Arts Blog
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
SUSD Marching Bands Shine as Competition Season Heats Up
The Scottsdale Unified School District’s (SUSD) marching bands are soaring high this season, capturing the top three placements in every competition so far. With the State Championships in November, anticipation is building to see where these talented student musicians will place among Arizona’s best.
You can experience the energy and artistry of these performances firsthand at the 2025 SUSD Marching Exhibition, taking place November 6 at 6 p.m. at Chaparral High School. All five SUSD high schools will perform their competition shows in this free event. The evening begins with a powerful rendition of the National Anthem by all high school trumpet players and concludes with a spirited pep song featuring every band playing together. It’s a night of music, community, and school pride you won’t want to miss.
Congratulations to the three Saguaro and five Arcadia Marching Band members selected for the prestigious Arizona Marching Band Association (AzMBA) All-Star Marching Band. These standout musicians will represent SUSD in the Fiesta Bowl Parade this December, a proud achievement for both the students and their directors.
The celebrations continue across the district’s thriving arts programs:
- Desert Mountain High School’s Choir Program proudly celebrates three students selected for the highly competitive Arizona Choral Educators All-State Jazz Choir. A special thanks to teacher Amanda McKay for guiding these students to such an impressive achievement. The students will perform at the culminating festival concert on November 8 at Horizon High School.
- The Saguaro High School Symphonic Orchestra earned the Superior with Distinction rating, the highest possible honor, at the Fall Orchestra Festival. Their exceptional performance has earned them an invitation to audition for the State Conference. Bravo to conductor Robert Reyes for consistently elevating excellence.
- The Chaparral Learning Community Glow Concert was a radiant showcase of talent, featuring orchestra programs from Cochise, Sequoya, Cherokee, Copper Ridge, Cocopah Middle School, and Chaparral High School. Families and community members were dazzled by the collaboration and talent on display during this October 22 event. A special thanks goes to Shana Roberts for masterfully bringing this unforgettable concert to life.
- The Tonalea Music Program showcased exceptional talent and dedication at the Arizona State Fair, delivering a memorable musical experience for all in attendance. The band energized the crowd with a dynamic selection of pieces, while the choir captivated listeners with their rich harmonies and expressive vocals The orchestra demonstrated remarkable skill and passion, rounding out a program that highlighted the diverse musical abilities of the students. The event concluded with a grand finale featuring a combined performance by the band, choir, and orchestra. This left the audience mesmerized and singing along. Congratulations to all the students and directors for their hard work, artistry, and for representing SUSD with such pride and professionalism.
- The theater arts are equally vibrant this season! Chaparral High School’s production of Clue! delighted audiences with stellar performances under the guidance of drama teacher Andrew Foree. Up next, Saguaro High School will present ‘The Crucible’ on November 6 and 8, a performance you won’t want to miss.
- Be sure to mark your calendars for upcoming Coffee House concerts, Chaparral’s in late October and Saguaro’s in November. These intimate performances highlight the incredible vocal and instrumental talent thriving across SUSD. Whenever you see “Coffee House” on a school calendar, be sure to come out and witness the magic these musicians and teachers create every day.
For a full schedule of performances and events, view the Fine Arts Calendar and come out to support the vibrant arts programs across Scottsdale Unified School District.