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Each year, the Fresno State Music Department hosts Sound Off!, a choral event for tenor/bass voices. Madera Unified choral students from Desmond Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, MLK Middle School, Madera South, Madera High, and Torres High School had the opportunity to participate with other choral students from all over the central valley. The day culminated in a mini-concert. 

Matilda Torres Theatre Arts welcomed Mr. Rodolfo Robles Cruz to visit all the drama classes and spoke about his work as a playwright and the lifelong influences that assists in his writings.

Drama students at Desmond Middle School wear their official clown noses as they kickstart the new drama programs returning to all three middle schools at MUSD.  Drama is back in action!

The Torres High Spring Concert would have been an entertaining event even if you weren't going to support a friend or family member. Highlights included a beautiful duet in the choir set, an entrancing film-accompanied montage from the Harry Potter film scores performed flawlessly by the Concert Band, and a high-class performance by the student-led Sax Quartet. As there are yet no seniors in the Torres student-body, the program is set to continue building up even their best musicians. Don't miss next year's concerts.

At Berenda Elementary, many students participate in multiple ensembles. From the large rate of participation on stage and in the audience, to the brain research shared by principal Carsten Christiansen, it is no surprise how important music is to the Berenda community. The Choir and Orchestra are directed by Brooke McCoy and the Band by Matt Robeson.

The combined concert of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, and Desmond Middle Schools may have seemed like a duplicate of their combined winter concert, except this time, the music was way better. With skyrocketing music enrollment, next year's concerts will surely split into multiple events. Band Directors Matt Robeson (Desmond), Cory Beahm (MLK), and Joshua Andree (TJ) and their students have a lot to be proud of. The MLK Mariachi is especially improved. Also impressive was the middle school orchestra directed by Lisa Eleazarian, Nathan Camp, and Alex Visciglio.

Choral Director Kirstyn Smith and her accompanist Jane Weibe premiered their final concert on the Middle School Stage, as Mrs. Smith is set to take over the choral program at Torres High and Mrs. Weibe will retire in a few days. Their set of fun and beautiful music was a joy for the audience, despite the overacting of their narrator. 

The Madera South High Band hosted their Spring Concert and Awards in front of a packed MSHS Theater. The evening recognized the contributions of several exceptional students, including the four-year commitment of graduating seniors. Music offerings from the Jazz Band, Percussion and Concert Band were entertaining and complex. The set even included popular film score material that is instantly recognizable. The event was a great end to a highly successful year.

Mr. Diego Zarate-White led his students in their spring concert: their first public performance on campus since the pandemic closure. The evening featured the beginning band, a large choir joined by accompanist Jane Wiebe in her final pre-retirement week, and the intermediate band. The Jazz Band was joined by three Howard alumni, with whom current students impressively kept up.

Choir students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School received a clinic from Fresno State Director of Choral Activities, Cari Earnhart, as an extension of the excellent regular instruction of Choir Director Kirstyn Smith. Dr. Earnhart listened to a few of the pieces from the students' upcoming concerts and provided immediate coaching that resulted in immediate improvement. Working with higher ed. instructors gives students a glimpse into their potential as post-secondary musicians. We are grateful to Dr. Earnhart for her partnership.