GFPS celebrating arts, music, theater in schools

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Jenn Rowell

March is youth art month in Great Falls and students in Great Falls Public Schools are showcasing their talents with lots of activities over the next few weeks.

It’s also theater and music in schools month for the district.

Dusty Molyneaux, GFPS’ fine arts supervisor, told the school board during their Feb. 10 meeting that he works with and for 43 teacher artists.

“Can you imagine what Great Falls would be like without art, music or drama graduates in our community? What would Great Falls look like without these programs in our schools,” Molyneaux asked the board.

GFPS choral students selected for honors choir; AA Orchestra Festival at CMR Feb. 6 [2024]

During the same meeting, the board recognized Lesli Evans, who was named the Montana theatre educator of the year.

Superintendent Heather Hoyer said that Evans has been with GFPS for 15 years and 13 of those have been spent as a paraprofessional in the performing arts department at C.M. Russell High School.

Evans is the “backbone of the performing arts department and is their utility wonder woman,” Hoyer said.

A CMR graduate herself, Evans returned to Great Falls after earning an arts degree from the University of Montana, Hoyer said.

GFPS students selected for all-state music festival [2023]

Molyneaux said the honor was well deserved and “she really is the glue that holds everything together for performing arts over there.”

Molyneaux told the board that in mid-February, 41 students from the CMR and Great Falls High music programs were traveling to participate in showcase groups at the Northwest Music Educators Conference, for which Molyneaux currently serves as president.

It’s a rigorous selection process, Molyneaux said, and at the conference, the students perform in from of 1,400 music educators.

GFPS receives music community designation [2023]

Every single performing arts group at CMR and Great Falls High have been selected to perform at the conference over the years, Molyneaux said, and “it’s quite a big honor to be invited.”

It’s an “incredible legacy. We punch way above our weight” in region, Molyneaux said.

In a letter to the school board, inviting them to the many arts events in February, March and April, Molyneaux thanked them for their support of the arts in schools.

“We do amazing things with and for young musicians, performers and artists every day in the schools, and the arts are a huge part of their complete education. The arts enrich the community in which we live, play, and work. Great Falls prides itself on having strong Arts program in our schools, and we need to keep working on enhancing and growing these wonderful opportunities for our students,” Molyneaux wrote.

The youth art month show at the Montana State Capital is on display throughout March and includes work from GFPS students.

GFPS arts events:

March 4: AA Band Festival Concert at GFH, 6 p.m. Free. Band students from CMR and GFHS, Helena Capital and Belgrade will combine into two mass bands conducted by Gordon Johnson, GF Symphony emeritus, and Dr. Kevin Grigg of the University of Montana. The percussion ensemble will be led by Dr. Kristopher Olsen of MSU-Bozeman.
March 7: Young Masters Art Exhibit Reception at Horizon Credit Union, 5-7 p.m.
March 14: AP Art Reception CMR/GFH at Luna Coffee, 5 p.m.
March 17: CMR Choir Concert at CMR, 7 p.m. and GFH Choir Concert at GFH, 7 p.m.
March 18: Orchestra MIOSM (Music in our Schools Month) at GFH Auditorium, 7 p.m.
March 20: GFH Dahl Gallery – Mike Hollern Art Show Reception, 3:30 p.m.
March 20-22 Young Masters Art at Out West Art Show at Heritage Inn
March 25: Band MIOSM (Music in our Schools Month) at GFH Auditorium, 7 p.m.
March 27: Choir MIOSM (Music in our Schools Month) at GFH Old Gym, 7 p.m.
March 31: GFH Orchestra Concert at GFH, 7 p.m.
April 1: GFH Band Concert at GFH, 7 p.m. and NMS Band Concert at NMS, 7 p.m.
April 7: CMR Orchestra Concert at CMR, 7 p.m.
April 10: District 6 Music Festival at GFH (large ensembles), 1-9 p.m.
April 11: District 6 Music Festival at CMR (solo/small ensembles), 1-9 p.m.
April 25: GFPS All City Art Student Exhibition, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, 4:40-6 p.m.
April 24-26: CMR Drama Spring Show, 7:30 p.m.