The Kinder HSPVA Vocal Music Department continued to build on its strong classical music foundation and offered new opportunities for students in the inaugural Vocal Jazz Studio, as well as Golden Age and Contemporary Musical Theatre Studios. Strategic curriculum expansion ensures that wherever they pursue singing after HSPVA, students will be equipped with a strong foundation in many techniques and styles.
The Vocal Music Department’s course offerings and repertoire continue to evolve because of your gifts to HSPVA Friends. You fund the adjunct faculty, accompanists, guest artists, and concert logistics that keep Kinder HSPVA singers at the top of their field.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS YOU MADE POSSIBLE THIS YEAR WITH YOUR GIFTS:
- Musical theatre and classical voice workshops with Sharon Gross, Catherine McDaniel, and Jan McDaniel from Oklahoma City University
- Jazz workshops with Stephanie Blue (Instrumental ’81), Alexandria DeWalt (Instrumental ’17), Chris Walker (Instrumental ’86), and Tommy Ward
- The piano lab was expanded for the second year in a row to provide essential piano skills to even more students
- Pop Show choreography and Dancing for Singers with Brooke Barnes-Meeks (Dance ’97)
- Acting classes with Julia Krohn (Theatre ’00) and Chelsea McCurdy
- Voice instruction with soprano Cassi Gardner
- Collaborative pianists for sight reading rehearsals and evaluations, senior recitals, and concerts
- Sheet music (A LOT of sheet music!) for all ensembles
- Annual subscription to Noteflight software for music theory courses
- The 11th and 12th grade team-building trip to Camp Cho-Yeh in Livingston, Texas
YOUR IMPACT IS CLEAR FROM THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENT SUCCESSES:
- The national YoungArts competition recognized Sabine Lesniewicz ’25 and Sarah Vanlandingham ’26 for Classical Voice, Ogechi Nwachukwu ’26 for Musical Theatre, and Starla Sanchez ’25 for Singer-Songwriter.
- 13 students sang with the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 23 Choir. These students advanced to Pre-Area, the penultimate round of the Texas All-State Choir auditions. Ultimately, three juniors and one sophomore earned spots in the Tenor/Bass and Treble choirs.
- Victoria Martinez ’25, Brooke Taylor ’26, Jasmine Egbulonu ’26, Ogechi Nwachukwu ’26, Marquis McKinley II ’26, and Isajar Sanchez ’27 were Tommy Tune Awards nominees. Vocal Department Chair Marcus Jauregui was also nominated as an Outstanding Music Director.
WATCH: Chorale Collaborates with Apollo Chamber Players
Kinder HSPVA and Apollo Chamber Players collaborated on an intergenerational conversation about freedom, democracy, and the future. We the People: Freedom featured Apollo musicians performing with the Vocal Music Department’s Chorale, conducted by Chair Marcus Jauregui. The program included the world premiere of composer Marcus Maroney’s The Color Blue, including text written by Kinder HSPVA U.S. History students. Watch an excerpt from Walt Whitman’s Song of Democracy.
WATCH: Concert Singers perform “Time”
WATCH: Treble Chorale at Voices of Houston Spiritual Festival
WATCH: The Young Performers at the Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular
