulations to the graduating seniors who received IMADA Scholarships to help fund their post-graduate studies!

Silverman Family Scholarship - Corinne Anderson

An accomplished artist, Corinne has displayed her artwork at the Topsfield Fair, Crane Estate, and the Slow River Studio Gallery in Topsfield. She has won both a High School Painting Award and Outstanding Musician Award. Corinne is a talented trumpet player and has participated in concert band throughout high school, as well as been a member of Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra. Earlier this year, Corinne was asked to produce a painting to accompany the Orchestra piece, “Elementa,” combining her passion for both music and visual arts. Next year, Corinne will be attending the Rochester Institute of Technology where she plans to major in Illustration. She also plans to continue playing music in the Pep and Jazz Bands.

IMADA Scholarship - Isabella Gallegos

Bella has shown her artwork at the Crane Estate Art Show, the Ipswich Homegrown Market, and through the Ipswich Art Association. She has won 2 Scholastic Honorable Mentions as well as last year’s High School Art Initiative Achievement Award. Bella also enjoys participating in music, singing with the Chorus and Bel Canto. Next Year, Bella will be attending the Savannah College of Art and Design where she plans to major in Illustration and minor in Animation.

IMADA Scholarship - Seamus Kelley

Seamus has excelled in the art program throughout high school and more recently became involved in drama and chorus. His visual arts interests lie in digital art and filmmaking and he has been very involved with ICAM in both volunteer and paid positions. He has also participated in numerous High School theater productions, both plays and musicals. Seamus has displayed his work in the Crane Estate Art Show and received High School Awards for both Outstanding Initiative in Visual Arts and Outstanding Initiative in Theater. Next year, Seamus will be attending UMass Amherst where he plans to select a major in the Humanities and Fine Arts.

IMADA Scholarship - Joseph Powers

An accomplished musician, Joey excels in both Orchestra and Chorus. He is Principal Viola in the Chamber Orchestra and has had the honor of playing in the pit orchestra for multiple Middle and High School Productions. Joey has been selected to MMEA Senior Districts as well as All-States in Orchestra for multiple years and received the Ipswich High School Outstanding Musician Award last year. In addition to participating in the High School Chorus, Joey is a member of 3 ensembles with the Handel and Haydn Youth Choruses. Joey is also very active in high school theater, earning leading roles in both plays and musicals. Next year, at UMass Amherst, Joey plans to minor in Music Performance and join college ensembles for both voice and viola.

Ipswich High School, Legally Blonde, Best Choreography Nominee

Maya Powers for the role of PMS, Legally Blonde, Best Specialty Ensemble Nominee

Martina Batres Villalva for the role of PMS, Legally Blonde, Best Specialty Ensemble Nominee

Clara Dos Santos for the role of PMS, Legally Blonde, Best Specialty Ensemble Nominee

Ipswich High School, Legally Blonde, Best Choral Ensemble Nominee

What a way to wrap up the year! It was a memorable and fun-filled night, with performers wearing their red carpet finery. The event showcased the endless creativity and vast talent pool of the fine arts program at Ipswich! Well done to students and staff alike!

The Ipswich Middle and High School Jazz Ensembles performed at Shalin Liu on May 15th to a sold out crowd, continuing this wonderful tradition in a stunning venue! Thank you to our generous donors who helped us raise $1600 to help with Summer Study Grants!

Congratulations to Ipswich Middle School 7th/8th grade Chorus, Orchestra, & Band Ensembles each on their SUPERIOR rating at the 2024 MUSIC IN THE PARKS festival at Six Flags in May! This is the highest level achievement awarded at the music festival.

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