When it comes to public school music programs, we usually think of marching bands and choirs. However, United Independent School District has successful orchestra programs at United Middle School and Alexander High School.
Alexander High School’s orchestra, under the direction of Raymundo Peña, has been keeping busy this year. In October, 28 students advanced to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 14 Orchestra. This is a record number of students, with the second highest number of students from any school being only 11. The Bulldog Orchestra broke another record at UIL Solo and Ensemble this year with 30 students advancing to UIL State, where they will compete on May 27th at the University of Texas at Austin. The previous record was 20 students. At the Islander Orchestra Festival held in Corpus Christi, the group earned straight 1st division ratings, which are the highest scores attainable.
United Middle School was the first UISD school to have an orchestra program. The school’s varsity and non-varsity groups, under the direction of Jacqueline Peña, have performed consistently at the highest level in UIL Sweepstakes every year. The UMS Chamber Ensemble recently performed for the District’s Central Office staff at a special breakfast held at the UISD Boardroom.
Music education benefits students by helping them develop language and reasoning skills, attain a better mastery of memorization, and develop a sense of craftsmanship that can improve their work. At the middle school level, orchestra students learn proper care and handling of their instruments, demonstrate a basic understanding of musical phrase structure, learn how to read music and apply good sight-reading skills, develop the ability to count and perform basic rhythm structures and basic meter signatures at various tempos, as well as learn to tune their instruments to a given pitch and apply proper playing technique. High school students learn to exhibit a higher mastery of these skills and the discipline they entail.
Alexander High School Orchestra members after their performance in Corpus Christi
The United Middle School Chamber Ensemble with their Director Jacqueline Peña (far left) and UISD Superintendent of Schools David H. Gonzalez (far right)
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