Middlesex Musicians Perform at Honors Festival

The Music Department of the Darien Public Schools is proud to announce that Band and Jazz Ensemble students from Middlesex Middle School were chosen to participate in the 2018 Connecticut Western Region Middle School Music Festival. The students were chosen to perform in the festival based on their competitive audition scores and earned the privilege of performing in honors ensembles with some of the best middle school musicians in Western Connecticut. The students joined with other students from throughout Western Connecticut on March 16-17 at Wilton High School and were conducted by renowned conductors and educators. The festival is an annual event sponsored by the Connecticut Music Educators Association.

Pictured above:

Front row Left to right: Will Abbott-8th Grade ,Tenor Sax ,Jazz Ensemble, Ella Bates, 7th Grade, Alto, Choir, Luke Ryan, 7th Grade, Soprano, Choir,  Sophia Condon, 7th Grade, Soprano, Choir, Cillian Hallinan-7th Grade Percussion Concert Band, 2nd row Left to Right: John Raskopf, 7th Grade, Alto, Choir, Riley O'Connor, 8th Grade, Baritone, Choir, Caroline Zerbe- 8th Grade-Baritone Concert Band, 3rd row: Alex Sutanto, 8th Grade, Bass, Choir, Not Shown: Nicky Condon, 8th Grade, Tenor, Choir

Clarinet Master Class Boot Camp at DHS with Stamford Symphony's David Sapadin

Stamford Symphony clarinetist David Sapadin coached clarinet students from Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich and Ridgefield at the Clarinet Boot Camp event on March 14.

Middlesex Middle School 6th grade student Sophie Bickford is coached by guest artist David Sapadin.

Darien High School clarinetist Evan Tong performs for David Sapadin and the entire class at the Stamford Symphony sponsored Clarinet Boot Camp event on March 14.

Barynya Brings Russian Music Traditions to DPS Elementary Schools

Members of the Barnya Russian Music Ensemble performed for students at all of the elementary schools in Darien over the past two weeks. In the picture above they are sharing Russian Folk Songs, Dances, Stories, and language with the students at Tokeneke School. The full Barynya 20+ member ensemble, made up of singers, dancers and musicians, will be performing at the Darien High School auditorium in a free public concert on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. The Barynya performances are possible because of a generous gift from the Darien Music for Youth organization.

Stamford Symphony Clarinetist to Lead Workshop at DHS

Clarinet “Boot Camp” Master Class at Darien High School

Stamford Symphony clarinetist, David Sapadin, will be presenting a free, 2 hour clarinet masterclass “boot camp” open to clarinetists of all ages on Wednesday, March 14 from 4:00 -6:00 p.m. in the Darien High School Band room.

David Sapadin is an active freelance musician in the New York City area, having performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, New York City Opera, American Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Stamford Symphony. I addition to his freelance work, Mr. Sapadin is on faculty at Long Island University-Post, Mannes College Prep Division, Montclair University and can be heard on numerous recordings of the Metropolitan Opera and Rufus Wainwright. You can learn more about David Sapadin at: http://www.davesapadinclarinet.com/  Mr. Sapadin is a Backun Clarinet Artist and his session is sponsored by the Stamford Symphony Orchestra. Teachers and parents are welcomed to attend.

 If you would like to attend this free, informative clarinet session please rsvp at: rsadlon@darienps.org  or call: 203-655-3981 ext: 2329. Darien High School is located at: 80 High School Lane, Darien, CT 06820

Stamford Symphony clarinetist, David Sapadin, will present a "Boot Camp" Masterclass at Darien High School on Wednesday, March 14 from 4:00 -6:00 p.m. in the Darien HS Band Room.

The 2018 Darien All-Town Band Festival

Elementary School flutists in rehearsal to prepare for their
evening performance at the 2018 All-Town Band Festival.

The Darien Public Schools presented the 2018 All-Town Band Festival in the Main Gym at Darien High School on Thursday, March 1. The concert featured over 450 Band students performing individual selections for their grade level Bands and then joined forces to perform a grand finale entitled “Themes from the 1812 Overture.” Darien School Band Directors are: Krista DiPietro at Holmes and Hindley, Colin Walters at Tokeneke, Royle and Ox Ridge,
Gretchen Perrett, MMS 6^th grade band, Jason Polise MMS 7^th grade band, James Carter MMS 8th grade band and Jonathan Grauer, Darien HS Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.  Seventh grade student Zoe Inzer designed the t-shirts worn by all of the students and                                                                                                     teachers at the festival. The concert was live                                                                                              streamed and can be seen on YouTube at:                                                                                                  https://youtu.be/H1Jc_Kk2k64

Elementary School percussionists from all 5 elementary schools
came together to rehearse their selections for the festival.

Darien High School Orchestras Present a Winter Concert

The Darien High School Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Pops String Ensemble presented a Winter Concert on Wednesday, February 28. The concert featured the music of American composers and included many of the selections that the Orchestra will be performing on their upcoming performance tour to Montreal. The program featured solos by cellists Elizabeth Garijo-Garde and Emma Chase, violinists Catherine O’Connor and Emily Grandon, pianist Jack Lowder, and a penny whistle solo by Megan Cunningham. The director of the Darien Orchestra program is Jane Minnis.

Darien High School Combined Orchestras under the direction of Ms. Jane Minnis present a Winter concert program of American music on February 28th.