THS Instrumental Music State Solo and Ensemble Scores

State Solo and Ensemble Report:


The Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts showed this weekend why it is quickly becoming the finest music program in the state: Its fantastic students.


THS Instrumental Music received almost complete superiors across the board, with only the guitar ensemble being half a notch away, yet far surpassing the other guitar ensemble at state who received a 3-. For the record, the guitar ensembles judge was unusually tough, handing out only two "1" scores out of nearly 40 ensembles judged. Not too mention, under that incredible guidance of Dave Andersen, the Guitar ensemble came from a loose band of students with varying abilities, to the highest scoring Guitar ensemble at state, and one of two ensemble who actually qualified for state. Congratulations Guitar Ensemble, and thank you David Andersen.

The following is the list of all scores received at State Solo and Ensemble:


Violin
Sabrina Parry I
Larrea Cottingham I-
Kathryn Porter I


Viola
Ashley Pittario I


Cello
David Edmunds I


Bass
Jeffery Chapman I-


Guitar
David Edmunds I


Piano
Keely Schmerber I


Ensembles
String Choir I-
Guitar Ensemble II+


Congratulations to our students on their outstanding performances! A special thanks to Heather Carroll for her fine piano accompanying and dedication to your students.

THS Art Student Takes Best of Show

Local High School students currently have their work on display at Zions Bank in downtown St. George. Schools participating in the Washington County All High School Show are Desert Hills, Hurricane, Millcreek, Dixie, Snow Canyon, Pine View, Tuacahn and Enterprise.

The art exhibit was judged by Richard Rose, artist and president of the Watercolor Society. Rose has been painting for approximately 35 years, and has won many awards for his artwork.

Tuacahn's own James Valentine took Best of Show for his piece titled "The Yellow Rose." James is currently a Junior at THS. He received a cash award of $50 from Zions Bank for his entry. Honorable Mention was received by Kinei Clugg for her entry, "The Water Lily."

This High School Exhibit will be on display through May 10, 2011.

Article details from the The Spectrum.

Stage Door Opens March 31, 2011

The production of the play, Stage Door, begins Thursday March 31, 2011 at THS in the Hafen Theatre at 7:30 pm. The play is about a group of actresses trying to find work in NYC in 1936. It is a wonderful play, sure to delight the audience! The show runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday (March 31, April 1 and 2), Monday April 4th, and again Thursday, Friday and Saturday (April 7, 8 and 9). Don't miss it!

THS Dancers Earn Top Marks at UDEO's Dance Festival

THS Dance Company at Utah Dance Education Organization's 9th annual High School Dance Festival in 2010.


THS Dance students attended the Utah High School Dance Festival at Weber State University on March 19, 2011. Students were able to attend master classes, had an adjudication session, and performed in the gala showcase at the end of the festival.

According to event organizers, seventeen schools (400-600 students) participated this year, from as far away as St. George and as near as Weber County. The dance companies that are invited are made up of students who attend dance classes requiring an audition.

The festival is not a competition, but each company performs two pieces and judges give them a rating and feedback. At least one of the pieces is choreographed by students.

THS received the highest rating, Superior, on both pieces. The adjudicators pick 5 student's pieces from all of the entries at the festival to receive a meritorious award in choreography. THS Shelby Ogden's piece, Hazy Milk, was one of the five chosen for this award.

Some of the information for this post was from the Standard-Examiner.

Dance Classes Participate in Joffrey Ballet Master Classes

THS Dance III and Dance Company classes had the privilege of being taught from master teachers from the Joffrey Ballet School. Students attended two master classes in classical ballet and modern/contemporary dance. This class also served as an audition for placement and scholarship to the Joffrey school summer intensive. According to Mrs. Dail, THS Dance Academy head, students will find out if they were selected for these scholarships in the coming months.

Jan Shelton Hunsaker Inducted into NETA Hall of Fame

Jan Shelton Hunsaker, THS Artistic Director, and has been selected by the National Educational Theatre Association as one of five inductees into this year’s National Hall of Fame. Jan’s career accomplishments in educational theater are unmatched in Utah. She has great accomplishments in her 22 year career, and has raised the level of theatrical excellence at Tuacahn High School to a standard that sets the bar of superior performance for all other high schools in the state. Not only has she been an educator teaching drama and debate, she also owned and operated a theatre in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Before coming to Tuacahn High School, she was employed by the Alpine School District. She has led her students in earning 9 State Drama and Shakespearean Championships, and assisted 100's of students in earning college scholarships in the performing arts.

The NETA award ceremony will be held in Chicago in September at the National Convention. The plaque and bio sketch will be on display at the Hall of Fame Home Office In Cincinnati, Ohio.

THS Production of "Stage Door"

Stage Door, a comedy by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman, is being performed at Tuacahn High School on March 31, April 1, 2, 4, 7-9. It will be held in the Tuacahn Hafen Theatre at 7:30 pm.

Stage Door Poster...click on picture to enlarge.

Don't miss the opportunity to be entertained by a cast of talented THS students, under the professional direction of Jan and Andy Hunsaker. You won't want to miss it! Tickets are on sale at the school or at the door. Call 435-652-3201.

THS Vocal Music Takes Top Awards at SUPAF

Sabrina Parry and Mr. Kentros after Sabrina received her award for Solo Vocalist.

Tuacahn High School's Vocal Music students did extremely well at the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival this year. In his first year of teaching vocal music at THS, Mr. JP Kentros has really helped students excell.

Awards received by THS vocal music groups include:

Madrigals: received a superior rating and won the SUPAF Award for High School Choirs.
Radiante: received a superior rating.

Awards received by THS vocalists include:

Sabrina Parry: superior rating and won a SUPAF Award as a Solo Vocalist.
Taylor Richardson: superior rating and won a Music Works Award.
Kendle Zdunich: superior rating.
Danica Christensen: superior rating.
Aubrey Anderson: superior rating.
Caleigh Venetis: superior rating.
Hunter Kanenwisher: superior rating.
Keira Richardson and Abi Christian: superior rating for their duet.

Congratulations to all of the above THS Vocal Music students for their outstanding accomplishments!

Jason Bonham Presenting at the Primrose International Viola Competition

THS Instrumental Music Instructor, Jason Bonham, is presenting at the Primrose International Viola Competition in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2011. He will be talking about how to make a career as a musician.

Jason has performed as a violist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in addition to other symphony orchestras. At the age of 34, Jason has earned the reputation of a first-class performer, detailed conductor and a gifted teacher. In addition to his work at Tuacahn High School, he has been a catalyst of growth in the Southern Utah music community. He founded the Southern Utah Music Institute (SUMI), which is a vehicle for helping grow music opportunities for musicians of all levels and abilities. He conducts the Red Cliffs Chamber Orchestra (RCCO), a group that he and several other area professional musicians founded in spring of 2010.

Jason was honored to be nominated to the Executive Board of the American Viola Society. He has recently been published in the Journal of the American Viola Society. He is a member of the American String Teachers Association, Music Teachers National Association and Utah Music Educators Association. Jason has been an adjunct faculty member at both Brigham Young University and Dixie State College.

Grad Night Part 2011

Grad Night preparations have been in the works for several months now, and we are excited about how well everything is coming together.

This year's theme is "That's Entertainment", and will be held after graduation on May 24, 2011 from 10:30 pm until 5 am or the morning of May 25, 2011. Each graduate in attendance with receive a gift bag which is currently valued over $100. There will be drawings throughout the evening for fantastic prizes as well. Each student will receive at least one additional prize. There are fun activities planned, and delicious food as well.

Tickets will go on sale after spring break on Wednesdays and Fridays at lunch. Cost of ticket is only $20 if purchased prior to April 24, 2011. We will hold weekly prize drawings for those who have purchased their tickets. So, get ready for fun! And get your ticket early for Grad night, graduating seniors!

Thanks to Jennifer Guter for our fantastic posters! Jennifer owns Reflections Printing Inc. http://www.relectionsprintinginc.com/ .

Special thanks to Karen and Mark Jackson who have been soliciting for our grad night prizes and swag bag goods. Please send an email to Karen if you have items to contribute or if you know a business who would like to make a donation, kamjpg@yahoo.com

THS Instrumental Music Solo and Ensemble Results

The following entries at Solo and Ensemble received State Qualification:

Guitar Ensemble (I)
Kyralisa Richardsen
Bridger Kanenwisher
Bryan Clarkson
Josh Draper
Gabrielle Servati
David Edmunds
Jeremy Peck
Megan Huard

String Choir (I)
Sabrina Parry, Violin
Larrea Cottingham, Violin
Summer Morris, Violin
Aubrey Kelton, Violin
Ashley PItarrio, Viola
Allie Tonks, Viola
David Edmunds, Cello
Taylor Blake, Cello
Jeffery Chapman, Bass

Solo Performances
Jeffery Chapman, Bass (I)
Taylor Blake, Cello (I)
David Edmunds, Cello (I)
David Edmunds, Guitar (I)
Ashley Pittario, Viola (I)
Sabrina Parry, Violin (I)
Larrea Cottingham Violin (I)
Katheryn Porter, Violin (I)

In addition to the state qualifiers above, the following entries at Solo and Ensemble received a "Superior" Rating:

Aubrey Kelton, Violin (I-)
Adam Garceau, Trumpet (1-)

Juilliard Jazz Orchestra coaches THS Jazz Combo

Jazz Band Students at Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts had the privilege of having a clinic with The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, and their director, Carl Allen.

On Thursday March 3, 2011 , the talented Juilliard Jazz Orchestra was in town and performed for a packed audience that evening at Tuacahn High School's Hafen Theatre. While Juilliard has its campus in New York, it also has an affiliation with Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. Always wanting to expose local student musicians to a variety of high caliber performers, Jason Bonham, Director of Instrumental Music at Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, arranged for Juilliard to perform at Tuacahn. In addition, he also arranged for local school's music students to have clinics with this elite group. The students really enjoyed working with the Juilliard coaches, and many stayed for the outstanding concert that night as well.

Juilliard and Snow College awarded two full scholarships to the Juilliard Jazz Summer Workshop at Snow College to THS students, Jeffry Chapman,bass (4th from left) and David Edmunds, guitar (3rd from left).

This is part of an article that was originally published in Alive! Utah South Area, an online magazine.

THS Instrumental Music Students Excel at SUPAF

Tuacahn Titans Instrumental Music students did very well this year at Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival.

Four of our THS students were recognized as outstanding musicians in their category at this year's SUPAF Festival. Sabrina Parry (violin), Keely Schmerber (piano), Jeffry Chapman (bass), and Adam Garceau (trumpet) were all recognized for outstanding solo performances


Jeffry Chapman and Adam Garceau show their certificates at SUPAF awards night.

Keely Schmerber and Sabrina Parry show their certificates at the SUPAF Awards Night

Keely Schmerber winner of Dixie's Got Talent!

Congratulations to Keely Schmerber, Instrumental Music student at THS for winning the youth division of the 2011 Dixie's Got Talent! Keely is an accomplished pianist, and wowed the audience with her beautiful music! She performed "Concert Etude #3 'Unsospiro' in D flat major" by Franz Liszt. Keely said that winning was the happiest moment of her life, and thanked her parents, grandparents and God.

Keely is in the Chamber Orchestra at THS, a member of THS's women's concert choir, Radiante, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Keely is studying piano with Dr. Nancy Allred of Dixie State College. Prior to moving to Southern Utah, she and her family lived in New Jersey. She has won many piano competitions, and was awarded a solo performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This summer, she will be studying music and art in Tolentino, Italy at the Instituto Musicale.

You can read more about Dixie's Got Talent on the KCSG Television website here.

THS's All Shook Up in the Press

Our production of All Shook Up, was written up and posted on the Theatrical Rights blog. You can read the article here. The THS run of All Shook Up ran Jan 22-29 at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. The production start coincided with Utah Theatre Association's 2011 conference, and played to sold out crowds during its run.

It was the first time Tuacahn High School held a production outside of the Tuacahn campus. Jan and Andy Hunsaker felt that in holding the production at Dixie State College, they were able to attract new audience members. Additionally, the students in the production were able to get exposure to drama/MDT departments throughout the state. There was national exposure as well.

The production was a huge success. The students did a fantastic job, it was very well received by the audiences, and there were some offers for students to come to College/University scholarship auditions. Congratulations to the Hunsakers, JP Kentros, Joshua Scott and to all of our talented MDT students.

Keely Schmerber prepares for Dixie's Got Talent Finale

Keely Schmerber

Dixie's Got Talent 2011 Finalist

THS's own Keely Schmerber, a freshman in the Music Academy, is one of the 15 finalists in Dixie's Got Talent for 2011. Last Fall, more than 100 individuals and groups auditioned for this annual competition. Keely, a talented pianist, wowed the judges, and is now in the final competition to be held Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 7:30 pm in the Cox Auditorium at DSC.

Come show your support of Keely in this annual scholarship fundraiser event for DSC!