Would you like to get a pullover with the band logo on it?  

We are currently taking orders for the HS Band Pullovers.  If you would like one please use the form at this link to order one. 

A picture of the pullover is on the website, it will include the Dragon De Soto Bands Logo on the left chest.  Orders are due December 3rd, 2018.  Pullovers will be $20.   

Dear parents, students, and community members:

The Thanksgiving season serves as a strong reminder that we have much to be thankful for in our music program. As our program continues to develop and additional opportunities are provided to our students, we thank those that make it possible!

Tri-M Chapter #8124
Our Tri M Chapter is off and running with projects aimed to improve music opportunities for our student and our community. They have already donated time creating some Taiko drums for Symphonic Band, collecting donations for Samaritan's Purse, and getting sponsors for the music festivals.

Composition Contest Supporters
Being able to offer our students the opportunity to learn to write music is one of the most amazing experiences. A sincere thank you to all of the composers from across the country that volunteer some time to give my student composers feedback.

Chromebooks being 1:1
Having this technology available at our JH and HS has greatly improved instruction, assessment, and feedback. Students are using their devices to record themselves for assessment, to research new music and evaluate pieces, and to compose pieces of music!

-A sincere thanks are extended to our administrators. We continue to enjoy an ongoing open dialogue focusing on the role of music as part of a complete curriculum offering. This year we began offering Jazz Lab at the HS level. This course allows students to learn and work on the foundations of Jazz. Next year we hope to add Guitar at the HS level and Jazz at the JH level. Both of these courses will have a positive impact on student achievement.

Community support of the arts remains strong!
From a community vantage point, we must be thankful for local leaders who are solid supporters of music in our schools; they realize music education offers heightened performance in all aspects of life and they are outspoken advocates of music education. Evidenced by the many local businesses that donate to fund scholarships, equipment, and music purchases and the passage of the previous bond issue to build a wonderful performing arts center. Community members, organizations, and businesses are sponsoring our efforts to provide incredible opportunities for our students! Thank you to ALL that provide services, aid, and financial support so that we can continue to provide for our program.

Music as a Core Subject
From a national perspective, we must be thankful that the arts are written into federal law as part of the CORE curriculum for every school in Every Student Succeeds Act. Students have a right to a well rounded education that now includes MUSIC as a core class.

Personally, I want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU, to all of the parents and families that have shown support this year! Your keen interest, loyal support, and active participation are the essential elements of our successful past, our exciting present, and our promising future.

Collectively, we must extend thanks to the young men and women who spend countless hours in the learning, rehearsing, and performing of music. It is a privilege and an honor to work with the finest students here at De Soto. These music makers of today are preparing to be the leaders of tomorrow. The great thing about teaching band is that in any of my band classes, I have such an incredible mix of students from varied backgrounds and experiences. I have students that are top of their class sitting next to students that struggle in every class. Students from different backgrounds all come together for an hour to make music. We want students to continue to find their spot, take a seat, and enjoy music at De Soto. More importantly we want our students whom have benefited from our program to go out into the world with a music background. These students will be our greatest advocates as they enter their adult lives with an appreciation of the arts.

Yes, music does make the difference, and we are thankful for each and every student that has chosen to join their fellow musicians as part of our musical family. The disciplines learned in music classes reinforce a standard of excellence that is required for success in all of life. As we approach the halfway point of our academic year, I extend a sincere vote of thanks to everyone who has made it possible for our music program to thrive and prosper. Your investment of time, effort and energy is the key to our success.

With gratitude,

Darrell Boyer
Director of Bands
De Soto High School


Facebook: facebook.com/desotobands
Twitter: @DeSotoBands
www.desotobands.org

Fountain City Music Composition Contest

The Fountain City Music Composition Contest kicks off December 3rd, 2018.

This event is free to enter and is open to all students grades 7-12 in the De Soto School District #73.

How to Enter: A pdf score and an audio file must be submitted in Google Classroom under the composition assignment.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Compositions must be a minimum of 2 minutes.

Compositions must be written for two or more instruments.

Works may include non-interactive electroacoustic elements (e.g., CD playback). Works may have been performed before, but should not have been composed before the year 2018.

The winning composer must agree to provide parts by February 1, 2019, in order to guarantee a performance of the winning work at the De Soto Solo and Ensemble Event.

Attendance at the Festival is required.

Students may submit no more than 3 pieces for consideration.​

All compositions are due January 21st, 2019.

Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter 8124
This year, the De Soto HS Tri-M Music Honor Society was formed. The purpose of this group is to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements and to provide leadership and service opportunities to young musicians.

This group is open to all choir and band students grades 10-12 that: demonstrate leadership skills in their ensembles, can maintain attendance and grade standards, and are recommended by their director. Service projects slated for this year include creating a music mentoring program, participating in Operation Christmas Child, and hosting TWO music festivals.

Our Chapter 8124 is organizing and hosting the Fountain City Jazz Festival on March 23rd, 2019 with guest artist Steve Wiest and the De Soto MS Band Festival March 30th, 2019. The group is also looking to partner with area businesses to promote school fine arts activities. More information about our chapter can be found on our website at: https://sites.google.com/desoto.k12.mo.us/tri-m.

Officers for our Tri-M Chapter are:

President- Kaitlyn Podgornik
President-Elect- James White
Vice President- Sophie Harris
Secretary- Averi Muniz
Treasurer- Shelby Bourisaw
Historian- Victoria Avis

Tuesday night were District Band auditions. Below are the results from the night.


Over 250 students auditioned for Concert Band
Over 125 students auditioned for the Jazz Bands
20+ High Schools were represented

The De Soto HS Bands were represented well with multiple placements in the District Concert and Jazz Bands. Representing De Soto in the All District Concert Band this Saturday (Nov. 10th) at Rickman Auditorium on the Fox Campus:

ECD7 All District Concert Band
Marybeth Sansoucie- Clarinet
Jillian Williams - Bass Clarinet
Teagan Wallis- Bassoon Alternate
Ethan Brown- Percussion 1, 2, and 3 (For the 2nd year in a row Ethan has taken the top spots in all 3 percussion options!)

Our growing Jazz Program continued to place more students in the District Jazz Bands. The following students will represent De Soto in the All District Jazz Bands Saturday December 8th at Jefferson College!

ECD7 All District Jazz Band
Ethan Brown-Vibraphone and Piano
Logan White- Trombone Alt.
Anna Kozloski- Bass Trombone
Austin Kingsland- Guitar
Caleb Avila- Bass Guitar
Brandon Nunnally- Vibraphone

The students below will be heading to State, December 3rd.
​
This is the largest amount of students De Soto has taken to State in quite some time. These students are to be commended for the many hours of hard work they have put in to be able to perform at the state level.


Marybeth Sansoucie-State Bound
Jillian Williams-State Bound
Teagan Wallis-State Bound
Ethan Brown-State Bound
Anna Kozloski-State Bound
Austin Kingsland-State Bound
Caleb Avila-State Bound
Brandon Nunnally-State Bound

Thank you all for your support of the De Soto Bands!