11/09/09
****    Congrats AHSO, You Have Set Another All-State Record     ****

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.

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!

Here is how the schools performed:

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

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!