Arts Blog
Middle School Honor Band Convenes at Desert Mountain High School Next Week
Mark your calendars for next Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.! Top SUSD middle school band members will take the stage at Desert Mountain High School in the all-district Honor Band. These students have been selected as the top musicians at their schools and will work all day that day for this performance.
The one-day festival will see our middle school bands come together and rehearse in grade-level ensembles under the direction of Saguaro High School band director Samuel Litt (6th grade ensemble), Coronado High School band director Brett Bell Saguaro (7th grade ensemble) and Chaparral High School band director (8thgrade). You will be amazed at what these top middle school musicians can accomplish in one day under the guidance of our amazing high school band directors! Entrance is FREE – doors open at 5:30 p.m. The performance gets underway at 6 p.m. in the DMHS Auditorium.
Middle School Orchestra Festival at Chaparral High School
Our middle school orchestras will perform in exhibition at the SUSD All-District Orchestra Festival on Jan. 30. Orchestra members will take the Chaparral High School Auditorium stage to perform for their fellow middle school orchestra students in preparation for Spring festival performances.
In an effort to Elevate Excellence in their performance, the orchestras will perform and receive comments from other middle school directors, celebrating the success of the ensemble and suggesting possible areas for improvement. The event takes place during Chaparral’s school day: parents of ensemble students are welcome to attend, but please note that the doors will open at 9:30 a.m., then locked, once all the orchestras are in place. Should you arrive after the doors are locked, please proceed to the school office to gain admission. Performances will run from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Chaparral’s 12News CHAMPION
Congratulations to Chaparral High School Visual Arts student Emily Mayer, who was recently chosen as a 12News Champion. Emily is a senior and a student of a very proud Visual Arts teacher, Carson Bilger. “Emily is an incredible art student … her ability to draw and paint realistically is astounding. She is meticulous and her work ethic is of the highest level.”
Emily is part of Scottsdale Arts’ Visions program through which top high school art students attend workshops with professional artists. As part of Chaparral’s Art Club, she creates realistic portraits for the Memory Project, a charity that provides artwork as mementos to disadvantaged children from around the world. When Emily is not drawing or painting, she is a member of the school’s varsity girls soccer team.
ParadesRUs!
December 28th saw SUSD marching bands strutting down Phoenix’s Central Avenue in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl Parade. Congratulations to Desert Canyon Middle School and Coronado High School’s award-winning marching bands for this annual Valley spectacular!
Four days later and an ocean away, the Desert Mountain High School marching band could be found winding its way through central London as part of that city’s annual New Year’s Day Parade!
This is not an unusual undertaking for the Marching Wolves – they’ve participated five times before - but it’s the first time since 2018-19 that they have been able to participate. Despite the soggy weather and a late start on New Year’s Day, the show went on!
The students’ trip also included visiting famous sites in and around the English capital, including King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace. The band also performed in historic St. John the Evangelist Church as part of the Parade’s Concert Series. What a fabulous experience for our students!
71st Annual Parada del Sol Parade and Trail’s End Festival
You won’t want to miss the annual Parada del Sol Parade through Old Town Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 1! SUSD marching bands and school floats will entertain the assembled sidewalk spectators, so grab a lawn chair and come on down, pardners! Heading up this year’s parade as Parade Marshall, on horseback? SUSD Superintendent Scott Menzel! 🤠
December is jam-packed with band, choir, orchestra, strings and theatrical performances by our superbly talented students, all under the direction of our outstanding arts educators. Find your event on our Fine Arts calendar.
Chaparral Theatre Presents: Murder on the Orient Express
The spirit of English author Agatha Christie will be felt this week on the Chaparral High School Auditorium stage, as Theatre students take on one of her most famous murder mysteries, Murder on the Orient Express.
Performances are set for Dec. 5-6-7 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance here. See if you can help famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot figure out ‘who dun it’!
SUSD Brings Home Arizona Thespian Festival Awards
The Desert Mountain High School Theatre program was awarded a Superior ranking for its one act play. Congratulations to cast members Nicolai Borissov, Bridget Hartstein and Tess Willingham. If that was not enough, the Jerome McDonough Award was awarded to Sophia Martone for Best Playwright in the state of Arizona!! Bravo, to the DMHS Theatre program and these outstanding thespians for these incredible accomplishments.
The Saguaro Theatre program also is full of pride with its 4th place finish in the Tech Challenge, in which it competed against 53 other high school teams!!! Hope Viskovicz, Liliana Karpinski, Vivian (Bennett) Longini and Isaac Olson placed 2nd in overall Drop-Cloth Folding. Liliana and Vivian (Bennett) placed 3rd overall in the Props Changeover event. Further, Alana Solomon and Davis Sterling auditioned for PlayWorks (the festival’s playwriting competition) and were cast in one of the 10-minute plays performed at the festival. In fact, their scene was voted by the judges to be performed at the closing ceremony on mainstage in front of 2,400 high school theatre students. It seems so fitting that their teacher, Dr. Tim McCandless, received the award for the Festival’s Theatre Teacher of the Year for the Arizona Thespians’ Central Region!!
#SUSDTheatre #ElevateExcellence #BecauseKids
Coronado Dons Marching Band Brings Home State Title!
What an amazing season for our Coronado Dons Marching Band under the new leadership of band director Brett Bell. Band students have gone through four band directors since COVID and have kept pushing forward, digging deep to keep their musical passion alive. It is evident that if these amazing students had that teacher who ignited their focus to #ElevateExcellence in performance, anything was possible!
Students reported to band camp with hope and pushed themselves to a new level, in the hope that this would be the year. The first competition came – a 3 p.m. performance when the temperature was 112° and the sun was blasting. The awards ceremony came, and they did not hear their name until first place was announced. Wait …. Really? … We Won!! This moment ignited the band’s flame and the Marching Dons continued to improve, getting more precise in their music and marching, and listening to every correction from Mr. Bell. When it was state championship time, would they do it? Could they do it? YES, they could! Coronado won the Division IV ABODA (Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association) finale at Glendale Community College on Nov. 16! WOW!!
SUSD Choral Festival Brings Joy into the Thanksgiving Weekend
On Nov. 25th, SUSD’s middle school and high school choral programs came together to perform an exhibition for each other. The beauty of their performance raised everyone’s spirit that morning as to why music is an important and fundamental part of a well- rounded education. If this was not enough to lift those of us in attendance to a place of thankfulness and pride, the culminating performance by more than 400 students and their outstanding choral teachers performing Why We Sing would. The power of their voices, unified in the love of choral music, was incredible and had the audience in tears as they sang their “Why”!! #SUSDChoirs #ElevateExcellence #BecauseKids
Suns Serenade
Congratulations to the Ingleside Middle School advanced choir, which performed the National Anthem at the Phoenix Suns game on Nov. 4th. The students must have brought the home team good luck that night: the Suns downed the 76ers 118-116!
Arcadia Artists Hit the Pavement Again
“Stunning Sonora” was the theme for this year’s Shemer Arizona Arts Festival chalk drawings. On Nov. 2nd, Arcadia advanced Drawing & Painting students Priya Jain, Scarlett Flynn, Logan Costello, Grant Birmingham and Simon Ning happily took to the sidewalk in front of the art center, located at 5005 E. Camelback Rd. in Phoenix, to oblige with beautiful chalk creations that perfectly captured the theme! The beautiful creations took about 2 hours to bring to life. Not only did they have fun, but the students also accrued community service hours for the National Arts Honor Society club to which they belong at Arcadia. Longtime Titans educator Cira Riccio is their art teacher.
SUSD Marching Exhibition Had the Audience on Its Feet!
All five High School marching bands came together for an evening of powerful performances and passion. It started with all the SUSD trumpets unifying in a performance of the National Anthem. Arcadia High School took the field first and then, school by school, the audience was entertained and amazed at the incredible hard work these students put into the season.
After the host band concluded its performance, all of the musicians and their incredible band directors took the field for awards, and then, in a no-rehearsal performance, the Coronado drum majors counted off Sweet Caroline. The bands unified and performed the Neil Diamond classic with passion and energy, and the audience jumped to its feet to sing along! When the song ended, the student musicians came together at the center of the field, unifying their support for each other and celebrating a wonderful 2024 marching band season. It’s hard to get that song out of your head, once you’ve heard it recently! #SUSDBands #ElevateExcellence #SUSDProud
Desert Mountain High Takes Top Honors
The Desert Mountain Concert Choir received a Superior with Distinction at the Arizona Choral Educators High School Fall Choral Festival. A big shout-out to their director, Amanda McKay, for striving for excellence with all of her ensembles. If this was not enough of a celebration, two students were chosen to participate in the All-State Jazz Choir. Cameron Hall and Farkas Maximillien worked on their audition repertoire with their director and were the only SUSD students to be chosen. Cameron was chosen as the 1st chair Soprano in the entire State of Arizona! BRAVO to Cameron, Farkas and Ms. McKay. #GoWolves
Annual Coffee House Performances
It must be fall because Chaparral, Coronado and Saguaro High schools have presented their annual coffee house evenings in recent weeks. Coffee Houses are longstanding traditions in SUSD as evenings for our talented high school visual and performing arts students to display their individual and small group talent, supported by technical theatre students. In a casual setting, the evening provides audience members with a night of coffee, bakery treats and a variety of performances. Artist painting, comedians, soloist, songwriters, small music groups – the talent is amazing in SUSD! Be sure to put these incredible annual events on your 2025 fall calendars!
Marching Band Brings Home the Wins
The annual SUSD Marching Band Exhibition is set for Monday, November 4th at the Coronado High School stadium from 6 – 8:30 p.m., and you need to be there to check in on our amazing band programs!
Chaparral brought home a 1st place award from a recent competition in Las Vegas, Coronado has won its last two competitions, DMHS is prepping for state semifinals and its performance in the London New Year’s Day Parade, the Saguaro band is putting finishing touches on its semifinal program, and Arcadia is excited to start off the evening.
Admission is FREE. Concessions will be sold and there will be some other fun activities that should bring a smile to the faces of those in attendance. The evening will start off with the National Anthem perform by trumpet players from each high school; then all five marching bands will take the field and show off all their hard work.
And something new has been added to the program this year … but you’re going to have to attend to find out what it is! Here’s a clue, though: at some point during the evening, you might think you’re at Fenway Park in Boston! 😉
Visual Arts Students’ Work Shown Professionally
Students from Arcadia High School and Saguaro High School participated in a professional art show at Art One Gallery in Old Town Scottsdale last month. Their work is still on display if you would like to check it out. Each school presented work from five artists in their top programs. A big shout out to Arcadia senior Noel Taylor for winning the Best Use of Theme Award!
All artwork is available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Art One Foundation, whose goal is to support art education and visual artist through the process of becoming a professional artist. Art One provides scholarships and supports students from high school through their collegiate education.
Please take a moment to stop by the Art One Gallery, located at 4130 N. Marshall Way, and see the amazing artwork of these talented students.
SUSD Orchestra Pushing the Excellence in Performance
The Fall Orchestra Festival had a strong showing from SUSD, with the Chaparral and Saguaro Symphonic orchestras bringing home Superior Ratings and Cocopah Middle School and Saguaro’s Concert Orchestra receiving Excellent ratings. Bravo to these ensembles under the direction of Shana Roberts (Chaparral, Cocopah) and Robert Reyes (Saguaro), who bring excellence every day into their classrooms and push their students to excel, both in and out of the classroom. #ElevateExcellence
Sabercat Educator Receives State Honor
Dr. Tim McCandless of Saguaro High School is the recipient of the Arizona Thespians Teacher of the Year Award!!!! Tim’s hard work through service, leadership and character has propelled the Saguaro Theatre program to be recognized as the best in the state. Our Theatre teachers spend hours outside of the school day, rehearsing and preparing their students for performance. We are so lucky to have such an outstanding teacher in Dr. Tim! #ElevateExcellence
Click here for the October and future months’ Fine Arts calendar
Arts-Integrated Curriculum: Enhancing Learning Through Creative Processes
In an Arts-Integrated Curriculum, the arts serve not only as a pedagogical approach but also as a dynamic vehicle for learning. Students achieve dual learning objectives by engaging in the creative process, which allows them to explore the connections between an art form and another subject area, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of both disciplines.
For instance, students may focus on theatre elements such as characterization, stage composition, action, and expression while simultaneously delving into social studies. This experiential learning is mutually reinforcing; creating a dramatization offers an authentic context for students to enhance their understanding of social studies content, while their growing insights into social studies enrich their dramatizations.
To ensure that Arts-Integrated Curriculum results in profound student understanding in both the art form and the corresponding academic area, it is essential for educators to participate in professional development. This training equips teachers with knowledge of arts standards and strategies for effectively integrating the arts into their curricula.
This commitment to Arts Integration was exemplified in SUSD during Arts Education Week, September 9 – 13, during which the dedicated staff and students of Pima, Navajo, and Laguna Elementary schools engaged in this enriching experience. Through a partnership with Scottsdale Arts and the Kennedy Center, we welcomed a distinguished arts integration specialist who modeled lessons in Reading Art, specifically designed to support our newly adopted elementary ELA curriculum. Following this day of modeling, teachers transitioned into the role of learners themselves, discovering how to incorporate visual arts into their ELA lessons to spark engagement and foster creative thinking among their students.
This ongoing initiative not only enhances curriculum delivery but also cultivates a vibrant learning environment that inspires both educators and students alike.
Join Together with the Band
In a heartwarming display of musical talent and community spirit, 8th grade band students from our middle schools and K-8s joined their feeder high school’s marching bands for an exhilarating performance at recent home football games. This collaboration not only displayed the impressive skills of our young musicians but also marks a significant milestone in their musical journey as they prepare for their musical transition to high school.
Proudly wearing their school colors, the 8th grade musicians took the field alongside their future high school bandmates and/or performed pep tunes in the stands. Under the guidance of dedicated band directors and seasoned marchers, these aspiring musicians performed popular tunes that had the entire crowd on their feet, cheering in support. The experience was filled with excitement, camaraderie, and the joy of sharing their passion for music.
These performances symbolize more than just a concert; they represent the culmination of hard work, dedication, and the vibrant future that awaits our young musicians in high school. These nights are celebrations of achievement, highlighting the commitment of these 8th graders to their craft and their anticipation of continuing their musical education in high school. The events fostered a sense of unity among the students, bridging the gap between middle school and high school, and creating lasting memories that they will carry with them as they embark on this exciting new chapter.
SUSD is committed to nurturing the arts and fostering a love for music in all students, ensuring that their journey continues to inspire and uplift.
Firebirds Marching Band Impresses at ADE Conference
We are thrilled to share the remarkable experience that unfolded recently when the Chaparral High School Marching Band performed at the Arizona Department of Education’s Adult Education Conference in Scottsdale. This event was not only a significant gathering of educators and community leaders but also a platform for showcasing the exceptional talent of our students. The Chaparral High School Marching Band captivated the audience with its dynamic repertoire, blending musical excellence, precision, and spirited enthusiasm. Under the direction of Jennifer Mireau, the students performed a selection of vibrant pieces that energized the conference attendees and set a celebratory tone for the event.
Many thanks to the Arizona Department of Education for inviting our band to perform and to the educators and attendees who enthusiastically supported our students. The warmth of their reception filled the conference with positivity and encouragement, creating a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Coronado’s Marching Band Brings Home the Win!
The Coronado Dons took the field for their first competition of the season at Corona Del Sol High School on Sept. 28. The band has persevered through several changes of instructors in recent years but is full of hope under their new leadership of band director Brett Bell.
The day was incredibly hot – the hottest on record! – as they entered the field at 3 p.m. and put all of their practice to the test, and what a show it was! Then they waited for the 9 p.m. awards ceremony. Our Dons kept hearing the names of other bands being announced, but not theirs. What did that mean?? It meant that the best was saved for last! Yes, our Coronado High School Marching Dons brought home the 1st place title and captions for outstanding performance in Music, Visual, General Effect and Percussion! How terrific is that?
Desert Mountain’s Band Shines, Too
The Desert Mountain High School Marching Band secured 3rd place at the recent prestigious Highland High School Marching Competition in Gilbert. Under the expert guidance of director Bryan Hummel, the band delivered a captivating performance that highlighted their musicality, precision, and creativity. Competing against numerous talented bands from across the region, the Desert Mountain Marching Band stood out for its dynamic presentation and commitment to excellence.
As the Wolves prepare for upcoming performances and competitions, they remain committed to their pursuit of excellence in music and marching.
Amazing Chaparral Production Kicks Off High School Theatre Season
Chaparral High School Theatre Department's recent production Little Shop of Horrors was a resounding success! This beloved musical has captivated audiences with its unforgettable characters, catchy tunes, and a unique storyline, but the performances of our talented students brought those characters to life, showcasing incredible acting, singing, and dancing skills that left the audience in awe.
A special thank you goes out to the Firebirds’ amazing director Andrew Foree and stage crew, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create a stunning visual experience. Their creativity and attention to detail made this production truly unforgettable.
And thank you, as well, to the Chaparral community whose attendance and enthusiasm contributed to the show’s vibrant atmosphere. Thank you for cheering on our students and for believing in the arts!
Before the First Pitch
Many thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks for offering on the field performance opportunities to Valley middle school choirs during the just-ended 2024 baseball season. SUSD’s Mountainside and Ingleside Middle schools have been among them, leading Chase Field fans in the singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Arts Education Week: September 8-14
As we approach Arts Education Week, which starts September 8th, it's time to honor the invaluable contributions of our arts teachers and the creativity of our arts students.
This weeklong celebration emphasizes the essential role that arts education plays in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation among students. Engaging in the arts not only enhances academic performance but also improves social skills and promotes emotional well-being. We encourage everyone to share their stories related to arts education on social media using the hashtag #ArtsEducationWeek.
Let’s come together to inspire future generations by highlighting the transformative power of the arts and expressing our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated arts teachers who are shaping the creative minds of tomorrow!
Ingleside Music Programs Hit the Summer Road
Students from the Ingleside Middle School choir, band and strings programs performed at the Arizona chapter of the American Choral Directors Association’s (AzACDA) June summer conference concert at Mesa Community College. The piece they performed, "Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children," was written by Christie Morrison, a Canadian composer who is passionate about Holocaust education and the arts, and who is a friend of Valley Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch.
Ingleside choral teacher Samantha Jorgensen reports that the impact on students in not only learning and performing the piece but also coming to understand about its origins has been profound. And in the process, they had the opportunity to meet Mr. Knoblauch and other local Holocaust survivors, creating an enriching experience for all.
Heading into September Strong!!
Be sure to check out the Fine Arts calendar on the new SUSD website!
High school marching bands are performing at home football games and begin their marching season this month. These students have been working all summer and were ready on day one with pep band music and they continue to work on their stadium tunes to keep our sports fans energized to cheer on our high school teams.
Be sure to stick around for halftime to see the bands perform the shows they do in one or both competitive, state marching band circuits - the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (schedule to be loaded the second week of September) and the Arizona Marching Band Association (performance schedules are loaded two weeks before each competition).
Chaparral Theatre Fall Musical: Little Shop of Horrors
The Chaparral High School Theatre program hit the ground running, and can you believe it? The cast and crew are ready to show off their skills and kick off the fall high school theatre season with Little Shop of Horrors this month!
Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy musical about Seymour, a meek flower shop assistant, who discovers a strange, alien plant that feeds on humans, forcing him to make some tough decisions.
Check out this wonderful production on September 18th, 20th, and 21st. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the curtain goes up at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for adults. Pre-purchase your tickets at https://www.chaptheatreboosters.com/tickets or pay at the door.