TITLE: Congratulating Keith Markuson on his retirement as director of the Klein High School Orchestra.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Keith Markuson on his retirement as director of the Klein High School Orchestra.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Mr. Markuson's passion for music was first sparked at an early age, when he repeatedly listened to recordings of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite and other classical masterpieces; he played clarinet and percussion in his school's band and went on to graduate cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Houston in 1976; and WHEREAS, Mr. Markuson began his career in education as an assistant band director at Frank M. Black Junior High School in Houston and subsequently became the school's orchestra conductor; he later worked as an assistant for the Hildebrandt Intermediate School Orchestra before assuming the role of director, and under his guidance, the program twice earned the title of Texas Music Educators Association Junior High String Honor Orchestra; and WHEREAS, In 1989, Mr. Markuson was hired as the director of the Klein High School Orchestra; over the course of his 26-year tenure, the ensemble has grown from 30 to 180 members and has been named four times as the TMEA High School Full Honor Orchestra; moreover, the group has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago; above all, Mr. Markuson has remained dedicated to instilling in his students a love of music and a commitment to excellence, instructing a before-school elementary program and after-school orchestra and symphony rehearsals and sectionals in addition to his teaching schedule of five classes a day; and WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Markuson has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Dodie, and his daughter, Hillary Moore; and WHEREAS, Countless Klein High School Orchestra alumni treasure the musical education they received and the life lessons they learned from a director who always challenged and inspired them to do their very best, and it is a pleasure to commend Keith Markuson for his longtime service and immeasurable contributions to the Klein Independent School District; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Keith Markuson on his retirement as director of the Klein High School Orchestra and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued happiness and fulfillment; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Markuson as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Harless Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 3320 was adopted by the House on May 30, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House