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Welcome to the DPS Visual Art and Music Department!
Welcome to the DPS Visual Art and Music Department!
Here you will find resources and information related to our visual art and music programs for Grades PK-12.
Click the link below for the 2025-2026 Visual and Performing Arts Event Calendar
Click the link below for the 2025-2026 Visual and Performing Arts Event Calendar
DHS Ensembles Autumn Showcase
DHS Ensembles Autumn Showcase
The DHS Ensembles Fall Preview Concert will be held on Thursday, Sept 25th at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium. This is your chance to hear selections from each of the DHS Band, Chorus, and Orchestra all in the same concert! We hope to see you there!
The concert will be livestreamed: https://www.youtube.com/live/7CzxEcIXVrU?si=ZZBKUfRNnJYcxRHl
Beginner Band and Strings Registration
Beginner Band and Strings Registration
Beginning Band Registration
All current 4th and 5th graders who wish to begin a band instrument for the first time this school year are encouraged to view the presentation linked below. The form should be submitted by Wednesday, September 3rd.
We look forward to having your child participate in the program!
*Please note: If you signed up in the spring for Beginner Band, you do not need to fill this out. The Advanced Band and Orchestra Registration Forms will be sent home later this week for those students who are continuing their instrument from last year.
If you have questions concerning the selection of an instrument for your child, please contact:
Mrs. Krista DiPietro, Band Director at Hindley School, KDipietro@darienps.org
Dr. Colin Walters, Band Director at Ox Ridge, Royle & Tokeneke, CWalters@darienps.org
Mr. Joel Knecht, Beginning Band Director at Holmes School, Jknecht@darienps.org
Click Here: View Virtual Presentation
Click Here: Online Registration Form
Click Here: Rental Information
Beginning String Registration
All current 2nd graders who wish to begin playing the violin, viola, or cello for the first time next school year are encouraged to read the Introduction to Strings Packet and complete the Registration Form linked below. The form should be submitted by Wednesday, September 3rd.
If you have any questions, please contact the string teacher at your child's school:
Mrs. Krista DiPietro, Beginning Strings at Hindley and Holmes, KDipietro@darienps.org
Miss Dawn Hanley, Beginning Strings at Ox Ridge and Tokeneke, DHanley@darienps.org
Miss Jane Minnis, Beginning Strings at Royle, JMinnis@darienps.org
Introduction to Strings Packet: https://tinyurl.com/IntroToStrings2025
Sign-up Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/DarienStrings2025
MMS Art Show
MMS Art Show
The MMS art teachers will be installing a nature-themed art show featuring works from our 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at the Darien Nature Center. All are welcome to attend an open house on Monday, 6/2 from 4-6pm. The pieces will be on display throughout the summer.
Spring Concert Dates and Links
Spring Concert Dates and Links
DHS Tri-M Senior Recital - 4/29/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium https://www.youtube.com/live/Ed_zgZAZ4Jo?si=wP1W8Zw9VPCiOJxp
DHS Spring Orchestra Concert - 5/1/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium
1st Half: https://youtu.be/C76SnbFNt_o 2nd Half: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZPnG7Cnr1E
MMS Spring Orchestra Concert - 5/5/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium https://youtube.com/live/mwSy65kJ8yM?feature=share
DHS Spring Chorus Concert - 5/7/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium https://youtube.com/live/W5mMucxxCgA?feature=share
MMS Spring Chorus Concerts - 5/8/2025, DHS Auditorium
6:30pm - 6th, 7th, and Viva Voce https://youtube.com/live/vuPNkD3BMiY?feature=share
8:00pm - 8th and Camerata https://youtube.com/live/gk-zVj5bVeU?feature=share
Hindley Spring Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Concert - 5/12/2025, Hindley Common Room
7:00 - Band and Orchestra
7:45 - Chorus
Holmes Spring Band, Chorus and Orchestra Concert - 5/14/2025, Holmes Common Room
7:00 - Band and Orchestra https://youtu.be/4ij3e5Ee9WY
7:45 - Chorus https://youtu.be/4ij3e5Ee9WY
DHS Spring Band and Jazz Concert - 5/15/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium https://youtube.com/live/Dlr0Z-T5Gg8?feature=share
MMS Spring Band Concert - 5/19/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium https://youtube.com/live/RVG3AIUPfCo?feature=share
Ox Ridge Spring Band, Chorus and Orchestra Concert - 5/21/2025, Ox Ridge Gym
7:00 - Band and Orchestra https://youtu.be/sAX6Yvoxk3w
7:45 - Orff Ensemble and Chorus https://youtu.be/sAX6Yvoxk3w
Tokeneke Spring Band, Chorus and Orchestra Concert - 5/22/2025, Tokeneke Common Room
7:00 - Band and Orchestra https://youtu.be/RbZtj2z8-5M
7:45 - Chorus https://youtu.be/RbZtj2z8-5M
DHS Small Ensemble Concert - 5/28/2025, 7:00pm, DHS Auditorium
Royle Spring Band, Chorus and Orchestra Concert - 5/29/2025, 7:00pm, Darien Auditorium (*Location due to construction at Royle)
MMS Adjudication Festival - 6/4/2025, Middlesex Middle School, 8:00am - Video to be posted
All-Town Elementary Adjudication Festival - 6/6/2025, Darien High School, 8:30am (no audience - livestream only): https://youtube.com/live/IpCVu7vDmGo?feature=share
Young Composers 2025
Young Composers 2025
April 9th, 6:30pm
Congratulations to our 2025 Young Composers!
Click here for a list of our K-8 performers
Click here for a link to the video of the performance
K-12 Town Wide Art Show
K-12 Town Wide Art Show
April 1-30 Darien Library and Town Hall
Art work from our K-12 artists will be on display at the Darien Library and Town Hall from April 1st-April 30th. Come see the beautiful art work created by the talented students from all of our Darien Public Schools!
District Wide Band Festival
District Wide Band Festival
With Special guest performance by the West Point Concert Band
Thursday, 4/3 7:00pm DHS Auditorium
The Darien Public Schools and Darien Music Parents Association will host the West Point Concert Band in the Darien High School Auditorium on Thursday, April 3rd at 7:00pm. Band students in grades 5-12 will participate in the concert, playing alongside the members of the West Point Concert Band!
We are currently "sold out." You are welcomed to put your names on a waitlist. This will be handled in person on a first come, first served basis. Should patrons turn in extra tickets or are no-show, we will try to fill those seats as quickly as we can. Please visit the ticket table upon arrival.
The concert will also be live streamed at: DarienPS Live Events
Sweet Night of Jazz rescheduled to 3/19
Sweet Night of Jazz rescheduled to 3/19
The Sweet Night of Jazz concert will be held on Wednesday, 3/19 at 7:00pm in the MMS auditorium. The concert will feature the 5/6 Jazz Lab, MMS Jazz Band, and DHS Jazz Ensemble. Our guest artist is not available; we hope to reschedule an event with her sometime in the near future. The concert is free and open to the public - come join us for some great music and desserts!
Tenor and Bass Showcase
Tenor and Bass Showcase
Thursday, 2/13 7:00pm DHS Auditorium
The music department and the Darien Music Parents Association are pleased to present the second annual called Tenor and Bass Showcase Concert on Thursday, February 13th at 7:00 in the Darien High School Auditorium. Tenor and Bass Showcase is a concert highlighting low voice singers, also known as Tenors and Basses. This fun and engaging family concert will feature students from the MMS and DHS choirs will culminate with a group song featuring singers in grades 4-12 from across the Darien Public Schools. Click here for tickets!
DHS Holiday Spectacular
DHS Holiday Spectacular
The DHS Ensembles Holiday Spectacular Concert will be held on Wednesday 12/18 at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium.
The concert will be livestreamed and recorded: https://youtube.com/live/IsFagYIa6g4?feature=share
Elementary Winter Concert Videos
Elementary Winter Concert Videos
Tokeneke Band, Orchestra and Chorus - 12/11/2024 https://youtu.be/RNNbC7vvj8Y?si=htbSPqu-a2mZYUHn
Holmes Band and Orchestra - 12/13/2024 https://youtu.be/BKcCoaBFXJk
Hindley Band, Orchestra, and Chorus - 12/17/2024 https://youtu.be/HYZz_qtAwsg
5/6 Jazz Lab Showcase - 12/18/2024 youtu.be/hCBpCuwmvV0
Ox Ridge Band, Orchestra, and Chorus - 1/10/2025 youtube.com/live/16R-VDgALoI?feature=share
Royle Band, Orchestra, and Chorus - 1/22/2025 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZX1qfJ2mgBpmlhrKAy6fyYzENMeYBhJW&si=2G6npsJL7_ZwfnRs
MMS Winter Orchestra Concert
MMS Winter Orchestra Concert
The MMS Winter Orchestra Concert will be held on Thursday, December 5th at 7:00pm in the DHS Auditorium
Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/LMMClpdsNcQ
MMS 8th grade chorus and Camerata
MMS 8th grade chorus and Camerata
The MMS 8th grade chorus and Camerata concert will be held on Wednesday 12/4 at 8:00pm in the DHS auditorium.
The concert video can be viewed using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXQjLrMZAd8&t=8s
MMS 6th and 7th grade chorus and Viva Voce
MMS 6th and 7th grade chorus and Viva Voce
The MMS 6th and 7th grade chorus and Viva Voce concert will be held on Wednesday 12/4 at 6:30pm in the DHS auditorium.
The concert video can be viewed using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU9_DLjgjI0
DHS Band Concert
DHS Band Concert
The DHS Band Concert will be held on Thursday, November 21st at 7:00pm in the DHS Auditorium
Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/CzJVJj9MO1c?feature=share
DHS Orchestra and Chorus Concerts
DHS Orchestra and Chorus Concerts
The DHS Orchestra and Chorus Concerts will be held the last week of October in the DHS auditorium:
DHS Orchestra and 8th grade strings - Monday, October 28, 7:00pm Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/4iL3BWRYtBo?feature=share
DHS Chorus - Wednesday, October 30th, 7:00pm Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/hfFjexT-86Q?feature=share
The DHS Orchestras and Choirs are selling award-winning Carousel Cakes and Pies to raise funds for their performance activities this year. All orders must be placed by Monday, November 4th. Pick-up will be before Thanksgiving at the DHS Stadium Pavilion (date TBA). Follow this link to order!
DHS Ensembles Autumn Showcase
DHS Ensembles Autumn Showcase
The DHS Ensembles Fall Preview Concert will be held on Thursday, Sept 26th at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium. This is your chance to hear selections from each of the DHS Band, Chorus, and Orchestra all in the same concert! We hope to see you there!
The concert will be livestreamed and recorded. It can be viewed using this link: https://youtube.com/live/mHKmMvSeWpg?feature=share
Beginning Band and Strings Registration
Beginning Band and Strings Registration
Beginner Band Registration
It's not too late to sign up for Beginner Band! If your child is in 4th or 5th Grade and would like to learn a Band instrument for the first time, please click on these links for more information.
Click Here: Online Registration Form
Click Here: View Virtual Presentation
Click Here: Rental Information
The online Registration Form is due Friday, September 6th.
*Please note: If you signed up in the spring for Beginner Band, you do not need to fill this out. The Advanced Band and Orchestra Registration Forms will be sent home later this week for those students who are continuing their instrument from last year.
Questions?
Please contact Krista DiPietro, Holmes & Hindley Band Director
kdipietro@darienps.org
or
Colin Walters, Tokeneke, Royle, & Ox Ridge Band Director
cwalters@darienps.org
Beginning Strings Registration
If your current 3rd graders would like to start playing the violin, viola or cello for the first time, please click on the links below for more information.
Click Here: View the Virtual Presentation
Click Here:View the String Information Packet
Click Here: Online Registration Form
*Please note: If you signed up in the spring for Beginning Strings, you do not need to fill this out. The Advanced Band and Orchestra Registration Forms will be sent home later this week for those students who are continuing their instrument from last year.
Questions?
Please contact Krista DiPietro, Holmes Orchestra Director
or
Dawn Hanley, Hindley, Ox Ridge, & Tokeneke Orchestra Director
or
Jane Minnis, Royle Orchestra Director
Spring 2024 Concert Schedule
Spring 2024 Concert Schedule
Wednesday, May 8th - DHS Chorus Video, 7:00 pm, DHS Auditorium
Thursday, May 9th - MMS Chorus, 6th, 7th and Viva Voce Video, 6:30pm, DHS Auditorium
Thursday, May 9th - MMS Chorus, 8th and Camerata Video, 8:00pm, DHS Auditorium
Monday, May 13th - Hindley Band and Orchestra 7:00pm, Hindley chorus 7:45pm, Hindley Common Room, Video
Wednesday, May 15th - Holmes Band and Orchestra 7:00pm, Holmes chorus 7:45pm, Holmes Common Room, Video
Thursday, May 16th - DHS Band Video, 7:00 pm, DHS Auditorium
Monday, May 20th - MMS Orchestra Video, 7:00 pm, DHS Auditorium
Tuesday, May 21st - Tokeneke Band and Orchestra 7:00pm, Tokeneke chorus 7:45pm, Tokeneke Common Room, Video
Wednesday, May 22nd - Ox Ridge Band, Orchestra, and Chorus concert, 7:00pm, Ox Ridge Gym, Video
Thursday, May 23rd - MMS Band Concert Video, 7:00 pm, DHS Auditorium
Wednesday, May 29th - DHS Small Ensemble Concert Video, 7:30 pm, DHS Auditorium
Thursday, May 30th - Royle Band, Orchestra, and Chorus concert video, 7:00pm, Royle Common Room
Wednesday, June 5th - MMS Honor Band, Camerata, Honors Orchestra, 8th grade orchestra Adjudication Festival, MMS auditorium, 8am-10:30am, No livestream - video will be posted. Audience not permitted.
Friday, June 7th - All-Town Elementary Band, Chorus, Orchestra Adjudication Festival, 8:30-10:30am, Livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/live/ds59XFfxQdQ?si=vngZuFO2Z0IUkcgX Audience not permitted.
DHS Orchestra Spring Concert
DHS Orchestra Spring Concert
The DHS orchestra concert will be held on Thursday, May 2nd at 7:00pm in the DHS auditorium. Please join us!
DHS Orchestra Leap Day concert
DHS Orchestra Leap Day concert
The DHS orchestra will hold a special Leap Day Concert on Thursday, February 29th in the DHS cafeteria. The concert will feature small ensembles from the DHS orchestras performing Irish and Celtic-inspired music. The concert is free and open to the public!
DHS Holiday Spectacular
DHS Holiday Spectacular
The DHS Holiday Spectacular Concert will be held on Tuesday, Dec 19th at 7:00pm.
The performance video is available here: https://youtu.be/dNVa2oLVBko?si=xSgWLkZnZA4fRq5g
Tenor and Bass Showcase
Tenor and Bass Showcase
The Tenor and Bass Showcase concert was a huge success! Thank you to all who attended! Here is a link to the performance video.
Join Darien Music for Youth
Join Darien Music for Youth
Darien Music for Youth is a 501c3 that has been providing music enrichment in all 7 schools for more than 50 years. We need your support! Click here to see what MFY is supporting this year!
Click here to make your tax deductible donation today!
The Music Department in Darien
The Music Department in Darien
The Music Department in the Darien Public Schools is a comprehensive standards-based program of sequential musical study that delivers quality music education services to all of the students in grades K- 8 (3,251 students) and to approximately 325 students at Darien High School who participate in one of the performing ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble), Music Theory, AP Music Theory or Music Technology I or II. Adaptive Music instruction is also an important part of the curriculum for our students in the ELP programs at Ox Ridge, Royle and Tokeneke schools, the TLC at Ox Ridge School and at DHS and MMS. A total of 1,196 students in the Darien Public Schools participate in the Instrumental Music program (Band and Strings in grades 3-12) and we have 905 students performing in our Choral ensembles in grades 4-12 for the 2019-2020 school year. A total of 2,101 students or 55% of all K-12 students in the Darien Public Schools participate in a choral ensemble, an instrumental ensemble or both.
Programs such as the Darien Young Composers Concert program, district-wide common assessments, standards-based curriculum, elementary band, orchestra and chorus honors ensembles, our Grade 5-6 Jazz Lab, Middle School ROCKestra for string students, MMS Jazz Ensemble, Camerata Singers and 6th grade Viva Voce chorus, the district-wide annual curricular focus theme, enrichment programs of live music in the schools sponsored by the Darien Music for Youth organization, multiple performance opportunities for students in the district, in the state of Connecticut and throughout the United States, the Annual All-Town Music Festivals, honors level high school ensembles and an emphasis placed on creating original music in our music curriculum continue to offer exceptional opportunities for students to realize their musical potential in our district.
Darien's Music Department Receives National Recognition
Darien's Music Department Receives National Recognition
Darien has been honored with the Best Communities for Education Recognition by the NAMM Foundation!
Click here to read the full Press Release
Follow the Darien Music Department on Twitter
Follow the Darien Music Department on Twitter
@Darien_Music
@Darien_Music
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