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 attitude 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 are split into six different levels based on experience, work ethic, and ability. Groups are selected by competitive audition at the end of the previous school year. The entry level group is Camerata followed by Philharmonia, Lyrica, Cambiata, Sinfonietta, and our most advanced orchestra, Sinfonia. Our Sinfonia & Sinfonietta musicians make up the string section of our full orchestra (falcon band included) the Tompkins Symphony Orchestra.
Since the opening of Tompkins High School in 2013, the orchestra have quickly made their mark among Texas high school orchestra programs. The program has grown from 55 students to around 260 students. Students in the orchestras have performed in Dallas, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, New York City and throughout the Katy community. String orchestras from Tompkins consistently earn the prized UIL Sweepstakes award. The musical "pit" orchestra from OTHS was named Best Orchestra for the 2016 Tommy Tune Awards for their performance of the "Into the Woods" and were nominated for the same award in 2018 & 2022. In the fall of 2017, after hurricane Harvey tore through the Houston area, the Tompkins Sinfonia submitted for the 2018 TMEA Texas Honor Orchestra contest and won first place, earning the title of 2018 TMEA Honor Orchestra (state champions).
Since the opening of Tompkins High School in 2013, the orchestra have quickly made their mark among Texas high school orchestra programs. The program has grown from 55 students to around 260 students. Students in the orchestras have performed in Dallas, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, New York City and throughout the Katy community. String orchestras from Tompkins consistently earn the prized UIL Sweepstakes award. The musical "pit" orchestra from OTHS was named Best Orchestra for the 2016 Tommy Tune Awards for their performance of the "Into the Woods" and were nominated for the same award in 2018 & 2022. In the fall of 2017, after hurricane Harvey tore through the Houston area, the Tompkins Sinfonia submitted for the 2018 TMEA Texas Honor Orchestra contest and won first place, earning the title of 2018 TMEA Honor Orchestra (state champions).
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 and 2023 TMEA Honor Orchestra contests, and two Tommy Tune Awards for Outstanding Orchestra in 2016 & in 2022.
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. 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 is 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 reading, workouts with his wife, & time spent playing chauffeur to his three daughters Madeline, Kendall, & Molly.
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 and 2023 TMEA Honor Orchestra contests, and two Tommy Tune Awards for Outstanding Orchestra in 2016 & in 2022.
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. 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 is 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 reading, workouts with his wife, & time spent playing chauffeur to his three daughters Madeline, Kendall, & Molly.
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 two black cats, Lou and Lady.
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 two black cats, Lou and Lady.
2022 - 2023 Student Leadership Team
2022-2023 Orchestra Officers
Co-Presidents │ Eugene Chung & Rachael Suh
Co-Vice-Presidents │ Tiffany Luong & Peter Song
Secretary │ Lydia Kang
Historians │Alex Shi & Ian Beamer
Social Media & Events │ Allison Kim & Allyson Tang
Librarians │ Karen Gutierrez, Audrey Kim, & Abhi Someswar
Crew Chief │ Bella Chan
Stage Manager │ Wilson Teo & Greydan Villano
Sophomore Rep│ Andrew Yang
Freshmen Rep │ Kendall Porter & Aimee Wu
Co-Vice-Presidents │ Tiffany Luong & Peter Song
Secretary │ Lydia Kang
Historians │Alex Shi & Ian Beamer
Social Media & Events │ Allison Kim & Allyson Tang
Librarians │ Karen Gutierrez, Audrey Kim, & Abhi Someswar
Crew Chief │ Bella Chan
Stage Manager │ Wilson Teo & Greydan Villano
Sophomore Rep│ Andrew Yang
Freshmen Rep │ Kendall Porter & Aimee Wu