Dr. Peter Kempter began his music studies at the age of 6 with his mother, principal cellist of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and his father, conductor of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony for 37 years and a nationally recognized music educator. He graduated with degrees in music education and cello performance studying with Yehuda Hanani (Peabody Conservatory B. M. Ed), Shirley Trepel (Rice University M.M.) and Anthony Elliott and Laszlo Varga (University of Houston D.M.A.). He has performed, toured and recorded for numerous Houston professional organizations including the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Houston Opera, Houston Ballet, J. S. Bach Society, The Woodlands Symphony, and is principal cellist with the Lake Charles Symphony. In 2004, he premiered a cello concerto with the LCS by the late composer Keith Gates. During the summers, he and his wife perform chamber music in the Assisi Performing Arts Festival in Assisi, Italy.
From 1991-2004, Dr. Kempter taught cello, string methods and music theory at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. From 2003-2005, Dr. Kempter taught orchestra at The Woodlands High School-McCullough Campus, and in 2005 he established the orchestra program at The Woodlands College Park High School. The College Park string and full orchestras under his direction have earned superior ratings at U.I.L. Concert and Sight-Reading Contest every year. He has conducted ensembles at festivals in San Antonio, Orlando, Dallas (Meyerson Hall), Chicago (Symphony Hall), Anaheim, and in New York (Carnegie Hall). In 2013, Dr. Kempter was awarded the Dr. David Gottlieb Teacher Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts.
Dr. Kempter is an active member of the American String Teachers Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association and the Houston Professional Musicians Association. He currently serves as the TMEA Region 9 Vice-President and Orchestra Division Treasurer.
Emmanuel Coraza currently serves as the Assistant Orchestra Director and AP Music Theory teacher at The Woodlands College Park High School in Conroe ISD. Mr. Coraza earned his Bachelor's of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas in 2016 where he was a String Project teacher for beginning strings. In 2021, Mr. Coraza received his Masters degree in Music in Orchestral Conducting from Sam Houston State University. Mr. Coraza is a violinist and actively gigs and teaches in the Houston area. He can be seen playing with the Symphony North of Houston Orchestra. He also plays the Organ (only a beginner…but he is getting better).
Mr. Coraza is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, College Orchestra Directors Association, and the American Guild of Organists.
