INDIANAPOLIS — Several prominent music publishers have temporarily allowed the use of their copyrighted music for educational purposes through an agreement with the NFHS and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). These guidelines are designed to allow high school musicians to complete their year-end assessments and for classroom instruction while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The agreement will expire on June 15.

“The publishers have been gracious with their permissions to allow students the ability to complete their year-end assessments while remaining copyright compliant,” said Dr. James Weaver, director of performing arts and sports.  “The NFHS has worked for many years to help schools be copyright compliant. This move by the publishers should be applauded for the assistance they are providing schools in this unprecedented time.”

For music to be distributed for K-12 assessment and adjudication, student recordings must meet the following guidelines:

• Performances can only be shared for educational assessment or state adjudication purposes.
• Performances must be shared in as private of a setting as possible and must be viewable only by an individual link.
• The recorded performance must use legally purchased music.
• Any arrangements made shall have proper permissions secured prior to recording.
• Once the recorded performance has been adjudicated, it must be deleted from the sharing platform.

“These requirements are designed to allow schools and students to still participate in their music education as well as protect the intellectual property of the music publishers,” said Weaver. “The permissions afforded by the publishers are temporary in order to get us through the remainder of the school year.”

The five publishing houses that have agreed to allow their music to be used include:

• Alfred
• Barnhouse
• Hal Leonard
• Warner-Chappell Music
• Warner Entertainment

Collectively, the publishers account for approximately 95 percent of available educational music.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

UPDATE: Spring sports are now suspended until April 30

The Colorado High School Activities Association, following the most recent recommendation of state and federal health officials, has announced changes in the spring sports and activities schedules.

On Monday, Gov. Jared Polis announced new restrictions on public gatherings to help slow the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic. Polis ordered the closure of large gathering places across Colorado for 30 days, effective at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

“In light of Governor Jared Polis’ announcement Monday afternoon, we are announcing that the Association will follow the guidelines that went into effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will remain in effect for 30 days,” CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said. “This media and school advisory is to keep the membership apprised of the latest decisions from the CHSAA office.”

These updates include:

• The suspension of spring sports and activities is extended through April 18. CHSAA encourages schools to set stricter standards on student gatherings outside of the high school. This suspension means no practices or competition.
• All CHSAA music events have been cancelled for 2020.
• The CHSAA Hall of Fame, scheduled for April 14, has been cancelled.
• The CHSAA Legislative Council meeting, scheduled for April 15, has been postponed pending changes in the public gathering restrictions.
• The State Speech Tournament and Student Leadership’s Advisor U have been postponed until later in the spring pending changes in the public gathering restrictions.
• The CHSAA office will remain closed until March 30, with staff working remotely from home.

The CHSAA will recognize individual participants from the CHSAA state basketball championships with a memento in the coming weeks to recognize their leadership and resolve during that week.

National and state decisions related to the COVID-19 virus are changing daily, even hourly, so new updates will be posted on CHSAANow.com and communicated via email to schools and media.

Another start to the preps sports season brings another start to the monthly video piece — Jeffco Preps With Pleuss. A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from early this Fall season with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ sports information director. This month’s edition features Jeffco Stadium celebrating 60 years and hosting a huge Class 5A football match-up between Ralston Valley and Columbine. We take a look at how Columbine and Golden softball programs both repeated as Jeffco League champs. Golden’s boys soccer team runs the table to win the Class 4A Jeffco League title for the second straight year. Lakewood golf junior Ryan Liao was in contention again at the 5A boys golf state tournament. We wrap up with sights and sounds from the Jeffco Marching Invitational.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — The members of the 2018 CHSAA Hall of Fame were inducted during a ceremony on Wednesday night at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.

The inductees: Scott Elarton (Lamar), Jack Klapper (Denver East), Bart Stevens (Flagler), Patty Childress (Otis, Palisade, Grandview), Morton Dickson (Woodland Park), Terri Ward (Niwot), and the 1999 Columbine football team.

They are the 30th class in the history of the Hall of Fame, which began in 1989.

Columbine football coach Andy Lowry spoke on behalf of the class, saying, “We all appreciate CHSAA and this evening, and the humbling award we received this night. What a great honor this is.”

Biographies of each of the new members are included below. With their inclusion, CHSAA’s Hall of Fame now has 204 members.

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PATTY CHILDRESS (Otis, Palisade, Grandview) – [Coach/Sponsor]

Longtime volleyball coach who posted a 493-170 career coaching record. Her teams won 5 state titles, finished second five times and had another two final 4 appearances.

She has earned numerous coaching honors from the Colorado High School Coaches Association and the Sportswomen of Colorado.

She was coach of the year 8 times and was the Dave Sanders Award recipient in 2013.

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MORTON DICKSON (Woodland Park) – [Coach/Sponsor]

Morton Dickson was a vocal music teacher for Woodland Park for 34 years, during which time his programs were one of the most active and successful ones in the CHSAA Music Festivals.

Rarely did his programs receive any rating lower than “Superior.” His students regularly earned top spots in the CMEA All-State Choir.

He continues to judge the CHSAA festivals.

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SCOTT ELARTON (Lamar) – [Student Participant]

One of the state’s most dominating prep athletes, Elarton’s baseball team won four consecutive state titles and were runners-up twice in basketball.

He was named Player of the Year six times, four in baseball and twice in basketball.

He earned Prep All-America honors in baseball.

He was a first round selection in the 1994 MLB amateur draft by the Houston Astros, and played professional baseball for 19 years, 10 of those in the major leagues.

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JACK KLAPPER (Denver East) – [Student Participant]

One of the state’s most dominating tennis players, Klapper won three No. 1 singles championship (only 3-year high schools back then) and was just the second player to ever do so.

The other one is in the CHSAA Hall of Fame. He led his team to three straight state team titles under CHSAA Hall of Fame member Bill Weimar.

Following high school, Klapper played tennis and squash at MIT. He has been a neurologist in Denver for the past 50 years.

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BART STEVENS (Flagler) – [Student Participant]

One of the state’s top small school athletes, Stevens led Flagler High School to a 45-5 football record and was named the A8 Player of the Year twice.

He was a four-time all-state selection in football and ran for 1,956 yards, threw for 4,559 yards, scoring 25 times on the ground and had 67 TD passes. He played basketball for two years and medaled at the state tournament twice.

He played collegiately at CSU-Pueblo and then became a teacher, coach and administrator.

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TERRI WARD (CCGS/Niwot) – [Significant Contributor]

Dedicated to girls’ sports, Ward has been the constant driver and facilitator for the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports.

Her tireless efforts on behalf of young female athletes is unsurpassed in Colorado.  A teacher and coach at Niwot, Ward has been at the center of many activities benefiting and enhancing opportunities for the girls’ athletes of state.

She has been a fixture for women’s leadership throughout her career with CCGS, Sportswomen of Colorado, Niwot High School and many volunteer activities at the state and national level.

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COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 1999 – [Team]

April 20, 2019 is the 20th Anniversary of the Columbine shootings. Its impact on the world, nation, state and community was immense and devastating.

People across the globe followed the Columbine football team, watching the healing process and resiliency of that school and, in particular, its football team. Media scrutiny was overwhelming and the pressure on the team incredible.

The team beat Cherry Creek 21-14, and head coach Andy Lowry was coach of the year and three players made the All-Colorado team that year, more than any other school.

LAKEWOOD — The Jeffco Public Schools Marching Invitational was held Sept. 17, 2018 at Jeffco Stadium.

Here are three videos highlighting all 15 high school bands that competed during the four-hour long invitational.

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Mountain View. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

CHSAA’s eighth annual Vocal Gala will be held on Friday night at the University of Denver’s Newman Center.

A schedule of performances is below.

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(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

AURORA — The members of the 2017 CHSAA Hall of Fame were inducted during a ceremony on Wednesday night at the Radisson Hotel Denver Southeast.

Tricia Bader-Binford (Roaring Fork), Jenny Coalson (Ellicott) Joe Silva (Fruita Monument), Bobbi Brown-Vandenberg (Boulder), Don Kimble (Limon), Ken Shaw (Regis Jesuit), Kent Smith (Boulder/Highlands Ranch/Ponderosa), Brian Richmond (Fort Collins) and L. D. Elarton (Lamar) were all inducted on Wednesday.

The nine new members are the 29th in the history of the CHSAA Hall of Fame, which was started in 1989.

Bader-Binford spoke for the class at the conclusion of the ceremony, saying, “This is an honor that we share with our communities. It is clear that we achieved because people believed in us. People believed in us, they supported us, they provided us the chance to be great.”

“The opportunities CHSAA has provided has changed each of us for the better,” Bader-Binford added.

Biographies of each new member are below, via the press release announcing the new members last October. With their inclusion the CHSAA Hall of Fame now has 197 members.

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2017 CHSAA Hall of Fame class

Tricia Bader Binford (Roaring Fork HS): A three-sport athlete – basketball, volleyball and track – Bader was a five-time state track champion, three-time all-state basketball player and led the Rams to the 1989, 1990 and 1991 state basketball titles. She was a three-time all-state player and the player of the year as a senior.

She won the 1991 Rocky Mountain News’ Steinmark Award and RHS has named its “Three-Sport Athlete Award” after her.

A former WNBA and Australian professional player, Bader is the head coach at Montana State where she was the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 2015-16.

As great as she was on the court, she was equally great off it, maintaining great character, and inspiring many young women in rural communities to become involved in sports.

A girls’ coach for 32 years in Colorado and Wisconsin, Brown was the architect of one of the strongest girls’ basketball programs in Colorado.

Her BHS teams were 182-28, winning the 1984, 1986, 1989 (undefeated), 1990 and 1991 state titles. Her 1985 and 1992 teams finished second. She also took a leave of absence in the middle of her Boulder tenure to finish her graduate studies.

A former CU basketball player, was also an assistant varsity football coach in 1990, coaching wide receivers and defensive backs. She coached at Fairview and Boulder from 1981 until 1992.

She was Coach of the Year by The Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and Boulder Daily Camera five times.

She is currently the Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI) women’s basketball coach.

Jenny Coalson (Ellicott HS): Coalson was a three-sport athlete at Ellicott, leading her team to two state basketball championships and winning four state individual track titles, while placing 10 more times.

She won the triple jump as a freshman, the 200 meters and shot put as a junior, along with winning the long jump as a senior. The 2A Basketball Player of the Year twice in basketball, Coalson was all-state in basketball (twice) and volleyball (once).

She was selected to the CCGS and CHSCA All-State Teams in both sports as a senior. In addition, she is a Little Britches world champion rodeo performer.

She won the 1995 Rocky Mountain News’ Steinmark Award She went on to play and excel in basketball at Kansas State.

Eldon “L.D.” Elarton (Lamar Schools): One of the state’s most respected administrators, Elarton’s career as a student participant, teacher, coach and administrator was steeped in Lamar.

A native of the community, he played baseball, basketball and football, was student body president and an all-state participant for LHS. After college, he returned home to teach and coach, starting in 1968 and moved up the ranks, serving as teacher, assistant principal, principal, finance director and superintendent.

As a coach, Elarton earned Baseball Coach of the Year honors in the Will Rogers League at Widefield High School. Once returning to Lamar, he initiated the Academic Letter Award, host numerous CHSAA Music and Speech events, while the school’s baseball, wrestling and girls’ basketball teams won 10 state titles among them. He was active on the state and national scene through CASE and NASSP.

Don Kimble (Limon HS): A music teacher who established one of the finest music programs, the late Don Kimble taught music for the Badgers for 29 years after one year at Flagler.

His bands received 26 first division ratings in state large group festivals, both in performance and sight-reading. The marching band also won state recognition in 1977 for its field performances.

Kimble directed four different bands at Limon, the fourth-grade band, fifth-grade beginning band, the Cadet Band (6, 7 & 8 graders) and the Senior High School Band. He taught Music Appreciation and took his pep bands to many out-of-town athletic contests. He was also assigned three choirs to conduct.

Kimble was a master at balancing the demands for his students between athletics and his music programs.

Brian Richmond (Fort Collins): One of the state’s top gymnastics coaches and judge, Richmond coached high school for 17 years, but has been a high school judge since 1971.

He coached gymnastics at four high schools – Jefferson, Poudre, Fort Collins and Thompson Valley – with the PHS team winning the 1984 title and runners up in 1985.

A former CSU gymnast and coach, Richmond became one of the top judges in the state, as well as one the national and international scene. He judged 20 CHSAA boys’ state meets and has been a mainstay with the girls’ state meet, having worked 35 of those. He has judged on the national and international stage.

He was inducted in the National Gymnastics Judges Association Hall of Fame in 2011.

Ken Shaw (Merino, Yuma, Sterling, Rocky Mountain, Smoky Hill, Regis Jesuit HS): One of the state’s legendary athletes who become one of Colorado’s top prep basketball coaches, Shaw guided his Merino team to a pair of state tiles, while going undefeated.

He was a prolific high school athlete at Merino, and held the career scoring record when his career was over. That mark has since been broken, but Shaw’s name still dots the basketball record book as a player. Additionally, Shaw was a standout football player, and has his name in that sport’s record book.

As a coach, his teams have won more than 710 games and he guided Regis to three straight 5A championships. His teams also won titles two other times, at Yuma and Sterling.

His teams have a record 29 the state tournament appearances.

Joe Silva (Fruita Monument HS): A Bronze Star Recipient in Vietnam, Silva was a three-time state wrestling champion for Fruita Monument and compiled a 58-0-2 mark in his career.

In 12 state matches, opponents scored just 6 points on him. He also participated in football and baseball.

He is a former District 51 Teacher of the Year and taught 29 years at Fruita Middle School. During that time, he, along with 2016 inductee Ray Coca and others broadcast the Western Slope State Championship matches on radio and television.

From 1963-65, Fruita enjoyed much success in wrestling, baseball and football. The constant on these teams was Silva. The school won two wrestling team titles and the football team was state runner up twice and baseball once over the period.

Kent Smith (Boulder, Ponderosa, Aurora Central, Highlands Ranch, La Veta, Alamosa): Having just retired after 53 years of coaching, Smith is one of the state’s top coaches, regardless of sport. And, he is noted for his integrity and ability to build better people through activities.

He has been the head boys’ basketball coach at Boulder and Ponderosa, the head cross country coach at Ponderosa and Highlands Ranch, as well as the head boys’ soccer coach at Aurora Central. Additionally, he served as head girls’ basketball coach at La Veta and Alamosa.

His teams have won state titles in basketball (twice at Boulder) and cross country (six times at Highlands Ranch). He runs a dog and horse rescue ranch near Walsenburg.

LAKEWOOD — It was nearly five hours of non-stop music Sept. 19 at Jeffco Stadium.

Fifteen high school bands from across Jeffco took part in the annual Jeffco Marching Band Invitational. Lakewood (5A), Bear Creek (4A), Conifer (3A) and D’Evelyn (2A) took first in their respective classifications.

Pomona High School will host its annual Pomona Band Festival, one of the largest band competitions in the state, on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada.

Photos from the 2017 music festivals at events around the state this spring.

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A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights, interviews and schedules with Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist for Athletics & Activities Dennis Pleuss. This month’s edition features softball, boys soccer, football, the Pomona Marching Festival and Jeffco League cross country championships.