Smith Middle School Chamber Orchestra

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Smith Middle School Orchestra is a thriving and accomplished string program with approximately 265 dedicated students. Over the years, the orchestra has built a reputation for excellence, consistently demonstrating outstanding musical achievement and growth. The Chamber Orchestra is the premier orchestra of the program and consists of a select group of 7th and 8th grade students that rehearse diligently every school day. The Chamber orchestra has been awarded Mark of Excellence National Winner through the Foundation for Music Education in 2013 and 2023. In 2025, they performed at the American Strings Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, resulting in the Chamber Orchestra earning the Second Place Trophy in the Middle School Division. In addition, the Chamber Orchestra has been selected as a Houston Cup Finalist in 2024 and 2025. Smith Middle School Chamber Orchestra students regularly rank high in the Region Orchestra competition, with an average of 21 students accepted into one of the two Middle School Region Orchestras for Region 27 annually. The orchestra program has earned consistent superior ratings at the University Interscholastic League Concert & Sight-Reading Evaluation since 2010 on the Non-varsity and Varsity level. The Symphonic Orchestra, a Non-Varsity Ensemble, was recently named one of two National Winners for the Citation of Excellence in 2025. The Sub Non-Varsity and Beginning Orchestras have also earned Superior Ratings at the Cy-Fair Middle School Orchestra Festival in 2023 and 2024, along with Best in Class awards in the Beginner Orchestra division in 2023 and 2024. Furthermore, the Beginning Orchestra earned superior ratings at the Ann C. Roberts Festival in 2025. Moreover, our non-beginner students earn over 200 superior medals at the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Middle School Solo and Ensemble Contest each year.

Smith Middle School Chamber Orchestra

Conductor's Bio

Nassar Edwards has been a public school orchestra educator for seven years and currently serves as the Head Orchestra Director at Smith Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Since his arrival to Texas, Mr. Edwards has also served as Assistant Orchestra Director at Langham Creek High School, where he also taught AP Music Theory. Under his leadership, the orchestra program consistently earned Sweepstakes ratings at UIL Orchestra Contest and maintained a robust enrollment of over 140 students. In 2022, he became the Head Orchestra Director at Smith Middle School. Since then, the program has experienced continued growth, strong collaboration within the fine arts department, and consistent UIL Sweepstakes recognition. Most recently, the Smith Middle School Chamber Orchestra has been invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in December of 2026. In 2023, the Smith Chamber Orchestra was named a “National Winner” in the Foundation for Music Education Mark of Excellence competition. The ensemble was also selected as a Houston Cup Finalist in both 2024 and 2025, and performed at the American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, earning Second Place in the Middle School Division. Edwards is a graduate of Kennesaw State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education and studied under Dr. Charles Laux, Dr. Nancy Conley, and Prof. Helen Kim. During his time at Kennesaw State University, Mr. Edwards was actively involved in the Student ASTA Chapter Board, serving as president during his senior year. He also worked as a freelance violinist and served as a violin clinician for several schools in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In addition, he taught with the Kennesaw State String Project for four years. Mr. Edwards is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Orchestra Directors Association (TODA), Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA), and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), where he serves as Publications Chair for the Texas chapter. He performs regularly as a second violinist with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. In his free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants, walking outdoors, spending time with friends, and watching reality television, including his favorite, The Real Housewives series.

Additional Directors

Samantha Rodriguez