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Imagine that!
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by Justin Acker
The program used to be 50 sixth graders packed into a small elementary stage. Now it has blossomed into an award-winning, 500-student orchestra program at Allen ISD.
"I remember the first year we had orchestra in the elementary school," recalled Mary Clark, assistant superintendent for curriculum and former Vaughan Elementary principal. "I was fortunate enough to have my office serve as a practice room because we were short on space."
In 1997, these students began the Allen ISD Orchestra Program. As the students’ grade level progressed, so did the program.
By 2002, the 30-member Allen High School orchestra began performing at their first concerts and festivals and earning their first "sweepstakes" UIL award.
In the next four years, the high school orchestra program grew to 140 students and placed in the finals of the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition in 2004 and 2006. In the 2006-2007 school year, Allen ISD had 250 orchestra students enrolled in grades 9-12.
The growth and commitment of the district’s orchestra students and faculty led to an amazing accomplish¬ment this summer.
In August, it was announced that the Allen High School Full Orchestra—70 string students and 35 wind and percussion students—placed third overall in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honor Full Orchestra state competition, the highest TMEA state placement since beginning varsity-level competition in 2002.
"Six years ago is the first time we had a full orchestra," acknowledged Anthony Gibson, AHS director of performing arts. "It’s pretty amazing to have that level of success so quickly against our competition. The orchestras in our state are incredible. I was at the recording session this summer and heard the groups perform and they were all fantastic. We’re in good company in our state and it’s a great honor to be in third."
Each year orchestras from around the state submit their best recordings on compact disc to TMEA for judging. The first round of voting was conducted in June narrowing the submissions from around 25 down to 6. The final six were sorted in late July with the results placing AHS third in the state.
AHS Orchestra Director David DeVoto submitted the recording of AHS Orchestra’s March UIL performance to the TMEA state competition committee.
The compositions on the sub¬mission were: "Carmen Suite No. 1" by Bizet, "Jupiter" from the Planets by Holst and "Dixie’s Land" from the Civil War Suite by David Kneupper.
"This is a neat recognition for our program and the work that’s been done over the last seven years," acknowledged Anthony Gibson, AHS director of performing arts. "It’s a great accomplishment for those kids as well as David DeVoto and the staff. We’ve been on the state level of recognition, but to come in third place is big."
Last year, the AHS Orchestra finished sixth overall at state. The orchestra will be recognized at the annual TMEA Convention in San Antonio in February 2008.
"It’s a great feeling because of the good exposure for the school district and the fine arts world," said David DeVoto, AHS orchestra director. "It’s not just the orchestra; it’s the choir, band and all of the programs. To make the top three and to be recognized at the annual conference proves that Allen ISD is strong in fine arts."
In addition to competition success, the AHS Orchestra played at the 60th Annual Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago this past December.
The Midwest Clinic is a national showcase of the best orchestras in the world. The process of acceptance is similar to that of the TMEA state competition in that a compact disc must be submitted for review.
Gibson said he anticipates the orchestra program to continue to grow and be successful, but remains dedicated to the overall goal of educating students the best way possible.
Today, there is a full arrangement of orchestra programs at Allen ISD that include an elementary orchestra, three middle school orchestra programs with three orchestras each, a freshman center orchestra program with a full orchestra and a string orchestra, and the high school with two full orchestras.
"We’ll continue to manage growth and try to make it as efficient for kids as possible," added Gibson. "We are the envy of all Texas for our staff. We have the dream team of all orchestra directors. That’s a good place to start and when you combine that with great kids and our great supportive community, it’s a recipe for success in every way." |
