Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
Austin High School first opened its door to the public in 1995. Since this time, high academic standards set upon the foundation of a supportive family atmosphere has paved the way for excellence and provided opportunities for diverse co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
The mission of Austin High School is to provide an atmosphere of high expectations for all students in their pursuit of academic achievement as well as to assist each student in the development of a positive self-image, responsible citizenship, and cultural awareness in an effort to become productive, life long learners in an evolving global society.
In 1995, the Austin High School Orchestra program started with 16 members. Since the schools opening, it has grown to a program of to a program of six different orchestras: Camerata; Full Orchestra; Chamber; Symphony 1; Symphony 2, and Beginner. These groups, composed of the school’s most accomplished students, are recognized, outstanding musicians, having been members of various TMEA Orchestras.
Stephen F. Austin Camerata
Conductor's Bio
Ann Victor currently is the Orchestra Director at Stephen F. Austin High School (AHS) in the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD). She has served in this capacity since 2016. Prior to this position, Ms. Victor was Orchestra Director at Sartartia Middle School (SMS) since the school opened in 2001. While at Sartartia, Ms. Victor’s orchestra has regularly ranked among the top six middle school orchestras in the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition, including finalist rankings in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017. She has continuously received “Sweepstakes Awards” at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions. Under Ms. Victor’s musical leadership, the SMS orchestra has performed three times at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago; received first place in the Middle School Orchestra Division of the 2005 American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Orchestral Festival in Reno, Nevada; has performed as the featured middle school orchestra at the 2009 ASTA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia; and has performed in Tianjin, China and on the Great Wall in Beijing, China in June 2006. The SMS String Orchestra has received multiple “Mark of Excellence” awards from The Foundation for Music Education, including recognition as a National Winner in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014, and as a Commended Winner in 2015. In 2009 and 2011, SMS Orchestra was featured on the website for the “Live from Lincoln Center – Outstanding Student Performances.” Before joining the SMS faculty, Ms. Victor was the Orchestra Director for four years at Macario Garcia Middle School (MGMS), also in Fort Bend ISD, during which time, the MGMS Symphony Orchestra won many awards and accolades, including the orchestra’s 1998 performance at the Midwest Clinic; a performance at The International String Workshop in Graz, Austria in 2000; numerous successive U.I.L. “Sweepstakes Awards;” and three consecutive rankings in the top five orchestras in the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition.
The Stephen F. Austin Camerata’s performance at the 2022 Midwest Clinic marks Ms. Victor sixth Orchestra to perform at the Midwest Clinic.
Among Ms. Victor’s numerous honors and awards are: 2008 Campus Teach of the Year for SMS and District Finalist (FBISD) for Secondary Teacher of the Year; 2010 HEB Excellence in Education finalist; and, in 2015, the Houston Symphony and Spec’s Award for Excellence in Music Education. Ms. Victor has presented clinics at TMEA, in 2006 a clinic titled “Fun In Thumb Position” on the cello along with Dr. Peter Kempter and Courtenay Vandiver; and in 2010 a clinic with James Drew and Carolyn Vandiver for the Three M’s for Managing a Successful Program.
Since 1999, Ms. Victor has served as co-conductor of the String Orchestra of the Houston Youth Symphony, one of the largest non-profit youth symphonies in the United States. Ms. Victor is a member of the American String Teachers Association, Texas Music Directors Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, The National Musicians’ Union, and Music Teachers National Association. She serves as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the state of Texas and is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Who’s Who in American Women.
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