Denton ISD Fine Arts

Empowering Artistic Growth. Every Student. Every day.

August 2019

Welcome to 2019-20!

As Denton ISD welcomes around 30,000 students into its schools in the 19-20 school year, we estimate that approximately 27,000 students will be involved in Fine Arts classes. We welcome all of our new and returning Fine Arts students and the 172 talented faculty members that will be teaching Fine Arts classes. We wish you all the best this year and we are glad to be a part of your educational journey!

Student Art Displayed at Central Services this Summer

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New Fine Arts Faculty

Denton ISD introduces 22 outstanding new faculty members to its Fine Arts team in the 2019-20 school year. Two of these teachers are involved with opening up DISD's newest campus, Union Park Elementary School. We welcome all of these educators to our district, their campus, and a wonderful community that supports Fine Arts education.

Lauren Allen, Providence Elementary Music Specialist

Emma Bittner, Strickland MS Orchestra Assistant Director

Lauren Champion, Navo MS Theatre Assistant Director

Corey Cox, Navo MS Theatre Director

Emily Gomez, Myers MS Band Director

Robert Hackett, Myers MS Band Assistant Director

Wyatt Kaiser, Myers MS Theatre Director

Mary Knight, Union Park Elementary Art Specialist

Shayla Kuntzman, WS Ryan Elementary Art Specialist

Linden Lanier, Calhoun MS Band Assistant Director

Charlie Lotspeich, Crownover MS Choir Director

Claire Majerus, Union Park Elementary Music Specialist

Alan Miller, Braswell HS Band Percussion Director

Delanie Sager, Strickland MS Choir Assistant Director

Sarah Simmons, Rodriguez MS Art Specialist

Clay VanWinkle, Braswell HS Theatre Assistant Director

Ray Velasquez, Strickland MS Band Assistant Director

Nate Vrona, Navo MS Art Specialist

Shaye Watson, Guyer HS Art Specialist

Lucas Wedgeworth, Myers MS Art Specialist

Jackie Wiggins, Rivera Elementary Art Specialist

Kate Wurtzel, Ginnings Elementary Art Specialist

Fine Arts Faculty Prepares for New School Year

Denton ISD's 172 Fine Arts teachers attended district-wide professional development in art, dance, music, and theatre. Thanks to the outstanding trainers and presenters who taught workshops and led the staff development sessions. Many thanks to the sites that hosted the sessions at Dallas Strings, Ryan High School, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, and the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design. And special thanks to the DISD administrators who stopped in for a visit: Dr. Gwen Perkins, Dr. Jeff Russell, and Dr. Richard Valenta.

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Guyer HS Theatre Presents, Little Women, Sept 5-7 & 12-14

Guyer High School Theatre presents, Little Women, the musical, September 5,6,7 and 12,13,14 at 7:30pm in the Guyer Auditorium. Tickets are $10-$15, available at the door and online. The time honored classic, Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott, is masterfully brought to life in this incredibly written musical. This musical will touch the hearts of those who read and loved the novel, and those who have never read it. With beautiful music, lovable characters, and even an operatic tragedy, audiences are sure to leave with a song in their hearts and with smiles on their faces.

Enter Jo March, a spunky girl who writes sensational "blood and guts" stories, chops down trees, and doesn't care for riches and fine dresses - but she does deeply care for her beloved sisters. Meg, the oldest March sister, longs for romance and hopes for an invitation to the St. Valentine's Day ball. Amy, the youngest, wants to do grown up things and desires the finer things in life, but most of all wants to have a wonderful Christmas despite the fact that money is tight and their father is away at war. Sweet Beth March, does her best to cheer everyone up - and she is especially excited that Jo has written an operatic tragedy for the family to perform at Christmas. Meanwhile, Marmee does her best to keep the March girls safe, together, and happy while shaping their characters and desperately waiting for letters from her dear husband. Gathered up in the family attic, the March sisters bare their hearts to one another, but also spend grand times playing and acting out Jo's fantastic stories.

This show is truly heartwarming! And with wonderful, handmade costumes, beautiful vintage furniture, carefully crafted scenery, and a live orchestra - the show will come alive in a unique and special way. We sincerely hope it will be "Astonishing"!

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Marching Bands Unveil 2019 Productions

DISD's high school bands, color guards, and drill teams started preparing their 2019 field shows weeks before the first day of school. You can catch their performances at varsity football games and at the contests listed below. All DISD HS and MS bands will perform "Sounds of the Stadium" at C.H. Collins Stadium, Sept 30 with the UNT Green Brigade.

What happens when two worlds collide? Fifty years ago, on July 20th, 1969, the first man walked on the moon with the Apollo 11 Mission. Ten years ago, on June 25th, 2009, the King of Pop and original “moonwalker” left this earth. This year, Braswell's B-well Band will combine these two anniversaries in their contest show entitled MOONWALKER. The B-Well Band will take the audience on a journey that treads new ground, conquers new territory, and shows what it means to be a trailblazer into the unknown as they become “moonwalkers.” They will perform at Owasso, OK, Sept 28; US Bands Burleson, Oct 5; UIL Region 2 at Northwest ISD Stadium, Oct 19; and all BHS Bengal varsity football games.

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The Denton HS Pride of Bronco Country will present it's 2019 show entitled Echoes of Beethoven. The music is based on various themes by the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The 5A bands of Braswell, Denton, and Ryan High Schools all have the opportunity to advance beyond the UIL Region level contest into the 5A UIL Area contest and 5A UIL State contest. DHS Band Director, Brian Wilson, says, “Our student’s level of focus and attention to detail is higher than ever. I have a feeling that this year is going to be one to remember." The DHS band will perform at Princeton, Oct 5; Don Hanna Memorial Contest in Denton, Oct 12; UIL Region 2 at Northwest ISD Stadium, Oct 19; and all DHS Bronco varsity football games.

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Guyer’s Wildcat Band will be presenting “Chutes and Ladders”, adapting the childhood board game and bringing it to life. The original 2D game will be loosely represented on the field with an assortment of ladders and slides. The show will morph the 2D game into 3D as the band explores the many ways they can manipulate the stage. The show flows from mechanical layering, to uplifting and positive energetic soaring lines, to nostalgic and almost a dreamlike sweetness, to quirky/modern voice overlays, into the crazy circus side show with a "TA-DA!" ending. They will perform at the Don Hanna Memorial Contest in Denton, Oct 12; UIL Region 2 at Northwest ISD Stadium, Oct 19; US Bands Coppell, Oct 26; US Bands Championship, Nov 11; and all GHS Wildcat varsity football games.

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The Ryan Raider Band's show entitled, "Revolution", will be a contest of Man vs. Machine. The show will begin with a cello soloist, whose music will act as the catalyst that "activates" the band into existence. The band will then explore the question of who is superior, humans or robots? Robots are stronger and more durable, but they are built and controlled by humans. Are humans more powerful for creating and controlling them, despite the fact that robots could turn on them at any time? They will be performing at Little Elm, Sept 28; Don Hanna Memorial Contest in Denton, Oct 12; UIL Region 2 at Northwest ISD Stadium, Oct 19; and all RHS Raider varsity football games.

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Braswell Theatre Graduate Awarded $1000 TILF Scholarship

Braswell HS theatre student, Emily Mordecai, was awarded a $1000 Texas Interscholastic League Foundation (TILF) scholarship for her work in UIL Theatrical Design. Emily finished 2nd Place in the 2018-19 UIL State Theatrical Marketing competition. She recently graduated from BHS this past May. Emily will be attending the University of Houston and majoring in Stage Management. Congratulations to Emily for her achievements and many thanks to her outstanding theatre teachers, Michelle Greene and Ben Parker, for their guidance.