EmS Fine Arts District expands Fine Arts Showcase in May at Bass Hall

Thanks to the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District’s tremendous growth, its annual Fine Arts Showcase at Fort Worth’s Bass Hall is growing, too. 

Started in 2010 by then-director Robert Stovall, the Showcase has featured representation from district fine arts programs including high school band, dance, theater, and choir, plus some elementary school choirs. 

“The idea at that time was that the Showcase would happen every three years,” said current director Shawn Bell. “When I came to the district in 2012, we reformatted it so we could have a Showcase every year.”

Previously featuring two shows in one evening with groups rotating appearances in odd and even years, the Showcase will now be conducted on two nights – May 20 and 21 – this year. The first night will feature the high school and middle school bands, and the second night will include some elementary choirs and high school dance. Both shows start at 7 pm. 

“We’ve grown to the point in the size of the district and the length and complexity of the shows that we can no longer make it work on one day,” Bell said. “We have to do a two-day format. To do so, we’re leaning on community folks to help sponsor our shows and really looking to push ticket sales this year so we can get as many patrons, parents, and community folk there as possible.

“One of the biggest aspects of the Showcase is to give our students and our directors an opportunity to perform in a world-class venue,” Bell added, “we are the only school district that partners with Bass Hall and rents it out for the Showcase. We’re very proud of that. The Showcase is very much a source of pride for our community, our school board, and our school district administration, so we look forward to it every year.”

Bell estimates more than 800 students perform at the Showcase each year.

“We love to do this Showcase at the end of May. That’s when the students are performing at their peak level for that year,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments. We’re very fortunate to be able to offer that opportunity to our students and families.”

Tickets for each go on sale April 15 through the Bass Hall box office. Any business interested in sponsorships can contact Bell at sbell@ems.isd.net or EMS Education Foundation Director Ally Surface at asurface@ems-isd.net