McMinnville

School District

Middle Level Music


Learn more about the positive impact music can have on your child, then fill out a short interest form to get more information about our music program.

Mr. Joseph Demianew

Patton Middle School

Music Director

Mr. Marc Dana

Duniway Middle School

Music Director

Mr. Joseph Demianew attended Oregon State University. He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Music. He received a Masters in Art of Teaching in Music Education from Oregon State University in 2007. He has been teaching music in McMinnville for 14 years.

He has held positions on the Oregon Music Education Association Board of Control for 7 years. He also held positions on the Oregon Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association for 8 years. He was a student conductor for the Oregon State University University Chorale for 3 years. He was the Graduate Assistant to Dr. Steven Zeilke Director of Choral Studies at Oregon State University. He did his student teaching at Wilsonville High School and Wood Middle School in Wilsonville Oregon.

He has performed in these groups Montana State University Wind Ensemble, Montana State University University Singers, Montana State University Marching Band, University of Oregon Chamber Choir, University of Oregon Gospel choir, Oregon State University Concert Band, Oregon State University University Chorale, Oregon State University Meistersingers, and Oregon State University Chamber Choir. He has been part of Adult Choir groups; Corvallis Repertory Singer and Salem Community Choir.

He has performed at National Conference for Music Educators in Salt Lake City. He has performed in Prague, Czech Republic; Budapest, Hungary; Sofia, Bulgaria; Arizona, Nevada, and Victoria, BC.

He has been teaching music for 15 years. He has taught drama, choir, Mariachi, high School percussion, high school pep band, music production, 5th Grade Band, Patton Cadet band, and Patton Concert Band.

He looks forward to having you in the Patton Band and Choir programs. Go Mustangs!!


I moved to Oregon in 1992 to attend Lewis and Clark College where I earned a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education with an emphasis in performance tuba and voice. In 2007, I earned a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University. I started working for McMinnville School District in 1999 teaching band and choir at Duniway Middle School. Throughout my 21 years In McMinnville, I have taught middle school choir, leadership, drama, math and grades 5-12 band at Newby, Memorial, Duniway, Patton and McMinnville High Schools.

I love to sing and play instruments. I started my singing career at age 3 singing a solo for my church winter program. I’ve had some wonderful opportunities because of my singing. I’ve recorded a song for a cartoon soundtrack and have performed in more than 7 different countries. I start learning band instruments in the 4th grade when I picked up the alto sax for the first time. I play saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba and percussion. Over the last three years, I’ve started to learn how to play the soprano ukulele! It’s a lot of fun and a great way to play and sing at the same time. Through my band experiences, I’ve had the privilege of performing with the Canadian Brass and the Dallas Brass ensembles. I’ve also been able to work with members of the Tower of Power horn section, And the percussion section from Pink Martini. Playing tuba helped pay for college and helped me to get in to the school that I wanted to go to. I’ve also traveled a lot for band, taking me all over the US and Europe.

We do some pretty fun things in the band and choir programs in addition to learning how to perform. We go on a few different field trips to various colleges or universities. We perform at Oaks Park and the band marches in the UFO parade.

I look forward to having you come play or sing in the Duniway music program!


The impact of music education on children is profound.

Music does more than just make sounds, it changes the way we think and act. The skills your child will learn in music will help them be successful on the stage, in the classroom, and for the rest of their lives.



70% OF ADMISSIONS OFFICERS OF THE NATION'S MAJOR UNIVERSITIES SAY HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT AND ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS ARE SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR ADMISSION

107 POINTS SCORED HIGHER ON THE SAT FOR STUDENTS INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMS ACCORDING TO THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BOARD.

66% LEWIS THOMAS, PHYSICIAN AND BIOLOGIST, FOUND THAT MUSIC MAJORS COMPRISE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ACCEPTED MEDICAL STUDENTS.

94% OF RESPONDENTS (GALLUP POLL), BELIEVE MUSIC IS PART OF A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION AND SHOULD BE OFFERED AS PART OF THE REGULAR CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS.


Who wants to join a Band or Choir!!!

Future Patton Mustangs Band Video


Who wants to join a Band or Choir!!!

Future Patton Mustangs Choir Video



Duniway Dragons/Patton Mustangs

Join the Band Form/Join the Choir Form


Who wants to join a Band or Choir!!!

Questions about Be Part of the Music!!

Instrument Demonstrations

Voice Demonstration

Parent Interviews Student Interviews

The Be Part of the Music project exists to provide a variety of high quality tools to help music educators attract as many students as possible to their programs. Their goal is to help music educators effectively and efficiently communicate to students and parents what we already know: Music Is A Life Changing Activity!

Is your child interested in joining choir or band?

Let us know!

Contact Mr. Demianew

email: Jdemianew@msd.k12.or.us

Phone: 503-565-4510


Contact Mr. Dana

email: mdana@msd.k12.or.us

Phone: 503-565-4438