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Sariah Keller

Sariah Keller

Sariah Keller, Double Bass

The Conroe Symphony Orchestra is honored to present Sariah Keller, as their Symphony Spotlight.

Keller has played her double bass in concert halls across Europe, from Austria and Italy to Prague and Germany. Now, she is bringing her international experience to the Conroe Symphony Orchestra, adding her deep, rich tones to the ensemble.

Keller’s love affair with the double bass began in 5th grade when she first heard its deep, rich sound. Now, she’s bringing that passion to Conroe.

“I love the camaraderie that comes with making music with people who are joined together in a common purpose,” And it’s that sense of community that drew her to Conroe. “It feels like I’m joining a family!”

Keller graduated from Baylor with a Masters in music performance and now serves as an assistant orchestra director at Klein ISD.
One of her fondest memories is playing at the annual July 4th concert. “I loved getting to perform for the community for the 4th of July event,” she said. “There is something special about bringing classical music to the public and making it accessible for all!”

When she’s not serenading audiences with the sounds of her favorite composers: Tchaikovsky, Brahms, or Beethoven, you can find Keller hitting the hiking trails, exploring the aisles of Trader Joe’s looking for apples and sushi, or spending quality time with her close-knit family.

“I have two siblings who are my best friends and supportive parents who have been to nearly every orchestra concert since I was little,” she shared.

Be sure to come see Keller perform her Double Bass with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra this season.

Liz Royce

Liz Royce

Liz Royce, Principal French Horn


Royce with her second music teacher (accordion/piano) of her life.

The Conroe Symphony Orchestra is honored to present Liz Royce as their Symphony Spotlight. Being super musically inclined and able to play multiple instruments, Royce serves as our Principal French Horn.

Royce started playing her first instrument at the age of seven. She says she chose the French Horn because it was the most challenging of all the instruments she plays.

“I started on Accordion at age seven and continued my musical learnings by learning several other instruments in years to follow,” she said. “Piano was next, followed by Flute, French Horn, Trumpet, Tenor/Alto Horn, Handbells, and Bass Flute are my fluent instruments. Other instruments I own and can play at a beginner’s level are: violin, clarinet, trombone, guitar. Having been a music educator, I learned all the orchestral and common instruments. My favorite instruments to play are French Horn, Tenor/Alto Horn, and Accordion.”

Royce received her BA with teaching credential in Music Education from CSU Long Beach, CA. She also holds an AA degree from Cerritos College with an emphasis on Music. Her talent is forever recorded in the area as she was honored to be able to play three recordings for the music of 3 Claymations at Capitol Records in Los Angeles, CA.

One of her fondest memories is playing during college in California. “I was a participant in an ‘Honors Recital’ that was televised in the local area (Norwalk, CA) of Cerritos College in May, 1985. I performed ‘Children’s Corner Suite’ by Claude Debussy. My next big moment came in the Fall, 1993, I was playing a solo on mellophone from ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in a half-time show in Las Vegas at a football game with CSU Long Beach and UN Las Vegas. My big moment of playing in front of thousands of people and I played it perfectly.”

Music is such a huge part of Royce’s life. It is no surprise her list of favorite composers is long, settling on a favorite would be impossible.

“Too many favorite Composers. Chopin, Mozart, Shostakovich, Percy Grainger, Leroy Anderson, Spike Jones, Stan Freberg,” she said, “Just to name a few. Oh, can’t forget the big band era composers.”

As varied as her musical talents are, she spends her time doing a multitude of activities. Besides playing music, Royce has served as a massage therapist for over 30 years. “I love what I do and love helping people manage and or get rid of their pain for good.”

Besides performing, teaching, composing/arranging music and her massage therapy, she finds time to play with mutts, be active in church, ham radio, movies, meditation, traveling, cleaning and organizing.

She was told she received her musical talent from a grandfather six generations back.

Be sure to come see Royce perform her French Horn with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra.

 

 

 

 

Friends of Symphony Hosts Silver Jubilee

Friends of Symphony Hosts Silver Jubilee

Friends of Symphony Hosts Silver Jubilee

Three people posing for a photo at a Silver Jubilee event.
A woman wearing a silver fur coat.
Three women standing next to each other at the Silver Jubilee event.
A Group Gathering Event With a Woman Speaking Image
A group of people sitting around a table at a silver jubilee event.
A group of people posing for a picture during a Silver Jubilee celebration.
A group of people dancing in a room with large windows to celebrate the Silver Jubilee.
Three people standing together at a Silver Jubilee event.
A group of people gathered at a table during a silver jubilee celebration.
A group of people celebrating in a large room for a Silver Jubilee.
A group of people standing around a table at a Silver Jubilee event.
A group of people celebrating their Silver Jubilee gathered around a table.
A group of people conversing at a Silver Jubilee celebration.
A man and a woman are celebrating their Silver Jubilee at the table.
Two men standing next to each other, holding a glass of wine at the Silver Jubilee.
A man in a silver suit and a woman in a silver dress attended the event.
An event celebrating its Silver Jubilee where people are seated around tables.
A man and a woman standing in front of a microphone celebrate their Silver Jubilee.
Two women standing next to each other at a Silver Jubilee event.
Three women standing next to each other at a Silver Jubilee event.
Three elderly women seated at a table in a lobby celebrating their silver jubilee.
A group of people singing in front of a microphone at a Silver Jubilee event.
A group of people dancing in a room to celebrate a Silver Jubilee.
A group of people posing for a photo at the silver jubilee event.
A Group of People at the Silver Jubilee Function Image in Color
At the Silver Jubilee event, people are sitting at tables.
A woman wearing a silver fur coat.
A man and woman dancing at a Silver Jubilee party.
A man in a suit standing next to a woman at the Silver Jubilee.
A group of people gathered around a table to celebrate their silver jubilee.
At the Silver Jubilee event, a group of people sit at tables.
A Portrait Image of Two Elderly Women Hugging Each Other
A group of people standing together at a Silver Jubilee event.

SILVER JUBILEE SPONSORS

Nancy Johnson

Dan and Lynda Kain

Richard Maguire

Peggie Miller

Caryn & Jack Patton

Annette Spikes

Ron & Marty Saikowski

Gaby & John Tryon

Worthington Manor  Senior Living

Austin Bank

Charlotte Belin

Ladoris Cates

Lorraine Counts

Pat Davis

GuadalaHARRY’s Bar & Grill

Christian & Fahima Hart

Steve Hayward

Virginia Hill

SILVER JUBILEE Donars

Margaritaville Lake Resort

Ron McCracken

Messina Hof Winery

Owen Theatre

Pappa’s

Panorama Golf Course

Pecan Hill Florist

Pedro’s Restaurant

Ron & Marty Saikowski

Lin Scheib

Still Waters Spa

Donna Summers

Stage Right Crighton Theatre

Dave Underdown

Visible Changes

Walden Yacht Club

Walden Golf Course

WB Liquor

Wild Stallion Winery

Pamela & Jack Wright

Amore Italian Restaurant                                          

Bernhardt Winery

B&E Winery

Camillo’s Fine Jewelry (Katelyn Ennis)

Ladoris Cates

Doug Collings

Dream Nails

Eden Restaurant

Einstein’s Ship Shore

The Ferm Meadery

Frankenboltzzz Brewery

Friends of Senator B. Creighton

Friends of the Flag Foundation

Hodge Podge Lodge

Lyn Hawthorne Howard

Joe’s Italian Restaurant

Dianne Kebodeaux

Lake Windcrest Golf Course

Gayle Laminack

Llano Estacado Winery

The Earth has Music for Those Who Listen

The Earth has Music for Those Who Listen

The Earth has Music for Those Who Listen

 

The earth has music for those Who listen

Join the Conroe Symphony Orchestra for a night of music, featuring Guest Conductor Dr. Kayoko Dan. The music will all be related to Spring, the Earth, and nature. Arrangements will surround the sounds derived from earth through nature. “The Earth has Music for Those Who Listen”

  • Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain”
  • Kyle Kindred’s “A Longmont Overture”- celebrating a city with mountains /lakes
  • Joseph Haydn’s “Symphony No. 82 in C major, Hob 1/82 “Bear”
  • Bedrich Smetana’s “The Moldau”

Dr. Kayoko Dan is the newly appointed Director of Orchestral Activities and Assistant Professor at Sam Houston State University. Dr. Dan also serves as the Music Director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, a position held since 2011. Previous positions include Assistant Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony and Music Director of Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. She has been awarded the Karajan Fellowship for Young Conductors, as well as the David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the Chautauqua Institute.

Dr. Dan has participated in numerous workshops including the Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar, International Bartok Festival, Fondazione I Pomeriggi Musicali Conducting Workshop and National Conducting Institute. As a strong advocate of music education, Dr. Dan is in demand as a clinician at universities, high schools, youth orchestras, and regional orchestras throughout the country. She has taught at several elementary schools including Thomas J. Pappas school for homeless children in Arizona as an ArtsBridge Scholar. While serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, her dedication and passion for music education was recognized by the Graduate Teaching Excellence Award from the Arizona State University. Additionally, she is a frequent guest speaker at university conducting classes to encourage young conductors who are pursuing a career in music. 

Born in Japan and raised in the United States, music has been an integral part of Dr. Dan’s life since an early age. She received a Bachelor in Music Education at the University of Texas, and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Master in Music Education from Arizona State University. Her principal teachers are Timothy Russell and Timothy Muffitt. She has also studied with Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin, Zoltan Pesko, Jorma Panula, and William Reber.

 

Sponsored by:

City of Conroe
Texas Commission on the Arts
Montgomery County Community Foundation
Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

 

April 23 at 7:30 p.m.

West Conroe baptist Church

1855 LOngmire Road

Conroe, TX 77304

GET TICKETS HERE