Staff & faculty

Kevin Ray grew up in Miami, Florida, and began his musical studies at the age of four as a Suzuki-trained violinist. He became a double bassist at age 14 and participated in local youth and honor orchestras in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area. He graduated from the Florida State University College of Music in 2008 where he studied with the late Dr. Michael Allen and Dr. Clifford Madsen. While at Florida State, he was the principal double bassist of the University Philharmonia and Symphony Orchestras, was a contracted member of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and toured with FSU Orchestras and Chamber Wind ensembles.

Kevin began his teaching career at Cooper Middle School (located in Cobb County, GA) where he directed the orchestra program for four years. While at Cooper, the orchestra enrollment increased from 90 to just over 170 students. His students consistently achieved superior ratings at their Large Group Performance Evaluations and participated in several youth and honor orchestras in the metropolitan Atlanta area. He was also the assistant orchestra director at Durham Middle School (located in Cobb County, GA). Kevin has been the orchestra director at Cy-Fair High School since 2013. Since his tenure at Cy-Fair, both varsity and non-varsity orchestras have consistently earned the sweepstakes award at the annual UIL Concert and Sight-Reading competitions. The orchestra program has also performed in Disney World Theme Parks (Orlando, FL), Directors Choice Competitions (South Padre Island, TX and San Antonio, TX), and Winter Park, CO. Kevin has been e the Head Orchestra Director at Memorial Middle School in Spring Branch ISD since the 2021-2022 school year.

Apart from his teaching responsibilities, Kevin is also an active clinician and double bass performer in the Houston metropolitan area. He currently resides in the Montrose area of Houston.

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