End of the Year Concerts and Events

 Darien Elementary chorus

The Darien Elementary Chorus included students from all 5 elementary schools, rehearsing over zoom before school once per week under the direction of Angela Hudak, Rebecca Parnoff, and Kathleen Theisen.  They met together for the first time on June 4th and recorded a concert video.  Click here to watch!

MMS Orchestra

The 6th, 7th and 8th grade orchestras and the MMS Rock Orchestra under the direction of Austin Scelzo released recorded concert videos.

• Click here to watch 6th Grade Orchestra perform Post Malone's Sunflower
  
• Click here to watch 7th Grade Orchestra perform Fly Me To the Moon
  
• Click here to watch 8th Grade Orchestra perform Wellerman
  
• Click here to watch Rockestra perform AC/DC's Back in Black
  
• Click here to watch Rockestra perform Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit
  

Elementary Band and Orchestra

See below to watch more elementary band and orchestra concerts, including the Hindley Band and Holmes Band and Orchestra under the direction of Krista DiPietro, the Ox Ridge, Royle and Tokeneke Bands under the direction of Colin Walters, and the Ox Ridge Orchestra under the direction of Rowan Whitesell.

• Click here to watch the Hindley Spring Band Concert
  
• Click here to watch the Holmes Spring Band and Orchestra Concert
  
• Click here to watch the Ox Ridge Spring Band Concert
  
• Click here to watch the Royle Spring Band Concert
  
• Click here to watch the Tokeneke Spring Band Concert
  
• Click here to watch the Ox Ridge Spring Orchestra Concert
  

Royle 2nd Grade Musical

Kathleen Theisen and the Royle 2nd Grade Class produced the virtual musical Journey Into Outer Space.  Click here to watch!

Hindley Students Perform Beethoven

Kathy Knapp and the students at Hindley learned about and performed the music of Beethoven in conjunction with our curricular theme.  

• Click here to watch Kindergartener Christina Filewych perform Ode to Joy
  
• Click here to watch 3rd Grader Christopher Li perform Moonlight Sonata
  
• Click here to watch Christopher Li perform Piano Sonata Opus 49, No 2 Mvmt 1
  
• Click here to watch Christopher Li perform Piano Sonata Opus 49, No 2 Mvmt 2

MMS 7th Grade Band Performs at 8th Grade Certificate Ceremony

Thank you to Matt Curley and the 7th Grade Band for performing at the 8th Grade Certificate Ceremony (and for MMS music teachers Jim Carter, Joel Knecht and Austin Scelzo for rounding out the low brass section!  It was great to have the students process in to a live version of Pomp and Circumstance!

Performance videos and DHS music student honors

 The DPS Music Department performs Ode to Joy

This year's music department curricular theme is Beethoven and Friends.  Check out this compilation video of students from all 7 schools performing Beethoven's Ode to Joy: Click here for Ode to Joy

Elementary Strings Virtual Concerts

Students from the Holmes, Hindley, and Tokeneke strings program performed virtual concerts:

• Hindley 3rd Grade Strings Spring concert 

• Hindley 4th and 5th Grade Orchestra Spring Concert 

• Holmes Beginning Violin Virtual Recital

• Holmes 3rd Grade Strings Spring Concert 

• Tokeneke 3rd Grade Strings Spring Concert 

• Tokeneke 4th and 5th Grade Orchestra Spring Concert 

• Tokeneke 4th Grade Beginning Violin Spring Concert

More Virtual Concerts

Students from the Darien 5-6 Grade Jazz Lab perform Jazz Lab Blues written by their teacher Matt Curley and arranged by the students!

• Click here for Jazz Lab Blues
  

Students from Mr. Scelzo's MMS Rockestra perform Aerosmith's Walk This Way!

• Click here for Walk This Way

Students from Mrs. Parnoff's 5th grade music classes competed with jets flying overhead and construction vehicles to perform We Won't Stop Dreaming by Pinkzebra!

• Click here for We Won't Stop Dreaming

DHS Music Students Selected for Regional, State and Local Festivals

21 students from the Darien High School Band, Choir and Orchestra were selected by audition to perform in the 2021 CMEA Western Region Festival:

• Western Region Band:  Matthew Taylor, Madchen Carrier, Anna Schorr, Adil Shahzad, Owen Wagner, Frank Drugge, Jose Echeverria, Shea Ehrhard, Grant McIntyre, Jack Kennedy, Andrew Huffman
• Western Region Choir:  Henry Kanlian, Ellie Gaaserud, Riley O'Connor, John Raskopf
• Western Region Orchestra:  Margaret Russel, Conan Thibodeau, Michael Dong, Sydney Du
• Western Region String Orchestra:  Quinn Taylor, Emily Byrnes

3 students from Darien High School were selected by audition to perform in the 2021 CMEA All-State Festival:

• All-State Band:  Frank Drugge
• All-State Orchestra:  Margaret Russell, Conan Thibodeau

2 students from Darien High School were selected by audition to perform in the 2020 NAfME All-National Honors Ensemble:

• All-National Mixed Choir:  Eleanor Chase, John Raskopf

Pictured (L-R):  Quinn Taylor, cello; Margaret Russell, viola; Eleanor Chase, soprano; Anna Schorr, clarinet; Madchen Carrier, clarinet; Shea Ehrhard, french horn; John Raskopf, Tenor; Jack Kennedy, trombone; Grant McIntyre, tenor sax

Conan Thibodeau, violin

Ellie Gaaserud, Soprano

Emily Byrnes, violin

Frank Drugge, French Horn

DHS Pops Strings performs at the Darien Library

Check out this article featuring Ms. Minnis and the DHS Pops Strings!

• Click here for the article in The Darien Times
  

Spring Concerts and MMS Band Students at Western Regionals

 MMS Band Students Represent Darien at Western Regionals Festival

Congratulations to Matt Curley, MMS Band Teacher and the MMS Band students pictured below who auditioned and were selected for the 2021 Western Regionals Festival!

Xindi Liu, Bb Clarinet

Logan McIntyre, Tenor Sax

Darragh Hallinan, Jazz Alto Sax

DPS ensembles performed in their first live performances of the school year in May

Jane Minnis and the DHS Orchestras performed in the DHS courtyard on May 6th

Chris Andrade and the DHS Choirs performed in the DHS courtyard on May 11th

The DHS Jazz Band rehearsed on the rooftop in preparation for the concert

Jonathan Grauer and the DHS Bands performed in the DHS courtyard on May 12th

Jane Minnis and the Royle 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Strings performed on May 27th

MMS orchestra teacher Austin Scelzo and MMS Band teacher Matt Curley perform for the audience before Theater 308's performance of Something Rotten on May 27th

Darien Music Program Receives National Recognition

 

Darien Public Schools Press Release

Darien’s Music Education Program Receives National Recognition

Darien, CT – 5/6/2021 – Darien has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation by The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 22nd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing access to music education for all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Darien’s Director of Music, Colleen Thompson, answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. 

Darien is one of 23 districts in the state to be recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education. This is the first time Darien has received this designation.

Superintendent Dr. Alan Addley commented, “Receiving this District-wide recognition for music is a testament to the importance of an arts education in Darien.  Particularly in this challenging year, it is a fitting tribute to the wonderful work of our music teaching staff, our talented students and the community’s support for the Arts.” 

“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition,” said Colleen Thompson, Darien’s Director of Music. “Teachers have worked diligently to continue offering high-quality music experiences for students, whether online, hybrid, or in-person.” 

Music teachers and administrators in Darien worked together to modify music instruction to comply with social distancing and gathering guidelines. Safety mitigation requirements for singing and playing instruments required the reimagination of instructional delivery.  Some classes were moved to larger spaces, rehearsals were held outdoors, students sang with masks and played with covers on instruments, and most large group rehearsals and performances were moved completely online.

Even though there were great challenges teaching music during this school year, one thing that remained constant was the unwavering support of the Darien community. Thompson also offered -- “We are grateful to the District and community for providing us with the resources we need to continue delivering meaningful instruction and presenting concerts and programs.”  In addition to the operating budget, the music department received support from parent organizations and the non-profit Darien Music for Youth, providing opportunities to bring in guest artists over Zoom as well as support the District Music Curricular Theme.

Perhaps the most meaningful to teachers are the words of support from parents and students.  “Through parent emails, I’ve received many letters of support for what we are doing in our school in spite of all the setbacks and restrictions,” said Jim Carter, band teacher at Middlesex Middle School.

About The NAMM Foundation

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

Darien High School Orchestra Concert and Festival

 Darien High School Orchestra

The DHS Concert and Chamber Orchestra will perform in-person in the DHS courtyard on Thursday, May 6th at 7:00pm.  Audience members should please wear a mask, bring a chair or blanket, and sit in family groups socially distanced from other audience members.

DHS Chamber Orchestra World Strides Festival

The DHS Chamber Orchestra competed in the WorldStrides On Stage Virtual Festival in April, 2021.  The orchestra submitted a recorded performance of Beethoven's Adagio Cantabile from the Sonata Pathetique and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, first movement.  At the virtual awards ceremony on May 3rd, director Jane Minnis learned that the orchestra was awarded a Silver for their performance.  Orchestras from all over the world participated, including the US, Canada, Japan and Vietnam.  Congratulations to Jane and the DHS Chamber Orchestra!