Time:
Thursday
December, 15, 2016
05:00 PM - 05:45 PM
Location:
Ballroom W190
Category
MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS
Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
With over 250 students, the orchestras at Dulles Middle School comprise one of the largest string programs in Fort Bend ISD. DMS orchestras have been recognized both nationally and internationally, winning awards throughout the years at an array of festivals and competitions. In particular, the DMS Symphony Orchestra was recognized at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Concert in both 2000 and 2009. They were also recognized as "Mark of Excellence" commended winners through The Foundation of Music Education the past two years and received superior ratings at several recent Directors' Choice Festivals. Each year, the orchestra program has made sweepstakes ratings at UIL concert and sight-reading contests.
Dulles Middle School Symphony Orchestra
Conductor's Bio
Sally Kirk is Director of Orchestras at Dulles Middle School in Sugar Land, Texas, where she began as a 7th-grade violinist in 1997 before becoming Assistant Director in 2007 and Director in 2010. While Sally began piano lessons at age six and violin lessons at age 12, she was sitting on her dad’s lap while he played the qanun, a traditional Egyptian stringed instrument capable of playing quarter-tones, much earlier. With inspiration from her orchestra directors at Dulles, Sally studied music education and violin at Houston Baptist University, with Richard Fiese and Rodica Weber-Gonzalez respectively, with the goal of providing students the same inspirational education she’d received.
For Sally, music education is not only about producing future music majors but about instilling in students a rich appreciation for and understanding of music that they can take with them for their whole lives. To this end, Sally consistently motivates her students to outperform themselves, apply what they learn in music in other areas of life, and experience the great diversity of music: performances with Mark Wood and Houston-based rock band Holy Fiction are some of the ways Sally inspires her students. Dulles recognized Sally for her outstanding performance by naming her Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Dulles Middle School orchestras consistently perform at a high level at University Interscholastic League and Directors Choice Festivals, achieving the Sweepstakes Awards and Overall Outstanding Orchestra. During her time as Assistant Director, the DMS orchestra attended the Midwest Clinic in 2009. Sally Kirk is a member of Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA), and Texas Orchestra Directors Associations (TODA). Sally also began a beginner orchestra for teachers, “Treble in Paradise,” and a songwriting club for students. Outside of teaching, Sally enjoys pottery and traveling. She and her husband, John, a church musician, have a joyful baby girl, Fiona.
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