Park City students named to Utah all‑state ensembles; district honors music staff

Park City School District recognized its music educators and students at the board meeting after 22 students were selected for Utah all‑state ensembles this year.

Brett Hughes, fine‑arts coordinator in the district’s Teaching and Learning department, told the board the result reflected a community and administrative commitment to the arts and thanked the Park City Education Foundation for two transformational classroom grants that funded individualized assessment and brought professional musicians into classrooms. “We had 22 students be selected to all state ensembles this year,” Hughes said.

Head band director Zach Giddings and percussion director Taye Exel thanked families and staff for support and invited the students to introduce themselves and their instruments. District presenters noted this was the largest junior‑high contingent the district had ever had in state auditions, and staff said multiple ensembles (band, orchestra, jazz and dance) will perform or compete at upcoming state and national events.

The district cited staff restructuring and targeted supports — including extra coaching funded by the education foundation — as factors in the results. District leaders asked families and students to pose for a group photo on the front steps after the presentations.

No formal action was taken; the recognition was ceremonial. The Education Foundation and the district confirmed their partnership supports future in‑class coaching and audition preparation.