Our Symphony Orchestra students will perform again in preparation for their state assessment a week later. This UIL Preview Concert will feature music by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius. The concert is on Thursday, February 19th , starts at 7p and is free to the public.
We are proud to present the biennial Masterworks Concert, The Hope Within Us. This powerful evening brings together our band, choir, and orchestra students in a unified performance that explores resilience, courage, and the human capacity to rise above adversity.
Interwoven throughout the program are poetry readings that reflect on perseverance and hope, offering moments of reflection that deepen the emotional impact of the music. Together, these artistic voices create an immersive experience that speaks to the challenges of our time—and the strength found within community.
We are honored to welcome Jeffrey Grogan, newly appointed Director of Orchestral Activities at Baylor University, as our Guest Conductor for this special event. His artistry and leadership bring a compelling perspective to this inspiring program.
Learn more about Mr. Grogan here.
Seven Lakes HS Performing Arts Center
January 31, 2026 | 7:00p
$8 students | $15 adults
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Seven Lakes High School is proud to share that the Seven Lakes High School Symphony Orchestra has been awarded Second Place in the 2025 American Prize in Orchestra Performance in the high school division.
The American Prize is a nationally recognized adjudication program that honors the finest achievements in the performing arts. Each year, ensembles from across the country submit recordings for blind evaluation by a panel of distinguished judges. Earning a Second Place award among such competitive national submissions is an exceptional accomplishment and speaks to the orchestra’s remarkable musical growth and artistry. The Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Desiree Overree, John Mays, and Sean Carlton.
The Symphony Orchestra’s recognition reflects:
This award places the Seven Lakes High School Symphony Orchestra among the top high school orchestral programs in the United States and continues the school’s longstanding tradition of excellence.
We congratulate our Symphony Orchestra musicians on this outstanding national honor and thank them for representing Seven Lakes with such artistry and pride.
Congratulations to the Symphony Orchestra on this remarkable achievement!
Holiday Extravaganza: Christmas Around the World
Join us for a global celebration of holiday music at this year’s Holiday Extravaganza, featuring the theme “Christmas Around the World”!
Date: December 12, 2024
Location: 9th Grade Cafeteria and SLHS Performing Arts Center
Time:
Event Highlights:
🎄 Ticketed Dinner (5:30 PM): Enjoy a delicious holiday meal while being serenaded by informal performances from our talented Dance, Theater, Jazz Band, and Sensations Show Choir ensembles. Your dinner ticket includes access to the main concert, so you won’t miss a moment of the magic!
🛍️ Silent Auction: Browse and bid on beautiful baskets and goods from around the world! From handcrafted items to themed gift sets, the auction has something for everyone. All proceeds support our Musical and Masterworks activities.
📸 NEW THIS YEAR – Photo Stops: Capture the magic with themed selfie spots representing different countries! Kids and families can snap fun photos at these creative, globally inspired backdrops for a memorable keepsake.
🌟 Main Concert (7:00 PM): Travel the world through music as our incredible student performers present “Christmas Around the World,” showcasing the sounds and traditions of the holiday season from various cultures.
Tickets:
Don’t miss this joyful celebration of holiday traditions from across the globe! Tickets are limited, so get yours today!
For more information and ticket reservations, visit Studio VII
On January 24, we will attend the Houston Symphony’s performance featuring:
The concert will be conducted by Tabita Berglund, known for her charismatic and inspiring style.
We look forward to an evening of exceptional music and artistry!
Join us for a thrilling start to the high school orchestra’s concert season with “Eerie Overture”! This exciting performance will be filled with spine-tingling repertoire featuring works by some of the most renowned composers. From haunting melodies to mysterious harmonies, your favorite spooky concert pieces will be brought to life by our talented students. This evening’s performance will feature all orchestras and the Piano Studio, except Sinfonia! Mark your calendars for this can’t-miss event! Bring the whole family and experience a night of captivating music as we kick off the season in spectral style. We look forward to scaring you there!
📅 Date: October 24th
🕒 Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: Seven Lakes HS Performing Arts Center
Due to early voting, please enter the PAC through the 9th grade entrance, come down the main hallway, and enter in through the side door.
He exudes ease and confidence on stage and in interviews, qualities to be admired. His ability to connect with his audience, regardless of their origins, to lose himself and to articulate his thoughts and feelings through music, is phenomenal. He is a self proclaimed, “Music Missionary” that lives out the very core of the phrase, “Music transcends boundaries”, as his music is known worldwide. His fans call him the “versatile violinist” and they are not wrong.
In the fall of 2011, I stumbled across “Europe Skies,” a song written and performed by classical violinist and 2009 Eurovision champion, Alexander Rybak. In an instant I was consumed by his music. Captivated, I watched him perform genre after genre and I haven’t stopped listening since. It was through his music that an entirely different world of music, musical culture, and music competitions were revealed to me.
I have been an avid supporter of Rybak’s for four years now. He served as one of my motivations to not give up the music that I love when times were trying. He sparked a curiosity and a love for diverse European culture, which played a part in my fascination with International Relations, but that’s an entirely different story for another day. I was entranced by the way in which he could pull, project, and manipulate the sound of a violin – the way he could make it cry, scream, laugh, tell a story – and the complete passion that poured out of him as he performed. It was as if it were merely an extension of him rather than an instrument. Quickly, it became my dream, one I though impossible and far fetched, to perform alongside him at my senior concert – dreams really do come true!
Alexander Rybak is more than simply his Eurovision win: a composer, a degree in classical performance, a heartthrob, or a European Star. He is an extraordinary human being. A Lego and FIFA fanatic, a romantic, a guy who wants to travel the world, who wants to make a difference, and a young man who happens to be extremely gifted when it comes to music and is utilizing that gift to reach the world.
It is my hope that during his visit, other student’s will be as inspired by him as I have been and continue to be. It is my hope that Seven Lakes High School continues to give high school musicians a remarkable name, and it is my hope that we make wonderful music that transcends boundaries and creates unforgettable memories that will outlive a lifetime.
Caroline Jok, Violist, Class of 2015
Alexander Rybak will be performing a once-in-a lifetime performance with the Seven Lakes Orchestras on May 22nd. This is his only stop while in the United States. The concert will start at 6p in the Seven Lakes Performing Arts Center and is free.
“A closing passage generally added to the end of a composition to provide a strong conclusion to the work, giving the piece a grander sense of finality”
