39. Conversation with Creston Herron from Klein ISD, Klein, Texas

Creston Herron is the current Director of Fine Arts for the Klein
Independent School District and the Conductor of Rice
University’s Campanile Orchestra. He is the former Director of
Orchestras at Klein High School and the former Director of
Strings for the Yes Prep Public Schools.


Mr. Herron’s many engagements as a guest conductor include work
with Regional and All State ensembles in Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee
and throughout Texas. He has also served on the summer faculty of
the AFA Summer Music Festival, Stephen F. Austin University
Summer Music Camp and the Indiana University Jacobs School of
Music Summer Music Clinic.


As a dedicated pedagogue, Mr. Herron enjoys working with current
and future educators and young performers. He has presented
masterclasses and guest lectures at The Midwest Clinic, Rice
University, Shepherd School of Music, Indiana University Jacobs
School of Music, University of Houston, Moores School of Music,
Sam Houston State University, Texas Tech University, The American
String Teachers Association, The League of American Orchestras,
and the NAMM Believe in Music Webinar Series, American. He also
gives professional development workshops to educators locally and
nationally and is involved in judging UIL competitions and solo
and ensemble contests.


Mr. Herron enjoyed national recognition both as an educator and
musician in tenure with the Klein High School orchestra who
earned multiple national titles under his direction, including
being named national winner of The American Prize, Grand
Champions of the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, Texas Music
Educators Association State Honor Orchestra, Grand Champions of
the New York Orchestra Cup and invited group at the 75th Midwest
Clinic held in Chicago, Illinois. Individually he has been
recognized for his work in music education as Teacher of the Year
at Klein High School, awarded the Marjorie Keller Outstanding
Teacher of the Year Award by the state board of the Texas Chapter
of ASTA and the Spec’s Charitable Award for Excellence in Music
Education awarded by the Houston Symphony.


Alongside his work as an educator, Mr. Herron continues to hone
his performing skills as a violinist, having collaborated with
artists such as Renee Fleming, Mark O’Connor, and Rachel
Barton-Pine. He has performed with Da Camera of Houston, CCM
Spoleto Festival in Italy, Galveston Symphony, Trans-Siberian
Orchestra Pasadena Philharmonic, Eutiner Festspiele Opera in
Eutin, Germany and the Houston Latin Philharmonic.


Creston Herron is a graduate of the University of Kansas in
Lawrence, Kansas, where he received his B.M. in music
performance, Rice University, Shepherd School of Music in
Houston, TX, where he received his M.M. on scholarship as a
Provost Fellow and a Brown Scholar, and recently received a M.Ed
in school leadership from Sam Houston State University.

Creston Herron lives in Houston with his wife, orchestra director
Dawn Herron and two children.


Mr. Herron can be reached at cherron1@kleinisd.net or on Twitter:
@CrestonHerron