Arts

BAND

The band is celebrating 51 years of music this year, engaging about 15 percent of the student body with one of six levels of ensembles. 

Under the direction of Mr. Daniel Harrelson, with assistance by Mr. Stephen Netsch, band students explore their musical talents in the Bishop Dunne Marching Band, drumline, wind ensemble or the award-winning jazz band.

Since Mr. Harrelson’s arrival in 2014, and Mr. Netsch’s in 2017, the bands have earned superior ratings at regional, state, and southern states area events. After graduating, students have continued playing with ensembles at many colleges and universities including the University of Notre Dame, University of North Texas and Southern Methodist University. 

carnegie hall - march 2024

The Bishop Dunne Band, led by Director of Band, Daniel Harrelson, and Assistant Director, Stephen Netsch, earned the privilege to perform at Carnegie Hall on Good Friday 2024! The challenging process to qualify was two years in the making. First, the Dunne band received Best-in-Class and Gold awards at the World Strides Heritage Festival in New Orleans in 2022, which qualified them to audition for a spot in the Carnegie National Band and Orchestra Festival. After intense practice, Mr. Harrelson submitted the band’s audition recording and was soon awarded with an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This music venue, opened in 1891, is considered one of the most prestigious in the world for classical and popular music. Famous musicians who have performed at Carnegie Hall include Tchaikovsky, the Beatles, Elvis, and George Gershwin.

Alums interested in performing with current band students at Carnegie Hall for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity should contact Mr. Harrelson for more information. 

CHOIR

The Sounds of Bishop Dunne welcomes students from all grades. It was founded by Dean Walter Johnson and five middle school students who had a passion to deliver the gospel of Christ through inspirational singing while serving the school and community.

As its name suggests, all voices and sounds are represented in the choir. The choir’s repertoire includes pop, country and western, show, rhythm and blues, spirituals and gospels. Annually, the choir hosts a concert showcasing its talents.

DRAMA

The show goes on with the Bishop Dunne Drama Club. In 2019, the Drama Club has established a partnership with Shakespeare Dallas to work with area teaching artists to enhance the drama club programming. This fall they had an outstanding Bishop Dunne Revue led by local actor and Shakespeare Dallas teaching artist, Gloria Benavides. Gloria is a certified theater teacher with over seven years of experience.

As a professional artist she has performed at the Dallas Theater Center, Theater Three, and Shakespeare Dallas to name a few. Most recently she performed in American Mariachi at the Dallas Theater Center. This year the Revue featured the usual collection of amazing musical numbers by talented students, starting with their version of Hello! and ending with a traditional rendition of So Long, Farewell. Students also performed originally written monologues and scenes, in addition to  moving performances of poetry and prose.

ORCHESTRA AND STRINGS

Led by Michael Boss, Orchestra and Strings', mission is to provide exemplary musical and spiritual experiences that enable orchestra players and audience members to be engaged, actively and reflectively. Through the finest examples of symphonic orchestra literature arrangements, Mr. Boss brings students the experience of orchestra playing.

Students perform assigned repertoire and participate with other students to demonstrate an evolving understanding and mastery of his/her string instrument. They also acquire knowledge of music history, terminology and theory.

Bishop Dunne Visual Arts offers 15 different art classes, covering a variety of media. Ceramics, a high school favorite, teaches students sustainability and working with their hands along with the basic elements and principles of 3D design.

Within this messy media, students always seem to find the beauty in art!