Arts Blog
It has been an incredible first semester, showcasing remarkable talent, grit, creative risk, and thrilling successes. Our arts students have filled auditoriums, stadiums, galleries, and community spaces with work that moved audiences, earned top honors, and showcased how dedication and joy combine to create extraordinary results.
Marching Bands: Excellence on the Field
- Four of five high school marching bands advanced to championships; a testament to their dedication, long hours of rehearsal, precision, and teamwork.
- Huge congratulations to Arcadia High School for taking first place in their division. The band’s musicality, drill design, and showmanship set a new standard and made the entire community proud.
Theatre: Standing Ovations and State-Level Recognition
- SUSD Theatre students earned multiple Superior ratings at the State Thespian Conference. These awards reflect powerful performances (individually and in groups), disciplined rehearsal processes, and strong ensemble work. From monologues to full-stage productions, our thespians represented the district with creativity and professionalism.
Choir: Voices Rising at Home and Beyond
- Choir students were selected for state ensembles, an honor that highlights individual excellence and rigorous musicianship.
- Our choirs performed at Diamondback games, connecting with community audiences and sharing school spirit on a big stage.
- Premieres of original choral works showed students as creators as well as performers; competitions brought home top awards, underscoring our choral ensemble’s technical and expressive strengths.
Dance: Moving Audiences with Vision and Precision
- Dance concerts this semester captivated audiences with choreography that seamlessly blended creativity, musicality, and theatrical lighting design.
- Choreographers and dancers pushed boundaries, delivering polished performances that were as emotionally resonant as they were technically accomplished.
Visual Arts: Bold Work, Big Recognition
- Visual arts programs earned top state awards and showcased student work in standout exhibits and art shows.
- Teachers challenged students to take creative risks, raising the quality and ambition of the artwork each year, from experimental mixed media to masterful portfolio pieces.
Community & Connection: More Than Performances
- Hundreds of activities across the semester; shows, concerts, pep assemblies, feeder school performances, gallery openings, and community events, created countless moments for students to share their passion.
- These events connected schools, families, and neighborhoods while opening performance pathways for younger students inspired by older role models.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
To every student who stayed after school, practiced until their fingers ached, and stepped onto a stage or field with courage: thank you. To directors, teachers, choreographers, designers, volunteers, and families; your guidance, time, and support made every success possible.
This semester’s achievements are not just trophies and titles; they’re evidence of growth, collaboration, and a thriving arts culture. Let’s carry this momentum forward; more creativity, more collaboration, and more chances for every student to shine.
Congratulations to an incredible semester, we can’t wait to see what the next one brings!
Save the Date — Scottsdale Family Arts Fest
Join us at the Scottsdale Civic Center for the Scottsdale Family Arts Fest!
- When: March 6 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
March 7 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM - Where: Scottsdale Civic Center
Bring your family and friends for two days of live performances, hands‑on art activities, student showcases, food, and community celebration. Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss it!
SUSD marching bands placed in the top eight at the ABODA State Championships! After multiple competitions and semifinals, four of our five high school marching bands ranked in the top eight in the state.
Arcadia High School won the Division IV championship at the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) Marching Band Championships, earning caption awards in Music Performance, General Effect, and Auxiliary. Their show, composed by Band Director Nate Connel, depicted Life on the High Seas!
In Division III, Desert Mountain High School placed 3rd and received the Guard Caption for their show One Small Step. This was the first year under Band Director Jackson Snyder, and he truly elevated the excellence of the DMHS marching band.
Coronado High School, last year’s Division IV champion, moved up to Division III this season. (Marching band divisions are based on band size.) Coronado brought home an impressive 5th-place finish, an amazing accomplishment!
Chaparral High School placed 7th and won the General Effect Caption. They competed not only in Arizona but also in Las Vegas this season. Their show, White Rabbit, featured an outstanding percussion section.
We are so proud of these dedicated band directors and their incredible students. #SUSDProud
We’re excited to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our high school theatre programs at the Arizona Thespian Regional Festival, held November 22 at Mesa Community College. Students earned numerous Superior and Excellent ratings across a variety of performance categories and showcased their talents in Tech Challenges, demonstrating exceptional stagecraft, design skills, and problem-solving under pressure.
From actors to technical crews, every ensemble displayed creativity, teamwork, and professionalism, making SUSD proud. Chaparral earned 13 Superiors, Arcadia earned 7, Desert Mountain earned 6, Saguaro earned 5, and Coronado earned 1.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to our outstanding directors; Kaitlyn Norton, Chelsea Brasen, and Tim McCandles, for continually #ElevatingExcellence.
The 2025 Signature Chalk Festival showcased a wide range of creative chalk art displays and live demonstrations. SUSD submitted multiple entries and proudly brought home top honors; 1st Place was awarded to Desert Mountain High School artists Nicholas, Riley, and Emily, and 2nd Place went to Arcadia High School artists Grant and Brawn.
Thank you to our talented students and to art teachers, Paul Golfen and Cira Riccio, for guiding and supporting these young artists. We’re proud of both schools for putting SUSD on the map with their remarkable chalk art!
The November Choral Festival was nothing short of unforgettable. The day opened with our middle school choirs lighting up the stage; their bright, confident voices filling the hall with energy, hope, and pure joy. As the festival progressed, the high school choirs took things to a whole new level. Their artistry, musicianship, and emotional depth created sweeping soundscapes that left the audience absolutely captivated.
However, the grand finale was the moment no one will ever forget: more than 500 students and their directors joining together to perform “Why We Sing.” As their voices blended into one powerful, unified sound, the entire room was transformed. The performance was so moving, so full of heart, that there truly wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
A huge thank-you to every student, director, accompanist, volunteer, and family member who helped make this extraordinary day happen, you made our community proud. #BecauseKids