Stratford High School - Mnemosyne Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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ies' 'i 4' in hand, first chair cellist Senior hard Hill practices with the Orches- for graduation. Richard played with All-State Youth Symphony in Febru- Fiddling along with the Orchestra, lun- ior lean Breaux concentrates on her music. lean qualified for All-Region Orchestra as well as sitting first chair all year. uncommon. I have 37 kids that enjoy what we do. l hope they have gained some proficiency. As director of the choirs, Mrs. Virginia Derry prepared the four choirs for several concerts throughout the year. We're working all the time for a program, commented Senior leff Flinn. I enjoyed the class because it was more relaxed than most classes, and I knew all the people in it because we've been in the same class for four years. With only eight people in the class, Music Theory was one of the smallest and most individualized classes. Students studied chord progression, moderation, cadences, and part writing. The best part according to Senior Lynn Tuttle, was no tests. With no break after the long marching season, the band began preparing for U.l.L. Concert and Sight Reading Contest. The Concert Band, whose contest was held here, received a I ta rating of Superiorj in Concert Contest and a I in Sight Reading Contest. The Symphonic Band received a I in Concert Contest and all in Sight Reading Contest. Whether writing, playing or singing, music students were in an unusual class. music' 93

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et? time tbeoti Musicians study harmonies and rhythms Brushing up on his saxophone, Sopho- more Miles Fain practices with the Cadet Band. Miles has played the saxo- phone for four years and plans to tryout for the Concert Band next year. During a daily rehearsal, junior Ellen Kemp plays with violins Senior jill Green and junior Karen Elliott. Ellen qualified for All-State Orchestra. jarr- 92 music rom writing to playing and F singing, students studied the various facets of music. Described usually as a break in the day, music classes deviated from the usual classroom routine. The classes included four levels of band, four levels of choir, one orchestra class and one music theory class. Mr. Griff Miller directed the Orchestra and Training Band and taught the music theory class. Thirty-seven strings and 24 wind and percussion players from the Symphonic Band joined together to form the Orchestra. The world's greatest music was written for orchestra. It's a study of a musical art that you can hear anywhere in the world, commented Mr. Miller. The group's hard work paid off in al lrating of Superiorj in Concert Contest and all lrating of Excellentj in Sight Reading Contest. Sophomore jean Breaux explained, Around contest time you start striving. You start feeling more unified. Like in rehearsals you're always stopping to practice certain phrases, but on stage you can hear you've produced something great. Wearing handmade arters, Seniors T Gwinn and Susan Paufare two members quartet singing Cabaret. The two first formed the act in the talent show and revised it for the choir production. Mimi Lvasure and Lori Montgomery the other members ofthe quartet. Before each performance, the students rehearsed after school if the section leader lfirst chairj thought it necessary. Their performances included a Chi Concert with Spring Forest junior High and playing at graduation the band. ln addition, Seniors Roxy Shafranek, Brian Boyer, and jill Greene, violinists, and Richard H cellist, juniors Ellen Kemp, vi jean Breaux, violinist, and Margie McCrory, french hornist, and sophomore Dawn Thomas, violi qualified for All-Region Orcr Roxy, Brian, Richard, Ellen, and Margie went on to play in the All- State Orchestra with Leah Hipple playing in the All-State Band. Mr. Miller commented, Orchestra is the most overlo musical study because it is so difficult. Becoming skilled is ali

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way tEc.nlil'2iirmQ he thrill of victory and the agony of defeat - they're not just for sports anymore. At least, not according to the drama, speech or debate departments. Although the only athletic aspect to these classes was the leap from the- floor to the stage, both victory and defeat were present as participants progressed to state levels in forensics. ln debate, Senior lay Brooks was ranked in the top eight Texas high school debaters. About her students, Debate Coach ludy Goodwin noted that, Many of the debaters didn't have time to take a class in debate so debate ended up as an extra curricular activity. These students, composing 10 debate teams, won 9Odebate rounds during the year. Really a chair and a whip were the only teaching tools I needed. Ms. Goodwin jokingly added. Probably the most visible first floor inhabitants were drama students. Beginning with Drama l, students became familiar with acting techniques, set building, basic make- up and set design. These babies of the drama department, as they are fondly referred to, sometimes chose to move on to Drama ll. Drama is the only class I ever really liked going to this whole year. It was fun and I loved working on the shows, commented Senior jackie Russell. She continued, I feel really lucky to have worked with a director like Mrs. Boone, who has such a good reputation throughout the state as an excellent director. In the second year drama course, students continued acting, supplemented with basic directing, full make-up, stage movement and mime. At the top of the heap sat Drama III and IV. Classtime was spent almost exclusively on production work, with the assumption that the basics no longer needed reinforcement. Sometimes, the unstructured atmosphere produced rather odd .f4-k?W,TYa.-. g x in Asa Senior debater, Steve Simion helps f9S93fCh- 5l9,V9 and V155 Dfiflflef, lUf1iOf research a topic for next year's debaters. LHIUODI LEWIS, ended lhelf YGHV Wllh The new topic, U.S. foreign policy, needed time consuming indepth 94 forensics three debate wins and one loss. past times, such as when the class produced what Mrs. Boone termed a one of her favorite projects. They made test tube babies with magic markers on my desk,'f she explained. Ms. Goodwin also took on four speech classes. Here the students learned group decision-making and parliamentary procedure. They concentrated on oral speaking in poetry, prose, extemporaneous speaking and dramatic and humorous interpretations. Whether out front on stage, T behind the scenes or researching in the library, the drama, debate and speech students practiced their trade. In a dream world, Senior Alicia Raudsep, as Amanda in The Glass Menagerie , will not accept the fact that her handicapped daughter will lead a life similar to hers. Alicia said that, Mrs. Boone's easy going helped me overcome my shynessf'