Over the past eight years, the program has grown to now include many small woodwind and brass ensembles. Community outreach has increased with the chamber music program as well. The students have performed a series of concerts at nursing homes and holiday commemorations in the town center. Although opportunities for individual participation may diminish, motivation is at a higher level and ultimately allows the musicianship for the larger ensembles to grow. Every sixth day of class at the junior high level, a chamber ensemble will perform for the band during class.
Listeners are then responsible for answering questions about the music they heard.
Discussion is limited to the music and not to the performance of the music. McLellan holds degrees in music education and music composition from East Carolina University and from the Hartt School of Music . As a member of the executive board of the Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors' Association, he developed the statewide Solo and Ensemble Festival, now in its eighth year, and has served as manager for numerous district and all-state festivals. John McLellan doesn't view chamber music as music for the gifted as much as music for the needy. Although enrichment of the program for the gifted is sought as well, it is not just the elite musicians that are included in chamber groups.