Fitchburg — The Fitchburg School Committee on Nov. 18 unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendation to allow a small group of Fitchburg High School music students to travel to Griswold High School in Griswold, Connecticut, on Dec. 14 to participate in New England Music Festival Association (NEMFA) auditions.

Miss Mercandante, introduced by Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Roach as “one of our FHS music teachers,” told the committee the district would send a multifunction school bus, departing about noon and returning about 5 p.m., and that six students would audition in solo and ensemble categories. She described the festival as an opportunity for students to receive professional adjudication and feedback and noted that strong auditions can lead to invitations to the larger concert festival in March.

“The solo and ensemble festival is available for all high school musicians properly registered in New England schools in grades 9 through 12,” Mercandante said, adding that students can choose repertoire and may audition in more than one category.

Committee members asked about the number of students and an opportunity for accepted students to perform locally; Mercandante said she would return to the committee if students were accepted. After brief discussion the committee took a motion to take the field‑trip item out of order and then voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to allow the trip.

The vote was by voice and recorded as unanimous; the motion was identified in the meeting packet as action item 24433. The committee did not provide a roll‑call tally on the record.

Next steps include completing district travel paperwork and the school’s usual chaperone and permission processes; Roach said transportation forms had been provided and that staff had coordinated with the district for the bus reservation and required approvals.