Mission Statement
The Tompkins Orchestra Program’s primary goal is to develop the complete student musician who makes a positive contribution to the musical team concept and seeks to become an effective communicator, problem solver and finally, a productive and responsible citizen. On the pathway to this goal, the Tompkins Orchestra recognizes and promotes the idea that enthusiasm and a positive spirit are the primary tools for unlocking each student’s full potential.
Over the last several years the Tompkins orchestra program has quickly become the standard for excellence in Katy ISD and beyond thanks to the strong support of Katy ISD and the OTHS feeder orchestra programs and directors. It is our goal for every student that enters the OTHS orchestra program to experience music in a way they will never forget.
Over the last several years the Tompkins orchestra program has quickly become the standard for excellence in Katy ISD and beyond thanks to the strong support of Katy ISD and the OTHS feeder orchestra programs and directors. It is our goal for every student that enters the OTHS orchestra program to experience music in a way they will never forget.
About the Orchestras
The orchestras at Tompkins High School are divided into six levels based on experience, work ethic, and musical ability. Placement is determined through a competitive audition held at the end of the previous school year. The entry-level ensemble is Camerata, followed by Philharmonia, Lyrica, Cambiata, Sinfonietta, and our most advanced group, Sinfonia. Members of Sinfonia and Sinfonietta form the string section of the Tompkins Symphony Orchestra, which includes winds, brass, and percussion from the Falcon Band.
Since the school opened in 2013, the Tompkins Orchestra program has quickly distinguished itself among Texas high school orchestra programs. It has grown from 55 to approximately 260 students. Tompkins orchestras have performed in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, New York City, and throughout the Katy community. Our string orchestras consistently earn the prestigious UIL Sweepstakes Award.
The musical pit orchestra was named Best Orchestra at the 2016, 2022, and 2024 Tommy Tune Awards for their performances of Into the Woods, Seussical the Musical, and Tuck Everlasting. In the fall of 2017, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Tompkins Sinfonia submitted an entry for the 2018 TMEA Honor Orchestra competition and earned first place, achieving the title of 2018 TMEA Honor Orchestra (State Champions). Following this first-ever state title, the orchestra went on to win again in 2023 and 2025. Most recently, the Tompkins Symphony Orchestra performed at the prestigious 2024 Midwest Clinic held in Chicago, IL.
Since the school opened in 2013, the Tompkins Orchestra program has quickly distinguished itself among Texas high school orchestra programs. It has grown from 55 to approximately 260 students. Tompkins orchestras have performed in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, New York City, and throughout the Katy community. Our string orchestras consistently earn the prestigious UIL Sweepstakes Award.
The musical pit orchestra was named Best Orchestra at the 2016, 2022, and 2024 Tommy Tune Awards for their performances of Into the Woods, Seussical the Musical, and Tuck Everlasting. In the fall of 2017, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Tompkins Sinfonia submitted an entry for the 2018 TMEA Honor Orchestra competition and earned first place, achieving the title of 2018 TMEA Honor Orchestra (State Champions). Following this first-ever state title, the orchestra went on to win again in 2023 and 2025. Most recently, the Tompkins Symphony Orchestra performed at the prestigious 2024 Midwest Clinic held in Chicago, IL.
Director of Orchestras │ Matthew Porter
Shortly finishing his music studies at Texas Tech University, Mr. Porter began his first year of teaching in Katy ISD at Beck JH and Memorial Parkway JH. The following school year Mr. Porter was asked to open Beckendorff JH. In his nine years at Beckendorff the orchestra program grew from 58 students to over 250 becoming one of the premier middle school orchestra programs in Texas. The Beckendorff Orchestra was named a finalist in the Texas Honor Orchestra Finals for eight consecutive contests. During the 2011-2012 school year Mr. Porter and band director Susan Steber’s students performed as the invited MS/JH Full Orchestra at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and also performed as the 2012 TMEA MS/JH Honor Full Orchestra in San Antonio.
In the spring of 2013, Mr. Porter was hired to open what was the newest high school in Katy ISD, Tompkins High School. Since that first year, Mr. Porter has led the OTHS orchestra to much success as it has become an organization firmly rooted in service to the Katy community. Notable highlights include winning the 2018, 2023, and 2025 TMEA Honor Orchestra contests, and three Tommy Tune Awards for Outstanding Orchestra in 2016, 2022, & in 2024.
In 2006, Matthew and his wife Bryanna founded Katy ISD's Junior High Orchestra Camp each summer to provide enrichment opportunities for Katy ISD string students which continues to this day. In 2014, the Houston Symphony named Mr. Porter the recipient of the Spec's Award for Excellence in Music Education. He is one of the founding music directors of the Katy Youth Orchestra, an active freelance cellist, clinician, and adjudicator. Mr. Porter has served as an officer for TMEA Region 23, audition chair for TMEA All-State, and chair of the Orchestra UIL PML Committee. He on staff with the Houston Youth Symphony as one of their primary conductors and is also a member of Texas Orchestra Director Association, Texas Music Educator Association, Texas Music Adjudicator Association, Phi Mu Alpha, & Mu Omicron Honorary Fraternity. In his spare time, Mr. Porter enjoys hobby painting, reading, regular workouts & time spent with his family.
In the spring of 2013, Mr. Porter was hired to open what was the newest high school in Katy ISD, Tompkins High School. Since that first year, Mr. Porter has led the OTHS orchestra to much success as it has become an organization firmly rooted in service to the Katy community. Notable highlights include winning the 2018, 2023, and 2025 TMEA Honor Orchestra contests, and three Tommy Tune Awards for Outstanding Orchestra in 2016, 2022, & in 2024.
In 2006, Matthew and his wife Bryanna founded Katy ISD's Junior High Orchestra Camp each summer to provide enrichment opportunities for Katy ISD string students which continues to this day. In 2014, the Houston Symphony named Mr. Porter the recipient of the Spec's Award for Excellence in Music Education. He is one of the founding music directors of the Katy Youth Orchestra, an active freelance cellist, clinician, and adjudicator. Mr. Porter has served as an officer for TMEA Region 23, audition chair for TMEA All-State, and chair of the Orchestra UIL PML Committee. He on staff with the Houston Youth Symphony as one of their primary conductors and is also a member of Texas Orchestra Director Association, Texas Music Educator Association, Texas Music Adjudicator Association, Phi Mu Alpha, & Mu Omicron Honorary Fraternity. In his spare time, Mr. Porter enjoys hobby painting, reading, regular workouts & time spent with his family.
Assistant Director │ Sarah Marts
Soon after picking up the violin at age 12, Ms. Marts knew she had found her purpose. In December 2019, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas with bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Violin Performance under the instruction of Dr. Elizabeth Chappell and Prof. Philip Lewis respectively. During her five years at UNT, Ms. Marts performed with various chamber music ensembles, as well as with both the Concert and Symphony Orchestras under the direction of Dr. Clay Couturiaux and Prof. David Itkin. She studied the fundamentals of orchestral conducting with both directors. Throughout her time at UNT, Ms. Marts taught students of all ages both privately and in a classroom setting through the UNT String Project, a community music program that offers Suzuki-based string instrument instruction.
Ms. Marts began her career serving as assistant orchestra director of Tompkins Orchestras in January 2020. Since her inaugural year, the Tompkins Cambiata, Philharmonia, and Camerata orchestras have all earned sweepstakes at the UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest under her direction. She regularly plays professional gigs on violin in Katy and around the greater Houston area. Because Ms. Marts is dedicated to expanding her solo repertoire, she has continued her violin studies with Dr. Jim McLeland, with whom she previously took lessons during her middle and high school years. Being a chamber musician at heart, Ms. Marts's favorite music performance outlet is playing violin with an ensemble made up of three of her fellow string teachers who are called the Satine Quartet. She spends her free time singing karaoke, dancing, PC gaming, and doting on her three black cats, Lou, Lady, & Lola.
Ms. Marts began her career serving as assistant orchestra director of Tompkins Orchestras in January 2020. Since her inaugural year, the Tompkins Cambiata, Philharmonia, and Camerata orchestras have all earned sweepstakes at the UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest under her direction. She regularly plays professional gigs on violin in Katy and around the greater Houston area. Because Ms. Marts is dedicated to expanding her solo repertoire, she has continued her violin studies with Dr. Jim McLeland, with whom she previously took lessons during her middle and high school years. Being a chamber musician at heart, Ms. Marts's favorite music performance outlet is playing violin with an ensemble made up of three of her fellow string teachers who are called the Satine Quartet. She spends her free time singing karaoke, dancing, PC gaming, and doting on her three black cats, Lou, Lady, & Lola.
2025 - 2026 Student Leadership TeamCo-Presidents │ Jooni Hwang & Aimee Wu
Co-Vice-Presidents │ Arjun Chandupatla & Fiona Jin Secretary │ Lynn Wu Historians │Quinn Milek & Delyse Tang Social Media │ Kaylee Park, Sara Perozo, Kendall Porter Music Librarian │ Jenna Peng Communications Team │ Vicky CC & Rithik Ullas Crew Chiefs │ Brian Lee & Dylan Hooks Concert Managers │ Yuna Jeong & Melinda Zhu Members at Large │ Aaptika Baratam, Eva Regalado, Lucas Teo, Claira Yang Freshmen Reps │ Kelly Kang & Alexander Li |
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