The Directors
Mrs. Kara Hernandez
Director of Orchestras
Mrs. Kara Hernandez is the Director of Orchestras at Ronald Thornton Middle School. She constantly collaborates with the directors at Baines Middle School, Crawford High School, and Ridge Point High School to ensure the Sienna Orchestra students have a meaningful musical, educational, and community experience throughout their seven years.
Mrs. Hernandez firmly believes that her purpose in life is to provide an exceptional music education for students. She has experienced this first hand from the music educators in her life, leading her to give back to her colleagues and community.
Mrs. Hernandez is a product of FBISD and its excellent orchestra programs. She graduated from Clements High School under the direction of Mrs. Ginger Wolfe and attended Commonwealth Elementary School and Fort Settlement Middle School. She began her orchestral journey at Fort Settlement under the direction of Mrs. Angela Peugnet. Mrs. Peugnet had a profound impact on her life and inspired her to become an orchestra director. Her teacher influences include Mrs. Angela Peugnet, Mr. Michael Isadore, Ms. Karimah Browne, Mr. Jason Finnels, Mr. Andy Moritz, Ms. Suzanne LeFevre, Mr. Wayne Brooks, Dr. John Snyder, and Maestro Franz Krager.
When she is not teaching or practicing her viola, she enjoys spending time outdoors and supporting the Houston Astros with her husband and their four children. She enjoys reading, baking, playing board games, hiking, spending time with her musical colleagues, listening to My Chemical Romance, attending rock concerts, and serving the Greater Houston community.
We believe music can change the world.
Ronald Thornton Orchestra est. 2018
Mr. Benjamin Petree
Associate Director of Orchestras
Mr. Benjamin Petree is the Associate Director of Orchestras at Ronald Thornton Middle School alongside Mrs. Kara Hernandez, Head Director of Orchestras. Our program constantly collaborates with the directors at Baines Middle School, Crawford High School, and Ridge Point High School to ensure the Sienna Orchestra students have a meaningful and educational musical experience that creates a sense of community over the course of their seven years.
Mr. Petree is originally from Plano, TX, where he fostered a love for music through the exceptional orchestra programs at Carpenter Middle School, Clark High School, and Plano Senior High School. The support and encouragement of his directors inspired him to pursue music at the University of Houston, where he studied Music Education and Composition. Mr. Petree credits his success to the mentorship of his teachers, including Mr. Wayne Brooks, Dr. Rob Smith, Dr. Erin Hansen and Maestro Franz Krager. The positive impact of music on his life is what ultimately led him to pursue a career in music education, with the goal of giving back to his community and cultivating a healthy appreciation for the arts among young musicians.
When he is not teaching or playing viola, Mr. Petree enjoys spending time reading, walking, practicing piano, traveling, listening to new music, going to the symphony, and spending time with friends and family.
Dr. Chen-Yu Huang
Harp Specialist
Praised as “untimid and determined with a brilliancy of effervescence (ConcertoNet), Taiwanese-American harpist Chen-Yu Huang is an active performer, teacher, and arranger resides in San Antonio, TX. Among many recognitions, she is the winner of the Krannert Debut Artist Award 2010 and a recipient for Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship 2010-2011, of both prizes she is the first harpist ever to be awarded. She served at Michigan State University College of Music as the harp professor from 2014-2023 and has given masterclasses at various institutions including University of Illinois, Arizona State University, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, University of Texas in Austin, and various chapter of American Harp Society. She has judged in competitions such as Camac Prize Taiwan, American Harp Society National Competition, Michigan Young Artist Festival and was the curator of Michigan All-State harp audition materials. Huang is the executive director of Capitol Harp Ensemble, a non-profit organization she founded in 2022 with the mission of providing affordable harp classes to the communities in Greater Lansing, MI.
As an avid ensemble musician and collaborator, Huang served as the principal harpist of Ann Arbor Symphony from 2016-2023, Jackson Symphony Orchestra from 2017-2023, and Illinois Symphony from 2012-2018. She is the harpist with Formosa Trio (with flutist Pei-San Chiu and violist Tze-Ying Wu) and has performed across the Midwest and internationally. While in Michigan, she also play with Accorda Trio with violinist Fangye Sun and cellist Daniel Tressel. Since moving to Texas in August 2023, she has performed with Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Heart of Texas Concert Band, and Texas State University.
Huang enjoyed composing pedagogical pieces and arranging music. Currently her works are published through HappyString Music. Her first album with Formosa Trio- The First Impression (“invites us not just for a ride, but on an adventure, requiring all senses”- Harp Column), which also includes several of her arrangements.
Huang received Doctoral and Master degree of harp performance from University of Illinois, and her bachelor degree in piano performance from National Taiwan Normal University. Her harp mentors include Ann Yeung, Shannon Chieh, Chi-Mei Hung, and Bi-Ya Lin.
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