Mario Garcia, Orchestra Director
Mr. Garcia is currently on his fourth year at West Lake, after having graduated with a degree in music education from the Moore's School of Music at the University of Houston, where he studied double bass with Dennis Whittaker. While at the Moores School of Music, Mr. Garcia has performed with the University Orchestras, and has led the double bass section as principal on several occasions. In December of 2018, he was among a selected group of musicians to travel and perform with the Moore's School Symphony Orchestra and the Virtuosi of Houston Chamber Orchestra at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. During the last 5 years, he has worked with many students in private lessons, and clinics within Humble ISD and other surrounding districts. Mr. Garcia is an Humble ISD graduate from Summer Creek HS, and enjoys teaching and living near his lifelong community. Mr. Garcia is married to a violinist and former orchestra director Mrs. Amanda Garcia, and is the father to his son Sylas.
During his free time, Mr. Garcia enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering as a church musician, and playing recreational soccer.
Email Mr. Garcia at: Mario.Garcia@humbleisd.net
Olivia Grohn, Associate Orchestra Director
Olivia Grohn completed her bachelor's degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she studied violin with Dr. Jennifer Dalmas and viola with Mrs. Melissa Nabb. While at SFA, Ms. Grohn performed with the University Orchestra, Longview Symphony, Texarkana Symphony and led as principal and associate concertmaster on several occasions. Ms. Grohn was also an orchestra manager/librarian during her degree. In the Fall of 2021, she joined SFA's National String Project Consortium. Throughout her time in Strings Project she had the opportunity to teach private lessons and group classes to students across the K-12 ages. During her senior year she was Head Teacher over all three of SFA's Strings Project divisions. For the past two summers she has been co-directing the Strings Project Summer Camp in Nacogdoches. Ms. Grohn has performed in festivals over the summers such as Sewanee Music Festival and Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival. She has performed in numerous masterclasses, some being with Boson Mo, Shannon Thomas, and Jane Stewart. During student teaching, Ms. Grohn was a member of the violist, Dawson White's studio. Ms. Grohn is a product of Humble ISD and graduated from Kingwood HS. She is entering her first year at West Lake.
Outside of the classroom Ms. Grohn enjoys performing in Kingwood Pops, reading, baking, and going on walks.
Why Orchestra?
Orchestras provide children opportunities to express themselves, interact, and build people skills such as collaboration and communication.
Studies show that learning music can improve cognitive skills, physical development, and emotional well-being.
Stringed instruments are found in nearly every culture and country around the world. Many musical styles feature stringed instruments including jazz, country, pop, mariachi, church music, and folk.
Research shows that music students have increased memory capabilities because of individual and group rehearsal. These skills transfer to other subjects, too.
Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education. Additionally, research shows that students who choose to take music courses in high school instead of taking honors and other classes, were still accepted into college.
Colleges and universities need string players for their orchestras and may offer scholarships to string students regardless of their academic major.
Research shows that learning to play an instrument can lead to higher measures of attention to detail, openness, and ambition. These effects were more noticeable for students in lower socio-economic status households.
