Krimmel Intermediate Symphonic Band

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

Krimmel Intermediate School has approximately 275 students participating in the band program. Band instruction begins in the sixth grade. Students are taught daily in mostly homogenous classes with the main emphasis on characteristic tone production, music reading skills, and individual technical development. The mastery of these basic fundamentals is the focus this year with the students’ only performances being a Holiday Concert in December and a Spring Concert in May. Seventh and eighth-grade students audition for placement in one of three performing groups: the Cadet, Concert, and Symphonic Bands. In these band classes, the students continue to work on tone production, music reading skills, and technical development with major emphasis being placed on ensemble skills and techniques. To provide as much individual and small group instruction as possible, the students are divided into woodwind and brass sectionals for approximately fifty percent of the class periods during the year. In addition, members of these bands are also required to attend a one-hour sectional each week throughout most of the school year. During these sectionals, instrument-specific concepts and techniques are taught, with special attention being given to addressing the needs of the individual players within the section. The band program has a thriving private lesson program employing professional and college student musicians from the greater Houston area. Since the school opened in 2007, under the direction of Sharon Kalisek and Joel Wren, the students of the Krimmel Intermediate Band program have received numerous awards. Each year, the students have received over one hundred medals for superior performances at the U.I.L. Solo and Ensemble Festival. Additionally, over thirty students have earned a place in the All-Region Band for the past three years. The Concert and Symphonic Bands have earned consistent UIL Sweepstakes distinctions each year since the school opened. The Krimmel Symphonic Band performed in 2022 at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention as an Invited Ensemble. In 2018 the Krimmel Symphonic Band performed at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival and in 2009 at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.

Krimmel Intermediate Symphonic Band

Conductor's Bio

Stetson Begin is currently in his tenth year of teaching, all of which have been at Krimmel Intermediate in Klein ISD. In 2016, Mr. Begin was named the Krimmel Intermediate Teacher of the Year. Mr. Begin graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Houston where he studied with John Benzer, Marion West, David Bertman, and Randall Griffin. In 2012, Mr. Begin was the recipient of the Malcolm Helm Scholarship while at the University of Houston. At Krimmel Intermediate, Mr. Begin conducts the Symphonic Band and assists with the Concert Band. He also teaches beginning clarinet, percussion, saxophone, flute, oboe, and bassoon. The Krimmel Intermediate Concert Band and Symphonic Band have earned consistent Superior ratings at the UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. In 2021, the Krimmel Intermediate Symphonic Band was named a National Winner in the 2021 Mark of Excellence/ Wind Band Honors Project. In 2022, the Krimmel Intermediate Symphonic Band performed at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention as an Invited Middle School Ensemble. Mr. Begin's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Pi Kappa Lamba music honor society. Mr. Begin has also served as a Destination Imagination (DI) team manager for Krimmel Intermediate. His DI team advanced to Global Finals in 2017 and placed 16th overall!