The Des Moines Civic Center became a classroom for Hoover band director Ryan Rowley and ten of his brass musicians on Friday. They had the opportunity to take a master class from the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, an award-winning group of musicians who combine jazz, funk and hip-hop to take the classic brass ensemble in a new direction. After some individual and small group work, the musicians – professionals and students alike – took to the stage to jam on one of the group’s songs. Click the headline to see more.

Kathie Danielson, the director of high schools at Des Moines Public Schools, will end her career where it began: Hoover High School. Danielson takes over as interim principal at Hoover for the 2017-18 school year as our principal Cynthia Flesch prepares to retire later this spring. Click the headline to read more about two outstanding DMPS educators.