Youth Orchestra Directors
Clarissa López
Clarissa López is a dedicated and accomplished music educator with a rich history of teaching instrumental music at the secondary level, starting her career in 2006. She has served in various notable roles, including Orchestra and Band Director at Meridian World School, Inaugural String Orchestra Director at Hernandez Middle School, and Associate Band Director at Covington Middle School in Austin ISD. She has extensive experience instructing string and full orchestras, concert bands, jazz ensemble, mariachi and general music. She is currently the Orchestra Director at Pearson Ranch Middle School and continuing the rich traditions of music excellency within the program.
Raised in Alice, Texas, Clarissa's passion for music was inspired by her father and her band directors. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University Kingsville and a Master's degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas. Her primary instruments are the trumpet, violin, and piano.
Clarissa is a strong advocate for student-centered, energetic instruction that fosters a climate of acceptance, compassion, and respect. She aims to provide learning experiences that develop independent musicianship, teamwork, and creativity. Her inclusive approach often involves collaboration with other teachers to build a unified school community.
Her excellence in teaching has been recognized through several awards, including the Meridian Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2022-2023 and Quarter-Finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award in 2019-2020. Under her direction, her ensembles consistently achieve superior ratings at UIL evaluations and Best in Class / Best Overall Recognitions at music festivals. Clarissa is also dedicated to community outreach and is in high demand for her groups to perform at Round Rock community events.
Outside of her professional commitments, Clarissa and her husband, Samuel, are blessed parents of two incredible children, Noelia and Felix. She enjoys reading, practicing her instruments and catching up with her friends. She has a keen interest in learning about different cultures and meeting new people.
Her professional memberships include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Director Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Cathy Humphrey
Cathy Humphrey is a highly experienced music educator with an impressive 29-year career dedicated to teaching a wide range of musical disciplines, including concert band, orchestra, marching band, colorguard, steel pan, and jazz ensembles. Her teaching philosophy centers around the belief that music education fosters essential life skills and personal growth, and she strives to inspire her students to appreciate these benefits through their participation in structured musical programs.
She holds a Bachelor's Degree in All-Level Music Education from Texas State University and was an active member of Tau Beta Sigma. In 2009, she earned her Master’s degree in educational administration from Concordia University in Austin complemented by certifications in both Instructional Leadership Development and Professional Development and Support.
In her current role as the Director of Bands at Cele Middle School in Pflugerville ISD, Mrs. Humphrey's ensembles consistently earn Superior Ratings at UIL and notable achievements in festivals and invitational competitions. Her jazz and chamber wind ensembles are actively involved in community performances. She is a proud sponsor of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, which enables her students to take on leadership roles within their community.
Prior to teaching at Cele MS, Mrs. Humphrey was Director of Bands at Hernandez Middle School in Round Rock ISD. In just three years of its opening, she led her band to achieve national recognition by winning the 2013 Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors. Her tenure at Covington Middle School in Austin ISD was equally impressive, with her groups consistently excelling in UIL competitions and performing at prestigious venues like the Lincoln Memorial Center, Carnegie Hall and various national invitationals.
Outside of public education, Cathy served as Director of Student Life for the Sewanee Summer Music Festival in Tennessee for six years, where she played a key role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of participants from around the globe. Her responsibilities included working closely with the festival's artistic director and collaborating with distinguished conductors and faculty artists from leading orchestras and conservatories. This experience not only enhanced her operational acumen in managing a non-profit organization but also allowed her to contribute to educational programming and community performances.
Her professional memberships include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Education Association and The National Association for Music Education.
Teaching Artists
Susan Williams - Strings and Full Orchestra
Mrs. Williams began her teaching career 44 years ago in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas after graduating from Del Mar College and Corpus Christi State University (now TAMU Corpus Christi). She started teaching in 1979 and taught three years for Corpus Christi ISD. In 1982 she was hired by Austin ISD. During her 19 years in AISD, she taught concurrently at LBJ High School, Pearce Middle School and numerous elementary schools. In 1995, the LBJ Symphony Orchestra was named the Texas Music Educators Full Honor Orchestra. Their excellent performance at the TMEA Convention in February of 1996 was well received. In 2001 Susan started teaching at Westwood High School. During her 16 years there, the Westwood Orchestra members were consistently successful.
Their awards include:
*2006 TMEA Full Honor Orchestra
*2010 TMEA Full Honor Orchestra
*2013 TMEA String Honor Orchestra
*2013 Full Orchestra Midwest Music Convention
From Mrs. Williams, “Without an orchestra, a conductor’s baton is an utterly silent stick, devoid of life or expressiveness. Thank you to each of the students and their parents, who share their precious time to make music with the CTPYO. The gift of your shared talent turns an ordinary stick into an almost magical music making instrument.”
Michael Arnold - Brass
Michael is the principal trumpet for the Central Texas philharmonic Orchestra. He is also an active freelance musician in the Greater Austin Area, performing weddings, festivals , and churches, as well as teaches a studio of students.
Shawn Karson - Woodwinds
Shawn Karson is the Second Bassoonist with the Northwest Florida Symphony and Gulf Coast Symphony, as well as Contrabassoonist with the Punta Gorda Symphony, Central Texas Philharmonic, and Brazos Valley Symphony orchestras. He has performed around the United States with groups such as Austin Symphony Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. Other organizations include Miami Ballet, National Music Festival, Taneycomo Music Festival, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Miami Music Festival as well as serving as Guest Principal Bassoonist with the Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra in London, United Kingdom.
A devoted teacher, Shawn manages a private studio of fifty plus students in and around the Central Texas independent school districts. He also teaches a handful of students virtually who span across the globe.
A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Shawn holds a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from Florida State University College of Music. His primary teachers include Kristin Wolfe Jensenand Jeff Keesecker.
Adrienne Inglis - Woodwinds
Founder, award-winning composer, and singer with Inversion Ensemble of Austin, Texas, Adrienne Inglis also serves as principal flute with the Central Texas Philharmonic and flutist with flute/harp duo Chaski. She has music degrees from Lewis and Clark College and the University of Texas at Austin. Frequently drawing on her family history and Ojibwe, Venezuelan, and Scottish ethnicities, Inglis composes choral, chamber, and orchestral music. An avid birder and environmentalist, she lives in the rural hill country of Central Texas.