During our campus closures in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, the Creekview High School Choir decided to virtually come together to deliver a perfect song during our time apart. Thank you for the beautiful rendition of One Voice.
The Creekview Choir is under the direction of Kelly Pfaffenberger & Mariah Spiry
Once again, the CFBISD Fine Arts department has been recognized by the National Music Merchants Association or NAMM as a “2020 Best Communities for Music Education”. This honor is CFBISD’s 13th time to receive this recognition.
The Best Communities for Music Education survey acknowledges schools and districts across the United States for their commitment to and support of music education.
NAMM states on its website that the award recognizes and celebrates school districts for their support and commitment to music education and efforts to assure access to music for all students.
I firmly believe that the reason I can answer these questions confidently is because of the talent and hard work of our Fine Arts faculty and the unwavering support of our administration and school board,” said Brett Farr, Director of Fine Arts in CFBISD.
Congratulations to our hard-working fine arts teachers and staff in CFBISD. You are the reason why we have the best fine arts program in the state of Texas.
This past Saturday, art students competed in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) at MacArthur High School in Irving. Students interviewed with their artwork and received a score. There were close to 2,000 entries at the regional event.
Twelve of our students advanced to State VASE which will take place in San Marcos in April. This is a huge honor- only 10% of students who receive a superior rating advance to state.
| Name | School | Type of artwork | Teacher |
| Briana Garcia | Smith | Drawing | Guadian |
| Tife Akindele | Smith | Ceramics | Hamidou |
| Jessica Lam | Smith | Ceramics | Hamidou |
| Sriya Katanguru | Turner | Drawing/Painting | Berdan |
| Sean Austin Oredina | Turner | Digital Media | Berdan |
| Chinmayi Bodapati | Ranchview | Digital Media | Kinlaw |
| Anna Kong | Ranchview | Mixed Media | Kinlaw |
| Supriya Mandaloju | Ranchview | Mixed Media | Kinlaw |
| Laila Malik-Bey | Ranchview | Painting | Carelock |
| Natalie Fernando | Ranchview | Ceramics | Carelock |
| Jacklin Del Rosario | Creekview | Drawing/Painting | Thomas |
| Alessia Chavez | Creekview | Drawing/Painting | Thomas |
Please congratulate our art students who are state-bound.
Blalack Middle School Orchestra has received the 2019 Mark of Excellence Award. The competition for this award is sponsored by The Foundation for Music Education. This year, there were 320 submissions from 38 states for High School & Middle School Orchestra and Band. Blalack’s full orchestra is made up of students from Honors Band and Symphonic Orchestra. To be selected in the top three of the country as a middle school full orchestra is extremely rare.
Congratulations to the directors and students for their hard work and achievement!
CHS trumpet player, Colby Cruz, was selected for the All-State 5A Symphonic Band on Jan. 12, 2019. Cruz, a senior at Creekview High School, has been pursuing this achievement for the past couple of years.
There are over 30 regions within the state of Texas. Musicians must first make it into their region level before they can advance to the next level, which is Area. Thousands of students audition for the region level and hundreds audition for the Area level. Only very best of those advance to the State level. Additionally, Colby earned 1st chair 5A Band – 1st place among the thousands of trumpet players in the state that auditioned through region and area.
Creekview Band Director, Arturo Denis stated, “We were so excited and proud of his accomplishment, it’s a very challenging task to achieve.” Denis explains, “It’s also worthwhile to note that Colby was a member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, DCI Drum and Bugle Corps Oregon Crusaders and Bluecoats. He made the region and area level for Jazz ensemble auditions, and was active in lessons and daily practice – all the right ingredients for success.”
This is the 2nd year in a row that a CHS student has qualified for the All-State Band and earned 1st chair. Denis added, “The process is grueling and highly selective – Colby Cruz truly is one of the ‘best of the best.'”
On Nov. 4, RHS violinist, Esther Peng, was selected for the All-State Orchestra. Peng, a freshman at Ranchview High School, has been playing the violin for only 3 years. With over 30 regions within the state of Texas, musicians must first make it into their region orchestra to be considered for an All-State tryout. There are several hundred entries from violinists from across Texas that are considered for All-State membership. That number, however, is nothing compared to how many thousands audition statewide for Region orchestras.
Being named to All-State as a violinist is quite the achievement – particularly for a freshman. She has ranked among the top 112 violinists in the state. Ranchview Orchestra Director, Brian Towndrow stated, “for her to have landed there as a freshman is a pretty big deal.” Peng was selected to the Sinfonietta Orchestra, which is the third of three orchestras. Towndrow explained, “It’s also worthwhile to note that orchestra is the only musical arts division in the state that selects its All-State members from one big pot, so as a 4A school our Ranchview Orchestra members are competing against 5A and 6A players from major powerhouse programs statewide.”
This is the first time in Ranchview’s history that a student has qualified for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Orchestra. She competed against 376 other violinists across the state to earn this position. Towndrow added, “Most of those contestants first had to qualify for Region and Area levels of qualification, which are themselves very grueling and highly selective contests. She was up against the ‘best of the best.'”
Only 240 orchestra students across the state get to say they are Orchestra All-State members per year. Of those, 112 are violinists selected to fill the three All-State ensembles. Of those 112, only 8 are freshmen. Peng is one of only 21 freshmen selected to an All-State Orchestra on any stringed instrument.
Musicians at Ranchview High School ranked 1st at the 2019 Solo and Ensemble Competition. The RHS Wolves traveled to Pflugerville to compete against other musicians across the state. Two soloists and the brass ensemble achieved 1st divisions, the highest rating at the UIL contest.
Gerardo Rivera – Sonata Op. 14 – 1st
Zach Skrzynski – En Irlande – 1st
Aman Giri, Irene Lee, Jesse Lin, Zach Skrzynski, and Nate Spivey – Sonata (from Die Bankeisangerlieder) – 1st
Shwetha Soundararajan – Duo for Flute and Piano – 2nd
Rhadia Islam – Twelve Fantasies for Flute – 2nd
Natalie Fernando, Rhadia Islam, Maddi Shriya, Gerardo Rivera, Shwetha Soundararajan, and Anatasia Yang – Madrigals – 2nd
Jessi Lin – Rhapsody – 2nd
Kong Rin – Sonatina Op. 27 – 3rd
The Imagine Fine Arts Academy at Landry Elementary presented their first 5th grade musical, Camp Runamok, The musical was under the direction of Fine Arts Academy Music Teacher Jennie Culpepper. The musical covers the summer camp experience, including insects, bears, and camp skits.
On May 22, CFB students were honored at the 2019 Athletics and Fine Arts State and National recognition program. Athletics Director, Renee Putter stated, “We are truly blessed in this district to have students who have received state and national recognition for their excellence in many different areas of Athletics and Fine Arts. Their accomplishments have brought honor and recognition to their campuses and to our district and their achievements represent the highest level of performance by both individuals and groups.” Students who were honored received commemorative medals and had their photos taken with Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman, III.
Fine Arts achievements included chamber orchestra, speech and debate, All-State dance, VASE, All-State music, and PTA Reflections awards. Athletics achievements recognized included baseball, basketball, cross country, cheerleading, football, golf, powerlifting, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling.
View more photos from this event in our Flickr gallery.
In January, the CFBISD Educational Foundation had an open call for auditions for CFB students in grades 6-12 for the first-ever district talent show called CFB’s Got Talent. Auditions were held at 3 CFB high schools, and out of 33 entries, 12 acts were chosen to perform at the live show on May 3. Acts in the final show included dance, piano, singing, guitar playing, juggling skills, and Chinese yo-yo.
Farmers Branch Mayor, Robert Dye, and WNBA Dallas Wings Manager of Social Responsibility, Antoinette Iroko – both CFB alums – were judges for the show. Joining them in the judges panel was Firehouse Theatre Director, David Moore.
The 3rd place winner is Perry Middle School student Madeleine Birmingham, for her dance entry. Newman Smith High School student Katie Hasty is the runner-up for her soccer juggling skills. The 2019 CFB’s Got Talent Champion is Blalack Middle School student, Danya Pleasant for her singing.
Second and 3rd place winners each took home gift cards, a Google Home Mini, and 3 tickets to a show at the Firehouse Theatre. The 1st place winner took home these same prizes in addition to a $500 Impact Now! grant to help them continue in their art.
View more photos from this event in our Flickr Gallery.
