Clear Lake High School and the greater Houston area’s music community mourn the passing of Kevin Black, the beloved Assistant Director of Orchestras at Clear Lake High School. Mr. Black passed away recently, leaving behind a profound legacy of dedication, inspiration, and musical excellence.
Mr. Black has served as the Assistant Director of Orchestras at Clear Lake High School since 2005. In his seventeen years of teaching, he made an indelible mark on the lives of countless students, colleagues, and community members. His passion for music and his commitment to nurturing young talent were evident in every aspect of his work.
Before joining the Clear Lake High School community, Mr. Black held prominent positions as Director of Orchestras in Pasadena ISD and Clear Creek ISD. Notably, he served at Clear Creek High School and Space Center Intermediate, where his leadership transformed the music programs.
During his tenure at Space Center Intermediate, Mr. Black’s program flourished. The number of students in the orchestra doubled from 55 to 120, and under his guidance, the orchestras achieved remarkable success.
They were recognized as finalists in the TMEA Middle School String Honor Orchestra contest and consistently won UIL sweepstakes awards.
Similarly, at Clear Creek High School, Mr. Black’s impact was profound. In just three years, he tripled the size of the orchestra program from 32 to 91 students. During his time there, the program achieved UIL achievements for the first time in six years and earned its first sweepstakes award in eight years.
Mr. Black’s journey in music education began with his studies at the prestigious SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music, where he earned his B.M.Ed. He studied cello under the guidance of Julian Tryczynski and Dr. Angela Myles Beeching.
His education included invaluable experiences, such as serving as the continuo cellist for the studio of Patricia Misslin, where he accompanied future Metropolitan Opera singers Stephanie Blythe and Margaret Lattimore.
Throughout his academic journey, Mr. Black had the privilege of learning from notable educational composers, including Richard Stephan, Elliot Del Borgo, and Robert Washburn.
He furthered his studies by earning a M.M. in Cello Performance from the University of Akron, studying under Michael Haber, formerly of the Cleveland Orchestra, and chamber music with Alan Bodman of the Meadowmount School of Music.
