Congratulations to the wonderful AHSO students who are mentioned on this
page.
We salute their achievements in orchestra.
If you have an item you would
like to add, please contact Ms. Vandiver and she will get the information posted.
04/16/13
Dear Parents and Students,
This is UIL week for AHSO String Orchestras. During this week, every orchestra at AHSO will perform prepared pieces for a panel of three judges. Here is where the weeks of rehearsal will be put to the test. Afterward, they will face another daunting panel of three judges for the sight reading exercise. Here they are given a piece of music that they and Ms. Vandiver and Mr. Law have never seen or performed. After a few moments review, they then perform this piece. They are judged on how well they perform unfamiliar music and how well they pay attention to the director as they are led. Thrilling and nerve wracking!
Congratulations are in order for the combined orchestra of Beginner and Sinfonia. They received an excellent rating in both concert and sight reading. It is amazing how far some of these students have come this year. You are an amazing group.
Congratulations also to Chamber Orchestra. This group received a Superior rating in both concert and sight reading. They received a 1 rating from all six judges and so are awarded Sweepstakes. Quite an accomplishment and all of AHS is very proud of you!
Wednesday will be performances by Philharmonic and Symphony, Thursday will be Camerata.
It is sure to be a week of honor for AHSO. Watch for another post tomorrow.
04/02/13
Dear Parents and Students,
The AHS Full Orchestra has received an invitation to perform
at the Midwest Clinic in December 2013! This prestigious honor
was based on the submission of a recording of our performance
and we were selected from all the entries nationwide.
What is Midwest Clinic? This is an annual conference of music
educators from all over the United States and beyond. They flock
to this conference to hear all the latest compositions and
arrangements from the most important composers. Music history is
made here. A select few groups (meaning us!) are invited to
perform in order to give the full experience to these decision
makers. The premier list of vendors are also present to offer
the latest in equipment, music, recordings, college
opportunities - anything you could possibly want musically.
See HERE for more
conference info.
What does this mean for AHSO musicians? A chance to travel to
Chicago and experience one of the most exciting cities in the
Midwest and to perform for a very appreciative audience that can
bring even more opportunity our way. AHS was there 5 years
ago and we had a wonderful time! Too early to tell what
events we will do but know that the performance is only one
of the highlights.
For now, just know that once again AHS has won an honor that only a few receive. Congratulations to all the hardworking performers and their wonderful, supportive families.
Congratulations to the nine AHSO Performers who made
All-State Orchestra! You have worked very hard to earn this
achievement and you exemplify all that AHSO aspires to be. These
students will perform at the Texas Music Educators Association
annual conference in San Antonio Texas in February of
2013. You make us proud!
| Blake Awodu | 2013 Symphony | Bass |
| Roshan Kulangara | 2013 String Orchestra | Bass |
| Federico Venturi | 2013 Philharmonic | Bass |
| Claire Wood | 2013 Symphony | Violin |
| Elaine Wood | 2013 Philharmonic | Cello |
| Travis Yeh | 2013 Symphony | Violin |
| Jonathan Yeung | 2013 Philharmonic | Violin |
| John Yu | 2013 Philharmonic | Cello |
| Kevin Zhang | 2013 Philharmonic | Cello |
11/11/12
See
our notice in Sugar Land Magazine! http://www.sugarlandmagazine.com/blog/holiday-concert-by-ahs-orchestra
10/27/12
Dear Parents and Students,
24
AHSO Students placed in the Area Orchestra and were allowed to
tape for All-State competition.
Congratulations to all! Here is how our performers placed.
Violin
Russell Kan
Rohan Kondetimmanahalli
Claire Wood
Brittany Xiao
Travis Yeh
Jonathan Yeung
Viola
Mai Ito
Krishna Patel
Patrick Pham
Eric Yeung
Cello
Henry Chou
Elaine Wood
Lawrence Wu
John Yu
Kevin Zhang
Bass
Blake Awodu
Marshal
Connell
Roshan
Kulungara
Mohammad
Marwan Madi
Toby
Tso
Federico
Venturi
Amy
Williams
Stephen
Wilson
Piano
Kruti Mehta
10/13/12
Dear Parents and Students,
37 AHSO Students placed in the Region Orchestra. Here are how our
performers placed.
Congratulations!
|
Symphony Violin
I 3.
Travis Yeh 4.
Claire Wood 9.
Jonathan Yeung Violin
II
5. Brittany Xiao
10. Stephanie You
12. Russell Kan
14. Jenny Ren
15. Jessica Chen
Viola
1. May Sumner
5
. Mai Ito
10. Eric Yeung Cello 1.
Elaine Wood 4.
John Yu 7.
Kevin Zhang 10.
Henry Chou 12.
Lawrence Wu Bass 3.
Roshan Kulungara 4.
Blake Awodu 5.
Mohammad Marwan Ma
|
Philharmonic
Violin I 10.
Adelina Leong 14.
Rohan Kondetimmanahalli Violin
II 6.
Noah Lee 7.
Jessica Lin 12.
Jonathan Tieh 14.
Casey Luong 16.
Joseph Bess Viola 3.
Patrick Pham 8.
Christine Yu 9.
Thomas Brooks 10.
Quyn Westfall
4.
Marshal Connell 5.
Stephen Wilson 6.
Toby Tso Harp
|
04/19/12
Dear Parents and Students,
Symphony and Philharmonic did their UIL performances today
and true to our tradition, both groups made 6 1's from the
6 judges. No other high school took 4 groups and made
sweepstakes with each and every one of them. AHSO rocks!
04/18/12
Dear Parents and Students,
Our Chamber Orchestra performed today at the UIL Concert and
Sight Reading Contest and they made Sweepstakes also! They had 6
straight 1's from the judges and Ms. Vandiver was beaming with
pride as she dictated this email.
Three other items:
A huge thanks goes out to those parents who were able to
adjust their schedules and attend the performance today. It is
not easy to makes these things in the middle of a work day but
it is a wonderfully received symbol of your support when you are
able to come. It means a lot.
And a clarification about yesterday - our group was the only High
School group in FBISD to achieve sweepstakes. I didn't mean
to leave out those hardworking middle school groups who also
achieved this honor. Congratulations to them as well.
Philharmonic and Symphony both perform tomorrow, times are
posted to the charms calendar.
04/17/12
Dear Parents and Students,
As you all know, this is UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest
week for AHSO and the combined group of Beginners and Sinfonia
performed today for the panel of judges. Their performance
shined! They were the only group in FBISD today to make
sweepstakes.
Everyone, please be sure to congratulate them as you see them
at school and know that they have set the bar very high.
We are so proud of you!
03/01/12
Dear Parents and Students,
As you know, Full Orchestra Competed in UIL Concert and Sight
Reading yesterday and they have done AHS Proud!! Congratulations
to Ms. Vandiver, Mr. Winson and all the marvelous performers
from band and orchestra.
What is Sweepstakes? Good question. There are a total of 6
judges who listen to the performances - three for concert and
three for sight reading. You can get a 1 or superior rating by
achieving a 1 rating from two of the three judges in each
category. But AHSO not only got superior ratings, they received
6 of them - a 1 from every judge. That is called Sweepstakes and
we are very proud of that accomplishment.
Good Work!!!
02/20/12
Dear Parents and Students,
Congratulations!!! AHSO has once again set an all time AHSO record by receiving a total of 198 first division medals - 97 solo, 101 ensemble. And this was in spite of the weather. You are marvelous!
Also, 17 solos and 24 ensembles were certified and these acheivers will be eligible for all-state solo and ensemble in June.
Terrific work to all of you! Performers, Directors, accompanists, volunteers. This was truly a team effort!
11/13/11
Dear Parents and Students,
Congratulations to the talented performers of AHSO who competed and placed in the All-State orchestra. It is quite an accomplishment and quite an honor. You have made AHS, AHSO and FBISD very proud.
Violin
6 Claire Wood, Symphony
42 Travis Yeh, Philharmonic
44 Jonathan Yeung, Philharmonic
Viola
4 Anne Wells, Symphony
40 Mai Ito, String
Cello
12 Jane Lee, Symphony
17 Kevin Zhang, Philharmonic
Bass
16 Blake Awodu. Philharmonic
37 Ankit Shah, Bands
40 Federico Venturi, Bands
Great Job!!!
11/12/11
Dear Parents and Students,
15 AHSO Students will advance into Round 2 of All-State
Judging. They are listed alphabetically below.
Congratulations and Best Wishes for Round 2!
Violin
Russell Kan
Richard Liu
Claire Wood
Travis Yeh
Jonathan Yeung
Viola
Mai Ito
May Sumner
Anne Wells
Cello
Jane Lee
Lawerence Wu
Kevin Zhang
Bass
Blake Awodu
Marshal Connell
Ankit Shah
Federico Venturi
|
ROUND 1 |
Violin |
Viola |
Cello |
Bass |
Piano |
Harp |
Total |
|
AHS |
5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | TBD | 0 | 15 |
|
CHS |
6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | TBD | TBD | 9 |
|
DHS |
5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | TBD | TBD | 8 |
|
THS |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
|
TOTAL |
18 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
10/29/11
Dear Parents and Students,
AHSO brings home top honors in Area Orchestra
Auditions with the highest number of placements in all of FBISD
- a total of 32. Here are how our
performers placed. These students recorded etudes and excerpts
for submission to All-Sate judging. Congratulations!
| Violin 1 Claire Wood 2 Travis Yeh 3 Jonathan Yeung 12 Richard Liu 16 Russell Kan 18 Adelina Leong 21 Rohan Kondetimmanahalli 22 William Yang 23 Jessica Lin Viola 2 May Sumner 3 Anne Wells 4 Thomas Brooks 5 Patrick Pham 7 Mai Ito 10 Christine Yu 13 Eric Yeung 15 Abhi Rangarajan |
Cello 1 Kevin Zhang 2 Jane Lee 6 John Yu 9 Lawerence Wu 10 Kevin Torrefiel 11 Alistair Longshaw 14 Alyssa Suddhi 15 Janna Tulabot Bass (alphabetical, no playoff required) Blake Awodu Marshal Connell Roshan Kulangara Ankit Shah Federico Venturi Amy Williams Piano 2 Amy Chen |
Here are how all FBISD Schools fared:
|
|
Violin |
Viola |
Cello |
Bass |
Piano |
Harp |
Total |
|
AHS |
9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 32 |
|
CHS |
7 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
|
DHS |
6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
|
EHS |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
KHS |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
|
THS |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
|
TOTAL |
24 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 72 |
10/01/11
Dear Parents and Students,
Once again AHSO brings home top honors in Region Orchestra
Auditions with the highest number of placements in all of FBISD
- a total of 49 with 5 alternates. Here are how our
performers placed. The next e-mail will have all the detail for
all of FBISD. Congratulations!
|
Symphony 8 Claire Wood 9 Richard Liu 10 Russell Kan 12 Travis Yeh 14 Jonathan Yeung Violin II 23 Jenny Ren 24 Jessica Chen 31 Samuel Lee Viola 1 Anne Wells 3 May Sumner 7 Mai Ito 8 Eric Yeung Cello 1 Jane Lee 2 Kevin Zhang 6 Lawerence Wu 7 John Yu 10 Kevin Torrefiel 12 Henry Chou Bass 1 Blake Awodu 2 Ankit Shah 4 Amy Williams 8 Marshal Connell
|
Philharmonic 2 Jessica Lin 4 Rohan Kondetimmanahalli 5 William Yang 8 Casey Luong 9 Aditya Srivatsan 13 Megan Jiao Violin II 17 Joseph Bess 20 Alex Luong 22 Elise Palacios 25 Leepi Mehta 28 Kruti Mehta 32 Alice Ma Alt Anmol Gupta Viola 1 Thomas Brooks 2 Patrick Pham 3 Christine Yu 4 Abhi Rangarajan 12 Alex Pankiewicz Alt Jacob Carda Cello 4 Alyssa Suddhi 5 Janna Tulabot Bass 1 Federico Venturi 2 Roshan Kulangara 5 Stephen Wilson 6 Toby Tso 7 Raghav Singh Alt Amaar Dawani Alt Bobby Nguyen Piano 1 Amy Chen Harp 2 Sydney Zucker Alt Micaela May Ortega
|
Here are how all FBISD Schools fared:
|
Symphony |
Violin
I |
Violin
II |
Viola |
Cello |
Bass |
Piano |
Harp |
|
Total |
|
AHS |
5 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
22 |
|
CHS |
7 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
21 |
|
DHS |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
18 |
|
EHS |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
KHS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
RPHS |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
THS |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philharmonic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AHS |
7 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
27 |
|
CHS |
2 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
15 |
|
DHS |
6 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
18 |
|
EHS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
KHS |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
5 |
|
RPHS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
THS |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AHS |
12 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
|
49 |
|
CHS |
9 |
13 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
36 |
|
DHS |
9 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
36 |
|
EHS |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
KHS |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
6 |
|
RPHS |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
THS |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
7 |
**** Travis Yeh is Australia
Bound! ****
Dear Parents and Students,
Congratulations are in order for one of our AHSO performers – Travis Yeh.
Here is the web page from which you can find out all about the competition and
this year’s winners:
http://www.youtube.com/symphony
Here is the maestro himself expressing his feelings about being selected:
http://www.youtube.com/travisyay23
Here is the ABC Channel 13 clip on the subject:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=7894718
TThe
YouTube Symphony Orchestra is a global endeavor devoted to sharing the love of
music and celebrating humanity's vast creative diversity. Musicians submitted
audition videos and were then selected to perform in the orchestra will be
invited to Sydney, Australia in March, 2011 where they will work with
world-renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and receive coaching by leading
musicians from the world's top orchestras. It was a competitive audition with
selections based on international popular votes and a professional selection
committee.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you prepare for this wonderful opportunity.
10/02/10
****
Region Results – Another Record!
****
Congratulations are in order to all of AHSO for the
tremendous turnout and results of today’s region
audition competition. AHSO has set yet another record with
52 total performers accepted into the 2010 Region
Orchestra. Your hard work and perseverance have really
paid off. See the results in your e-mail or at Charms
events. HERE
A heartfelt thanks goes out to Ms. Vandiver for her wonderful leadership. Thanks to all the volunteers, both student and parent, who supported these performers with their time, effort, donations and caring.
Here is how it stacked up:
| Instrument | Symphony | Philharmonic | Total |
| Violin | 13 | 10 | 23 |
| Viola | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| Cello | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Bass | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Piano | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | 22 | 52 |
09/16/10
Congratulations to AHSO for being the first orchestra EVER to perform at an Astros Baseball game!
11/09/09
**** Congrats AHSO, You Have
Set Another All-State Record
Congratulations to the 14 AHSO Performers who placed in All-State Orchestras. This is a new record for AHSO and a job very well done!
Violins
Eddie Chen
Khang Huynh
Travis Yeh
Joy Le
Jonathan Yeung
Danny Johnson
Viola
Eddie Sumner
Cello
Jane Lee
Jennifer Lin
Michael Perng
Bass
Adrian Tabula
Alex Browne
Ankit Shah
Piano
Amy Chen
10/31/09
Congratulations to the 33 AHS Orchestra
Students who made Area and taped for All-State!
Thank you for all your hard work!
Placement is not available and students are listed
alphabetically by instrument.
Once again, AHSO placed more students in Area than any other
FBISD orchestra.
|
Instrument |
First |
Last |
| Violin | Edward | Chen |
| Violin | Katherine | Coleman |
| Violin | Kevin | Han |
| Violin | Khang | Huynh |
| Violin | Daniel | Johnson |
| Violin | Joy | Le |
| Violin | Travis | Yeh |
| Violin | Jonathan | Yeung |
| Viola | Jacob | Carda |
| Viola | Brandice | Hulsey |
| Viola | Mai | Ito |
| Viola | Sherry | Lai |
| Viola | Alex | Pankiewicz |
| Viola | Patrick | Pham |
| Viola | Abhi | Rangarajan |
| Viola | Edward | Sumner |
| Viola | May | Sumner |
| Viola | Anne | Wells |
| Cello | Jane | Lee |
| Cello | Jennifer | Lin |
| Cello | Michael | Perng |
| Cello | Kevin | Torrefiel |
| Cello | Michael | Tsang |
| Cello | April | Wang |
| Cello | Lawrence | Wu |
| Cello | John | Yu |
| Bass | Alexander | Browne |
| Bass | Marshal | Connell |
| Bass | Don | Nguyen |
| Bass | Taylor | Payne |
| Bass | Ankit | Shah |
| Bass | Adrian | Tabula |
| Piano | Amy | Chen |
10/17/09
Congratulations to the 50 AHS Orchestra
Students who made Region today in audition!
Thank you for all your hard work, it really paid off!
| Instrument | Chair | Orchestra | First | Last | |
| Bass | 1 | Symphony | Adrian | Tabula | |
| Bass | 2 | Symphony | Alexander | Browne | |
| Bass | 3 | Symphony | Ankit | Shah | |
| Bass | 5 | Symphony | Don | Nguyen | |
| Bass | 6 | Symphony | Mosum | Shah | |
| Bass | 7 | Philharmonic | Taylor | Payne | |
| Bass | 8 | Philharmonic | Marshal | Connell | |
| Piano | 2 | Amy | Chen | ||
| Viola | 1 | Symphony | Mai | Ito | |
| Viola | 2 | Symphony | Edward | Sumner | |
| Viola | 4 | Symphony | Anne | Wells | |
| Viola | 6 | Symphony | Alex | Pankiewicz | |
| Viola | 7 | Symphony | May | Sumner | |
| Viola | 10 | Symphony | Sherry | Lai | |
| Viola | 13 | Philharmonic | Jacob | Carda | |
| Viola | 15 | Philharmonic | Nikhil | Jaiswal | |
| Viola | 16 | Philharmonic | Patrick | Pham | |
| Viola | 17 | Philharmonic | Christine | Yu | |
| Viola | 18 | Philharmonic | Tiffany | Tso | |
| Viola | 21 | Philharmonic | Maryam | Ghaffar | |
| Viola | 24 | Philharmonic | Nevin | Shah | |
| Cello | 1 | Symphony | Jennifer | Lin | |
| Cello | 4 | Symphony | Jane | Lee | |
| Cello | 8 | Symphony | John | Yu | |
| Cello | 9 | Symphony | Lawrence | Wu | |
| Cello | 11 | Symphony | Kevin | Torrefiel | |
| Cello | 15 | Philharmonic | Michael | Perng | |
| Cello | 22 | Philharmonic | Michael | Tsang | |
| Violin | 4 | Symphony | First Violin | Daniel | Johnson |
| Violin | 5 | Symphony | First Violin | Joy | Le |
| Violin | 11 | Symphony | First Violin | Khang | Huynh |
| Violin | 13 | Symphony | First Violin | Travis | Yeh |
| Violin | 15 | Symphony | First Violin | Kevin | Han |
| Violin | 16 | Symphony | First Violin | Jonathan | Yeung |
| Violin | 17 | Symphony | Second Violin | Edward | Chen |
| Violin | 26 | Symphony | Second Violin | Katherine | Coleman |
| Violin | 31 | Symphony | Second Violin | Samuel | Lee |
| Violin | 36 | Philharmonic | First Violin | Richard | Liu |
| Violin | 37 | Philharmonic | First Violin | Erin | Yeung |
| Violin | 38 | Philharmonic | First Violin | William | Yang |
| Violin | 42 | Philharmonic | First Violin | Siri | Kore |
| Violin | 43 | Philharmonic | First Violin | Adelina | Leong |
| Violin | 47 | Philharmonic | First Violin | Aditya | Srivatsan |
| Violin | 49 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Jessica | Lin |
| Violin | 51 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Kruti | Mehta |
| Violin | 53 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Roshni | Thomas |
| Violin | 57 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Elise | Palacios |
| Violin | 61 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Kelvin | Pang |
| Violin | 62 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Mehek | Virani |
| Violin | 63 | Philharmonic | Second Violin | Jonathan | Tieh |
Here is how the schools performed:
| Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass | Piano | Harp | Total | |
| Austin | 22 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 50 |
| Clements | 26 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 47 |
| Dulles | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
| Elkins | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Kempner | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Travis | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 64 | 24 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 132 |
Choice Music Events is the performance division of The Foundation for Music Education. It is dedicated to providing all band, choir, and orchestra students positive, educational, and enriching performance opportunities while enhancing the music education profession. Choice Music Events focuses not only on developing and offering exciting new performance events, but also with our Board of Trustees, strives to maintain the standard for quality, educationally sound concert and festival events for students.
Congratulations are also in order for Ann Victor and Sartartia Middle school who received the National Winner for Middle School String Orchestra.
Thanks!
05/05/08
04/27/08
04/02/08
Congratulations to Jessica Zhu, Class of 2005!
Jessica has won
the Music Teachers National Association young artist piano
competition National Finals this past Monday (March 31st) in
Denver, Colorado. As the national winner, She was awarded a
size M Steinway & Sons grand piano and will be flown to
New York City to pick it out at their factory.
Jessica was also selected as the winner of the San
Antonio Tuesday Musical Club competition which gave her a
prize of $4000.00. When asked what she will do with the cash,
Jessica says she is saving for grad school. Way to go Jessica!
04/01/08
AHSO FULL ORCHESTRA HEADED TO MIDWEST!!!
  |
Congratulations to Ms. Vandiver, Mr. Winson and AHS Symphony Full Orchestra on their magnificent performance at Williams Trace Baptist Church on Friday, March 14, 2007. This recorded session was submitted for review to the Midwest Clinic Committee and has secured an invitation for AHSO to travel to Chicago in December of 2008 to perform. This is a prestigious invitation and can only be received once every five years. Thanks to conductors and performers for all your hard work and to parents and supporters who assisted. A special thanks to Elizabeth Myer and Teresa Lin for making video recordings of performances required with our submission.
01/25/08
Jessica is a junior at the University of Houston and is a Student of Nancy Weems.
01/02/08
Dear Parents and Students,
You are to be congratulated for the excellent performance at the Region 13 High School Orchestra Clinic and Concerts that occurred in December. Forty-one AHS Orchestra students represented AHS and FBISD in this effort. Mr. Stephen Heyde of Baylor, one of the guest clinicians, wrote a letter of glowing praise to Dr. Jenney, FBISD Superintendent of Schools. Click HERE for a pdf of the actual letter. Click HERE for a bio of Mr. Heyde.
He wrote:
December
16, 2007
Dear Dr. Jenney,
Over the weekend, I was privileged to serve as clinician for the Region 13 High School Orchestra at Dulles High School. With the possible exception of two students, I believe every instrumentalist in the ensemble was a Fort Bed students.
I was so impressed by the talent, intelligence, cooperation and work ethic of the students that I felt compelled to write to share my congratulations with you. Frankly, this was not a surprise as the excellence of the Fort Bend orchestra program is recognized throughout the state. As one who has conducted literally hundreds of high school festival orchestras during a thirty two plus year career in higher education, I can attest that the level of the assembled talent on the stage Saturday afternoon was superior to many All-State Orchestras I have conducted outside of Texas.
Knowing the unassailable data proving the exceptional correlation between music participation and academic success, I would be surprised if the orchestra students are not among the finest academicians in your program. I also would suspect they represent a healthy percentage of your student leadership as well.
In candor, orchestra programs across the country, with out the athletic connection that band programs enjoy, are under siege by misinformed and short sighted decision makers. Time and again I have seen orchestra teaching loads reduced and experienced string instructors replaced by generalists or non string teachers, with disastrous results. I firmly believe nothing is more important (or more economical) for developing exceptional schools and outstanding future citizens, then building a quality music program, not for the support of athletics, but for the many inherent benefits afforded to students.
Programs of exceptional quality, like yours in Fort Bend, only develop with perceptive and informed administrative support. Thank you for fighting the good fight in FBISD and for your advocacy on behalf of the students.
There is no question that your orchestra program is to be celebrated and treasured; it is a model for emulation by many districts in Texas and beyond. Congratulations to you and to your exceptional orchestra faculty. The superb preparation of the students, their focus, understanding, commitment and performance spoke volumes about the teaching and experiences they receive on a daily basis.
Best wishes for your continued success!
Cordially,
Stephen Heyde
Mary Franks Thompson Professor of Orchestra Studies
Conductor in Residence
Baylor University
Music Director, Conductor
Waco Symphony Orchestra
National President,
College Orchestra Directors Association
12/29/07
Congratulations
to Jessica Zhu, AHSO Alum of 2005, for winning the Steinway
Young Artists Piano Division in the Forum Music Teachers
National Association/ Texas Music Teachers Association
Performance Competition held at Sam Houston State University
in Huntsville, Texas in November 2007.
Click HERE
for the link to the Houston Chronicle On-line Article.
Click HERE for a pdf of the actual article.
This qualifies Jessica to compete in the next level, held in Dallas in mid-January, and perhaps a chance at the national competition to be held in Denver later in 2008. The national winner will receive a prize of a Steinway Grand Piano. Best of Luck, Jessica!
YOU ARE INVITED
Ms. Jessica Zhu is an alumni
(Class of 2005) of Austin High School Orchestra. She is an exceptional
pianist, a four year all-stater and a student of Mr. and Mrs. Weems. She
has many accomplishments including a solo performance with the Houston
Symphony. Come and enjoy Jessica's amazing talent and support one of our
gifted alumni.
Congratulations to Peter Schulte, Ray Myer and alum Andrew Vipond on their glowing write-up in the FortBend Lifestyles & Homes magazine. They make us proud!
Peter Schulte - Senior, Andrew Vipond - Class of '07 and Ray Myer -
Junior
Reprinted here with permission, the article states:
"Great Day Music" Featured at Rotary Installations
During the last month, the local classical
music group, Great Day Music, provided an elegant atmosphere of music for three
major Rotary Club functions in the area. On June 2, (2007) the trio of Andrew
Vipond, Peter Schulte and Ray Myer performed for the Installation Banquet of
Rotary District 5890 Governor, Jeff Tallas. The installation was held at the
Sugar Land Marriott, with over 250 guests in attendance. On June 27, the trio
performed for the Sugar Land Rotary Presidential Installation Banquet of Charlie
Myer at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land. The group finished its Rotary
tour on July 10 at the Richmond Rotary Club's installation of President Don
Dulin, held at Morton Street Gallery in Richmond.
All three of the featured artists and the other string
musicians of the music association are from the award-winning Austin High School
Symphony Orchestra. Andrew Vipond and Ray Myer are founding members of Great Day
Music, a faith-based and educational outreach association of youth and young
adults who desire to develop and share their musical talents with the community.
Peter Schulte, the third member of the trio, is active in the Houston Symphony
Young Virtuoso program.
Click here to page through the magazine and get the rest of
the story
http://www.fortbendlifestylesandhomes.com/
CONGRATULATIONS
DAVID PERNG
CO-President, AHSO
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER
Texas State Solo-Ensemble
String Solo Contest