Congratulations to John Fouracre ’90, who has been inducted into the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Paul Smith Hall of Fame.
Fouracre studied trumpet at UMass with Walter Chesnut and performed with the Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble under Malcolm Rowell, the jazz ensembles under the direction of David Sporny and Jeff Holmes, and the UMass Minuteman Marching Band under the direction of George N. Parks. With this honor, Fouracre joins three of his UMass mentors—Chesnut, Rowell, and Parks—as members of the MICCA Paul Smith Hall of Fame, a testament to both his accomplishments and the remarkable musical lineage that helped shape his career.
John began teaching at Freeman-Kennedy Elementary School in the fall of 1996, where he currently serves as Instrumental Music Instructor for grades 4-6. During his tenure, his Advanced Band students have consistently earned top ratings at MICCA Concert Festivals. In addition to his teaching career, John has performed with the Wachusett Brass, the Jerry Seeco Big Band, and currently performs with the Commonwealth Wind Symphony.
The MICCA Paul Smith Hall of Fame Award is presented annually to a Massachusetts music educator whose career reflects exceptional musical achievement, leadership, and dedication to students, communities, and the profession. Induction is limited to just two conductors each year.
John joins a notable group of MICCA Paul Smith Hall of Fame members with UMass roots, including Thom Hannum, Kayla Werlin, Gerry Dolan, Dennis Wrenn, and Stephen Paparo.