Mustang Fine Arts Update #7

One of the best parts of this season is enjoying the offerings of our youngest students in the district. It is pure joy to watch them sing with abandon or swell with pride as they show the art work they have made. Our elementary music and art teachers go above and beyond to provide experiences for all our students to enjoy the opportunity to demonstrate their artistic skills and understandings. Here are just a few examples.

Several students from Mustang have been selected as members of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association All State ensembles. These include

OkMEA All State Children’s Choir

Canyon Ridge Intermediate

Addison Alexander (2nd year)

Olivia Foster

Gabrielle Howland (2nd year)

Janessa Joy

Brielle Kalinich (2nd year)

Marlee Sullivan

Horizon Intermediate

Langston Bates

Sophia Constantino

Emery Fowler

Penelope Herron (2nd year)

Jenna Poage

Kynlee Trowbridge

Kellan Wicker (2nd year)

Meadow Brook Intermediate

Kennedy Owens

Alyvia Stinson

Mustang Central Middle School

Rylee Craghead (2nd year)

Lexus Hall

Brooklyn Kopisch

Juliana Moreno (2nd year)

Myah Swain (2nd year)

Mustang Middle School

Maddox Reese (2nd year)

Amiya Hawkins

Jada Rader

Mustang North Middle School

Kailyn Richter

OkMEA High School All State Choir

Kamryn Bass (2nd year)

Elias Cherian (alternate)

Lauren Coleman (2nd year)

Skyler Collins (2nd year)

Maison Dolphin (2nd year)

Madison Hatfield

Keeley Kirkegard

Angelvina Le

Kacy Myers (2nd year)

Madelyn Pittman (2nd year)

Hannah Strong

Nate Winn (2nd year)

Dawson Zaugg

OkMEA All State Band

Talise Vo - Piccolo

Braxen Butler - Bb Clarinet

Kelsey Waters - Bb Clarinet

Alex Vo - Bb Clarinet

Aidan Mooney - Alto Saxophone

Drake Desmond - Euphonium

Over 500 6th grade beginning band members from all three intermediate schools demonstrated the start of their journeys as instrumental musicians. This is the future of the award-winning Mustang Band program.

In their first semester, Mrs. Odom has these Art 1 students creating some amazing work while learning one of the primary foundations of visual art.

The John Philip Sousa Foundation recognizes high school marching bands that meet the foundation’s international standards of excellence. Mustang High School Band has been nominated for this national honor. The award winners will be decided at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago later this December. Stay posted for the outcome!

Mrs. Emily Farnham and the Mustang High School Theatre department hosted a visit by Cailen Fu, broadway actress currently working in New York to discuss her journey as an artist and tips for being successful in the profession. Advanced Theatre and MHS Choir students got to interact with Cailen and ask questions to help them with their theatre aspirations.

MHS Theater also hosted another successful Middle School Theatre showcase for students of Teri Hood and Ian Eastland to demonstrate their improvisation and acting skills. This is a great night of fun!!

The Oklahoma Choral Directors Association sponsors two All State Choirs. This includes a Junior High School (grades 7-9) All State Choir and a High School Jazz Choir. Here are the Mustang students selected.

OCDA Junior High All State Choir

Mustang Central Middle School

Kayliah Armstrong

Eric Cary

Ben Cherian

Harrison Green

Isabelle Lewis

Mustang Middle School

Jaiden Bridges

Shylah LaGrange

Payton Lopez (2nd year)

Mustang North Middle School

Luke Brewer (2nd year)

Brendon Hodges

Morgan Sayle

Daniel Templin (2nd year)

Mustang High School

Macie Bell (3rd year)

Estella Benedict (2nd year)

Sydney Bui (2nd year)

Andrew Drabenstot (3rd year)

Indiana Lankford (3rd year)

Kaedynce Looney(2nd year)

Magdalyn Malloy

Elizabeth Montante (2nd year)

Luke Rader (2nd year)

Liviana Ramirez

Brody Shurtz (2nd year)

Abigail VanVoast (3rd year)

OCDA High School All State Jazz Choir

Skyler Collins

Maison Dolphin (2nd year)

Madigan Glenn

Presley Harrington (2nd year)

Angelvina Le

Barbara Martinez

Madelyn Pittman

Nate Winn (2nd Tenor alternate)

16 bands from all three middle schools and the high school have presented their winter concerts in the Mustang Performing Arts Center. There are so many students and families enjoying music making by these amazing students and their teachers. (Not pictured MHS Symphonic Band 1 - Jacob Hofer, Conductor, MHS Wintry Mix Ensemble - Craig Amendt, Conductor)

Several middle school and high school band students were selected by competitive audition for inclusion in this year's Central Oklahoma Directors Association Honor Bands.

MHS

Anasophia Melendrez - Flute

Shania McCoy - Flute

Talise Vo - Piccolo

Braxen Butler - Bb Clarinet

Kelsey Waters - Bb Clarinet

Alex Vo - Bb Clarinet

Bree Michels - Bb Clarinet

Kamron Peete - Bass Clarinet

Nathan Bastings - Bass Clarinet

Evan Hoffman - Alto Sax

Camdon Hall - Trumpet

Chris Pringle - Trumpet

Andrew Drabenstot - Horn

Alex Velez - Horn

Zach Raclaw - Trombone

Drake Desmond - Euphonium

CJ Welch - Tuba

Mayley Hatcher - Percussion

MCMS

Valorey Lepley - Bb Clarinet

MMS

Abigail Noland - Flute

Ella Coonce - Flute

Chris Cornell - Bari Sax

Garrett McElroy - Euphonium

Rhett Robins - Tuba

MNMS

Victoria Torres - Flute

Callie Lawrence - Flute

Antonio Serrano - Flute

Taylor Glinnsman - Oboe

Brooke Hemmingway - Bb Clarinet

Collin Zamorano - Bb Clarinet

Cooper English - Alto Sax

Madelynn Fox - Trumpet

Logan Graves - Trumpet

Brendon Hodges - Trombone

Matthew Raclaw - Trombone

Grayson Horner - Trombone

Student Taking Awesome Responsibilities is a new organization providing help with front of house responsibilities at selected PAC events. Welcoming patrons to events and distributing programs is an important part of making each event work well. We are so excited to have these great students help us with these responsibilities.

Choirs from intermediate schools, middle schools and the high school all presented their winter concerts in various venues around the Mustang community. Packed houses enjoyed music of all different styles and many different languages.

If you are on the high school campus, you need to take a little time someday and wander down E Hall and look at the amazing works of art hanging in the windows of Mrs. Machado's classroom. The creativity, skill, and insight in these works truly are inspiring.