The Conroe Symphony Orchestra is honored to present Verna Verspieren as their Symphony Spotlight.

For Verna Verspieren, playing the violin is more than just a passion—it’s a lifelong journey that has taken her around the world, from her youth orchestra days in Southern California to performances with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra today. Now in her second season with the symphony, Verna brings not only her exceptional musical skills but also a deep appreciation for the joy of community music-making.

“I have been playing violin for almost 50 years,” she said. “One of the highlights of my decades of playing violin is the tour I took of Europe with the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra. I was in high school and it was my first trip to Europe. We played concerts in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria, including a concert at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.  The tour opened my eyes to rest of the world beyond Southern California.  My brother and sister met me in Germany and we went to France and England as well. Forty years later, I am still very grateful to have had that opportunity, and I am still friends with my stand partner from the trip!”

Verna’s dedication to her craft doesn’t stop with the violin. Outside of the concert hall, she is a dedicated French teacher at Frassati Catholic High School and an active volunteer at St. Anthony Parish in The Woodlands. She often brings her musical talents to her church, playing for services and Masses, a tradition rooted in the support she received from her parents, who gifted her a fine violin during high school—a gesture she remains grateful for to this day.

Verna’s musical journey is filled with moments of gratitude—whether it’s to Mr. King, the elementary school teacher who introduced her to the violin, or to the audiences of Conroe who warmly embrace the symphony’s performances.

“Mr. King who taught me how to play violin at my elementary school in 5th grade” she said. “If he had not been willing to drive around to all of the elementary schools in his convertible sports car, I might never have learned.”

For Verna, playing the violin isn’t just about perfecting her craft; it’s about sharing beautiful moments with others, one note at a time. Verna finds great joy in playing with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra, particularly relishing the sense of camaraderie among the musicians and the conductor’s lively humor. A standout memory is performing at the orchestra’s 4th of July Patriotic Concert, where the energy of the community matched the enthusiasm of the orchestra—a true celebration of the joy of music.

“Playing the 4th of July Patriotic Concert was a blast!” Verna said.  “It was wonderful to be part of such a large community event.”

When she’s not performing or teaching, Verna enjoys a variety of hobbies, from reading and cooking to gardening and calligraphy. Her three dogs—each with their own quirky personalities, including a Britney Spaniel who howls along with her violin practice—add a touch of warmth to her life. She also treasures time spent with her six grown children and her granddaughter, who are spread across the world but remain close in heart.

Come see Verna play at the CSO’s upcoming concert, Christmas Around the World, on December 14 at 2:30 pm. at First Methodist Conroe.

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.

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.