Mustang Fine Arts Update #1

The Mustang High School Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Cleon Chai has been selected to perform at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Winter Conference in Tulsa. The concert will be in January. Stay tuned for more information.

Breanne George spent part of her summer in Italy and Greece studying mosaic art of the early Greek and Roman cultures. As an extension of her studies, she will soon be starting a project with CRI students to design and create a mosaic representing them and their communities.

Madi Fleming, volunteered with Daraja Music Initiative (DMI) (formerly "Clarinets for Conservation") in Moshi, Tanzania for four weeks this summer. She led classes in general music, clarinet, and conservation. Along with the other DMI volunteers, she performed for the community at over 10 local schools and cafes. They also planted mpingo trees at every school at which they performed. This is also known as Grenadilla or African blackwood. It is endangered and is the wood from which clarinets are made.

General music teachers Natasha Duke, Trails Elementary; Tanner Aubrey, Horizon Intermediate; and Whitney Kirkwood, Centennial Elementary all attended the Kodaly Workshop at the University of Oklahoma this summer and completed their level II certification.

The Mustang Marching Band performed the opening segments of their 2024 competition show titled "Surely you Jest!" at their community performance night last Friday. You are going to want to catch a performance at a football game or contest this fall!

Amanda Thomas and Jennifer Hooten attended the World Drumming Worksop for teachers interested learning how to implement the World Music Drumming Curriculum, written by Dr. Will Schmid, within a classroom and/or community setting. This Level 1 class introduced the lessons and units of the curriculum while emphasizing the traditions that inspire this approach to music making and music learning.

Emily Odom (Front/Center in the picture) graduated this summer from the Florence Academy of Art, in Florence, Italy with a masters degree in classical painting. We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Odom teaching our Art I and Ceramics students at Mustang High School.

Dr. Raiber attended the Music Will Modern Band Summit this past July at Colorado State University. This three day summit addressed the inclusion of popular music ensembles in the fine arts curriculum expanding opportunities for more students to be involved in the arts.

Michael Hixson (center, front) completed a summer art residency at USAO in Chickasha expanding the expertise he will bring to his art students at Mustang North Middle School.