Fine Arts

Choir Director: Mr. Robert Dee

The goal of the choral program is to develop an individual's vocal, social and musical potentials as a means of self-expression and communication. Choral students will learn music theory, aural skills, language diction, vocal technique, and historical and cultural influences  by the introduction to a wide variety of Vocal Literature. Students will have the opportunity to perform as individuals, small ensembles, and as a full chorus. Through these experiences, Lamar choral students will learn self-discipline and the benefit of teamwork.

The MB Lamar Department of Choral Activities involves approximately 190 students in grades 9-12 and includes five sections of ability based ensembles: JV Men, JV Women, Concert Women, Chorale, and Madrigals.  The students in Madrigals are also members of a traditional choir class. The department performs four major concerts a year including: a traditional fall concert, “Sounds of the Season” winter concert, Pre-UIL concert and spring variety show.  The choirs traditionally perform at UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest.

Interested in joining the Lamar Choir? Get Started Here

Eligibility

Placement in the Lamar High School choirs is based on sight-reading ability, tonal memory, tone quality, academic eligibility and positive attitude. All students in upper level choirs must remain academically eligible throughout the entire year. . All students who demonstrate a mastery of skills and maintain academic eligibility will be placed in a choir that participates in various competitions and off campus trips and performances.

Advancement

Advancement in the choral program is dependent on spring auditions, academic eligibility, and work ethic demonstrated during the academic year.

Advancement criteria may include:

• Learning the All-State repertoire and entering the All-State audition process
• Individual sight-reading practice and improvement (optional sight-reading sessions are provided before or after school)
• Demonstrating commitment and enthusiasm for the choir program
• Preparing and performing a solo at UIL solo contest
• Attending a summer All-State Music Camp
• Attending American Festival of the Arts (AFA) Summer Workshop, or similar summer camp
• Maintaining academic eligibility.

CHARMS

More detailed information for participating students and parents is available on the Charms system. Please refer to Logging into Charms for instructions.

Distinctions

• The choirs are successful at local, state, and national levels.
• Chorale performed with the Houston Symphony as part of the Houston in Concert Against Hate in 2013.
• All choirs perform at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Competition and consistently receive superior and excellent ratings.
• The Chorale performed at the University of Houston Moore’s School of Music High School Choir Invitational in 2007.
• The Chorale was featured in a combined concert with the Sam Houston State University Chorale in 2008.
• Chorale was featured in the 2009 Houston Chamber Choir “Hear the Future” concert.
• In 2008, Chorale members had the rich experience of hosting and performing with the Cathedral Choir from Stavanger, Norway, as part of the Houston/Galveston—Stavanger Sister City Society “Stavanger Days.”
• In 2009, Chorale Women received the prestigious invitation to perform at the TMEA (Texas Music Educator’s Association) annual convention in San Antonio.
• Madrigals had the honor of being invited to “Texas Days” in Stavanger.
• Madrigals were featured with the Galveston Ballet in their winter show, “Soulstice.”

Chorale joined with the HSPVA Chorale in a performance of music from “The Lion King” with the Houston Symphony.

LDT Director: Ms. Shanesha Seals

Rangerettes: Ms. Kira Wolridge

The Lamar Dance Department’s yearly goal is to embrace the art of dance within each student through both the discipline of dance technique and the interchangeable skills of creative interaction with others.

Lamar Dance Department offers Dance 1-4, Advance Modern, Advance Hip Hop, an IB diploma dance course, and the department's dance company.

Dance 1-4: Ms. Wolridge, Ms. Seals

Our Dance 1-4 classes are not by skill level, but by years within the department. Students are moved up to the next number only if they've passed the class the previous year. The Lamar dance department is proud to collaborate with the dance culture in Houston, and dance artists nationally and internationally. Students have the opportunity to gain experience with ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, and dance composition.

Advance Classes: Ms. Wolridge, Ms. Seals

Advanced-level classes are where our more serious dancers are placed. This is the reason each dancer must audition. No dancer is allowed to add an advanced class to their schedule. The teacher will send the approved list to the grade-level dean.

Advanced Modern: consists of upper-level ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, tap, dance composition, Winter Concert, and Spring Concert

Advance Hip-Hop: consists of upper-level hip-hop, dance composition, Winter Concert, and Spring Concert

Advanced classes are best for serious dancers who cannot commit to a team schedule, play other sports, or cannot afford the financial requirements. The skill level expectations are high.

IB Dance Class: Ms. Wolridge

The IB-Diploma Program dance curriculum aims to embrace a variety of dance traditions, dance cultures, and styles. Performance, creative and analytical skills are mutually developed and valued while the students are writing papers or creating/performing dance works from themselves or peers, and interdisciplinary task to properly prepare each dancer to take on any path within the art of dance. The curriculum provides students with a liberal arts orientation to dance. This orientation facilitates the development of students who may become choreographers, collegiate artists, commercial performers, recreational company members, or those, more broadly, who seek general life enrichment through the art of dance.

Company: Ms. Wolridge, Ms. Seals

LDT stands for Lamar Dance Theatre! Lamar Dance Theatre is the department’s award-winning versatile company, consisting of a small group of serious and dedicated dancers of the LHS student body. These dancers audition, train, perform, and compete in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, contemporary, and lyrical, to prepare them for any future routes in the art of dance.

Remember, we are small for a reason! Dance Company is a UNIQUE athletic activity, which combines physical endurance, and strength while entertaining at our yearly performance opportunities, and competitions. This athletic sport requires an investment of time and dedication not only from the dancer but also from the parent/guardian. Athletes will receive many valuable experiences from being a company member including conditioning, discipline, training in various styles, and teamwork. Dancers will also learn the importance of sportsmanship, coordination, stamina, building a positive self-image, and confidence!

The Lamar LDT Dance Company exists to represent the dance department at any and all HISD events and accomplish the program’s competitive goals. This can make every member’s daily agenda very busy. Dancers in the company must coordinate commitments for required summer dance camps, weekly practices all year, fundraisers, 8-10 pep rallies, 2 workshops, 2 dance conventions, and 3 competitions. Because of their yearly load, the dancers are not allowed to be part of any other campus sports/teams due to schedule conflicts. Our seasons begin immediately after school lets out, for officers, and in July for the full company.

Department Necessities

Dance 1 - Dance 4:

• Solid black top (preferably fitted | no crop tops)
• Solid Black leggings or Joggers (no shorts)
• Barefoot, socks, or proper dance shoes
• Department Required T-Shirt every Th/F(new shirt every year)
• Supplies: Dance-only composition notebook
• Supplies: Dance-only spiral tablet

Advance Modern Dance:

• Black leotard (any style)

• Black dance tights (not leggings)

• Pink/nude ballet shoes, black jazz shoes, black tap shoes, half soles
• Supplies: Dance-only spiral tablet
• Department Required T-Shirt every Th/F (new every year)

Advance Hip-Hop Dance:

• Solid black top

• Solid Black leggings or Joggers

• Tennis shoes (Never Crocs)
• Department Required T-Shirt every Th/F (new every year)

IB-Dance:

• Black leotard (any style)

• Black dance tights (not leggings)

• School-issued Chromebook
• IB dedicated composition notebook
• Department Required T-Shirt every Th/F (new every year)

 

 

Stay up to date with all the many things year-round with our socials!

Department: @lhsdancedepartment | Dept. Dance Company: @lamardancetheatre

Orchestra Director: Mr. Jermaine Figueroa

Piano Directors: Mr. Billy Craven , Mr. Robert Dee

 

The Piano Department at Lamar High School provides students with the opportunity to experience the arts through music. There are approximately 240 students enrolled in 8 classes. We offer Piano I - IV to students at varied levels.

Piano I

is a course open to all students interested in learning to play the piano.  There is no prerequisite for the class. Students in Piano I will explore concepts of theory, rhythm, composition and will learn about the wonderful legacy of music by composers of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary Periods.  Students have the opportunity to play and perform in solo and group settings.  The program is composed of students of all grades.

Piano II

is offered to those students who have completed Piano I or have prior piano experience.  In this course, students continue to develop their skills in technique, composition and performance with varied musical experiences.  This class comprises students who are continuing to develop their skills.

Piano III

is offered to those students who have completed Piano II or have more advanced piano skills.  In this course, students continue to develop their skills in technique, composition, arranging, solo performance, and simplified concertos with varied musical experiences.  This class is composed of students who are continuing to develop their piano technique and performance opportunities.

Piano IV

is offered to those students who have completed Piano III or have very advanced piano skills.  This class is composed of students who are continuing to develop their skills in technique, theory, solo performance, and simplified concertos with varied musical experiences.

Students from Piano I - IV, who are prepared, participate in the fall and spring recitals held at the Ned S. Holmes Performance Hall at Lamar High School.

 

News

The Piano Department of Mirabeau B. Lamar High School is proud to once again highlight some of our very talented students. We have students from all 4 levels of piano that have the opportunity to perform on one of our 4 Public Recitals in the Fall and 4 more Public Recitals in the Spring.  Each student enrolled in the piano department will learn and memorize a prescribed solo and audition with it two weeks prior to the recital dates.  Those students who have mastered their solo will then perform their solo for the public.  Every student's goal is to perform on at least one of the recitals. 

We hope that if you are free one of the evenings of our performances that you will come and support these students.

Rangerettes Director: Ms. Kira Wolridge

Theater Director: Mr. Steve Carpentier

Theater Assistant Director: Ms. Brett Robertson

Loading Dock Company

In the Lamar Texans Theatre Company (LTTC) students take on all the many responsibilities of theater productions. Students act or crew at least one performance in the fall and one in the spring. They also make up the company that performs in the UIL One-Act Play (OAP) competition in which Lamar has a long-standing and successful history.

Lamar Texans Theatre Company produces between 6 - 8 shows per year including student directed one-act plays, a school-wide musical and productions from both the junior varsity and varsity acting companies throughout the season.

In the past 7 years, LTTC has competed and advanced to the Area UIL OAP contest five times, winning numerous acting awards and Best Tech Crew three times. Students have competed and won scholarships at the Texas Thespians Festival and Tommy Tune Awards.

This year LTTC is proud and excited to produce their first annual 24 HOUR Plays in which the students write, direct and perform short original plays in a 24 hour period!

Lamar Texans Theatre Company is a proud member of the International Thespians Society (Troupe #153) and is one of the oldest troupes in the country.

Entrance into the Theatre Production and Technical Theatre classes are by audition only.

Visual Art Directors:

Ms. Citlaly Estrada , Ms. Brandi Thomas , Coach Gerrick Green

 

Art 1

Students learn about the language of art - the elements of design, the principles of design, and the design process. Students will learn to draw, to manipulate various 2-D media, color theory and the process of art criticism.  This class is the foundation for every other visual art course at Lamar.

PDP Art 2 Painting

Students explore and gain proficiency in varied wet painting media such as watercolor, tempera, experimental, and mixed media. Students will also be exploring 3D artworks alongside painting. Students document their progress in an investigational workbook, challenging themselves as they develop and execute original artworks.

IBDP Visual Arts/SL

The first course required for the IBDP HL credit. Students conduct personal investigation into chosen topics, and continue media exploration. Students create personal, meaningful artworks, and document his/her progress. Students will complete the IB exam at the end of this course in their Senior year.

IBDP Visual Arts/HL

The final course required for the IBDP HL credit. Students continue personal investigation into chosen topics, and continue to explore media, concentrating on the ones of their choice. Students create personal, meaningful artworks, documenting their progress. The IB exam takes place at the end of this course.

Study of art history and art criticism take place within all visual art courses.