Shout Out to Mr. G, Recognized by ASBDA

The American School Band Directors Association acknowledged and nominated our own Mr. Giampietro as a candidate for membership. The prestigious ASBDA promotes distinction in leadership, mentorship and musicianship and recognizes excellence in teaching.

SHS Musicians Receive National Honors!

Two music department students have received All-National honors! In November, Delaney McGee (trumpet) and Witt Lindau (drums) will both be participating in the National Association for Music Education honors orchestra and "modern band" (rock band) respectively. In order to be eligible, both students needed to have already earned All State honors, and then were selected by video audition from the top student musicians across the country.

Additionally, Jason Capozucca (bassoon), Ana Jahnel (tenor saxophone) and Kendra Cheng (violin) were selected as alternates.

​

​

ARKAI Conducts Workshops with Orchestra Students

ARKAI will conduct a two-day residency program with Staples High School Orchestras in October.

ARKAI is a dynamic duo featuring violinist Jonathan Miron and cellist Philip Sheegog. Winners of the 2021 Astral Artists National Auditions, their diverse genre-bending music forges new possibilities for violin and cello. Miron and Sheegog met at Juilliard where they joined forces to conduct performances at acclaimed concert halls around the world.

Their workshops will include performances interspersed with inspirational talks exploring concepts of life as 21st-century performing artists, finding one’s creative voice through curiosity, listening as an art, and sharing tips on using music technology within a diverse and rapidly-evolving world. Additional workshops will be interactive, including playing one of ARKAI's original tunes with the orchestras and introducing aural learning and improvisation. 

This program, coordinated by Music for Youth, is brought to Staples High School by the Town of Westport through an allocation of a portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to local non-profits arts organizations. The Westport Art Advisory Committee organized the application process.

​

​

SHS Tri-M, New Year, New Website

The SHS Tri-M Music Honor Society, an honor society of student musicians, is ready for new challenges this year and launches a new website to keep students informed of the latest happenings. President Julia Herlyn and Advisor Ms Mascaro are excited for what this year has in store. Check out the new SHS Tri-M website at https://sites.google.com/view/staplestri-m/home.

​

​

Westport Public Schools Music Program Receives Best Community for Music Education Recognition

The Westport Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for the 10th year in a row. Recognized for its outstanding commitment to music education,  Westport joins 623 districts across the country in receiving this prestigious award for 2022. 

The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Districts that have been recognized by the NAMM Foundation are often held up as models for other educators looking to elevate their own music education programs. 

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Westport answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. The Music Department has been fortunate to forge partnerships with community organizations such as the Westport Library, the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, PTA Cultural Arts and WestPAC, all who recognize and value the importance of the arts in education.

This award also recognizes that Westport is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the Arts as important elements in a well-rounded education for all children.

​