Archive | Fine Arts – State-National

CHS Trumpet Player Selected for All-State 5A Symphonic Band

Posted/span> on June 24, 2019 in Creekview, Fine Arts, Fine Arts – State-National, Wall of Honor 2018-2019

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.

All-State Band

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.

Ingredients for Success

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.'”

RHS Violinist Selected for TMEA All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra

Posted/span> on June 17, 2019 in Fine Arts, Fine Arts – State-National, Wall of Honor 2018-2019

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.

Remarkable Achievement

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.”

Competing against the ‘Best of the Best’

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.

Athletics and Fine Arts Champions Honored at Event

Posted/span> on May 30, 2019 in Athletics, Athletics State & National Champions, District News, Fine Arts, Fine Arts – State-National

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.

Achievements among several disciplines

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.

CHS Dancer Wins PTA Award for Choreography

Posted/span> on May 1, 2019 in District News, Fine Arts, Fine Arts – State-National, Newsletter

Creekview High School dance student, Micah Patterson, is one of 7 students in the state to receive the Outstanding Interpretation Award from the Texas PTA. This is the highest honor given by the organization for their Reflections art program. Tens of thousands of students across the state in grades Pre-K through 12th grade submit entries for the annual contest.

His dance choreography submission, Letting Go, was chosen based on how well his entry and artist statement portrayed this year’s them, “Heroes Around Me.”

In his artist statement Patterson shared in part, “These heroes eventually have to let me go and I have to let them go for me to finish the path heroes around me have started.” On Apr. 26, during his dance class, Patterson received a surprise from his school and PTA with the announcement of his achievement. Micah was joined in class by Texas PTA Board Member Marni Kaner, family, and Creekview High School PTSA.

Reflections has been a staple arts program in many schools for 50 years. Through the efforts of Local PTAs, millions of students have found a creative outlet in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Student entries begin at the local level within their schools, and, after judging, can advance to their district, then to State, and finally a small number of students from each state go on to National PTA. It’s from this small group of National bound entries that the most prestigious Reflections award is selected.

Over the next few weeks, Texas PTA is surprising the top seven state awardees in their schools. The reveals are being posted to the Texas PTA Facebook page.

Micah along with other Reflections students will be honored during an award ceremony this summer.

View more photos from this event in our Flickr gallery.

NSHS Orchestra Earns Sweepstakes for 33rd Straight Year

Posted/span> on April 24, 2019 in District News, Fine Arts, Fine Arts – State-National, Smith High School

The Newman Smith High School Orchestra has earned Sweepstakes at UIL for the 33rd year in a row. The Sweepstakes designation is the designation for an orchestra that receive a 1^st division in both concert and sight-reading. A 1^st division rating is the best rating that can be received. There is a 3 member panel of judges for both the concert room and the sight-reading room and a at least two of the three have to give a 1^st division to reach that level. In this case, all three judges in both rooms gave the Newman Smith Orchestra a first division.

Among the pieces played was Nocturne by Hofeldt. Fine Arts Director, Brett Farr, stated, “the judge expressed that the Newman Smith Varsity String Orchestra’s performance on that particular song was the best high school orchestra performance that she had ever heard.”

Twenty-nine middle school and high school orchestras from CFB competed at UIL, and an amazing 22 of those orchestras received the Sweepstakes award. Additionally, 11 of CFB’s Middle School Choirs received the Sweepstakes award at their annual UIL contest.

The director of the the Trojan Orchestra is Jessica Milbrandt, who is also an alumna of the school.