About the Lamar Orchestra
The Lamar Orchestra’s mission is to advance string education by encouraging the study and making of music by all, and to provide a strong foundation for a lifetime of music making.
The Lamar Orchestra has had a rich history of music making the the Austin Community for over 50 years. Today the orchestra is made up of students from both the general school and the Fine Arts Academy of Lamar Middle School. The program serves students who start learning a string instrument in 6th grade to students who have many years of experience. Made up of the beginner Scottie Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra, this program is known for high standards of music making and providing students with a fun and safe environment to explore their creative abilities.
The Lamar Orchestras attend the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest annually with the advanced orchestras and routinely achieve the highest ratings of "Superior". The advanced orchestras also attend festival performances each year and achieve great success in their playing at those contests as well.
The Lamar Orchestra strives to provide the highest level of musical study while providing support to students in the public schools with a whole-child educational approach.
The Lamar Orchestra has had a rich history of music making the the Austin Community for over 50 years. Today the orchestra is made up of students from both the general school and the Fine Arts Academy of Lamar Middle School. The program serves students who start learning a string instrument in 6th grade to students who have many years of experience. Made up of the beginner Scottie Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra, this program is known for high standards of music making and providing students with a fun and safe environment to explore their creative abilities.
The Lamar Orchestras attend the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest annually with the advanced orchestras and routinely achieve the highest ratings of "Superior". The advanced orchestras also attend festival performances each year and achieve great success in their playing at those contests as well.
The Lamar Orchestra strives to provide the highest level of musical study while providing support to students in the public schools with a whole-child educational approach.
About the Director
Elena Martell started her music journey at the age of seven in Austin, Texas. She began learning violin through the Suzuki Method and finding a love of chamber music with Austin Chamber Music Center. Miss. Martell grew up as a student in the Austin Independent School District where she attended Lamar Middle School and the McCallum Fine Arts Academy.
Miss. Martell attended Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music Education in May 2019. At TAMU-CC she studied violin with Dr. Jose Flores and performed as principal second violin with the TAMU-CC Orchestra. Miss. Martell also performed as first violin with the TAMU-CC String Quartet and was a founder and violinist of TAMU-CC Mariachi De La Isla.
Miss. Martell started her teaching career in Temple Texas where she taught middle school orchestra for the past four years. During her time in Central Texas Miss. Martell performed with the Temple Symphony and various professional groups in the area. Miss. Martell was also on faculty with Acadmie Musique of Central Texas, where she taught private lessons, assisted with orchestras and taught Region 8 violin workshops. Along with teaching middle school, Miss. Martell is on faculty with Austin Chamber Music Center where she teaches the primary division during their summer workshops. Miss. Martell is a proud Austinite and is excited to be at Lamar Middle School Fine Art Academy as your Orchestra Director.
Email: [email protected]
Miss. Martell attended Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music Education in May 2019. At TAMU-CC she studied violin with Dr. Jose Flores and performed as principal second violin with the TAMU-CC Orchestra. Miss. Martell also performed as first violin with the TAMU-CC String Quartet and was a founder and violinist of TAMU-CC Mariachi De La Isla.
Miss. Martell started her teaching career in Temple Texas where she taught middle school orchestra for the past four years. During her time in Central Texas Miss. Martell performed with the Temple Symphony and various professional groups in the area. Miss. Martell was also on faculty with Acadmie Musique of Central Texas, where she taught private lessons, assisted with orchestras and taught Region 8 violin workshops. Along with teaching middle school, Miss. Martell is on faculty with Austin Chamber Music Center where she teaches the primary division during their summer workshops. Miss. Martell is a proud Austinite and is excited to be at Lamar Middle School Fine Art Academy as your Orchestra Director.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 512.414.3217