Denton ISD Fine Arts

Empowering Artistic Growth. Every Student. Every day.

August 2018

Welcome Back!

We hope all our students, faculty, and staff had an enjoyable summer and that everyone has returned recharged to have an amazing 2018-19 school year!

DISD Fine Arts Starts 2018-19 with New Look and Empowering PD

Fine Arts teachers were welcomed back with swag donated by fine arts vendors and a Dickey's Barbeque lunch sponsored by Batts AVL. All 170 faculty members were able to meet together to hear about DISD's mission, vision, and values. Teachers also met within their content area and were led in professional development by clinicians who are master teachers within their field, many of whom we will be partnering with long-term to further develop the culture and curriculum of our programs.

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Welcome New Fine Arts Team Members!

The Fine Arts Department hosted a welcome lunch on August 1 for all of our new teachers and their mentors. We are glad to have all of you in Denton ISD!

Marisa Banworth, Bell ES, Music

Faith Kiger, Savannah ES, Music

Melanie Goerner, Providence ES, Music

Travis Oliver, Ginnings ES, Art

Jordan Rice, Fine Arts Office, Administrative Assistant

Heather Alverson, Myers MS, Theatre Director

Bailey Atkinson, Navo MS, Theatre Assistant Director

Ben Parker, Braswell HS, Theatre Assistant Director

Rachel Richardson, Harpool MS, Orchestra Assistant Director

Chassity Rauscher, Rodriguez MS, Orchestra Director

Kelly Desjardins, Rodriguez MS, Band Director

Sandy Osborne, Rodriguez MS, Band Assistant Director

Brittany Yanniello, Strickland MS, Band Assistant Director

Juan Nunez, Ryan HS, Band Assistant Director

Oscar Ban, Guyer HS, Band Assistant Director

Alice Ann Hostetter, Navo MS, Choir Director

Angelia Ford, Braswell HS, Art

Matthew Sallack, McMath MS, Art

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Guyer Wind Ensemble Invited to Western International Band Clinic

The Guyer HS Wind Ensemble was selected as one of only four high school honor bands to perform in the 2018 Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. The WIBC is held annually the weekend before Thanksgiving Day. 2018 marks the 40th Anniversary for WIBC. High school bands from all over the globe that meet very strict criteria submit auditions of their best concert recording in order to be considered. The four top performing bands are selected to perform at the annual WIBC. The WIBC offers attendees world-class clinics and concerts by top middle school bands, high school bands, university bands, as well as professional ensembles ranging from the Canadian Brass to the US Navy Commodores. Guyer's WIBC concert will take place on November 17, 2018 in Seattle. It will be a challenge for the Wind Ensemble members to prepare such a demanding program in the middle of marching band season but it is a challenge the GHS students and directors are ready for. "This is exciting news for the Guyer Band program," says GHS Director of Bands, Amy Woody. "The concert will feature our Wind Ensemble members in the fall and we have begun the process of planning the concert and the trip."

DISD Fine Arts Begins Formal Partnership with UNT CVAD

DISD Fine Arts teachers joined in with faculty from the UNT College of Visual Art and Design to participate in workshops based in Design Thinking. We have begun a formal partnership with UNT to develop curriculum, foster interdisciplinary connections, provide professional development, and cultivate student leadership capabilities. DISD Visual Art faculty have begun working alongside internationally known art professors, Michael Gibson and Keith Owens, to develop an understanding of Design Thinking and begin this relationship. Many thanks to the administration at UNT and DISD for supporting this partnership!

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McMath Jazz Band Selected as State's Top MS Jazz Band

McMath Middle School's Tiger Jazz Band has been selected as the top MS Jazz Ensemble in the state by the Texas Music Educators Association. The McMath Jazz Band will be the TMEA Invited Middle School Jazz Ensemble to perform at the Feburary 2019 TMEA Clinic/Convention in San Antonio. The 2017-18 Tiger Jazz Band submitted an audition recording into the TMEA/TJEA sponsored contest among many other top middle school jazz ensembles from around the state. "Very excited to get the call from TJEA that the McMath Tiger Jazz Band will be the middle school jazz band representative at the TMEA Convention," said Travis Harris, McMath MS Director of Bands. "Congratulations to some amazing young musicians doing amazing work!"

Fine Arts Event Calendars

Do you want to attend an upcoming Fine Arts event to see the amazing things happening in Denton ISD? We have events calendars for each Fine Arts area in the links below.