Winter Concert 2023

winter Concert Series MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM DECEMBER 15, 2023

Orchestra Directors JAMIE OVALLE is Director of Orchestras at Martin High School in Arlington, TX. She has been teaching since 2009, with 10 of those years at Martin High School.

Mrs. Ovalle began her music endeavors as a student in Arlington ISD with cello as her primary instrument. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at TCU, she studied cello under Dr. Jesus Castro-Balbi and performed with the TCU Symphony under Dr. Germán Gutiérrez.

Prior to Martin High School, Mrs. Ovalle spent one year teaching middle school in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. She then spent three years in Fort Worth ISD as the sole director at Meacham Middle School and Diamond Hill–Jarvis High School. Under her direction, these programs tripled in size and earned their first Sweepstakes ratings in recent school history.

Mrs. Ovalle joined the Martin Orchestra team in 2013 as an assistant with the late Jennifer Lemin under the leadership of Michael Stringer.

During her time as an assistant, she conducted the Martin High School Symphony Orchestra at the Texas Music Educators Convention in 2015 & 2017. When she became the Director of Orchestras in 2017, Mrs. Ovalle conducted the MHS Symphony at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The following year, the 2019 MHS Symphony Orchestra was named the High School Honor Full Orchestra and performed at the TMEA Convention for the 3rd time in 5 years. During the same year, the string orchestra was invited to perform in London, England alongside the MHS choir on an international tour. Most recently, the MHS Symphony String Orchestra was invited to perform at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Orlando in March of 2020. Most recently, the MHS Symphony String Orchestra was invited to perform in Banff, Alberta, Canada in March 2023. She credits all of these honors to the work ethic & heart of the outstanding Martin Orchestra musicians.

Mrs. Ovalle has an incredible husband, Dallas, beautiful daughter, Landry Belle, and a handsome son, Jett Ace. When not on the podium, she enjoys spending time with Dallas, Landry and Jett, participating in church activities, cooking and watching sports.

SAMMY BRANCH is an Associate Director of Orchestras at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. Since 2006 he has also been the conductor of the String Orchestra at the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra. Prior to his position at Martin he served as the Head Orchestra Director at Gunn Junior High School in Arlington, Texas for 13 years. He is a product of the Arlington ISD from Martin High School, then under the direction of Mr. Bill Huff.

Mr. Branch is a graduate of TCU with Departmental Honors, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree Cum Laude, with violin as his primary instrument. He studied conducting under the direction of Dr. Germán Gutiérrez and violin under the direction of Dr. Curt Thompson.

Mr. Branch began his teaching career in 2001, and his groups consistently receive Sweepstakes ratings at UIL music contests and superior ratings at spring festivals. Three times at different festivals his groups have earned Best in Class and Grand Champion awards.

Mr. Branch is also an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and Mu Phi Epsilon. He is also on staff at The University of Texas at Arlington Summer Strings Camp and the Sam Houston State University Orchestra Summer Camp.

Fluent in Spanish, Mr. Branch was born in Mexico City, Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 and began studying violin at the age of 10. When not conducting or teaching, Mr. Branch enjoys golf, road biking, and spending time with his family.

HOLLY BURTON has been a public-school orchestra director for twenty years and holds degrees in Cello Performance, Music Theory and Music Education. Before Martin, Mrs. Burton taught at Eaton High School where she was the Director of Orchestras for four years. Under her baton the Eaton Orchestras earned ten UIL Sweepstakes trophies and Best in Class awards at several string festivals around the state and recognition from the Chicago Symphony String Education Program.

Mrs. Burton has held several educational positions with Northwest ISD, Arlington ISD (having taught at Miller, Wood and Young), Abilene ISD and The Fort Worth Youth Orchestras. She has been on the conducting staff at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Summer Strings Camp and Northwest ISD’s Summer String Workshop. She has performed as principal cellist with the Abilene Philharmonic, soloed with the San Angelo Symphony, and is currently in her seventh season as a section cellist with the Waco Symphony.

Mrs. Burton is an active member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Director’s Association, is a lifetime member of PTA and is an AWARE Foundation Finalist for Excellence in Classroom Instruction.

As a former parent of two sons that went through the Martin Orchestra program and a former strings teacher of many students currently in the program, Mrs. Burton is honored and excited to be on the conducting staff of an organization that helped shape her children’s futures and continues to influence the lives of so many amazing young people.

When not conducting, teaching, or performing, Mrs. Burton enjoys road biking, running, quilting, traveling and spending time with her husband John, two sons, Chris and Craig, daughter-in-law Kim and Anni and granddaughters Kendall and Carsyn.

KATRINA ESCOVEDO is an Associate Director of Orchestras at Martin High School in Arlington, TX. Mrs. Escovedo earned a Bachelor of Music with Teaching Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She studied violin with Dr. Martha Walvoord and performed in the UT Arlington Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Clifton Evans. She is a product of Arlington ISD and is excited to teach at Martin High School where she began her educational journey as a student teacher with the former Director of Orchestras, Michael Stringer.

Prior to her position at Martin HS, Mrs. Escovedo taught at McLean Middle School where she was the Director of Orchestras for four years.

While at McLean, her groups earned consistent Sweepstakes ratings at UIL contest and superior ratings at festivals. Mrs. Escovedo also taught at Creekview High School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Arlington High School in Arlington ISD and at both Adams Middle School and Fannin Middle School in Grand Prairie ISD. Mrs. Escovedo has served on the curriculum committee for orchestral instruction in Fort Worth ISD. She has also coached at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Summer Strings Camp, and served as TMEA Orchestra Division Secretary. She holds an active membership in the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association.

When she is not teaching or conducting, Mrs. Escovedo enjoys gardening, reading, and watching Gordon Ramsey cooking shows. Most of all she appreciates spending time with her amazing husband, Fabian, and adorable children Leo and Roman.

Concert Etiquette In order to enhance our students’ education in Fine Arts, we teach both performance skills and audience etiquette. Proper audience etiquette shows respect for the talents of the composers, the performers, and for the others in the audience.

Unfortunately, young people in today’s society are seldom exposed to formal concert situations and may be unfamiliar with audience etiquette.

We would like to explain some points of this etiquette to you this evening. By following these guidelines, each of us can contribute to an enjoyable and successful evening for everyone.

All electronic devices should be turned off before entering the performance hall.

All patrons in the audience should be seated before the performance begins if at all possible. Please avoid entering or leaving the room during the performance. If it does become necessary, please move only between musical selections.

Talking, whispering, and movement should be avoided during the performance so that performers will not be distracted and those seated around you can enjoy the performance to the fullest.

We love children and are pleased when families attend our concerts together.

However, if small children become fussy or loud, they should be removed from the performance area as quickly and quietly as possible to avoid disrupting the performance. We would also ask that children not be allowed to stand on the seats.

Attention should be directed to the performers during the performance.

Applause is welcomed and appreciated. Whistling and cheering are not appropriate in a formal concert setting.

Concert Orchestra II

KATRINA ESCOVEDO, HOLLY BURTON | CONDUCTORS

CAROL OF THE BELLS/GREENSLEEVES CLARK

FANTASIA ON A SPANISH CAROL STORY

BEETHOVEN, INC MEYER

VIOLIN I Leah Arnold Ava Canup Kennedi Ellis-Sloan Vivien Hunt Mia Mejia Elina Nemati LoreLye North* Ethan Rojas Claire Sanders Taylor Voisard Audi West VIOLIN II Mohammed Ahmed Sina Behzadpour Lawrence Ho Eduardo Mata Philemon Okpetu Zion Olokpa Lamar Ossman Farah Saad Osvaldo Valle Vanessa Wolfrum

VIOLA Franco Alvarado-Serna Lynnette Betancourt Madison Boring Joslyn Bryant Phong Cao Dessie Hoskins Mia Migueles Kris Nguyen Kaylee Savoie Aiden Torres Max Whaley Zayd Yunus CELLO Evy Ahlstrand Alayna Chavera Kayden Hudson Nathalia Lam Eileen Nguyen Dylan Powers Kyle Ye

STRING BASS Gehrig Church Alyric Douglas Oscar Kelly Zackary Smith

* CONCERTMASTER

Concert Orchestra I JAMIE OVALLE, SAMUEL BRANCH – CONDUCTORS

CONCERTO GROSSO OP. 6, NO. 8 IN G-MINOR “CHRISTMAS CONCERTO” CORELLI SOLOISTS: ASHLYN O’BANION, EVAN DESTEFANO, THOMAS TEPEDINO

OVERTURE ON A HOUSETOP JONES

THE POLAR EXPRESS SILVESTRI, ARR. MOORE

VIOLIN I Wyatt Annen Kai Jerkins Joel Lee # Leen Liang # Emma McNairn Tyler Ngo Ashlyn O'Banion* # Mel Provence Abigail White # Leah Wren Gavin Ye VIOLIN II Ellie Coronado-Meyer Patricia Cruz Evan DeStafeno # Alisson Espinoza Ventura Jacob Garcia Christian Gonzalez Caleb Hamilton Han Hoang Melissa Liu Armando Lopez Natalia Ruiz Jessica Sanchez Tatyanna Valdez Danika Villanueva

VIOLA Richard Bingham Emma Borgerding Alan Doan Caroline Jones# Katelyn Lavigne Belle McDaniel Limara Monsivais Andy Tran Thienan Vu Samuel Wood CELLO Quin Best Esther Darr Isabelle Diaz Megan Goble Andrew Lim Indra Saigal Uriah Sargent Ellie Savell Thomas Tepedino #

STRING BASS Nathan Biles Logan Hawkins Miles Lewis Wyatt Nall

* CONCERTMASTER # REGION ORCHESTRA

Philharmonia HOLLY BURTON, SAMUEL BRANCH – CONDUCTORS

INVERNO, SCENES FROM VIVALDI'S WINTER VIVALDI, ARR. PARRISH

ANGELS IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER CLARK SOLOIST: TAYLOR SCHWARZ

ODE TO A JOYRIDE BALMAGES

VIOLIN Journey Barrow Oyin Ewedemi Brooke Haney Kristopher Hernandez* Davy Huynh Madison Olokpa Ethan Ostrander Erich Warren Chris Wikoff

VIOLA Andres Aguayo Abishikth Chirayath Natalie Goreham Will Hutson Milton Mejia George Rosales Logan Schmitz Taylor Schwarz# Bryant Tran

VIOLIN II Amari Brazell Nathan Brown Kash Coffman Cora Howell Ashlynn Martin Miranda Moreno Frishta Rasul Leonardo Sepulveda Dallas Wiesel Zoey Williams

CELLO Evelyn Ceja Jaden Garcia Patrick Krumm Gabriel Migueles Theresa Nguyen Zion Petty Julion Reagan Lane Russ Liliana Vargas Pamela Zuniga

STRING BASS Emilia Lyons Haley Martin

* CONCERTMASTER # REGION ORCHESTRA

Symphonic

JAMIE OVALLE, HOLLY BURTON – CONDUCTORS

CHRISTMAS PIPES ARR. O'LOUGHLIN

VENI, VENI ARR. DAVIS/LONGFIELD SOLOIST: JOCELYN TOSTADO

MARCH, FROM SYMPHONY NO. 6 TCHAIKOVKSY, ARR. LATHAM

VIOLIN I Omar ElMoatassam John Ghannoum Adam Jariri Bryan Meneses Alexis Roberts Quill Thomas* Peter Torres Jocelyn Tostado VIOLIN II Zaira Arredondo Angelynn Betancourt Matthew Chong Carson Kimble Mena Newkirk Cynthia Rojas Sudipta Sarkar Helena Snegon Adrian Torres Alondra Vargas

VIOLA Mason Blanchard Ozzy Brogdon Ariana Jones Emilio Lara Megan O'Dell Nathan Quinones Andrew Robertson # Lynsey Russ Keira Sams Jesse Sanchez Noah Valadez Ethan Valadez Benton VanDuzee CELLO Logan Blume Julien Darnell Fatima Garcia Luis Mejia Charlie Nason Collin O'Neil Emma Osorio Elizabeth Patterson Vincent Pham Faith Reyes Javon Wesley Mckenzie Witherwax Maddison Zuniga

STRING BASS Kaden Hoy Kenny Mings Brianna Wheeler

* CONCERTMASTER # REGION ORCHESTRA

CHAMBER

HOLLY BURTON, SAMUEL BRANCH – CONDUCTORS

FUGUE, FROM L'ESTRO ARMONICO VIVALDI/BACH, ARR. LIPTON

O HOLY NIGHT ADAM, ARR. TURNER

MOTHER GINGER, FROM THE NUTCRACKER TCHAIKOVSKY, ARR. DACKOW

VIOLIN I Caleb Bills Amelia Fakhimi Holly Gamble # Joseph Martin # Liliana Martinez* Isabela Martinez Trinity Mizelle Jayson Romero VIOLIN II Calise Beasley Lily Cardenas Francesca Carrillo Nathan Centeno Daniel Chao Madelyn Gonzales Dax Hemingway Anai Hernandez Carlie Nguyen Jessica Nguyen

VIOLA Eva Blanco-Viator Noah Haag # Tera Harless Charles Ingram Alec Jensen Aidan MacDonald Samuel Moran Maddox Morgan Abigail Nguyen Bryant Oaxaca Lillian Walters Elliott Wicks Amr Yousif

CELLO Preston Baker Kaden Bombita Timothy Brimacombe Blake Dellenbaugh Saige Evans Ryan Farnell Christopher Foster Kaitlyn Pyles Lucille Quedensley Kasey Russell-Britting

STRING BASS Clara Laughlin Corbin Nichols

* CONCERTMASTER # REGION ORCHESTRA

Philharmonic

SAMUEL BRANCH, KATRINA BENECASA – CONDUCTORS

FANTASIA ON GREENSLEEVES VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

WALTZ NO. 2 FROM SUITE NO. 1 FOR VARIETY ORCHESTRA SHOSTAKOVICH

AROUND THE WORLD AT CHRISTMAS TIME ARR. CHASE VIOLIN I Ava Darr# Edee Dillard Robert Fletcher Aiden Gamboa Samuel Lozano # Jacob Nguyen ** # Bailey Peacock Tommy Rusher Jorge Salazar Christina Tran #

CELLO Colton Bolduc Owen Forbes Aaron Freeman Baylee Mitchell Teagan Moneymaker Kaitlin Nguyen Rachel Starr Ashlon Taylor Julia Upchurch Lauren Vongnarath

VIOLIN II Zul Aguayo Raul Barrios # Valerie Carranza Londyn Franklin Caiden Hamilton Isaac McAnally Owen McGinney Camdyn Sackett Elijah Smith Jesse Storrs

STRING BASS Alissa Bradford Corrina Reyes # Isaiah Saina #

VIOLA Kevin Chen # Abigail Haferkamp Dani Marvin An Nguyen Clarissa Staehle Emma Winchester

FLUTES Alex Pringle 1 Alyssa Byrd Olivia Erskine 1 Mia Bradley 1 Cambree Monroe ALTO SAX Joslyn Hankins 1 Kaylin Crowder Sanai Haymon 1 Ava Horton

TENOR SAX Ethan Accenti BASSOON Lia Almaraz 1 Joey Carter CLARINETS Tiffany Nguyen 1 Hannah Jordan 1 Evan Gerstenkorn 1 David Pena 1 Leslie Oyarvide 1 Yaw Asare 1 BASS CLARINET Patrick Krumm 1 HORN Brooks Conry Audrey Young 1 An Pham Noah Chinchilla

TROMBONES Gabriel Cleveland 1 Matilda Hofer Cedric Osinubi 1 Josh Blair Gabi Netherton 1 TUBA Caden Spitzer Nathan Biles 1 PERCUSSION Allison Martin 1 Donovan Atmore Charlie Reeve 1 Trinity Stevens Brayden Pugh

* CONCERTMASTER # REGION ORCHESTRA 1

TRUMPETS Isabelle Baskin Sarah Gonzalez Jesus Menez Henry Lyons

ALL CITY BAND

Improve your scores and your test-taking skills Higher SAT scores mean more college options as well as opportunities for additional scholarship money.

PSAT • SAT • ACT Test Prep

Call or visit our website for class schedules.

817-451-6200 www.knowledgeguides.net Enroll Today!

Locally Owned

SMILE WITH CONFIDENCE!

With free consultations, affordable payment options, customized treatment plans, and 0% interest financing, your treatment won't break the bank.

Give us a call at (817) 472-8877 or go to smiledoctors.com to schedule your complimentary consultation.

(817) 472-8877 smiledoctors.com

2024 SEASON

- Free delivery - Most insurances accepted -Competitive prices 817-380-3030 | harmonypharmacytx.com

All Martin students receive 10% off their purchase when they show their student ID 817-572-3930 | coltersbbq.coM

Daniel Tepedino Congratulations, Daniel!

Having front row seats to your journey has been nothing short of spectacular! We've cherished every note you've played on your cello, every performance, and every milestone. As one chapter closes, another begins. And we can't wait to see how the future unfolds for you.

Play on!

🎻

With all our love and pride, Mom, Dad, Charlie, Thomas & Bailey

MAX WILLIAMS ~

You are perfectly kind hearted, hard working, generous, smart, and by far the sharpest dresser in the family. Congratulations on making Symphony! We have loved listening to you practice cello and perform with your friends these last eight years and hope you continue to march to the beat of your own drum. May you revel in all the senior year festivities as you prepare for the adventures ahead!

Love you so much, Mom, Dad, Wesley, and Benjamin

~ THANK YOU ~

The Williams family would like to express its gratitude for and deep appreciation of the outstanding Arlington ISD orchestra program. Each of our three children began orchestra in the 5th grade and have benefited from the program’s excellence. Our heartfelt thanks to the directors, past and present, who dedicate themselves to making arts experiences exceptional!

Respectfully, Keith & Jennifer Williams Wesley, MHS Class of 2017 • Benjamin, MHS Class of 2019 • Max, MHS Class of 2024

Matthew Stringer "Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy.

Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me."

- Michael Scott

Haley Martin

Dear Haley, We've loved hearing your music since you were small! Your passion, joy and determination will take you far down whatever path you choose!

Love,

Mom, Dad & Joe

Alexis Lozano

“A life in music is a life beautifully spent.” ~Luciano Pavarotti

Congratulations on your well-deserved success! ~Love, Dad, Mom, Isabella, Samuel and Honey

Ashlon Taylor From the day you entered school you have only given mom and dad things to brag about! It is your Senior year, enjoy the moments with classmates and your final season with Martin High School Philharmonic Orchestra! We wish you continued success in every endeavor.

Love Mom, Dad and Paige

Caleb Bills

Here's hoping your senior year is both memorable and enjoyable. May the music always play in your heart and soul.

Kenny Mings

Congratulations Kenny! We are so proud of you! We hope you have an Amazing Senior Year. We look forward to the Great Awesome things you will do after Graduation! Love, Mom and Zach

AARON FREEMAN We wish you an amazing senior year and on to wherever your next adventure will take you!

Love, Mom & Dad

Colton Bolduc Colton, We are so proud of you!

Love, Mom, Dad, Ryker, and Max

Dustin Decker

We are so proud of you Dustin and all that you have accomplished! You have grown into such an amazing young man and an outstanding musician!

Love, Mom and Dad, Kaitlyn, Ava and Dawson

Helena Snegon

What a wonderful journey this has been to watch you grow into this amazing young woman.

As your journey continues, just know that we are so proud of you, and we love you with all our hearts.

Love Always, Mom, Dad, Archer, Vic & Flash

Corbin Nichols Having the opportunity to witness and take part in the amazing journey your life has already taken you on has been a joy and a privilege. Your strength and perseverance are an inspiration, your talents a gift and your kind nature a blessing the world needs. I look forward to the even greater times ahead in your life with eager anticipation.

I love you so much.

Dad

NATALIE GOREHAM

-

We are so proud of your creativity and uniqueness. We know that you will accomplish great things. Can’t wait to see you conquer the world!

We love you.

Mom and Dad

Acknowledgments ARLINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION Dr. Steven Wurtz, Interim Superintendent Dr. Christopher Anderson, Director of Fine Arts Mr. Joseph A. Muñoz, Assistant Director of Fine Arts MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION Marlene Roddy, Principal Jose Espinoza, Assistant Principal Robin Griffith- Yates, Assistant Principal Luann Kennedy, Assistant Principal Tunya Redvine, Assistant Principal

Kelly McCollough, Dean of Instruction Dr. Gregg Cartwright II, Assistant Principal Oluchi Igbokwe, Assistant Principal Jennifer McNairn, Assistant Principal Landon Smith, Assistant Principal

MARTIN ORCHESTRA CLUSTER STAFF Boles Junior High – Sarah Willson Moore Elementary – Sarah Willson Wood Elementary – Sarah Willson Young Junior High – Louanne Greer, Carmen Briseno, and Lesly Galeana Ditto Elementary – Lesly Galeana Dunn Elementary – Evelyn Arbaiza Little Elementary – Evelyn Arbaiza Miller Elementary – Carmen Briseno MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS STAFF Jamie Ovalle, Director of Orchestras Sammy Branch, Associate Director of Orchestras Holly Burton, Associate Director of Orchestras Katrina Escovedo, Associate Director of Orchestras Babatunde Onibudo, Director of Bands Kenneth Ragland, Associate Director of Bands Katrina Benecasa, Associate Director of Bands Lauren Bolton, Director of Percussion Kay Owens, Director of Choirs, Department Chair Jocelyn Epley, Associate Director of Choirs Christy Dickerson, Associate Director of Choirs Kelly Groves, Director of Theater Arts Nadaha Garcia, Director of Theater Arts MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA BOOSTER CLUB EXECUTIVE BOARD President: Kim Shaw 1st Vice President Fundraising: Audrey Rattan 2nd Vice President Membership: Donna Winchester 3rd Vice President Communication: Melanie Gamble Secretary: Iva Nall Treasurer: LeLana Taylor Co-Treasurer: Angie Snegon To the Parents and Families of our Orchestra members, who devote limitless hours of listening, encouragement, patience, praise and unconditional love.

Thank you, Donors!

VIRTUOSO LEVEL The Max Williams Fan Club CONDUCTORS LEVEL The Moneymaker Family CONCERTINO LEVEL Derick and Patricia Decker Family of Aaron Freeman James & Jennifer Martin Jody Miller Julio and Laura Lozano Paul & Jennifer Engler The Tepedino Family The Proverice Family The Lyons Family SONATA LEVEL Aaryn & Marisa Garcia Chris and Julie Whaley David and Melanie Gamble Family of Eva Blanco-Viator Family of Noah Haag Family of Peter Torres Goodyear Family Loraine & Dwight Mitchell Luis and Yvonne Martinez Sarah and Kevin Walters

PRELUDE LEVEL Aidan MacDonald Family Anonymous Bryan & Natalie David David and Kim Shaw David Snead and Family Douglas and Ellen Hunt Dr. William and Stacey McGinney Ethan Rojas Family Hae Chong and Su Chong Heather and Cam Sanders John & Katy Witherwax Jose & Amanda Tostado Journey Barrow Family Kate & Steve Parrish Kyle and Elizabeth Givens Lim Family Lisa and Todd Lewis Maria Berg Marionette Ruiz Ostrander- Termin Family Phong Cao Ron Biles and Melissa Mulhern Sherri Curry Stephen, Donna & Emma Winchester The Betancourt Family The Chavera Family The Kelly Family The Rattans The Starr Family Tim and Amanda O’Banion Todd and Kristin Lewis Vongnarath Family The Church Family

Wayne Burak & Associates Fine Violins, Violas, Cellos, & Bows

Appointments:

817-801-6700 Arlington / Plano

WayneBurakMusic.com