Music was heard when eight students from Lone Star College-Montgomery were selected to participate in the Texas Community College All-State Ensemble at the Texas Music Educators Association’s annual convention earlier this month in San Antonio.

The choir participants are students Anthony Andrade, Stephen Beedee, Elvyn Guevara, Dalton Melear, Ashley Piatowski, and Stephany Rodarte, all of who are members of the LSC-Montgomery’s Chamber Singers.

The band participants are students Tyler Simon and Forrest Thiel, both members of the LSC-Montgomery Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble.

Under the direction of Dr. Lynne Gackle, associate professor of ensembles and associate director of choral activities at Baylor University, and Dr. Sarah McKoin, a professor from Texas Tech University’s School of Music, the students received valuable insight in the workshops and gave remarkable performances for attendees at the convention.

“Our students benefitted greatly from these amazing university professors,” said Kris Chapman, director of instrumental music at LSC-Montgomery. “We’re very proud of these students and their commitment to music.”

Additionally, band student Tyler Simon was recognized as the 2012 Solo Concerto Competition winner. Simon worked one-on-one with McKoin and performed Philip Sparke’s Fantasy for Euphonium and Symphonic Band as a soloist with the honor band. Dr. Kevin Wass, tuba-euphonium professor at Texas Tech University, was in attendance for Simon’s performance.   

“Even though I was very nervous about performing with the band, Dr. McKoin made me feel at home and comfortable,” said Simon, who will study privately with Wass when he transfers to Texas Tech this fall. “I learned so much about the relationship between soloist and accompanist. Being the soloist with this band is an experience I will remember for a lifetime.”

The LSC-Montgomery music department prepares students for careers in music through an intensive two-year field of study in theory, ear training, music history, keyboard skills and private performance lessons. After completing the field of study curriculum at LSC-Montgomery, music majors can transfer credit to any four-year Texas college or university to complete the bachelor's degree in music. In addition, the music department offers non-major courses such as Music Appreciation, Electronic Music, American Music, and Popular Song Writing, with selected courses available via continuing education.

Led by noted faculty, students in the choirs, bands, and string ensemble bring a full season of concerts and recitals in a broad range of styles to the surrounding community.

For a list of the upcoming concert dates or for more information about the music department at LSC-Montgomery, visit www.LoneStar.edu/music-montgomery.

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

With 75,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball, and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.