Our Program. Our Mission.
The Cavalier Orchestra was established in 2005 by Dr. Peter Kempter and has grown into a comprehensive program featuring five string orchestras—Sinfonietta, Philharmonic, Camerata, Chamber, Lyrica, and Symphony—along with a Full Orchestra.
The program offers a diverse concert season, including Fall, Winter, and Spring concerts, Region Orchestra, the Early Music Contest at the Texas Renaissance Festival, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, and more. Students can also take private lessons during or after school from CISD-approved instructors.
Cavalier Orchestra alumni have gone on to pursue music education and performance degrees at institutions including Sam Houston State University, the University of Texas, the University of Houston, Baylor University, and The Juilliard School.
Explore the links to learn more, and we hope to see you at an upcoming concert!
Awards and Honors
TMEA String Honor Orchestra Competition
2024 - Finalist (Ranked 9th in the state)
American String Teachers Association-National Orchestra Festival
2019 - 3rd Place High School String Orchestra
New York Invitational Music Festival (Carnegie Hall)
2025 - Gold Award
National Orchestra Honors Mark of Excellence
2025 - Commended Winner - Cavalier Symphony Orchestra
National Orchestra Honors Citation of Excellence
2023 - Commended Winner - Cavalier Chamber Orchestra
2025 - Commended Winner - Cavalier Chamber Orchestra
UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes
Full Orchestra: 2019, 2022, 2023
Symphony Orchestra: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Chamber Orchestra: 2019, 2021, 2022.2023, 2024, 2025
Camerata Orchestra: 2019, 2021. 2022, 2023, 2025
Philharmonic Orchestra: 2023, 2025
The Heart of Our Orchestra Program
Our passionate and inspiring orchestra directors do more than teach music, they ignite a lifelong love of performance, build confidence, and empower every student to find their voice. Through dedicated mentorship and a commitment to excellence, they inspire each musician to grow, dream boldly, and discover the joy of creating something extraordinary together.
Emmanuel Coraza
Director of Orchestras
Emmanuel Coraza is in his tenth-year teaching at The Woodlands College Park High School, where he previously served as Assistant Director of Orchestras. Under his direction, the CP Camerata and Chamber Orchestras consistently earned “Sweepstakes” ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation. In 2019, he was selected as a semi-finalist in the Youth Orchestra category of The American Prize in Conducting.
Mr. Coraza earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas and his Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University, where he studied with Dr. Jacob Sustaita and Dr. Joshua Bronfman.
Outside the classroom, Mr. Coraza performs as a section violinist with Symphony North of Houston and the Conroe Symphony and serves as a Music Director with ImagineNation Theatre. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Texas Orchestra Directors Association (TODA), and a provisional member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA).
Ms. Sarabeth Gheith
Assistant Director of Orchestras
Sarabeth Gheith began her musical studies on piano, flute, and cello and gained her first orchestral experience with the West Suburban Youth Orchestra. That experience shaped her belief in the importance of orchestra programs in schools.
Ms. Gheith earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English from Lawrence University, where she studied conducting with Bridget-Michael Reischl, followed by a Master of Arts in Orchestral Conducting with Dr. Rebecca Burkhardt from the University of Northern Iowa. During her graduate studies, she assisted with productions of The Tender Land and Sweeney Todd, served as assistant conductor of the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra, and completed a conducting internship with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra.
Following graduate school, she studied with Cliff Colnot of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Before becoming Orchestra Director at Harlingen High School South in 2014, she served as Music Director and Conductor of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and taught music and string techniques at Middle Tennessee State University.