Mountain Vista High School - Chamber Orchestra

Darren DeLaup holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of New Orleans, and a Masters of Music from the University of North Texas. He is in his 24th year as an educator and 16th year in the Douglas County School District. DeLaup  has been the Director of Instrumental Music at Mountain Vista High School since 2011, where he teaches two concert bands, a jazz ensemble, and two string orchestras during the school day. The Instrumental Music program at MVHS also includes a marching band, musical theater pit orchestra, and a full symphony orchestra.  The MVHS Chamber Orchestra has consistently received straight superior ratings at CHSAA Festivals, and has had many students selected for the Colorado All State Orchestra every year. 

As a professional musician DeLaup has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and held the position of Principal Tubist with the Monterrey Symphony Orchestra(Orquesta Sinfónica de UANL) in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He currently performs as principal tubist with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Colorado Wind Ensemble among many other professional groups. DeLaup has also performed as a featured soloist with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra.  He can  also be heard on  numerous recordings with the UNT Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and the NOVA Ensemble. These recordings include the record’s Holsinger series, and Equilibrium Records.

DeLaup was awarded with the Outstanding Educator of the Year award for  Plaquemines Parish Schools, Louisiana in 2004.  He has also been nominated six  years in a row for the DCSD Apple Award, and in 2011 he was awarded with the Colorado Honor Band Association Bill Thompson Band Director of the Year award. DeLaup is a member of NAfME, CMEA, American String Teachers Association, Colorado Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity.