December Fine Arts Department News

It has been a long couple of weeks for HPISD, but we're happy to have our internet back and our holiday season upon us! Thank you, as always, for your continued support of all of our Fine Arts students, from Pre-K through high school. We look forward to spreading more joy through the arts in the new year. For now, happy holidays, and enjoy a recap of the past few weeks in Fine Arts!

MAPS Environmental Architecture competed in their annual Gingerbread House construction and design competition! Students and staff were able to vote to determine the top three gingerbread houses (seen below- L->R, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place). Check out our top three houses as an example of some of the creativity these students used in designing and building their models!

Highlander Band musicians auditioned for the Region 20 Band on December 7 at Duncanville High School and achieved absolutely stellar results! We are so proud of you! Congratulations to the following Highlander Band students selected to the Region 20 All Region Band!

Wind Ensemble: Lucy Zeng, Lakshmi Vemula, Ian Hyde, Sam Stobaugh, Reuben Obel, Romi Segal, Charles Lampe, Nicholas Garretson, Jack Teter, Carson Critcher, Laya Mani

Honors Band: Grace Lopez, Emily Luu, Kaden Rice, Mackie Beitsch, James Zhong, Ryaan Khan, Luke Bowden, Sebastian Stahl, Jacob Neilson, Will Forsberg, Drew Langner, Robert Adams, Elaine Engel

Symphonic Band: Evelyn Goetz, Olivia Allan, Regina Lebron, Blair Brandt, Olivia Thropp, Charlotte Hodges, Ben Braidfoot, Nataniel North, Ryan Corbitt, Nathan Cooke, Finn Romeiser, Brock McCants, James Slade, Jackson Cruz, Mitch Dauphinais, Harrison Barden, Sean Brandt, Chiara Shawver, Avery Woodson, Graham Longhofer, Noor Sakhai

Alternates: Natalie Koch, Teddy Alder, Saryan Pandey, Knox Hickey, Suri Sakhai, Ethan Stanwood, Santiago Perez

Congratulations to the following Highlander Band students who are advancing to the Area competition!

6A Area: Lucy Zeng (1st chair Flute), Jack Teter (1st chair Tuba)

5A Area: Lakshmi Vemula (2nd chair Flute), Grace Lopez (4th chair Flute), Ian Hyde (1st chair Clarinet), Elaine Engel (1st chair English horn and 2nd chair Oboe), Sam Stobaugh (1st chair Bassoon), Reuben Obel (1st chair Alto Saxophone), Luke Bowden (1st chair Tenor Saxophone), Nathaniel North (1st chair Baritone Saxophone), Ryan Corbitt (5th chair Trumpet), Romi Segal (1st chair French horn), Sebastian Stahl (4th chair French horn), Charles Lampe (1st chair Trombone), Nicholas Garretson (1st chair Euphonium), Jacob Neilson (2nd chair Euphonium), Carson Critcher (1st chair Tuba), Laya Mani (1st chair Percussion)

Hopefuls and returning Belles completed a rigorous week-long training process culminating in independently-judged tryouts on Saturday, December 7th. The award-winning Highland Belles added 28 new team members to the 2025-2026 Highland Belle line totaling 83 members. These new Highland Belles will begin their workout and off-season training in January alongside the current Belle team. Team managers will be confirmed next semester. Their first team performance will be featured at the Contest Showoffs on February 12 at 6:00pm in the Competition Gym.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Raider Drama's The Sound of Music: Youth Edition on an incredible show run. Fifth and sixth-graders climbed every mountain to entertain audiences with this timeless and beloved story. Ines Mufraggi and Griffin Lazebnik starred as Maria and Captain Von Trapp for all shows.

Bravo to the Golden Mask Award Winners: Isabel Ghillione, Griffin Lazebnik, Kate Waldron, Benjamin Zapffe and Crew-Zoe Vergos.

A HUGE thank you to Director Genevieve Croft, Co-Directors Rachel Bramlett and Shannon Howerton, Musical Director Jordan Moore, Choreographer Joi Duncan, Show Chairs Whitney Zapffe and Katy Cecere, Raider Drama Booster Club and parent volunteers who worked tirelessly on this amazing show!

Congratulations to the 20 Orchestra Students from HPMS and MIS that earned spots as members of the Texas Music Educators Association All-Region Orchestra after competing in their respective instrument categories at the region level of the 2024 TMEA Region XX Competition. Bravo!

Since 1934, Highland Park has proudly upheld a bagpipe tradition, and now we're welcoming the next generation of pipers! Starting in January, 7th and 8th grade band students can join the new session, with year-round enrollment available for high schoolers. Thanks to an HP Arts grant, a professional piper will provide instruction. Don’t miss your chance to join this unique tradition! If interested, please fill out this form, and more information will be sent via email before January.

The Collins Twins have done it again! Both have earned their Recorder Super Star designation! This is the next step beyond the Recorder Black Belt, and they are the first Armstrong fourth graders to earn this honor.

The Highland Park Middle School Choir, Orchestra, and Band performed on December 2nd for our 4th grade students, and Park Version performed on December 13th for our 3rd and 4th grade students.

Our students and faculty loved these performances!

UP Kindergartners learned about the art element TEXTURE and created these adorable Snow Bears by painting them with a toothbrush to give their fur a fuzzy appearance. Once dry, they dressed them up in scarves and hats just in time for the holidays!

After practicing how to thread a needle using a paper “hot dog bun” and tying knots, 2nd graders at UP learned how to embroidery with the back stitch, the running stitch, and the French knot on top of drawings they drew on fabric with Sharpie. And, as you can see, they turned out SEW beautiful!

(Special shout out to HP Arts for the embroidery hoops – they purchased them for our classroom several years ago and the kids are still loving them!)

UP Elementary 3rd graders presented "Baking Spirits Bright!" on December 11th. This quirky and cute musical is based on a holiday-themed baking competition in which each dish requires its own musical number.