Mustang Fine Arts Update #8

The high school Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Ryan Edgmon, performed at the Oklahoma Music Educators State Conference on January 20th in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. This was the culmination of months of rehearsals and clinics as they prepared to share highly challenging repertoire to our states most discerning audience of music educators. The Wind Ensemble was one of three high school bands invited to perform at the convention. The selection was made through competitive recorded auditions that were submitted for consideration last summer.

MHS Theatre & Debate team, coached by Emily Farnham & Thomas Teague, competed at the OSSAA Norman Speech & Debate tournament on January 28th and came away with many honors and recognitions. Fifty-six students competed in 58 different entries. Fifteen students broke to finals in 11 events, 9 of which qualified for Regionals!

Congrats to Regionals qualifiers who will be competing in March:

Angela Daini & Gwyneth Duncan (3rd, Humorous Duet);

Loralai Castillo and Savannah Smeltzer (2nd, Humorous Duet);

Lillian Strickland & Lyric Wells (3rd, Dramatic Duet);

Jesse Davis and Audrei Fugate (1st, Dramatic Duet);

Kinley Ogdahl (3rd, Monologue);

Leia Eads (2nd, Monologue);

Loralai Castillo (1st, Monologues);

Alexa Lloyd (3rd, Domestic Extemp);

Cristian Saenz (3rd, Champs Lincoln Douglas Debate); &

Gabriella Thurman (3rd, Original Oratory)

Mustang also won 3rd place Sweeps (team award)!!!

Jacob Chen (music and theatre teacher at Canyon Ridge Intermediate) along with renowned music educator Sandy Knudson, presented folk dance workshop at the Oklahoma Music Educators State Conference. Jacob's folk band, Panda Stomp, provided live music for the workshop. This unique workshop attracted hundreds of music educators who learned how to bring folk dance into their classrooms and curricula.

All of the Mustang Winter Guards, under the direction of Daniel Adkisson, presented their preview performances in the "Old Gym" on Thursday, January 26th. Mustang has four guards who will compete on the Winter Guard and Percussion of Oklahoma (WGPO) circuit this season. These include the Mustang 7th grade Guard, Mustang 8th grade Guard, The Mustang JV Guard and The Mustang Varsity Guard. The Mustang Varsity Guard is the current "Scholastic A" defending state champions. You can see them perform in WGPO competition here in Mustang on March 25th

The Educational Internship in Arts Education program is designed to provide academically able students an opportunity to learn about careers in arts education through practical experience. The education internship curriculum is divided into two parts. First, students participate in a seminar setting discussing foundations and fundamentals of teaching and learning. Second, interns are placed in an elementary, intermediate, or middle school classroom to assist a certified teacher by tutoring, mentoring, and helping younger students achieve success.

Our current interns and mentor teachers are:

• Joanna Rivera @ Riverwood Elementary with art teacher Mary Robinson
  
• Adalia Cuevas @ Prairie View Elementary with art teacher Lauren Lynes
  
• Camdon Hall @ Mustang Middle School with band director Craig Amendt
  
• Anasophia Melendrez @ Meadow Brook Intermediate with band director Madi Fleming
  
• Kim Torres @ Central Middle School with band director Jessica Holt
  

It is wonderful to see these great future arts educators exploring the profession with some of our best teachers!!