Do you want to know when that Fall Program is happening or what contest our marching bands are performing in? Check out the calendars for each Fine Arts area on the Denton ISD Fine Arts website.

Band

Choir

Dance

Elementary Music

Mariachi

Orchestra

Theatre

Visual Art

On Saturday, September 15, 2018, students from school districts across TMEA Region 2 auditioned for the All-Region Jazz Ensemble. Students from Denton ISD were selected for 8 of the 20 positions available in the ensemble, making DISD the district with the largest number of students represented! The students selected to the All-Region Jazz Ensemble will perform in the All-Region Clinic/Concert on November 17 at Eaton HS in Haslet (Northwest ISD). They also qualify to audition for the TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble. Congratulations to these outstanding Denton ISD student musicians and their teachers!

Denton HS – Jesse Woolery, jazz ensemble director

Eric Crenshaw-alto sax 1

Matthew Garcia-tenor sax 1

Travis Harris-trombone 3

Mitchill Case-piano

Owen White-bass

Guyer HS – Oscar Ban, jazz ensemble director

Grayson Spradlin-tenor sax 2

Ryan HS – Juan Nunez, jazz ensemble director

Gabriel Williams-bass trombone 2

Alex Howell-drum set

Many of the Guyer High School Theatre students took part in a Summer Intensive Study program, part of which was to mount a production of The Addams Family. Students were hard at work since mid July rehearsing and building scenery and props. The performances took place at Guyer HS, Sept 13-15 and Sept 20-22. The Addams Family musical is based on our favorite television sitcom, bringing to life the characters many of us remember so well. Check out these photos of the Guyer Theatre students as Morticia, Gomez, Lurch, Grandma, Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, and their new "normal" friends, the Beineke's. Congraulations to the Guyer Theatre students and directors, Eleshia Crotwell and Chris Crotwell, for producing this incredibly entertaining show.

The Foundation for Music Education "Mark of Excellence"

Click here for more information about these awards

National Wind Band Honors Project:

Guyer HS Wind Ensemble, “National Winner”

Director of Bands, Amy Woody

Director of Percussion, Dr. Ellis Hampton

Associate Director of Bands, Oscar Ban

Crownover MS Wind Ensemble, “Commended Winner”

Director of Bands, Christin Bunch

Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Kyle Mullins

National Orchestra Honors Project

Guyer HS Rhapsody Orchestra, "Commended Winner"

Director of Orchestras, Michelle Brians Hanlon

Associate Director of Orchestras, Jeremy Atkins

National Jazz Honors Project:

Denton HS Lab Band 1, "National WInner"

Directed by Jesse Woolery

McMath MS Tiger Jazz Band, "Commended Winner"

Directed by Travis Harris

Each year, the Texas Art Education Association presents an exhibit of Pre-K-12th grade artwork from across the state at the Texas Association of School Administrators & Texas Association of School Boards (TASA/TASB) Fall Conference. TAEA also presents an Arts Advocacy booth in the exhibit hall where area teachers bring student artists to demonstrate quality art education in action. Two Denton ISD 5th grade students had artwork that advanced and was selected to be displayed on Sept 28-29 at the Austin TASA/TASB Conference: Rebecca Ambrosio of Adkins Elem. and Selena Bent-Andrade of Stephens Elem.

Selena created an artwork inspired by Georgia O’Keefe and focused on her “making people see what she saw.” She painted large to fill in the space and then added contour lines around the shapes noticed in the watercolor. Rebecca studied printmaking and the process of layer work as a collage. The printing process created a self-portrait using lines and was then cut and glued onto another paper background. Rebecca shared, “I’m so excited that other school leaders will see my art.”

Stephens Elem. Art Teacher, Megan Trammell is “thankful for the opportunity to showcase our students. It is meaningful for my student to be recognized for her hard work and creativity at the state level.” This conference attracts school board members, superintendents, and district administrators from all over Texas. “I am so grateful for our Denton ISD Superintendent, Dr. Wilson, and School Board members for stopping by the art exhibit and honoring our students’ for their artwork. It is incredible the support that our School Board provides in supporting art education for all students and the growth of the whole child. And, through this exhibit our student’s work inspires quality art education programs across the state,” said Kelley McGee, Adkins Elem. Art Teacher.

The TETA State Conference, "TheatreFest", was hosted in Dallas Sept. 26-29. Many theatre teachers from DISD attended the conference and enjoyed workshops, clinics, and presentations by many of the leading theatre educators and vendors in the field. Theatre students from Braswell, Denton, Guyer, and Ryan HS performed in the convocation with students from Dallas, Keller, Lewisville, and Plano ISDs.

The University of North Texas and Conference USA "Extra Yard for Teachers" program donated $10,000 of Michael's gift cards to Denton ISD Elementary Arts Teachers to acquire additional art supplies for their classrooms. UNT Athletics provided free tickets for all of the teachers to attend the UNT football game on Sept. 29 and they presented the gift on the field at Apogee Stadium after the 1st quarter of the game.

The Texas Music Educators Association magazine, Southwestern Musician, featured an article in its October 2018 issue written by Strickland MS Associate Choir Director, Virginia Thomas. The subject is about strategies for teaching students with special needs. Ms. Thomas also presented on the same topic at Dallas Baptist University on September 6.

On October 1, Braswell, Denton, Guyer, and Ryan HS Bands performed with their feeder middle school bands and the UNT Green Brigade at Collins Stadium in the 14h annual "Sounds of the Stadium". The event drew over 5,000 spectators and raised funds for all of the bands. The grand finale featured all four HS bands performing "Hey Baby" on the field with the Green Brigade. Special thanks to sponsors: University of North Texas College of Music, Music and Arts, and Williamson Music 1st.

If you have DISD Fine Arts news, events, or celebrations you would like to see published in our newsletter, click this link: SPREAD THE NEWS.