Rams in the Arts

This newsletter highlights the Visual and Performing Arts at Bangor High School. Each month, we will showcase the incredible learning and achievements of our talented students. If you have any questions about the Visual and Performing Arts, please contact Eric Hutchins at ehutchins@bangorschool.net.

Bangor High School will be having parent teacher conferences on November 24th and 25th. This is a great opportunity to come and get a better understanding of what your students are learning in our classrooms. Click on the link below to schedule a conference! We look forward to seeing you!

https://ptcfast.com/schools/Bangor_High_School

Percussion Ensemble

Percussion Ensemble is off to a great start to the year. Drumline has been crushing it at the football outings and is looking forward to strutting their stuff during the annual Festival of Lights parade. In addition to cadence, stand cheers, and overall pep & spirit work, we have begun the process of digging in on our holiday program. LOTS of mallets and battery instruments. We are excited to share it with you at our annual winter concert. So proud of all these percussionists, their enthusiasm for the instrument and the craft of what we do. Could not have asked for a better start to the year with this crew.

Jazz Combo

For the first time since 2018, we had FIVE students tackle the very demanding and challenging Jazz All State audition piece and process. That is due in part to their daily dedication to this new class offering and committing to doing their best and honing their craft. It has been AWESOME to see their tremendous progress and growth. In addition to the Jazz All State materials, we have dug in on the blues form, and have amassed a book of 7 tunes that we are comfortable with, eager to add more, and looking forward to our first gigs in the community!

Piano Lab

We have gone from little to no experience to playing both hands simultaneously! This is a huge task and a big hurdle, we have all made it! We are now working on specific reading in both Bass & Treble clef and applying it to both hands. Both classes are making great progress.

Concert Band

Wow! Truly incredible start to the year. Students are doing great work individually and as a group. We have the most students we have had audition for All State in recent memory, and they are participating and auditioning at a high level. We had a great football season with stand tunes, school spirit, drum cadences, and some great collaborations with the cheer team. Concert Band is our focus, and we are looking forward to sharing our program with you at the annual winter concert.

Upcoming Dates

Friday, Dec 5th - JROTC Peal Harbor remembrance ceremony. Band Winds only, Noon, school day, Downtown Bangor.

Saturday, Dec. 6th - Festival of Lights Parade. ALL BHS Band, Percussion Ensemble, Downtown Bangor. 3:30pm call at BHS, 4:30-ish step off on parade route.

Tuesday, Dec. 9th - BHS Winter Concert. Yearbook photos prior to, Band & Percussion call time 6pm. 6:30pm doors will open. Concert Black attire. 7pm start. Peakes Auditorium.

Bangor High School band performing the National Anthem at the Veterans Day ceremony at Bangor High School.

Happy November! Wow, we are 2 months in already!

Conferences: please sign up on PTC Fast or send me an email at

ddamour@bangorschools.net. I would love to see you!

Art 2 has completed beautiful pen and ink drawings, developing their ideas with value and texture.

Art 1 is working in their sketchbooks and has completed a robust drawing unit.

Check out all the awesome logo designs!

Art 1 and Art 2 student work

Art 1 and Art 2 student work

Art 1 and Art 2 student work

Art 1 and Art 2 student work

Sculpture

Gargoyles, Grotesques, and Boggarts—Oh My!

October has been all about texture, imagination, and a little bit of spooky fun in our Sculpture class. Students have been diving into the world of Gargoyles, Grotesques, and Boggarts, crafting their own fantastical clay creatures inspired by gothic architecture and folklore.

From eerie expressions to mischievous grins, each piece shows off our artists’ creativity and growing technical skills. We’ve explored sculpting techniques for facial features, surface texture, and expressive detail.

Once the clay pieces are fired and finished, we’ll be displaying these hauntingly beautiful creations in the art hallway—so be sure to stop by and admire the incredible work.

Wishing everyone a creative (and slightly spooky) end to October!

Artist: Madison Molina

Artist: Sarah Howe

Ceramics

Pumpkins, Mugs, and Pinch Pots Galore!

It’s been a hands-on, clay-filled fall in our Ceramics class! Students have been exploring a variety of techniques this month—starting with festive clay pumpkins to celebrate the season, moving into classic pinch pots to strengthen those fundamental hand-building skills, and wrapping up with slab-built mugs perfect for cozy weather.

Each project has encouraged students to think creatively while practicing craftsmanship and patience—whether it’s perfecting smooth surfaces, attaching handles, or carving decorative details. The studio has been buzzing with energy (and a little bit of pumpkin spice spirit)!

Keep an eye out for their finished pieces soon—these works are as functional as they are beautiful!

Artists from L to R: Nataly Huasco, Bailey Patterson, Layla Couture

Photography students have been expanding their skills in Photoshop and photo editing through various projects. In September they worked with black and white photography and worked with a variety of light sources, and then began to understand selection tools and the use of color in photographs by creating stunning photographs with selective color. In October they created self-portraits that did not include any actual images of themselves; instead, they used a collection of photographs that represented aspects of their personalities. Later in the month, students explored different digital painting tools and techniques to apply to their photographs. They learned multiple digital painting methods, which they showcased through landscape, portrait, and cartoon paintings.

Student work showcasing the use of lighting through black and white photography.

Student work showcasing the use of lighting through black and white photography.

Student work showcasing the use of selective color in photography.

Graphic Design students have explored the intersection of art and communication by developing both their artistic and digital design skills. They began by learning how visual clichés can be used intentionally to create strong, recognizable imagery that conveys meaning quickly and effectively. Through these projects, students gained a deeper understanding of how design choices—especially the use of fonts, color, and composition—can dramatically impact how a message is received.

As the semester progressed, students applied these concepts to practical design challenges, such as creating business cards that communicate a brand’s identity and purpose. They also examined how artwork and design influence our everyday lives, shaping the way we perceive and purchase products. By studying real-world examples and designing their own mock products, students discovered that strong visual design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a key factor in marketing, communication, and the success of a brand.

Student example of the visual cliche, "The Bee's Knees"

Student example of the Visual Cliche "All That Jazz"

Student example of the Visual Cliche "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"

Yearbook students are working hard to meet their first major printing deadline, which is fast approaching. They are finalizing over 50 pages covering fall sports, homecoming activities, and underclass photos. The yearbook production is divided into five deadlines, starting in November and ending in March, all of which must be met to ensure the book is printed in time for distribution.

AP Studio students have been engaged in a wide range of projects designed to build the skills and confidence they will need for the College Board AP Exam in May. Throughout the first quarter, the class focused heavily on developing strong visual communication skills as students learned to express ideas, intentions, and creative decisions with clarity. They explored how to communicate visually through composition, technique, and personal voice, completing work that challenged them to think critically about how their art conveys meaning. These foundational experiences have prepared them to move into more advanced, portfolio-driven projects as the year progresses.

Examples of AP Studio Art work for Quarter 1

Honors Art 2 and 3 students have been working on "Variations on a Theme". They have been drawing using a wide variety of black and white drawing materials. Below are some of their selected images.

Fiber Arts students created stuffed animals using felt, unique embroidery techniques, and machine sewing.

Ms. Bryand's art students collaborated with students at Downeast School, Bangor Beautiful, and guest artist Peter Walls to create a mural at Downeast school. The mural is displayed alongside the school garden that has been planted by Downeast School students.

Orchestra is preparing for our winter concert on Dec. 9th. We have a variety of tunes on the program for the evening including Viva La Vida by Coldplay and Latin Jazz classic Besame Mucho.

Guitar has been working on adding to our repertoire of the most useful basic chords and strumming patterns. Just before the Thanksgiving break we learned the basic chords and rhythm patterns for Zombie by the Cranberries.

Film production students have been immersing themselves in the fundamentals of film vocabulary, learning essential terms related to cinematography, shot composition, and camera movements. This foundational knowledge will help them to make intentional choices in framing, angles, lighting, and storytelling techniques as they move forward in planning their own film projects. To put theory into practice, students will collaborate to create an original short film. This project will allow them to explore creative storytelling in their chosen genre that challenges them to think critically about fconcepts, effects, and visual storytelling. Students will be involved in all stages of the production process, from script development and storyboarding to filming and editing.

Theatre students have been engaging with a range of dramatic materials, including scene readings, monologues, blocking, script analysis, and directing. Through these activities, they are honing their ability to analyze and interpret texts, bringing out emotions and meaning through expressive vocal techniques. The primary focus has been on developing blocking and visual storytelling. They have been working on character development and improvisational skills.

Twenty choral students recently auditioned for All-State, demonstrating their vocal skills and music knowledge through scales and written music. Each student performed two pieces: Fire Fire my Heart by Thomas Morley and Per la Gloria by Giovanni Battista Bononcini

The chorus students have been preparing a variety of music for the upcoming winter concert, including the following pieces:

• My Old Kentucky Home by Stephen Foster and arranged Donald Moore
• Autumn by Andy Beck
• Alleluia for Our Time by Jay Althouse
• SIng for Joy, Alleluia by Sally K. Albrecht
• Does the World Say? by Kyle Pederson

The winter concert is scheduled for December 9th at 7:00 pm at Peakes Auditorium

Theatre students are hard at work preparing for Romeo and Juliet, it should be a great show. You won't want to miss it!

Thursday 11/20 7pm

Friday 11/21 7pm

Saturday 11/22 2pm

Art club meets Wednesdays after school in D-5 with Ms. Bryand.

The Digital Maker Club meets every Tuesday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in room D-15 with Mr. Hutchins. Open to all students, the club focuses on learning to use digital technology to create innovative designs.