By The Hawk Staff

Hanover High School students have earned recent accolades in the areas of music, art, and public speaking. Whether on the stage, in the studio or at the podium, these Hawks have shown that hard work, creativity, and passion can help you soar.

Vocal and Instrumental Music

After being postponed by the Blizzard of 2026, the HHS Jazz Ensemble finally got to perform at the MAJE Cape Cod-Coastal Jazz Festival at New Bedford High School on March 3. After extensive rehearsals, sectionals, and individual practice, students performed for three adjudicators. The ensemble received a Silver Rating, improving by several points from our last trip in 2024 and a hiatus due to budget constraints last year. After the performance, the band received a clinic from George Murphy, retired band director and decorated jazz educator from the Foxboro Public Schools. The band will incorporate feedback from all of the adjudicators as we prepare for our spring performances and beyond. Special awards were given to juniors Maria-Rita Silva, Daniel Freedman, and Ronan Blum for outstanding musicianship.

Anna Dillon and Avery Porro, both juniors, were accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Festival. Anna qualified for the Treble Choir and Avery made the Mixed Choir. They were chosen from more than a thousand Massachusetts students who auditioned in January. The festival will take place March 20-21 in Worcester, where top students from across the state will work with collegiate and professional conductors at the top of the field. The ensembles will perform an afternoon concert at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on March 21. 

Anna, Avery and 20 other HHS students were accepted to the SEMSBA Senior Festival after auditions Feb. 7, a record number for our school (see image below for full list). SEMSBA, which is the Southeast Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association, will combine students from the region’s schools for performances to be held March 13-14 at Plymouth North High School and Plymouth Memorial Hall.

Junior Maria-Rita Silva and sophomore Ben Smith were selected for the High School Honor Band, an annual program run by the UMass Amherst Music Department. Ben played principal Baritone Saxophone in the Bronnenkant band and Maria-Rita played principal/solo flute in the Westgate band. The students had sectionals and master classes with UMass applied faculty and current students, and then rehearsed with other students from across Massachusetts for a performance on Feb. 21 at the UMass Fine Arts Center. A highlight was the chance to work with Michele Fernández, a professional composer and conductor. 

You can hear these talented musicians and more in performances at the Hanover District Arts Fest on April 7 and the Spring Concert on April 30, both at HHS. Congrats to all the performers, and to music teachers Mr. Harden and Mr. Wade for their instruction and support.

Scholastic Art Awards

Juniors Siena Oliver and Owen Cleary were recognized by the Scholastic Awards, a competition among teens across the United States and Canada. Siena won a Silver Key for her piece “Beach Day,” rendered in colored pencil on paper. Owen won honorable mention for his pieces “Monster” and “Empty,” which were both made with graphite on paper.

The Scholastic Awards is the nation’s longest-running and best-known recognition program for creative teens. Each year, more than 100,000 students in grades 7-12 enter their art and writing for a chance to receive recognition, exhibition, and scholarships. While students submit their own work, they are guided at HHS by art teachers Mr. File and Mrs. Curley.

You can see more work from these and other talented artists at the Hanover Schools District Arts Fest at HHS on April 7.

Click on an image to see a larger version and a caption.

Lions Club Speech Contest

Junior Siena Oliver has advanced to the state round of the Lions Club Youth Speech Competition, the first HHS student to do so in recent history. The annual contest, sponsored by the international service organization, gives high school students a chance to write and then present publicly a speech on a topic of general interest. This year’s prompt was “what can past America teach future America?” Siena spoke about how letters from historical figures such as Abigail Adams, Martin Luther King Jr., and ordinary people teach us to stay connected today despite technological advancements. Her speech included a story about writing to President Barack Obama when she was little and asking him to be her pen pal; he wrote back! Siena won the school and district competitions to advance to states, which will be held March 28. About 400 students from across Massachusetts take part in the speech contest each year.