Published On: January 14th, 2020By

Aldine ISD Orff Ensemble Selected to Perform at TMEA Convention

The Aldine ISD Orff Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) annual convention in San Antonio.

The ensemble includes students in Grades 3-5 from 40 schools across the district. The group is directed by Nickole Burr (Thompson Elementary), with the assistance of Sarah Prather (Caraway Elementary), Alex Perez (Orange Grove Elementary), and Kirsten Kurtz (Worsham Elementary). The ensemble is scheduled to perform at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, in the Hemisfair Ballroom at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. 

This is a first for the group. They are one of only two elementary instrumental groups from across the state chosen to perform at TMEA’s Centennial Convention. When applying for the opportunity the group was required to submit a video of one of their performances from the previous school year. From those videos, only eight elementary ensemble groups were selected to perform. 

Each Fall, students have an opportunity to audition for the Orff Ensemble at their campus. The 35 to 40 students chosen will rehearse each Monday evening. 

“We have an amazing community and are indebted to the parents and families, because they are just as committed to the success of our ensemble,” Burr said. “Without their dedication our young musicians would not make it to rehearsals.”

In addition to district performances, the percussion group has performed at the Children’s Music Festival of Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast Orff Association Festival. 
 
According to Burr, her goal is to continue developing each individual musician while furthering the success of the ensemble. Burr and her Assistant Directors work to ensure the students work as a team and use the ensemble to create a love and appreciation of the arts.
“These young musicians have shown me just how dedicated and talented they are. It says a lot about their character and commitment when a group of students from across the district can come together to learn and perform high-quality music at the elementary level. I am immensely proud of how each student rose to the challenge.” 
If you would like to catch a preview of the Orff Ensemble’s TMEA performance, they will be hosting a Pre-TMEA concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 27, at M.O.Campbell Educational Center, 1865 Aldine Bender Rd, in the theater. 

About the Author: Valonia Walker, APR

Senior Communications Specialist