Brendan Townsend (b. 1968) is an Irish-born conductor, educator and cellist.
Appointed as Music Director of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003, Townsend has attracted widespread attention as a conductor. He won the “2007 ASCAP Award for Innovative Programming” presented by the League of American Orchestras. He has garned a national reputation for including lesser known concertos (in particular) into his concert programs including such pieces as the Violin Concerto of Rodolfo Halffter, Cello Concerto by Behzad Ranjbaran, Sinfonia Concertante by Miklos Rozsa and is a supporter of many of the country's finest living composers such as Lee Actor, Heather Schmidt, and Peter Boyer.
In 2003 he was appointed to the Music Directorship of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra. He also holds a concurrent teaching position at Texas A&M International University and until 2011 also taught at Laredo Community College. As a guest conductor, he has worked in Florida, Georgia, both Carolinas, Tennessee, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and California. He has also conducted concerts in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and recently, Honduras.
Growing up in County Cork, Ireland, the son of Dr. Declan Townsend, a musician, educator and conductor. He began his musical studies in cello and chamber music at an early age
at the Cork School of Music with cellist Gerard Kelly, and chamber musician Constantine Zanidache.
He earned his Diploma of the Cork School of Music in 1988. He further achieved a Licentiate Diploma in Cello Performance from Trinity College, London. He spent a year in Essen, Germany where he took cello lessons from Young-Chang Cho at the Folkwang Hochschule before transferring to the Conservatorium voor muziek (in Maastricht), where he attained a Docerend Musicus diploma in cello under the tutelage of Mirel Iancovici, and an Uitvoerend Diploma in conducting under Jan Stulen in 1994.
He began his conducting career with the Cork Gilbert & Sullivan Society at age 18. He made his professional European debut with the Netherlands Promenade Orchestra before going on to conduct over 20 orchestras, choirs and opera companies in Europe. From 1995 - 1997 he was the Music Director for Sinfonietta Geleen and Ars Antiqua et Nova. In 1997 he moved to the United States where he was Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and director of orchestras at the University of the Incarnate Word. In 2001 he became the interim Music Director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at Tennessee Tech University. Since 2004 he has conducted all musical theater productions for Laredo Theater Guild International. In September 2005 he took over as Music Director of the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale. Since 2006 he has been a frequent guest conductor of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, and recently the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Honduras.
In recent years his concert programs have included works by Marion Ingoldsby, Declan Townsend, Stephen Dankner, David Avshalomov, Bruce Craig Roter, Peter Boyer, Nancy Galbraith, Christoper Rouse, Henryck Gorecki, Mikolaj Gorecki, Yoshimatsui, Behzad Ranjbaran, Roberto Sierra, Ross Edwards, Heather Schmidt, and Lowell Lieberman.
He has worked alongside soloists Christopher O'Riley (piano), Wesley Baldwin (cello), Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio (violin), Cho-Liang Lin (violin), Herman Godes (piano), Ilya Itin (piano), Luis Casal (viola), David Delambre (violin), Heather Schmidt (piano), Susan Liu (piano and gu zheng), Suzanne Ramo (soprano), Patrick Henkens (tenor), Paul Mc Namara (tenor), Franz Kokkelmans (baritone), Melinda Hughes (soprano), Roger Martin (flute), James Lotz (bassoon), James Spinazola (saxophone) and many others.
His research has led to the publication of "PRACTICE: An acronym for a holistic approach to practice" in the International Journal of Music Education (Volume 30, No. 4).
* Laredo Musical Theatre Online website
Appointed as Music Director of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003, Townsend has attracted widespread attention as a conductor. He won the “2007 ASCAP Award for Innovative Programming” presented by the League of American Orchestras. He has garned a national reputation for including lesser known concertos (in particular) into his concert programs including such pieces as the Violin Concerto of Rodolfo Halffter, Cello Concerto by Behzad Ranjbaran, Sinfonia Concertante by Miklos Rozsa and is a supporter of many of the country's finest living composers such as Lee Actor, Heather Schmidt, and Peter Boyer.
In 2003 he was appointed to the Music Directorship of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra. He also holds a concurrent teaching position at Texas A&M International University and until 2011 also taught at Laredo Community College. As a guest conductor, he has worked in Florida, Georgia, both Carolinas, Tennessee, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and California. He has also conducted concerts in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and recently, Honduras.
Growing up in County Cork, Ireland, the son of Dr. Declan Townsend, a musician, educator and conductor. He began his musical studies in cello and chamber music at an early age
at the Cork School of Music with cellist Gerard Kelly, and chamber musician Constantine Zanidache.
He earned his Diploma of the Cork School of Music in 1988. He further achieved a Licentiate Diploma in Cello Performance from Trinity College, London. He spent a year in Essen, Germany where he took cello lessons from Young-Chang Cho at the Folkwang Hochschule before transferring to the Conservatorium voor muziek (in Maastricht), where he attained a Docerend Musicus diploma in cello under the tutelage of Mirel Iancovici, and an Uitvoerend Diploma in conducting under Jan Stulen in 1994.
He began his conducting career with the Cork Gilbert & Sullivan Society at age 18. He made his professional European debut with the Netherlands Promenade Orchestra before going on to conduct over 20 orchestras, choirs and opera companies in Europe. From 1995 - 1997 he was the Music Director for Sinfonietta Geleen and Ars Antiqua et Nova. In 1997 he moved to the United States where he was Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and director of orchestras at the University of the Incarnate Word. In 2001 he became the interim Music Director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at Tennessee Tech University. Since 2004 he has conducted all musical theater productions for Laredo Theater Guild International. In September 2005 he took over as Music Director of the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale. Since 2006 he has been a frequent guest conductor of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, and recently the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Honduras.
In recent years his concert programs have included works by Marion Ingoldsby, Declan Townsend, Stephen Dankner, David Avshalomov, Bruce Craig Roter, Peter Boyer, Nancy Galbraith, Christoper Rouse, Henryck Gorecki, Mikolaj Gorecki, Yoshimatsui, Behzad Ranjbaran, Roberto Sierra, Ross Edwards, Heather Schmidt, and Lowell Lieberman.
He has worked alongside soloists Christopher O'Riley (piano), Wesley Baldwin (cello), Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio (violin), Cho-Liang Lin (violin), Herman Godes (piano), Ilya Itin (piano), Luis Casal (viola), David Delambre (violin), Heather Schmidt (piano), Susan Liu (piano and gu zheng), Suzanne Ramo (soprano), Patrick Henkens (tenor), Paul Mc Namara (tenor), Franz Kokkelmans (baritone), Melinda Hughes (soprano), Roger Martin (flute), James Lotz (bassoon), James Spinazola (saxophone) and many others.
His research has led to the publication of "PRACTICE: An acronym for a holistic approach to practice" in the International Journal of Music Education (Volume 30, No. 4).
* Laredo Musical Theatre Online website
Bernice Kiker Elementary School is an elementary school in the Austin Independent School District school boundary.
History
Kiker Elementary school was built in 1992. The school is named after Bernice Kiker who was the first female principle in Austin ISD. She was born in Dublin, Texas. She died at the age of 91 on May 28th 1995. The served as a principle for 21 years until she retired in 1970. She was the principle at Travis Heights most of her career. She was the vice principle of that school for 3 years prior to being principle. Her Alma Matter was at Southern Methodist University and received her M.A. from Colorado.
Kiker is rated an exemplary school and is recognized for its standardized test scores. It is also a NCEA Higher Performing School by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA).
Kiker was also recognized by AISD in 2010, with Gold Performance Awards in:
- Attendance Rate for the 2008-2009 school year
- Commended Performance in Reading ELA/Math/Writing/Science, Spring 2010 TAKS
- Comparable Improvement in Math, Spring 2010 TAKS
History
Kiker Elementary school was built in 1992. The school is named after Bernice Kiker who was the first female principle in Austin ISD. She was born in Dublin, Texas. She died at the age of 91 on May 28th 1995. The served as a principle for 21 years until she retired in 1970. She was the principle at Travis Heights most of her career. She was the vice principle of that school for 3 years prior to being principle. Her Alma Matter was at Southern Methodist University and received her M.A. from Colorado.
Kiker is rated an exemplary school and is recognized for its standardized test scores. It is also a NCEA Higher Performing School by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA).
Kiker was also recognized by AISD in 2010, with Gold Performance Awards in:
- Attendance Rate for the 2008-2009 school year
- Commended Performance in Reading ELA/Math/Writing/Science, Spring 2010 TAKS
- Comparable Improvement in Math, Spring 2010 TAKS
Amanda Ryder
Amanda Ryder was born on March 15, 1990 to her parents Bill and Judy Ryder. She is the youngest of three children, with one brother and one sister. When she is not in River Falls, she resides in her hometown of Menomonie, Wisconsin. She graduated from Menomonie High School with the class of 2007/2008. After graduation she chose to become a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She decided to dedicate her education to a major in health and human performance, with a minor in health. In addition to her education, she decided to continue her dedication to her athletics. In an interview Amanda stated, “Growing up, it was a dream for me to play at the collegiate level one day.” Through hard work, dedication, and passion her dreams became her reality.
High School Hockey Career
Amanda participated on the Minnesota Thoroughbreds hockey team for two years. She lead the team her senior year as captain.
Collegiate Hockey Career
Number 10 defensemen, Amanda Ryder, was a member of the River Falls hockey team for five years. However, she only played four years because she red-shirted during the 2010/2011 season due to a reoccurring knee injury. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Student Voice wrote an article about her injury. The article stated that she injured her knee, went through three surgeries, and continues to return to her athletics.
Awards:
*2009 All-NCHA
*2010 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2010 All-NCHA
*2011 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2011 NCHA All-Academic
*2012 All-Academic
*2012 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2013 All-NCHA
Statistics:
*Total Goals: 20
*Total Assists: 35
*Total Penalties: 81
*Total Penalty Minutes: 162
High School Softball Career
Amanda played for the Menomonie Indians/Mustangs for four years. During her time as an Indian/Mustang, she was the starting catcher. She received the honor of All-State player her senior year.
Collegiate Softball Career
Number 3 centerfielder and designated hitter, Amanda Ryder, was a member of the River Falls softball team for two years.
Awards:
*2011 NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team
*2011 WIAC Player of the Week April 26
*2011 All WIAC
*2011 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2011 NFCA Scholar-Athlete
Amanda Ryder was born on March 15, 1990 to her parents Bill and Judy Ryder. She is the youngest of three children, with one brother and one sister. When she is not in River Falls, she resides in her hometown of Menomonie, Wisconsin. She graduated from Menomonie High School with the class of 2007/2008. After graduation she chose to become a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She decided to dedicate her education to a major in health and human performance, with a minor in health. In addition to her education, she decided to continue her dedication to her athletics. In an interview Amanda stated, “Growing up, it was a dream for me to play at the collegiate level one day.” Through hard work, dedication, and passion her dreams became her reality.
High School Hockey Career
Amanda participated on the Minnesota Thoroughbreds hockey team for two years. She lead the team her senior year as captain.
Collegiate Hockey Career
Number 10 defensemen, Amanda Ryder, was a member of the River Falls hockey team for five years. However, she only played four years because she red-shirted during the 2010/2011 season due to a reoccurring knee injury. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Student Voice wrote an article about her injury. The article stated that she injured her knee, went through three surgeries, and continues to return to her athletics.
Awards:
*2009 All-NCHA
*2010 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2010 All-NCHA
*2011 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2011 NCHA All-Academic
*2012 All-Academic
*2012 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2013 All-NCHA
Statistics:
*Total Goals: 20
*Total Assists: 35
*Total Penalties: 81
*Total Penalty Minutes: 162
High School Softball Career
Amanda played for the Menomonie Indians/Mustangs for four years. During her time as an Indian/Mustang, she was the starting catcher. She received the honor of All-State player her senior year.
Collegiate Softball Career
Number 3 centerfielder and designated hitter, Amanda Ryder, was a member of the River Falls softball team for two years.
Awards:
*2011 NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team
*2011 WIAC Player of the Week April 26
*2011 All WIAC
*2011 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
*2011 NFCA Scholar-Athlete
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School is a Catholic school which serves students from the ages of preschool to eighth grade located in Maplewood, Minnesota.
About The School
Presentation was established in 1949, and since then has been building children as a whole, giving them a good sense of Catholic tradition, and also has a good reputation of academic achievement. The school is split up into preschool, K-6th and then Middle School. Presentation is qualified for by the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA). "" Presentations offers before and after school programs for all ages called the Learning Center. This provides minimal travel for parents. Presentation offers assistance for familes who are need of help through FACTS tuition management. "".
The school requires the children to wear uniforms everyday. There is a code they need to address and will be punished if the code is broken.
The Principal of the school is Mr. Michael Rogers. Mr. Rogers has been the principal for two years. He has gotten his degrees from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and North Dakota State University.
In 2013, an eighth grade class participated in an algebra pilot program that had students watching recorded lectures at home, then working on the normally assigned homework during class time.
Church
The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School was established in 1946 and has been the center of Catholic Faith since then. The church aims to spread the word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the community. Michael Joncas was a former pastor there.
Athletics
The Athletic Director is Mr. Bruce Steckler. Presentation offers sports for students from grades 5-8. Presentation has the following sports: Cross Country, Volleyball, Swimming, Soccer, Track & Field, Basketball, Fast Pitch Softball, and Baseball.
About The School
Presentation was established in 1949, and since then has been building children as a whole, giving them a good sense of Catholic tradition, and also has a good reputation of academic achievement. The school is split up into preschool, K-6th and then Middle School. Presentation is qualified for by the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA). "" Presentations offers before and after school programs for all ages called the Learning Center. This provides minimal travel for parents. Presentation offers assistance for familes who are need of help through FACTS tuition management. "".
The school requires the children to wear uniforms everyday. There is a code they need to address and will be punished if the code is broken.
The Principal of the school is Mr. Michael Rogers. Mr. Rogers has been the principal for two years. He has gotten his degrees from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and North Dakota State University.
In 2013, an eighth grade class participated in an algebra pilot program that had students watching recorded lectures at home, then working on the normally assigned homework during class time.
Church
The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School was established in 1946 and has been the center of Catholic Faith since then. The church aims to spread the word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the community. Michael Joncas was a former pastor there.
Athletics
The Athletic Director is Mr. Bruce Steckler. Presentation offers sports for students from grades 5-8. Presentation has the following sports: Cross Country, Volleyball, Swimming, Soccer, Track & Field, Basketball, Fast Pitch Softball, and Baseball.