Comal ISD Fine Arts Newsletter

May 5, 2015

SBMS Advanced Band Spring Concert- SBMS Gym @ 7:00pm

May 6, 2015

SVHS Art and Tech Showcase@ SVHS 6:00pm

May 7, 2015

HLES 1st Grade Performance @6:30 in the cafeteria

May 8, 2015

SBMS and SVMS 7th and 8th grade Choir and Band trip to Dallas

May 9, 2015

MVMS Band Spring Fling Concert @CLHS

CLHS Band Concert at CLHS

CHS performs at Schlitterbahn SoundWaves Choral Festival

SBMS and SVMS 7th and 8th grade Choir and Band trip to Dallas

CLHS First Class Ballroom and Team II Banquet- TBA

Art and creative writing go together beautifully. Here’s something to try: select a painting from a book or the internet that you think would be conducive to good story-making. Show it to your child and ask brainstorming questions such as:

1. Where does this painting take place?
2. Who are the people/animals involved? What are their names and what are they talking about?
3. Where have they been and where are they going?”

Your child can write their own story, or they can collaborate. Of course, your child can dictate the story to you if they aren’t yet writing. This is a great way to exercise the imagination, introduce children to different forms of visual art and practice creative writing skills.

CMS 6th grade choir students kicked off Comal ISD Fine Arts partnership with retirement communities in Comal County by performing at Sundance Inn. Students sang popular songs for the residents under the direction of CMS Choir teacher Jennifer Rivera. Residents commented that they "enjoyed the performance very much" and "how happy they were to see the young people sing". The students were thrilled to perform and can't wait to perform again in the community.

Kelsey Lien, band and orchestra director at Canyon Middle School attended the Baylor Conducting Symposium where he received training from world-class conductors. In addition to receiving training, he was able to conduct the Baylor top band and 2nd band and received instant feedback from two amazing conductors. He also worked individually with professional conductors as well as a well-known band composer. He is excited to share what he learned with the students and is proud to model for them the habit of continuous improvement. Way to go Mr. Lien!

Mountain Valley MS Mixed Chorus directed by Lynn Cruz earned a 2 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.

They performed:
Barter (Frank DeWald)
Ave Maria (Jacques Arcadelt)
Lord, I Know I Been Changed (Larry Shackley)

Mountain Valley MS Varsity Treble Chorus directed by Lynn Cruz earned a 1 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.
The performed:

Ave Maria (Camille Saint-Saens)
Make Space for Life to Live (Michael Trotta)
Johnny said "No" (Vijay Singh)

Mountain Valley MS Tenor/Bass Chorus directed by Lynn Cruz earned a 1 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.
They performed:

Rest Not! (Laura Farnell)
Jubilate Deo (Mozart/Spevacek)
Oh, Won't You Sit Down (Robert Lawrence)

Spring Branch MS Non-Varsity Tenor/Bass Chorus directed by Katy Yachinich earned a 1 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.
They performed:

None of Us Cared for Kate (Farnell)
Colorado Trail (Anon. or Trad./Moore)
My Lagan Love (Farnell)

Spring Branch MS Varsity Treble Chorus directed by Katy Yachinich earned a 1 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.
They performed:

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin' (Laura Farnell)
When I Am Silent (Varner)
Dodi Li (SA, solo opt) (Chen/Rao)

Church Hill MS Varsity Treble Chorus directed by Melissa Lacy earned a 2 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.
They performed:

Hashivenu (Rao)
Ching A Ring Chaw (and Great Gittin' Up Mornin') (Spevacek)
The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky (Lightfoot)

Church Hill MS Non-Varsity Treble Chorus directed by Melissa Lacy earned a 1 in Concert and a 1 in Sight-reading.
They performed:

Bashana Haba'ah (Hirsch)
Spring Quiet (Crocker)
Antiphonal Hosanna (Smith)

JV earned a sweepstakes and Varsity received excellent ratings from all three judges in concert and superiors ratings from all three judges in sight reading. Judges mentioned the CHMS choirs had "nice balance, tone and very lively sound".

Awesome job, choirs!

The 2014-15 Comal ISD Fine Arts Calendar can be found at the Comal ISD website.

http://www.comalisd.org/Calendars/PDF/2014-2015/CISD-Fine-Arts-Events-2014-15-rev.pdf

Check with campuses to confirm events as dates and times are subject to change.

"Ovations" is a way to showcase and thank those teachers, students, administrators, community members, families, etc. that go above and beyond to support Comal ISD Fine Arts. Please email Mandy Epley at mandy.epley@comalisd.org to submit your "Ovation"!

STANDING OVATIONS THIS WEEK GO OUT TO:

C.C. Crews- 2014-15 Rookie (first-year) Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to C.C. on a fantastic first year of teaching at Spring Branch Middle as the dance/art instructor.

Melissa Lacy, Lynn Cruz and Katy Yachinich for preparing their students for a stellar performance at UIL Concert and Sight-reading.

Brad Arnold and the CHS feeder pattern band directors for a great "Night of Percussion".

All the Fine Arts teachers in Comal ISD. As we celebrate teacher appreciation week, we take this time to honor the men and woman of Comal ISD Fine Arts that work hard every day to provide the very best opportunities and learning experiences for their students. We thank you for the extra time you give to every student to make sure they reach their goals.

Several summer opportunities exist for students to continue their arts studies over the break. Some of those opportunities are listed below:

Southwest School of Art and Craft: June 8-Aug 10. One to 2 week long art classes for kids age 5-18. Tuition starts at $150/week. https://www.swschool.org/summerartstudios

Camp Artpace: June 15-19 for ages 6-8, June 22-26 for ages 9-12. 9am to 3 pm. Cost $200. Deadline to apply is May 29th. http://www.artpace.org/home/events/education/k-12/camp-artpace-ii-9-12-year-olds-2

Magik Theatre: Camp Showbiz: June 8-Aug 21. One to four week sessions. www.magiktheatre.org All day classes (9-3) for ages 5 and up with extended care available. See website for pricing. Has 2 locations this year.

Rose Theatre Youth Camps: June 8-Aug 21. Each one week session costs $225. Ages 5-16. http://www.therosetheatreco.com/acting_classes_and_camps/camps

Performing Arts San Antonio (at UTSA): June 8-July 31 for kids age 6-18. $250-$350 per one week session. http://performingartssa.org/san-antonio-summer-camp/

Woodlawn Theater Summer Camp: June 8-Aug 7. Ages 5-17. Two week sessions cost $215-$315. http://woodlawnapa.org/summer-theatre-camp/

Youth Orchestra of San Antonio Summer Symphony Camps: July 6-18. Any child age 8-18 with one year experience on violin, viola, cello or bass, or age 13-18 with 2 years’ experience on woodwind, percussion, or brass is eligible. $444, with need-based scholarships available. http://www.yosa.org/programs/yosa-camps/summer-symphony-camp/

Performing Arts Camp at UTSA: June 8-19. 3rd through 8th grade, $350. Check website for audition times, etc. http://music.utsa.edu/index.php/camps/performing-arts-camp

Carver Community Cultural Center Summer Camps: 3 week drama camp for ages 6-18, June 8-26, $175. 2 week dance camp for ages 8-18, July 13-24, $175. (Sorry, this was all full as of 4/5, but they have a waiting list.) http://www.thecarver.org/education/summer-camps/

UTSA Middle School Band Camp: June 22-26. Audition required. Day camp only. For students entering 6-9th grade with at least one year of experience. $299. http://music.utsa.edu/index.php/camps/middle-school-band-camp

UTSA Summer Music Institute: July 20-24. Ages 13-18. String or piano students. Audition required. $380 for commuter students, $595 to stay on campus. http://music.utsa.edu/index.php/camps/camp-information-and-tuition

UTSA Flute Camp: June 15-19. For middle and high school students with at least one year experience. $200, or $450 for high school students who want to stay on campus. http://music.utsa.edu/index.php/camps/flute-camp-information

Texas State Strings Camp: June 21-27. http://www.music.txstate.edu/stringcamp/

UT Middle School String Orchestra Camp: June 14-20. http://lmc.music.utexas.edu/camps/middle-school-string-orchestra-camp/

Baylor Summer Music Camp, Middle School: June 21-27.

http://www.baylor.edu/busmc/index.php?id=45710

Texas Lutheran University Summer Music Academy: July 5-10. http://www.tlu.edu/about/community/summer-music-academy/

San Antonio Museum of Art Camps: https://www.samuseum.org/images/Summer_Youth_Program_2015-Brochure-8.75x11.25-LOW.pdf

Get Real with Realism

(Ages 9-11)
June 22–26 | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. $175 members; $200 non-members

Clay Crazy

(Ages 5-7)
June 29–July 3 | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. $175 members; $200 non-members

Animation 101

(Ages 9-11)
July 13–17 | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. $175 members; $200 non-members

The Ancient World

(Ages 6-8)
July 20–24 | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. $175 members; $200 non-members

Comal ISD is not affiliated with any listed summer programs or camps.

The Arts In Action Committee is putting together a directory of community members and businesses that are interested in partnering with the arts in Comal ISD. If you are interested in speaking with fine arts classes at all levels about how the arts impact you and how arts skills benefit you in your profession, or if you have a business that is interested in hosting student performances, please contact Mandy Epley, Director of Fine Arts at mandy.epley@comalisd.org.

If you have news, events, or celebrations you wish to have shared in this newsletter, please send an email to Mandy Epley, Director of Fine Arts at mandy.epley@comalisd.org.

Email: mandy.epley@comalisd.org
Website: www.comalisd.org
Location: 1404 Interstate 35 N, New Braunfels, TX, 78130
Phone: (830) 221-2044
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comalisd
Twitter: @CISDNews