Fine Arts Department
Here's Why We're Proud in the GISD Fine Arts Department
2009-2010
The Sachse High School Madrigal Singers have been invited as the guest choir at Texas A & M (Commerce) to sing at the annual Candlelight Christmas Concert on Friday, December 4, 2009.
Twenty-three Austin Academy orchestra students were accepted into the All Region orchestra after a long afternoon of auditions on Saturday, October 17. In addition, five AAE orchestra students were selected as alternates. There were over 250 entries and only 70 students were chosen for the orchestra. These students represent sixteen schools from four school districts. Their clinic/concert will be held at GHS Dec. 11-12th. The concert will be held on Saturday Dec. 12 at 4:00 p.m.
South Garland Fine Arts is proud to announce that Kim Whalen, a 2003 graduate of South Garland Theatre and Choir, has been cast in her first Broadway show as Luisa in The Fantastiks. Kim has appeared as the female lead in several professional productions in the Dallas area including The Light in the Piazza at Theatre Three, Gray Gardens at Watertower Theatre and CInderella at Casa Manana. Kim also has film credits which include a soon to be released film with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, The Tree of Life.
The Classical Center at Brandenburg Honors Band receives COMMENDED HONORS in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project
The Classical Center at Brandenburg Honors Band, under the direction of Kelley Taylor has been selected as a Commended Winner in the 2009 Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Competition. The National Wind Band Honors Project seeks to recognize and award exceptional achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands across the nation. The national competition offers outstanding bands the opportunity to gain national recognition for musical achievement by entering recordings, in which a select few are named National Winners, and the next quarter receives Commended Honors. Director Kelley Taylor explains, ". . . bands from across the United States entered this national competition, so it is magnificent for the Brandenburg Honors Band Middle School to be recognized at the national level."
The Brandenburg Honors Band music program included: Circus Days by Karl King, arranged by Loras Schissel and Shortcut Home by Dana Wilson. Adjudicators for the project were: Jerry Junkin, University of Texas at Austin, James Keene, University of Illinois, and Don Wilcox, University of West Virginia. Selection as a Commended Winner acknowledges the outstanding program and musical success the band program has achieved. Rick Yancy, Director of the National Wind Band Honors Project proclaims, “The Classical Center at Brandenburg Middle School Band is a wonderful example for bands everywhere, as well as a credit to your school district. Congratulations to all involved!”