GOHS Orchestra Directors

DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAS 

Mrs. Cini grew up in Spring, TX, and started her study of the viola in Klein ISD.  She received her Bachelor’s of Art in Music and Economics from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, and her Master’s of Science in Economics from the University of Massachusetts.  She started Gordon’s Suzuki School of Music in The Woodlands, TX, where she offered violin, viola, cello, piano, and early childhood music for over 20 years.  She was a member of the Sunrise String Quartet and actively gigged all over the Houston area.  From 1998-2009, she was a member of the Houston Area Suzuki Strings Association, where she organized and ran workshops annually for teachers and students, bringing in top name clinicians from all over the country.  
 

Mrs. Cini started working with CISD in 2015 as the Head Orchestra Director at Knox JH and in 2018, became the Assistant Orchestra Director at The Woodlands HS.  She also worked with and assisted the orchestra directors at McCullough JH, Irons JH, and College Park HS. Under her direction, the Knox JH, The Woodlands HS, and McCullough JH orchestras have consistently earned superior ratings at U.I.L. Concert and Sight-Reading Contest.  She took the Knox JH orchestra to additional contests in San Antonio, TX, earning superior ratings, best in class, and best overall, for all three years she taught there.  She also won first place at the Texas Renaissance Festival with the Knox orchestra and again with The Woodlands HS orchestra.
 

Mrs. Cini is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association.
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She enjoys spending her free time with her husband John and her family.  She is the proud mother of four amazing children that have all studied music – violin, viola, bass, trumpet and all sang in choirs.  Three graduated from CISD schools and her fourth son is currently attending Knox JH. 

 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAS

Joshua High is the Assistant Orchestra Director for Grand Oaks High School. Mr. High is very excited to be back in the Grand Oaks feeder zone! Joshua graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Double Bass Performance where he studied with Dr. Jeffrey Jacobsen. He then went on to get a Master’s Degree in Music Theory under Dr. Stephen Lias. 

Joshua is entering his 17th year of public school teaching. He started as an adjunct professor of bass and guitar at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas. He was then the Orchestra Director at York Junior High in Conroe ISD for 12 years where the orchestra tripled in size to almost 200 7th and 8th graders. There was an ever increasing number of successful participants in both region orchestra and solo and ensemble, and the orchestras received numerous UIL sweepstakes under his leadership. Most recently, he was the Head Orchestra Director at Woodcreek Middle School in Humble ISD where he led the orchestras to consistent sweepstakes awards, double digit region participants, a large number of superior ratings at solo and ensemble from 6th to 8th graders, finalist of the Houston Cup in 2024, back to back Best MS Varsity at the Ann Roberts Orchestra Festival, and a Commended Winner of the Citation of Excellence national competition with the non-varsity orchestra. Mr. High has also been active in being a clinician and judge in the area and at UIL evalutions in the state.

Mr. High is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and a provisional member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association.

When he is not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife, six kids, two dogs, 6 chickens, a guinea pig, and a cat. He enjoys running, playing video games, reading, and listening to and making music with friends!