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BPS Fine Arts Newsletter
October 2023
- Wednesday, October 4 - 3:30-5:00pm - YAM Teens - Yellowstone Art Museum
- Tuesday, October 10 - 5:30pm - Concert Choir Festival performance - Skyview Auditorium
- Monday, October 16 - 7:00pm - Senior High Choir Concert - Senior Auditorium
- Monday, October 16 - 7:00pm - Skyview High Choir Concert - Skyview Auditorium
- Tuesday, October 17 - 7:30pm - West High Choir Concert - West Auditorium
- Wednesday, October 18 - 3:30-5:00pm - YAM Teens - Yellowstone Art Museum
- Wed-Fri, October 18-20 - All-State Music Festival - Missoula, MT
- Tuesday, October 24 - 7:00pm - Skyview High Band Concert - Skyview Auditorium
- Monday, October 30 - 7:00pm - Senior High Band Concert - Senior Auditorium
- Monday, October 30 - 7:00pm - West High Orchestra Concert with Ben Steele and Will James Middle Schools 8th Grade Orchestras - West Auditorium
Honor Choirs & Honor Orchestras
Honor Choir rehearsals begin Tuesday, Oct 3rd at Eagle Cliffs, Lincoln Center, Lewis & Clark & Senior High - 4:00-5:00pm on Tuesdays
Honor Orchestra & Honor Chamber Orchestra begin Wednesday, Oct 4th at Lincoln Center - 4:00-5:00pm on Wednesdays
Meet Our Teachers
Each month, based (mostly) on birthdays, we will feature some of our Fine Arts staff. Learn a bit about these wonderful humans (and wish them a happy birthday on their special day!)
Jennifer Keller
Jen has returned to BPS this year to teach elementary music at Ponderosa (you might recognize her as a former Castle Rock choir teacher!) Jen loves Unicorn Cotton Candy ice cream, decorating Christmas cookies and big earrings. In addition to her school teaching, Jen directs a children's choir at a Lutheran Church in town. Her students would say she is intense, forgetful, and easily distracted, but that she is a great music teacher. Because music has always been her sanctuary, something that brought her immense happiness and emotion, she wanted to stay involved with it after High School and became a music teacher...first for 7 years in North Carolina and now in MT for 6 years. She's back after taking some time to have babies. She loves to spend time with her husband and kids and take family trips. Jen hopes that young people will continue to make space for music after it's no longer a requirement in their school life. (Birthday: July 30)
Amanda Olson
Amanda teaches elementary music at Boulder and Highland Schools. She also plays the harp and performs in Belissimo! (a community hand bell choir). When Amanda realized she "thought like a teacher," she determined that she wanted to be a part of students' music experience. 16 years later, she has shared musical experiences with thousands of kids in the Billings Public Schools. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband and grandkids, camping, cooking, word games, playing cards and visiting with friends. She loves the mountains and the ocean - and in both 2022 and 2023, she had the pleasure of putting her feet in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans! (Birthday: August 15)
Houston Harmon
Houston is one of six art teachers at Senior High School! He teaches several classes of Art 1, Painting 1 and 2 and a very popular Photography class. Houston's own photographs of over 110 murals still in existence at Senior High are featured in a 144 page commemorative book, "If the Walls Could Speak," published by Billings printer, Artcraft Printers, in 2015. We are grateful to have Houston as a part of our Fine Arts Department in the Billings Public Schools! @houstonharmonphotography (Birthday: August 17)
Wendy Goodheart
Now in her 25th year with BPS, Wendy is the music teacher at Big Sky and Central Heights Elementary Schools. Her mom was a musician and she grew up with wonderful music teachers in school and private lessons, which inspired her decision to teach music. (Her brother is also a music teacher in the district!) Wendy's students find her to be kind and caring, as she strives to help them enjoy all their musical experiences. When she's not teaching, Wendy directs a handbell choir and performs in another. She also enjoys travel, crafts and photography. Most of all, she adores spending time with her niece (Charlie) and nephew (Sam)! (Birthday: October 3)
Steve Patton
Steve always knew he wanted to teach, and we're grateful that Music won out over Science or Math! After teaching 12 years in Laurel, Steve came to the BPS and is now in his 23rd year as the Band Director of West High School. He conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Chamber Band, Percussion Ensemble, Pep Band and Jazz Band, teaches Music Theory and Improv, and runs sound during Musicals and other performances at West High. Steve is also fortunate to be a member of the Billings Symphony for more than 30 years. And he still finds time to enjoy the outdoors - hiking, fishing, skiing and kayaking. His goal for students is that they will continue playing long after high school. On the wall above Steve's desk is a photocopy of a quote titled ATTITUDE by Charles Swindoll: "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...We are in charge of our Attitude." (Birthday: October 15)
Anthony Hammond
Now in his 18th year of teaching, Tony is the grade 6-8 Choir Director at Medicine Crow, where he also runs an extracurricular choir called "Balaxi." Tony is also the assistant band director at Skyview and the 6th period/6th grade band teacher at Castle Rock! In the summers he teaches at Amp Camp, a summer Rock and Roll camp. He also enjoys side gigs as a singer and trombone player. He chose to teach music because he couldn't do any thing else everyday and feel fulfilled they way he does with this career. His students know him to be strict, face-paced and silly while he works to help them gain knowledge and skills that will make them lifelong musicians. Beyond music, Tony loves soccer, disc golf and good food! He coaches competitive youth soccer for his two kids (ages 11 and 8) in the Real Billings Football Club, and referee's soccer. He likes to do home improvement projects and tries to get in as much lake and ranch time as he can in the summer. He loves paddle boarding, tubing, rafting and swimming. (Birthday: October 19)
Jacoby Holte
After spending his formative years seeing the impact of strong music educators, Jacoby chose to follow that career path. He was inspired by their love and passion for students and music and emulates that in his teaching. His own students describe him as passionate, caring, unrelenting and optimistic. Jacoby is in his 8th year of teaching, 6th in Billings, as the Senior High Choir Director, Senior High Tri-M Advisor and newly appointed Boys Honor Choir Director for the district. He also sings in High Plains Chamber Singers and the Billings Symphony Chorale, where he serves as the bass section leader. In his spare time, Jacoby enjoys fly fishing, tying flies, camping, reading and spending time with his wife, Sydney (also a music teacher in the district!) He loves watching a good movie with fresh popcorn, ice cold water, and the cool side of the pillow! His wish is that students keep their love for music and continue to make music after high school. "There are so many avenues to perform. Don't stop after graduation." (Birthday: October 21)
Adriane Arredondo
Adriane began teaching in 2005. She is an art teacher at Skyview - teaching levels 1, 2 and advanced ceramics. She is especially excited for a new Pugmill at school this year! Adriane frequently offers ceramics classes for adults in Billings - through Billings Adult and Community Ed or through intensive summer courses. She creates and sells her own pottery at Craft Local. When she's not elbow-deep in clay, she's a dog-mom and adventurer. Adriane has owned Dobermans for 37 years. She's been scuba diving AND skydiving! (Birthday: October 25)
Bryan Grummett
Now in his 33rd year of teaching, Bryan teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade bands at Lewis & Clark Middle School. He has 4 early-morning groups that meet throughout the year - 7th grade woodwind choir, 8th grade woodwind choir, 7th grade jazz band and 8th grade jazz band. His students describe him as willing to help and listen, as he works to instill good memories of band class and a love of music in their lives. He chose to become a teacher because he believed it to be where his God-given talent took him. When not teaching music, he enjoys listening to good music and practicing music. He also enjoys fly fishing, exploring and grilling on the barbeque. He adores his Savior Jesus, his lovely wife Erin (also a music teacher in the district) and spending peaceful time with her. He reminds us that "being good at anything is 10 to 15% talent and the rest is hard work." (Birthday: October 29)
MHSA All-State Music Festival 2023
Each spring, hundreds of students from all over Montana audition to be chosen for the All-State Music Festival in October. The top students in Band, Choir and Orchestra are chosen to participate in Honor Ensembles directed by top-notch conductors. This month, students will travel to Missoula to participate. Congratulations to the students representing Billings Public Schools:
Arts Without Boundaries Lesson Program
Arts Without Boundaries offers a yearly lesson program which pairs beginning band and orchestra students with HS and Collegiate mentors on their instruments. Lessons take place once per week for 30 minutes at our Middle and High Schools. Lessons go from October through February.
Sign your student up with the QR code or link shown below:
BPS 4th grader to sing with the Billings Symphony
The Billings Symphony's October 14th concert is called "Cinematic Soundscapes." The concert will feature a "Lord of the Rings" Suite which calls for a young voice on the song "In Dreams." Arthur Nielsen, Arrowhead 4th grader, and new member of the Boys Honor Choir has been chosen for this honor! Arthur is the middle child of 5 siblings. Arthur takes piano lessons, sings in the Primary church choir for the Church of Latter-Day Saints and hopes to play the trumpet when he gets to middle school. Arthur is part of an active musical family - his four siblings all take piano lessons and sing in their church choir. The two older siblings attend Ben Steele Middle School, playing string bass and trombone. Arthur's parents are musicians, as well! Dad grew up singing in choirs and Mom played flute, piccolo and trombone in concert, jazz and marching bands. She also sang in choir throughout school and into college. This is a special honor for Arthur and we look forward to his performance!
Community Partners
Alberta Bair Theatre
This month, two groups of students from BPS get to visit the ABT and enjoy a show! 8th graders will see "Pamyua" on October 24th. 1st graders will see "Pete the Cat" on October 30th.
NOVA Center for the Performing Arts
Upcoming NOVA Youth Conservatory Events
*Classes
There's still space in our Youth Conservatory Classes! You can register online at www.novabillings.org, over the phone at 406-591-9535, or at our box office at 2317 Montana Avenue.
Classes include: Tiny Tot Theater, Creative Drama, Intro to Theater, Acting I, Acting II
*Improv
Check out our teen improv troupe "The Funky Bunch" and our new troupe "Funky Bunch, jr!" We perform the first Saturday of every month. Our next performance is October 6th at 7:30. Tickets are $10 at the door.
*Upcoming Productions
Our next youth production is "The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever!" For audition information keep an eye out on Facebook or our website.
Arts Without Boundaries
AWB is hosting a Big Band Dance on November 4th - raising money for the many AWB programs that support BPS. "Kickstand: The Tricycle Trio" will open the evening beginning at 6:00pm. These incredible musicians are all Seniors at Senior High. "The Hangar Band" will take over at 7:00pm. Come enjoy some great jazz music and dance the night away!!