The Faubion Middle School Orchestra was founded in 2005 under the direction of Ruth Kurtis with the creation of the orchestra program in all of the McKinney middle schools. Director, Kari Zamora came to Faubion in the fall of 2006 when there were 32 students in the Faubion Orchestra. In 2011, the Faubion Orchestra had grown to 190 students and required the addition of a second director. There are approximately 245 students enrolled in orchestra at Faubion for the 2024-2025 school year who make up five performing orchestras: Beginner, Sinfonia, Concertino, Camerata, and Honors. Faubion also has an amazing Rock Orchestra which rehearses after school.
Since its creation, the Faubion Orchestra has received nothing but First Division ratings at every contest they have attended including thirteen consecutive years of UIL Sweepstakes ratings with multiple groups each year. The Faubion Orchestra has also earned numerous Best in Class and Most Outstanding Orchestra awards at many area festivals and contests. In 2014, The Full Orchestra was named the National Winner in the Mark of Excellence Music Competition. In addition the Full Orchestra also competed in the TMEA Middle School State Honor Full Orchestra Competition and came out first in the state of Texas performing in San Antonio in February of 2015. In April of 2016, the Faubion Honors Orchestra was invited to perform at the prestigious International Midwest Clinic for Band and Orchestra in Chicago in December of 2016. In 2018 the Faubion Honors Orchestra placed 5th state-wide in the TMEA State String Honor Orchestra Competition. In 2019 Faubion Orchestra received Commended in the national Mark of Excellence Orchestra competition. In 2022 Faubion Orchestra was again a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence Orchestra competition. The Honors Orchestra was invited to perform again at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago in 2023. In 2024, the Faubion Full Orchestra placed 4th in the state Honor Orchestra Competition. Faubion is setting the standard for middle school orchestras around the country.
Since its creation, the Faubion Orchestra has received nothing but First Division ratings at every contest they have attended including thirteen consecutive years of UIL Sweepstakes ratings with multiple groups each year. The Faubion Orchestra has also earned numerous Best in Class and Most Outstanding Orchestra awards at many area festivals and contests. In 2014, The Full Orchestra was named the National Winner in the Mark of Excellence Music Competition. In addition the Full Orchestra also competed in the TMEA Middle School State Honor Full Orchestra Competition and came out first in the state of Texas performing in San Antonio in February of 2015. In April of 2016, the Faubion Honors Orchestra was invited to perform at the prestigious International Midwest Clinic for Band and Orchestra in Chicago in December of 2016. In 2018 the Faubion Honors Orchestra placed 5th state-wide in the TMEA State String Honor Orchestra Competition. In 2019 Faubion Orchestra received Commended in the national Mark of Excellence Orchestra competition. In 2022 Faubion Orchestra was again a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence Orchestra competition. The Honors Orchestra was invited to perform again at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago in 2023. In 2024, the Faubion Full Orchestra placed 4th in the state Honor Orchestra Competition. Faubion is setting the standard for middle school orchestras around the country.
Mrs. Kari Zamora
kzamora@mckinneyisd.net 469-302-6699
Mrs. Zamora is originally from Tustin Michigan and started playing the violin at age 4 through the area Suzuki program. Mrs. Zamora also plays flute and piano and made both All-State band and orchestra while attending Pine River High School.
Mrs. Zamora attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Education, and the University of Florida where she received a Master of Music in Music Theory graduating with a 4.0. While at the University of Florida, her graduate thesis connecting serialism to passacaglias won first place in the Fine Arts Graduate Student Forum.
Mrs. Zamora also enjoys composing and has written many of the UIL sight-reading pieces for the state of Texas over the past twelve years. She is enthusiastic about the pedagogy of music theory and wrote the theory series, "Music Theory for Strings" which has sold several thousands of copies nationwide. In 2007, Mrs. Zamora was selected as the Tex-ASTA Marjorie Keller Outstanding Young String Educator in Texas Award and was a quarterfinalist for the Music Educator Grammy in 2012. She has been a member of TMEA, serving multiple times as region middle school coordinator, and is also a member of ASTA, TMAA, and TODA. This year will be Mrs. Zamora's twenty-sixth year to teach and her nineteenth year at Faubion and currently serves as the Fine Arts/Electives Department Chair. While at Faubion, the orchestras have earned consistent UIL Sweepstakes Awards and been a frequent National or Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence competition. In 2015 the full orchestra was the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra coming in 1st in the state, and in 2018, the Honors Orchestra came in 5th in the State String Competition. In 2016 and 2023, the Faubion Honors Orchestra was invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Prior to teaching at Faubion, she taught in the Bark River-Harris (Michigan) Schools for two years, as well as started the orchestra programs at Downing Middle School and Durham Middle School in Lewisville ISD. Aside from her music-related hobbies, she enjoys spending time traveling with her husband and ten-year old daughter, as well as reading, cycling, and watching hockey and college football.
Mrs. Zamora attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Education, and the University of Florida where she received a Master of Music in Music Theory graduating with a 4.0. While at the University of Florida, her graduate thesis connecting serialism to passacaglias won first place in the Fine Arts Graduate Student Forum.
Mrs. Zamora also enjoys composing and has written many of the UIL sight-reading pieces for the state of Texas over the past twelve years. She is enthusiastic about the pedagogy of music theory and wrote the theory series, "Music Theory for Strings" which has sold several thousands of copies nationwide. In 2007, Mrs. Zamora was selected as the Tex-ASTA Marjorie Keller Outstanding Young String Educator in Texas Award and was a quarterfinalist for the Music Educator Grammy in 2012. She has been a member of TMEA, serving multiple times as region middle school coordinator, and is also a member of ASTA, TMAA, and TODA. This year will be Mrs. Zamora's twenty-sixth year to teach and her nineteenth year at Faubion and currently serves as the Fine Arts/Electives Department Chair. While at Faubion, the orchestras have earned consistent UIL Sweepstakes Awards and been a frequent National or Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence competition. In 2015 the full orchestra was the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra coming in 1st in the state, and in 2018, the Honors Orchestra came in 5th in the State String Competition. In 2016 and 2023, the Faubion Honors Orchestra was invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Prior to teaching at Faubion, she taught in the Bark River-Harris (Michigan) Schools for two years, as well as started the orchestra programs at Downing Middle School and Durham Middle School in Lewisville ISD. Aside from her music-related hobbies, she enjoys spending time traveling with her husband and ten-year old daughter, as well as reading, cycling, and watching hockey and college football.
Mr. Brandon Berens
bberens@mckinneyisd.net 469-302-6699
Mr. Berens is a native of Arlington Texas and starting his fourth year at Faubion MS. Prior to his time at Faubion, he was the Assistant Orchestra Director at Murphy Middle School in Plano ISD. Mr. Berens graduated Summa Cum Laude from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Music with EC-12 Teacher Certification, a specialization in Conducting, and a minor in Spanish. An avid chamber music performer, he was the principal cellist and writer of program notes for the UTA Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Berens has frequently performed professionally in Texas, as well as the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Because he was a recipient of a full scholarship through the Terry Foundation (the largest source of private college funding in Texas), he funneled his passion for music education into years of intense involvement and leadership in various on-campus organizations.
Mr. Berens passions for representation and advocacy during his collegiate career led him to be elected for multiple terms as Senator for the College of Liberal Arts in Student Government and also helped create and manage a multicultural organization, Malala’s Mavericks, which advocates for womens’ rights and education in third world countries through the story of the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai. In addition to these leadership opportunities, Mr. Berens helped revive the professional music organization Collegiate Texas Music Educators (CTME) and served one year as Co-President, preceded by two years as Vice-President. He spent his final summer at UT Arlington studying Spanish in Madrid, Spain as part of his Spanish minor.
Mr. Berens holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Orchestra Directors Association (TODA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
In his free time, Mr. Berens enjoys swing dancing with his wife Grace, playing video games, performing locally on cello in a variety of groups, spending time with close friends and family, cooking, singing with his fraternity brothers, and volunteering in his local community.
ABOUT THE FAUBION ORCHESTRAS
Beginning Orchestra
The Beginner Orchestra is made up of 6th grade students who typically have no experience (or very little experience)on a bowed instrument (Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass). All are welcome! There are many different sections of beginner classes into which we distribute usually into upper strings (violin and viola) from the lower strings (cello and bass). Beginners will spend this first year building a solid foundation for future musical success. They will learn how to read notes and musical terms, demonstrate rhythms, hold their instrument with correct posture, perform a variety of songs and even compose their own music. Families and students alike are regularly amazed at how much can be accomplished during this first year of orchestra. This is also the time that students usually find themselves fitting into the "Orchestra family". It's a wonderful feeling and it gives students a place to belong during these challenging growing-up years.
Sinfonia Orchestra
The Sinfonia Orchestra is the next step for most students after finishing their Beginner year. At this point upper and lower strings are combined into a more typical orchestral set up. Students will perform music made up of 4-5 different voices or parts. This offers an almost endless variety of opportunities! Sinfonia students will continue to refine the skills they acquired during their Beginner year. They will learn to read additional notes and terms as well as demonstrate more complex rhythm and bowing patterns. Students are also introduced to vibrato. The Sinfonia students will have the opportunity to participate in in various additional contests like Solo Ensemble, Pre-UIL, UIL and and the Director's Choice Pinstack Festival.
Concertino Orchestra
Many students proceed to the Concertino Orchestra for their third year of orchestral studies. This Orchestra works to refine and also add to their acquired skills. New and advanced techniques include complex key signatures and rhythms, advanced bowing patterns and styles, and an introduction to vibrato and shifting. Concertino students, along with Sinfonia, Camerata and Honors, will have the opportunity to audition for the prestigious All-Region Orchestras. These are community Orchestras made up of our elite students in the City of McKinney and also the surrounding Region. Concertino will also participate in Solo & Ensemble festivals, spring contests, and UIL. 7th and 8th grade students in all three upper level groups also have the opportunity to apply to be a practice buddy mentor to a beginning 6th grader.
Camerata Orchestra
The Camerata Orchestra is a upper level class that is more challenging than Concertino. All instruments are fully integrated with both upper and lower strings represented. This orchestra works on advancing shifting and vibrato techniques and learning more complex rhythms and key signatures. Students in Camerata, will have the opportunity to audition for the prestigious All-Region Orchestras. These are community Orchestras made up of our elite students in the City of McKinney and also the surrounding Region. Camerata will also participate in Solo & Ensemble festivals, spring contests, and UIL. 7th and 8th grade students in all three upper level groups also have the opportunity to apply to be a practice buddy mentor to a beginning 6th grader
Honors Orchestra
Honors Orchestra is a demanding and intense level of orchestra which refines many advanced string techniques. Consistent private lessons also contribute to this accelerated placement as Honors students are all involved in private lessons. Honors students are expected to participate in All-Region auditions as well as Solo and Ensemble and various other community performance opportunities. This class works on advanced levels of scales, shifting, bowing and rhythmic techniques as well as higher level concert repertoire. Students will participate in the annual UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest, full orchestra, and numerous other community performances. Honors students may apply to be a practice buddy mentor to a beginning Orchestra student.
Mr. Berens passions for representation and advocacy during his collegiate career led him to be elected for multiple terms as Senator for the College of Liberal Arts in Student Government and also helped create and manage a multicultural organization, Malala’s Mavericks, which advocates for womens’ rights and education in third world countries through the story of the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai. In addition to these leadership opportunities, Mr. Berens helped revive the professional music organization Collegiate Texas Music Educators (CTME) and served one year as Co-President, preceded by two years as Vice-President. He spent his final summer at UT Arlington studying Spanish in Madrid, Spain as part of his Spanish minor.
Mr. Berens holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Orchestra Directors Association (TODA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
In his free time, Mr. Berens enjoys swing dancing with his wife Grace, playing video games, performing locally on cello in a variety of groups, spending time with close friends and family, cooking, singing with his fraternity brothers, and volunteering in his local community.
ABOUT THE FAUBION ORCHESTRAS
Beginning Orchestra
The Beginner Orchestra is made up of 6th grade students who typically have no experience (or very little experience)on a bowed instrument (Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass). All are welcome! There are many different sections of beginner classes into which we distribute usually into upper strings (violin and viola) from the lower strings (cello and bass). Beginners will spend this first year building a solid foundation for future musical success. They will learn how to read notes and musical terms, demonstrate rhythms, hold their instrument with correct posture, perform a variety of songs and even compose their own music. Families and students alike are regularly amazed at how much can be accomplished during this first year of orchestra. This is also the time that students usually find themselves fitting into the "Orchestra family". It's a wonderful feeling and it gives students a place to belong during these challenging growing-up years.
Sinfonia Orchestra
The Sinfonia Orchestra is the next step for most students after finishing their Beginner year. At this point upper and lower strings are combined into a more typical orchestral set up. Students will perform music made up of 4-5 different voices or parts. This offers an almost endless variety of opportunities! Sinfonia students will continue to refine the skills they acquired during their Beginner year. They will learn to read additional notes and terms as well as demonstrate more complex rhythm and bowing patterns. Students are also introduced to vibrato. The Sinfonia students will have the opportunity to participate in in various additional contests like Solo Ensemble, Pre-UIL, UIL and and the Director's Choice Pinstack Festival.
Concertino Orchestra
Many students proceed to the Concertino Orchestra for their third year of orchestral studies. This Orchestra works to refine and also add to their acquired skills. New and advanced techniques include complex key signatures and rhythms, advanced bowing patterns and styles, and an introduction to vibrato and shifting. Concertino students, along with Sinfonia, Camerata and Honors, will have the opportunity to audition for the prestigious All-Region Orchestras. These are community Orchestras made up of our elite students in the City of McKinney and also the surrounding Region. Concertino will also participate in Solo & Ensemble festivals, spring contests, and UIL. 7th and 8th grade students in all three upper level groups also have the opportunity to apply to be a practice buddy mentor to a beginning 6th grader.
Camerata Orchestra
The Camerata Orchestra is a upper level class that is more challenging than Concertino. All instruments are fully integrated with both upper and lower strings represented. This orchestra works on advancing shifting and vibrato techniques and learning more complex rhythms and key signatures. Students in Camerata, will have the opportunity to audition for the prestigious All-Region Orchestras. These are community Orchestras made up of our elite students in the City of McKinney and also the surrounding Region. Camerata will also participate in Solo & Ensemble festivals, spring contests, and UIL. 7th and 8th grade students in all three upper level groups also have the opportunity to apply to be a practice buddy mentor to a beginning 6th grader
Honors Orchestra
Honors Orchestra is a demanding and intense level of orchestra which refines many advanced string techniques. Consistent private lessons also contribute to this accelerated placement as Honors students are all involved in private lessons. Honors students are expected to participate in All-Region auditions as well as Solo and Ensemble and various other community performance opportunities. This class works on advanced levels of scales, shifting, bowing and rhythmic techniques as well as higher level concert repertoire. Students will participate in the annual UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest, full orchestra, and numerous other community performances. Honors students may apply to be a practice buddy mentor to a beginning Orchestra student.