Denton ISD Fine Arts

High School Band, Choir, and Orchestra students from Denton ISD performed in the Region 2 UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest. This year's contest was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students recorded their performances and submitted them online to the judges for evaluation rather than performing them live in-person. Performances are evaluated according to the UIL music rubric and rated 1-5. The top rating of "1" or "Superior" is awarded a medal. We are proud that 237 Denton ISD students received 1st Division "Superior" ratings for their performances and earned a UIL medal. 79 students have qualified for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in May.

Congratulations to these outstanding student soloists and small ensembles. We are extremely proud of your hard work and dedication to making excellent music. Many thanks to their directors, private lesson teachers, and parents for supporting them.

High school art students in Denton ISD participated in the Region round of the Texas Art Education Association's Visual Art Scholastic Event or VASE. This year's VASE events are virtual rather than in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students that enter VASE create artworks, write about their creative processes and understanding of visual art, and articulate information about their artwork during an interview with a VASE juror, who evaluates their work using a standards-based rubric. This year, Denton ISD art students earned a total of 101 Region medals for Superior ratings. 15 Denton ISD works have advanced to State VASE (also virtual) which takes place April 24.

Pictured below are works by the 15 students that have advanced to State. Congratulations to all of these award-winning DISD art students and their teachers. Best wishes to the students that have advanced to State.


Sadie Johnson Braswell HS	Leah Matney Braswell HS	Jennifer (Allison) McLeod Braswell HS

Sadie Johnson

Braswell HS

Leah Matney

Braswell HS

Jennifer (Allison) McLeod

Braswell HS


Marissa Salinas Braswell HS	Samuel Sanders Braswell HS	Samuel Sanders Braswell HS

Marissa Salinas

Braswell HS

Samuel Sanders

Braswell HS

Samuel Sanders

Braswell HS


Elijah Aguirre Guyer HS	Makenzie Lander Guyer HS	Makenzie Lander Guyer HS

Elijah Aguirre

Guyer HS

Makenzie Lander

Guyer HS

Makenzie Lander

Guyer HS


Kamryn Nix Guyer HS	Kamryn Nix Guyer HS	Ronin Salmon Guyer HS

Kamryn Nix

Guyer HS

Kamryn Nix

Guyer HS

Ronin Salmon

Guyer HS


Ryan Van Wagoner Guyer HS	Kayla Bryant Ryan HS	Victor Matute Ryan HS

Ryan Van Wagoner

Guyer HS

Kayla Bryant

Ryan HS

Victor Matute

Ryan HS

Denton ISD's high school theatre programs have been giving outstanding performances in the 2021 UIL One Act Play contests. In 6A competition, both Braswell HS and Guyer HS advanced from District to the Bi-District contest. Denton HS and Ryan HS both won awards in class 5A District and Ryan HS advanced to Bi-District.

Guyer and Ryan have advanced to the Regional level contests for 6A and 5A, respectively, which take place in April. Best wishes to the casts, crews, and directors of the Guyer and Ryan One Act Plays!

6A District OAP Awards:

Braswell HS - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Advanced to Bi-Distrct)

Best Technical Crew
Outstanding Technician: Sarai Melancon-Powers
Best Performer: Joesy DePalo as Guildenstern
All-Star Cast: Ariana Davis as Rosencrantz
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Madison Hamby as The Player

Guyer HS - An Experiment with an Air Pump (Advanced to Bi-District)

Best Performer: Ryley Patten as Susannah/Ellen
Outstanding Technician: Alex Marshall
All-Star Cast: Caroline Chraska as Isobel
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Andrew Beijan

6A Bi-District OAP Awards:

Braswell HS - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Outstanding Technician: Makenzie Milhizer
All-Star Cast: Ariana Davis as Rosencrantz
All-Star Cast: Joesy DePalo as Guildenstern

Guyer HS - An Experiment with an Air Pump (Advanced to Regional)

Best Technical Crew
Outstanding Technician: Madden Shoebotham
All-Star Cast: Ryley Patten as Susannah/Ellen
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Caroline Chraska as Isobel
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Parker Jackson as Fenwick/Tom

5A District OAP Awards:

Denton HS - Steel Magnolias

All-Star Cast: Caroline Pluscht as M’Lynn
All-Star Cast: Izzy Fosmire as Shelby
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Halle Harrington as Annelle

Ryan HS - Proof (Advanced to Bi-District)

Outstanding Technician: Sifallah Bouyadjera, Stage Manager
Best Performer: Levi Broom as Hal
All-Star Cast: Lauren Patton as Catherine
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Chloe May as Claire

5A Bi-District OAP Awards:

Ryan HS - Proof (Advanced to Regional)

Outstanding Technician: Sifallah Bouyadjera, Stage Manager
Best Performer: Levi Broom as Hal
All-Star Cast: Lauren Patton as Catherine
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Chloe May as Claire

Guyer HS junior orchestra bassist, Christian Luevano, was recently named as a member of the Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra. Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together the brightest young players from across the country to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, a free program for all participants. Following a comprehensive audition process and a multi-week training residency with leading professional orchestra musicians, these remarkable teenagers embark on a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world while serving as dynamic music ambassadors. Read more about the NYO-USA here.

Not only has Christian achieved this tremendous honor and been named a three-time TMEA All-State Orchestra member during his student career at Guyer High, Christian was was also recently named as one of 10 semi-finalists in the International Society of Bassists Young Artist Competition. Christian's mother, Kim Cole Luevano, attributes much of her son's success to the guidance of his orchestra directors at GHS, "We feel fortunate to be here in Denton with our amazing music programs, and Michelle (Hanlon) and Jeremy (Atkins) have contributed enormously to Christian' development as a human and a musician alike." We at Denton ISD wish Christian all the best in the semi-finals of the international bass competition in May.

Denton High School art student, Dalya Kinsizer's, artwork Quarantine 3 (pictured above), has been named a finalist in the 2021 Young American Talent Competition and Exhibition. YAT is a Juried Visual Art Competition for North Texas High School students. It is hosted by the non-profit Visual Arts Guild at Booker T Washington HSPVA. The annual event encourages the pursuit of artistic excellence among Dallas-area high school students by providing an opportunity to compete with peers, participate in a juried art exhibit and receive recognition in a professional gallery setting. Best in Show and each 1st through 3rd place category winner receives a monetary award. Last year 1120 works were entered and 130 were selected, yielding an inspiring collection of exceptional artwork.

Dayla's artwork will be reproduced on a yard sign and will be part of the 2021 Traveling Young American Talent Art Show. The Virtual Awards Ceremony will be on Wednesday March 31st at 7pm. To see the list of finalists and information regarding the awards ceremony, visit https://www.youngamericantalent.com/.

Braswell HS JV and Varsity Winter Guards have been competing each weekend in the WGI (Winter Guard International) Virtual Group Competitive category. The JV earned a spot in the Regional A division semi-finals, which is a major milestone. This is the first time Braswell winter guards have competed at the national level. Braswell Color Guard Director, Emily Strother said, "We are so proud of their journey so far. It has certainly been a wild ride this season, with a pandemic and unexpected snow days, but the students are showing up and working hard every single day."


Braswell Royals	Guyer Silverados	Ryan Strutters

Braswell Royals

Guyer Silverados

Ryan Strutters


Braswell Royals	Guyer Silverados	Ryan Strutters

Braswell Royals

Guyer Silverados

Ryan Strutters

Denton ISD's drill teams have been participating in spring competitions and continuing their tradition of success. The Braswell HS Royals, Guyer HS Silverados, and Ryan HS Strutters, had the opportunity to compete at the Crowd Pleasers Frisco Showcase competition on Saturday, February 27 at the Allen Convention Center. All three drill teams did a fantastic job and represented Denton ISD with grace and poise. The awards received by all three teams are listed below. Congratulations to these outstanding students and their amazing directors!

Braswell HS Royals - Directors: Kristina Shelburne & Jessica Johnston

Team Super Sweepstakes (score of 90 or above on all routines)
Team Elite Silver Sweepstakes
Team Contemporary - 1st Runner Up
Team Elite Jazz - 2nd Runner Up
Team Elite Kick - 1st Place
Officer Silver Sweepstakes
Officer Hip Hop - 1st Place
Officer Select Novelty - Runner Up
Judges Award for Outstanding HS Select Hip Hop

Guyer HS Silverados - Directors Rachel Simpson & Lauren Uddin

Team Elite Showcase Circle
Team Super Sweepstakes (score of 90 or above on all routines)
Officer Super Sweepstakes
Team Pom 1st Runner up- awards for outstanding choreography, technique, execution, and performance quality
Team Jazz- awards for outstanding choreography, technique, and execution
Officer Contemporary 2nd runner up- awards for outstanding choreography, and technique
Officer Lyrical 2nd runner up- awards for outstanding choreography
Officer Jazz -awards for outstanding choreography
Soloist Sr. Lt. Blair Livingston 2nd runner up

Ryan HS Strutters - Directors: Keli Jones & Breana Murphy

Team Grand Champion 1st Runner Up
Academic Award of Excellence
Ensembles: Highsteppers – 2nd Runner Up
Team: Super Sweepstakes (score of 90 or above on all routines)
Team Jazz – 1st Runner Up
Team Modern – 1st Place
Team Pom – 1st Runner Up
Officers: Super Sweepstakes
Officer Jazz – 1st Runner Up
Officer Lyrical – 1st Place
Officer Classic Novelty – 1st Runner Up
Officer Grand Champion 1st Runner Up

March is Youth Art Month and it has gone virtual this year. The Greater Denton Arts Council is hosting an online exhibit of works created by Denton ISD elementary school students. Many thanks to GDAC for partnering with our creative Denton ISD art teachers. Visit the exhibit online using the link above. We hope you enjoy seeing the work of our talented Kindergarten through 5th graders!