Denton ISD Fine Arts

The Denton HS Mariachi Los Broncos will host the 2nd annual Gran Mariachi Fiesta on Saturday, Sept. 21, 9am-3pm in the Denton HS Auditorium. Denton ISD middle school and high school mariachi members and their directors will work with Ms. Marta Ocampo, distinguished director of the Grand Prairie Academy of Fine Arts Mariachi Sol Azteca. Her group has consistently been ranked in the top three mariachi groups in the state of Texas over the years.

Denton ISD students will work with Ms. Ocampo and members of Sol Azteca to see, hear, and learn mariachi techniques and style. It is a fun, memorable, and highly educational workshop for beginning and experienced mariachi students and their directors. Student attendees need to bring their instruments, music they are working on, and paper and pencil. It will be a fun learning experience and a Mi Casita lunch will be provided for free to all workshop participants. Prior to the lunch, everyone is invited to hear Sol Azteca will give a brief performance at 10:30am in the DHS Auditorium. Special thanks to DHS Director of Orchestra and Mariachi, Julianne Booth, for coordinating this event.

The Braswell Bravo Theatre Company shares the stories of the parents and townspeople who went through unbearable heartbreak and loss, searching for answers to their never-ending questions before entering the healing process. Join the Braswell Theatre Department as they open their fourth season with 26 Pebbles by Eric Ulloa on September 19-21 at 7pm in the Braswell Auditorium. The play surrounds the aftermath of a horrific shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that took the lives of twenty first graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A local resident described the terrible event as “pebbles thrown into a pond” that created ripples that captured the attention of the nation.

“I’m hoping the show let’s people know the importance of community and people coming together in times of hardship,” production director Benjamin Parker said, “It doesn’t have to take a traumatic event for you to care about the people in your community and help others.”

This production features the Braswell Bravo Company’s first fall show of 2019. “I’m really excited to see a real-life story being portrayed on our theater stage,” said Stage Manager Mackenzie Milhizer.

Performances run September 19-21 at 7:00pm each night. All performances will be held in the Braswell HS Auditorium at 26750 E University Dr, Aubrey, TX 76227. Tickets can be bought at the door, $5 for students and $7 for adults or purchased online at braswelltheatre.com. All Denton ISD faculty and staff get one free ticket with their ID. For group sales and more information, please contact mgreene@dentonisd.org.

This production is produced with permission from Samuel French, a Concord Theatrical company. Braswell HS Theatre Directors are: Michelle Greene, Benjamin Parker, and Clay VanWinkle.

The Foundation for Music Education's "Mark of Excellence" project seeks to recognize and award outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras. The project gathers entries from throughout the United States and provides valuable feedback for all entrants. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding groups from across the country. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as National Winners, with the second 25% named as Commended Winners. All entrants receive a compilation recording of the winning performances. Winners are recognized in regional and/or national publications and at national and regional conventions.

Congratulations to the students and directors of these four outstanding Denton ISD bands for being honored with a Mark of Excellence award. Click here for the complete list of award winners.

Crownover MS Wind Ensemble, Christin Bunch, Director

2019 National Wind Band Honors - National Winner

Two-time National/Commended Winner

Crownover MS Symphonic Band, Dr. Kyle Mullins, Director

2019 Citation of Excellence Winner

McMath MS Tiger Jazz, Travis Harris, Director

2019 National Jazz Honors - National Winner

Four-time National Winner

Denton HS Lab Band 1, Jesse Woolery, Director

National Jazz Honors - Commended Winner

Four-time National/Commended Winner

Many thanks to Williamson Music 1st for sponsoring the 15th Annual Sounds of the Stadium

On Saturday, September 14, students from Denton ISD's four comprehensive high school's participated in the Texas Music Educators Assocation Region 2 Jazz Ensemble Auditions among students from all across Region 2 including Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Northwest ISDs, and others.

The audition consists of an improvised solo and three prepared etudes selected by TMEA. The students selected to the Region 2 Jazz Ensemble also qualify to audition in October for the TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble. Denton ISD students were selected for nine of the 20 positions in the Region 2 Jazz Ensemble, the most from any single district. Six of the DISD students are from Denton HS, the most in the Region 2 Jazz Ensemble from any single school. The students in the Region 2 Jazz Ensemble have the opportunity to participate in a clinic together on November 15-16 and will perform in a public concert, November 16, at Eaton High School.

Congratulations to these outstanding DISD student musicians. Many thanks to their directors, private lesson teachers, and parents for supporting them in this audition!

Braswell HS

Aidan Evano, trumpet

Aaron Snipes, Jazz Ensemble Director, BHS Band Director

Denton HS

Mitchell Case, piano

Eric Crenshaw, alto saxophone

Rueben Dean, trombone

Matthew Garcia, tenor saxophone

Simon McClurg, guitar

Owen White, bass

Jesse Woolery, Jazz Ensemble Director, DHS Assistant Band Director

Guyer HS

Adam Whoolery, drums

Oscar Ban, Jazz Ensemble Director, GHS Assistant Band Director

Ryan HS

Gabriel Williams, bass trombone

Juan Nunez, Jazz Ensemble Director, RHS Assistant Band Director

The Denton Public School Foundation recently awarded 136 grants and scholarships to teachers totaling almost $128,000. 21 of those grants went to Denton ISD Fine Arts teachers and programs. Congratulations to these recipients and many thanks to the DPSF and its Director, Jacqueline Jackson!

• Phillip Elder, Ellis Hampton, and Akira Robles - $1000 for a DISD Artist in Residence
• Kyle Mullins and Christin Bunch, RCMS Band -- $900 for a Sound System
• Carleen Michener, EP Rayzor Art -- $800 The Great “ART”doors
• Shelly Swafford, MMS Choir -- $1000 Put Our Students in the Spotlight!
• Various DISD MS Choirs -- $3025 District Wide Grant for 6th Grade Honor Choir
• Megan Trammell, Stephens Art -- $765 Mix Media Masters
• Jennifer Hartman, Pecan Creek Art--$1000 Tie-Dye: The Art and Science of Color
• Victor Lozada, Pecan Creek Music -- $993 Drums
• Kelley McGee, Borman Art -- $530 I Can See Clearly Now
• Michael Leonas, Ginnings Music -- $749 Don’t Forget the A in STEAM
• Kate Wurtzel, Ginnings Art -- $1000 I Can See 3-D
• Nachel Konemann, SMS Band -- $988 Funding for Uniforms
• Kiba Jacobson, BHS Art - $813 Hands On Learning
• Michael Burris, BHS Zone Orchestra -- $558 Pump the Volume for Beginning Strings
• Angelia Ford, BHS Art - $1000 Printmaking Lab
• Natalie Olson, Bell Art -- $995 Creating Problem Solvers Through 3-D Art
• Gwendolyn Hope-Battley, NMS Art -- $1000 – Fabric Art & Metal Sculpture
• Claire Majerus, Union Park Art – $990 -- Full STEAM Ahead
• Jesse Woolery, DHS Band -- $3350 School Wide Grant -- Can You Hear Us Now?
• Mark Baker and Nicholas Vance -- $250 endowment given each year to DHS Choir
• Laura Kinnaird, Stephens Music - $1000 for Orff Level 1 training

All events will be at the respective campus unless noted. Visit the Fine Arts calendar for more details.

Sept 25 - Harpool MS Choir Concert, 6:30pm

Sept 25 - Rodriguez MS Band Concert, 6:30pm

Sept 26-28 - Texas Educational Theatre Association State Convention, Dallas Hyatt Regency

Sept 27 - Future Bronco/Raider Night at DHS/RHS Football Game, 7:00pm

Sept 28 - Golden Triangle Classic Marching Band Contest hosted by DHS at Collins Stadium

Sept 28 - Braswell HS Band at Owasso, OK Marching Band Invitational

Sept 28 - Ryan HS Band at Little Elm Marching Band "Classic on the Lake"

Sept 30 - Sounds of the Stadium DISD Band Show at Collins Stadium, 6:30pm

Oct 3 - Braswell Zone HS-MS Choir Concert at BHS Auditorium, 7:00pm

Oct 4 - Navo MS Band Concert, 7:00pm

Oct 5 - Braswell HS Band at US Bands Burleson

Oct 7 - Guyer HS Choir Concert, 7:00pm

Oct 8 - Denton HS Choir Concert, 6:30pm

Oct 8 - Guyer HS Orchestra Concert, 7:00pm

Oct 9 - Harpool MS Orchestra Concert, 6:30pm

Oct 12 - Don Hanna Memorial Marching Band Contest hosted by RHS at Collins Stadium

Oct 15 - BHS Zone Choir Concert, 7:00pm

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.

Dr. Jackie deMontmollin, Director

Eddy Russell, Assistant Director

Jordan Rice, Administrative Assistant

Steve Bonham, Administrative Assistant

Email: sbonham@dentonisd.org
Website: https://www.dentonisd.org/Page/43975
Location: 230 N. Mayhill Rd, Denton, TX 76208
Phone: 940-369-0228