News Release
Jan. 21, 2005
Three Student Performances From Denver School Of The Arts And One From Bryant-Webster K-8 School Planned For Prestigious CMEA 2005 Clinic/Conference
Three student groups from the Denver School of the Arts (DSA) and the student Mariachi group from Bryant-Webster K-8 School will participate in next week's Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) 2005 Clinic/Conference Thursday, Jan. 27 through Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.
The schools are the only two in Denver that are participating in the prestigious conference. The DSA Wind Ensemble will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27; the DSA Orchestra will perform from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28; the DSA Treble Choir will perform at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29; and the Mariachi Juvenil de Bryant Webster will perform from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29.
Denver School of the Arts Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble of the Denver School of the Arts is the top band of the school. All students in the ensemble are active band majors, grades 8-12 and entry into the ensemble is by audition only. The Wind Ensemble has performed in recent years with radio host Garrison Keilor and composer Kimo Williams as well as competed at the State Concert Band level six out of the last seven years and at other festivals and contests around the state. Over recent years, students from this ensemble have performed in All State Concert Band, All State Orchestra and All State Jazz Band, CU and CSU Honor Bands and National Wind Ensemble. Graduates of the ensemble have gone on to many prestigious colleges, among them the Julliard School, the New School, Cal Arts Institute, DePaul University, University of Northern Colorado and University of Denver.
Denver School of the Arts Orchestra
The Denver School of the Arts Orchestra was created in 1992 to provide talented young musicians from throughout metro Denver with the opportunity for artistic growth in a challenging orchestra environment. With 100 players, the DSA Orchestra is the largest of the school's orchestras. Players currently are exploring many late Romantic works as well as 20th and 21st century works. The DSA Orchestra will travel to the Taos and Sante Fe areas in spring 2005 for public performances and competition.
Denver School of the Arts Treble Choir
The Treble Choir is comprised of 28 singers in the seventh and eighth grades and is one of two middle school choirs at DSA. Each student auditions annually for his or her position through a solo audition, as well as a test on musicianship skills, including scales, triads, aural recall, key identification, rhythmic reading and melodic sightsinging. Students receive solo instruction in class through a semi-weekly "Solo Day" where they prepare and perform a solo every quarter and receive criticism from instructors and peers.
This choir consistently has received superior ratings at CHSAA festivals and received First Place in the Middle School Division of the Cavalcade of Music Festival in Colorado Springs in May 2003. Singers also were honored to perform the National Anthem at a Colorado Rockies baseball game in September 2004.
Many students currently in the high school vocal music program matriculated through the Treble Choir. Prior to this year, the choir also included sixth-graders, until the recent expansion of the department created the Young Artists choir under the direction of our newest vocal music faculty member, Mr. Robert Styron. Students in the middle school division of the program will travel to the Western slope in April 2005, performing their way across the mountains
Mariachi Juvenil de Bryant Webster
El Mariachi Juvenil de Bryant Webster is the first elementary Mariachi group in Denver Public Schools. Students who had never picked up an instrument before learned to play their first notes in February 2003. The group began with 21 students; currently, there are 20 advanced students and another 13 beginner students who recently began in September 2004.
Through the Mariachi program, the mission is to strengthen the culture, language, history and traditions of Mariachi music. The group continues under the guidance and direction of Pamela Liņan and assistant director Jacqueline Liņan.
Students who participate in the Mariachi group attend instrument lessons twice a week as well as voice lessons and group rehearsals twice a week. They are expected to practice their instruments every day, maintain or improve their grades, complete all class work and homework, and model good citizenship.
Bryant-Webster K-8 School is located at 3635 Quivas St. The school's phone number is 303-433-3336. Denver School of the Arts is located at 7111 Montview Blvd. The school's phone number is 303-321-9435.