HP Arts Newsletter - Winter 2021
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HP Arts Gives Thanks
HP Arts would like to give thanks to our generous 2021 donors and sponsors for supporting arts in education this year. Your gifts have helped us fund programs across all seven HPISD campuses so far this year, impacting every child in the district.

HP Arts funds enrichment experiences such as Highland Park Literary Festival, debate team, orchestra, band, choir, and visual arts. Since it's inception, HP Arts has distributed over $1.2 Million in funds given by district families and cornerstone benefactor La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas. HP Arts was founded on the principle that arts education plays a vital role in the overall development and academic success of our students.

Thank you for helping us deliver on this goal! 

HP Arts is celebrating its 35th year of enriching the educational experience of all HPISD students through arts programming. If you still wish to give year-end funds to HP Arts, become a member, join the Take-a-Seat campaign or just find out more about who we are and what we do, please visit hparts.org/membership.
La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas Check Presentation
La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas presented HP Arts with a generous donation in the amount of $35,000 which will be used to fund HPISD arts programs. HP Arts appreciates La Fiesta's continue partnership and support!

Pictured (L to R): Sally Schedler (HP Arts Past President), Elizabeth Gambrell and Celeste Yeager (HP Arts President).  
Take A Seat Funds at Work
The HPHS auditorium is moving forward, all thanks to your support through Take-a-Seat! The Take-a-Seat fund has yielded great results over the years and your support has allowed us to invest in many improvements, from wireless body microphones, stage equipment upgrades, and a projection system, allowing for modern and versatile backdrops on the stage. HP Arts provides funding for equipment that can be used for years to come - the projector we funded several years ago was put to good use in Legally Blonde this fall.
HP Arts Funding
HP Arts donated warm ups and jazz streamers (pictured here) to the Belles.

This fall, HP Arts funded multiple things including:

  • Author Nathan Hale's visits to the elementary schools this December
  • A slab roller for clay art and drums for music at Boone Elementary
  • Bass and harp clinicians to help recruit and retain bass and harp players for Highland Park Middle and High school orchestras.
  • A sound system for the HP Middle school percussion room.
Fall UIL Competitions
Congratulations to the many members of the choir, band, and orchestra who qualified for state in the UIL competitions!
The Highlander Band made it to the state finals and took 5th place in the UIL 5A State Marching Band Contest in San Antonio on November 2nd!
A total of 61 HPHS choir students placed at Regional choir auditions and performed on November 9 at Dallas Baptist University!
Twenty-three high school and 12 HPMS students made the TMEA Region 20 Orchestra. Auditions were held on October 16.
Mark Your Calendar
Dec. 7 at 7pm - MIS/HPMS Band Concert
Dec. 7 at 7pm - HPHS Highlander Strings Concert
Dec. 8 at 7pm - MIS/HPMS Orchestra Concert
Dec. 8 at 7pm - HPHS Band Concert
Dec. 9 at 7PM - HPHS Choirs Holiday Concert
Jan. 7 at 4PM and 6PM - HPMS Musical Theater Showcase
Jan. 19 at 7PM - HPHS Orchestra Chamber Music Coffeehouse Concert
A Message from the HP Arts President
Dear HP Arts Supporters,

The Holidays are here! What a perfect time to pause, reflect on our accomplishments, and give thanks to those who make it happen. HP Arts has been busy reviewing teacher requests and funding projects to support our award-winning arts programs and to bring the arts into the classroom! Participating in the process and understanding how HP Arts decides to fund teacher requests has been so rewarding. Our Programs Committee works tirelessly with teachers at each campus to identify classroom needs or opportunities for expanding learning and submit requests. Then—just to give you a glimpse behind-the-scenes—we meet as a Committee to discuss and vet each request. Will funding this request be a long term investment, or achieve a specific short term need/goal? How many students might benefit? Have we funded something similar in the past or for other campuses? Have we done a cost comparison? These are just a few of the questions we ask as we drill down.  The Programs Committee strives to stretch HP Arts’ dollars as far as possible to meet the needs of our students and teachers throughout the district and to be the best stewards of the funds that you have so generously have donated. Thank you to our donors and the Programs Committee! 
 
I am so pleased to share with you through this issue of the Artisan some of our recent funding successes. For example, did you know that HP Arts funded two clinicians to work with our High School band as they prepared for competition season (and what an amazing season it was!)? Also, HP Arts funded musical instruments (boom whackers and drums) and a clay slab roller for the elementary music and art programs at Boone Elementary. HPMIS/MS will receive a new sound system for the band’s percussion room. Finally, I am thrilled that HP Arts is helping to bring award winning author, illustrator, and graphic novelist Nathan Hale to our elementary schools for interactive workshops. Thank you for the opportunity to share HP Arts’ journey and mission with you. I hope you enjoy your Holiday season and find time to take in some fantastic arts events happening this time of year throughout our community. Cheers!   

Sincerely,
Celeste Yeager
HP Arts President 2021-22
2021 - 2022 HP Arts Board of Directors

Executive Committee
President – Celeste Yeager
Vice President – Kim Weiss
Secretary – Alexandra Wagner
Treasurer – Jing Lin
Communications - Linda Shirley
Programs – Becky Gould

Program Committee
Programs Chair – Becky Gould
Elementary Art – Kari LaRue
Elementary Music – Jamie Buis
Elementary All Other – Gabby Lyons
MIS/HPMS Music - Zhen Wu
MIS/HPMS All Other – Jenny Mattison
HPHS Music – Kara Smartt
HPHS All Other – Alicia Jahant

Communication Committee
Communications Chair - Linda Shirley
Artisan – Rachel Russo Willis
Social Media – Suzie Forsberg
Website – Julie Lin

Membership Committee
Membership – Stacy Becker
Membership – Linda Vandercook

Events and Outreach Committee
Special Events – Sheri Rosen
Community Outreach – Amy Bean and Ashlie Seabolt