Fine and Performing Arts

Monte Vista offers students many ways to express their artistic talents. These opportunities range from music and drama to painting and drawing. Music courses offered are Choir, Intermediate Choir, Advanced Choir, Vocal Technique, Beginning Instruments, Mustang Band, Hand Bell Choir, and Orchestra. Drama courses range from Drama I to Advanced Drama.  Traditional arts courses include Drawing & Painting, Advanced Drawing & Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Advanced Photography, and Ceramics. Students can practice writing and layout skills by participating in Journalism or Yearbook. 

The music department is led by choir director Dr. David Anthony Dehner and instrumental music director Miss Shari McQueen. The high school band has performed in Marching Band Reviews, MV home football games, a variety of concerts, music festivals, and an annual spring tour. The band and orchestra were selected as one of 15 groups to perform at the Ben Franklin Tercentenary Celebration in Philadelphia in 2006. Our excellent hand bell choir uses three sets of hand bells for their popular performances. The award-winning Master's Voice vocal ensemble performs at many music festivals, local churches, community events, and at Monte Vista concerts.  The Honor Choir has received numerous awards and accolades. 

Dr. Dehner and Miss McQueen made their Carnegie Hall directing debuts on March 16, 2008 when the choral and instrumental students performed there.

In the middle school, Choir and Beginning Instruments are taught by Mrs. Gayleen Myer.

The art department offers drawing, painting, advanced painting, photography, advanced photography, and sculpture classes. Students may show their art work in a campus show as well as participate in a county-wide high school student show at the Santa Cruz Art League. Art Club members may participate in campus projects as well as visit art shows at various museums. Travel, art experiences, and art history are incorporated into the curriculum. The middle school also offers art classes.

The theatre arts department offers drama, intermediate drama, and advanced drama at the high school level; we also offer a middle school drama class. Enrollment in intermediate or advanced drama is by audition only. The fall play and spring musical are open to all MVCS students.  Rehearsals are held after school in the theatre lab.

Click here for a calendar of upcoming events.

You can see some of the honors earned by our Fine and Performing Arts students here.

For more information about the Performing Arts Department, or to arrange for an audition, please contact:

Vocal Arts:  Dr. Tony Dehner tonydehner@mvcs.org
Instrumental Arts:  Ms. Shari McQueen  sharimcqueen@mvcs.org