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

  Mr. Casagrande grew up in Spring, TX, and started his study of double bass in Klein ISD. He discovered his passion for music at an early age and implemented it to help his community by organizing and leading an instrument drive for his Eagle Scout project, leading the Klein ISD cluster of Texas Future Music Educators as President, and excelling in music by earning chairs in both All-Region and All-State Orchestras. Mr. Casagrande has studied privately with renowned bassists Ron White, Lex Valk, Steve Martin, and Deborah Dunham.
 

Mr. Casagrande received his Associate of Arts from Lone Star College, where he performed with the Lone Star Tomball Choir and Orchestra and earned the Outstanding Leadership award. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Sam Houston State University where he performed with the SHSU Symphony Orchestra, SHSU Men’s Choir, and SHSU Wind Ensemble.
 

Mr. Casagrande is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association.
 

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Casagrande enjoys cooking, playing video games, and spending time with his wife Tanya and his two dogs Maya and Ziggy.