TAYLOR ORCHESTRA - Key Persons

Amber Cheung

Job Titles:

Co - President
Member of the Student Orchestra Officers Team

Clint Capshaw graduated from James E. Taylor High School in 1999 and was a former student of director emeritus George Engelmann. He received both his Bachelors degree, magna cum laude, and Masters degree from the University of North Texas. Orchestras under the direction of Mr. Capshaw have consistently earned UIL "sweepstakes" and best-in-class awards. The THS Chamber Orchestra (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019) and Symphony Orchestra (2016) placed in the finales for TMEA Honor Orchestra. Also, The Chamber Orchestra (2017, 2018 & 2020) and Symphony Orchestra (2016 & 2019) earned a "National" award, and the Chamber Orchestra (2014, 2015 & 2019) earned a "Commended" award through the Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors Project. The THS Orchestra also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York in April of 2014 & 2018. In spring 2003 Mr. Capshaw was the solo recipient of the University of North Texas Honors Award for most outstanding undergraduate music education major for the 2002-2003 school year. Proficient on the viola, baroque viola and viola da gamba, his teachers have included Dr. Susan Dubois (modern viola), Cynthia Roberts (baroque viola), Patricia Adams Nordstrom (viola da gamba), Karrell Johnson (string education) and Dr. Lyle Nordstom (early music). Mr. Capshaw enjoyed teaching middle school and elementary orchestra in Denton for five years and high school orchestra in Round Rock for two years before returning home to Katy and Taylor High School in 2012.

Dr. Gracie Ibemere

Job Titles:

Assistant Orchestra Director

Gracie Ibemere graduated from the University of Texas-Austin in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance under the guidance of DaXun Zhang. She continued her studies at the University of Houston where she completed a Master of Music program in 2014 and doctoral training under the guidance of Dennis Whittaker, to whom she owes her musicality and pedagogy skills. Following her doctoral recitals, comprehensive exams, and doctoral essay, "Interactions Between Text and Music in Three Pieces by John Deak, Frank Proto, and Tom Johnson," Dr. Ibemere earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in May of 2018. During her studies, Dr. Ibemere had the opportunity to teach double bass lessons in the Houston area. While teaching lessons in public schools, Dr. Ibemere ("Dr. G") observed several amazing orchestra directors who inspired her to teach orchestra and continue to guide her to success today. In the fall of 2018, she joined the orchestra department in Clear Creek ISD as an assistant orchestra director. The 2020 school year brought Dr. G to Memorial Parkway JH in Katy ISD. After serving as a director at the middle school level, Dr. G is now the assistant director at Taylor High School. In addition to teaching lessons and assisting at Taylor High School, Dr. G also periodically performs with regional orchestras like the Scott Joplin Orchestra, Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony of Southeast Texas. Dr. G was featured in a production celebrating the centennial of women's right to vote entitled, "The Women Have Something to Say." Part of this production was broadcast by the Kennedy Center's "Arts Across America" series in October 2020 and the full production premiered in August of 2021. She also coaches student-musicians at American Festival of the Arts (AFA) chamber music academy and summer festival as well as giving a joint presentation at Texas Music Educators Association Convention (TMEA); something she plans to do more often.