symphony spotlight
Meet Mikayla Allgood
conroe symphony Cello
Teacher, Cellist, Mermaid, Allgood
Meet Mikayla Allgood, cellist and music teacher — 8 seasons with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra.
Mikayla Allgood started out as a violist. Nine weeks in, her cello career began with a single raised hand.
“My class was learning to play with fourth finger, and I was not doing too well,” she remembers. “My director asked if anyone wanted to switch to cello, and I immediately raised my hand. My cello and I have been inseparable ever since.”
That instinct, to follow the thing that lights you up, became her whole career. Mikayla teaches Kindergarten through 4th grade music and 5th and 6th grade orchestra in Conroe ISD, now in her 8th year at her school.
“This is my dream job,” she says. “I decided I wanted to become a music teacher after realizing that music has literally changed and shaped my life, and I wanted to give that chance to others.”
Now in her 8th season with the Conroe Symphony, she describes it as something close to therapy.
“Conroe Symphony is where I go to recharge. When work is difficult or I’m having a rough time, making music with people from our community refills my cup. Through making music with others, I am reminded of the power music has to enrich someone’s life.”
-Mikayla Allgood
Mikayla had a hard time containing herself during last season’s Disney concert. An avid fan, she spent rehearsals concentrating on not breaking out in song and taking center stage.
“I was truly living a dream,” she says. “If Gary needed anyone to fill in, I was ready!”
Her love for Disney extends to real life where she often turns into Ariel when hitting the water. Who knew the CSO had a literal mermaid in their orchestra. She spends time off stages as a collector of swimmable Mermaid tails.
“I’ll hardly swim without one now.”
Music runs deep in the Allgood household, her husband, John, is one of the CSO’s flute and piccolo players, and together they’re the Allgood Music Duo.
Be sure to check out John’s Symphony Spotlight too!
At home, two spoiled dogs named Ditty Bug and Harper round out the family.
Mikayla spent her childhood growing up in Lake Jackson and her parents still reside where she began her journey. Music always seemed to be the spark inside.
In college, MiKayla played “Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus'” by Ralph Vaughan Williams when she was asked to play his English Folk Song Suite for Cello and Piano for her senior recital. She fell in love with the lushness and beauty of his music and continues to hold it dear to her heart as her favorite composer.
As a teacher, she is asked often about advice to give young musicians when picking out their first instrument as she gets to live through the process daily. When selecting instruments for their first elective, she always encourages the students to pick the instrument they are drawn to the most and listen to people play it.
“When they see what they could become, they have an extra spark of excitement for the instrument they connect with and motivation to help them persevere when learning a new skill is challenging. Sometimes students are reluctant to go for an instrument because they are nervous they will not do well. I tell my students Music is for everybody, and you don’t have to be the best to enjoy doing it. Other people may get to hear our music, but most of the time we musicians are making music for ourselves.”
-Mikayla Allgood
Mikayla, Off The Stage
She Can't Live Without
Chips and Salsa.
“It’s my favorite thing to eat at restaurants or for an after-school snack!”
Fun Fact
Married to fellow CSO musician John Allgood
Part of the Allgood Music Duo
Disney Mermaid as collects swimmable mermaid tails
Has two dogs Ditty Bug & Harper
Notable Achievements
8 years with the CSO
Teaches Music & Orchestra in Conroe ISD
Often performs in Lobby Before Christmas Concerts
Plays multiple instruments
Come Hear Mikayla For Yourself
“The musicians in the orchestra must have music in their hearts to make such a sacrifice to come to rehearsals after their day jobs. They just have music-making as part of their lives.”
— Gary Liebst, Music Director
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