Gary Needham has been teaching for 25 years. He is currently serving in his 2nd year of teaching at Garland High School. He previously taught for 7 years at The Colony High School where his orchestras placed 7th and 6th in the Texas State Full Honor Orchestra Competition. The previous 9 years before that was in Allen ISD at Allen High School and the Lowery Freshman Center. During his time in Allen, the Allen High School Orchestra Symphony Orchestra placed in the HS Full Honor Orchestra Finals (2004, 2006, 2007), and performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago (2007). Mr. Needham’s groups have continuously been awarded “Sweepstakes” at UIL and have won numerous other festival awards throughout the country. Before this, he was the orchestra director at Frankford Middle School in Plano ISD, a position he had held since 1998. Since the opening of Frankford MS in 1998, under Mr. Needhams direction, the orchestra program had grown to over 220 students, including 3 performing groups and 110 beginners. The groups at Frankford continually received the UIL “Sweepstakes” award and numerous other recognitions. The Frankford Chamber Orchestra placed in the Finals of the Texas Middle School Honor Orchestra Competition in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

In addition to his teaching, Mr. Needham is an active clinician and judge in the Dallas area and around the state. Mr. Needham also serves as the Concert Orchestra conductor for the New Conservatory of Dallas, a position that has held since 2000. He also remains an active freelance cellist in the Dallas area. He has taught summer camps at Hummingbird, Hardin Simmons, Baylor and Texas Tech University. He also conducts orchestras at the Music in the Mountains Festival in Durango Colorado each summer. Mr. Needham holds membership and affiliations with TMEA, TODA, TMAA and Mu Omicron.

Mr. Needham, a native of Amarillo Texas, graduated from Caprock High School and received his Bachelor of Music in Education from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene. He and his wife Erin have a daughter, Kate (16 years old), and 10 year old son, Garrett.

These are orchestra courses offering a fine arts credit required for graduation. (violin, viola, cello, string bass.) These orchestra courses provide an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at a beginner/intermediate level. Time will be required outside of class for rehearsals, trips, and other engagements. Attendance at all outside of school rehearsal and performances is required. This is a full-year course.

These orchestra courses offer a fine arts credit required for graduation. (violin, viola, cello, string bass.) These orchestra courses provide an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an intermediate level. Time will be required outside of class for rehearsals, trips, and other engagements. Attendance at all outside of school rehearsal and performances is required. This is a full-year course.

The Grand Philharmonic Orchestra is the preparatory ensemble for the Honors Orchestra and is open to any orchestral string instrument player with at least 2-3 years of experience. Basic playing techniques are emphasized and reinforced, allowing the student to gain skill and confidence in their performance

These orchestra courses offer a fine arts credit required for graduation. (violin, viola, cello, string bass.) These courses provide an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an intermediate/advanced level. Time will be required outside of class for rehearsals, trips, and other engagements. Attendance at all outside of school rehearsal and performances is required. This is a full-year course.

These orchestra courses offer a fine arts credit required for graduation. (violin, viola, cello, string bass.) These courses provide an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an advanced level. Time will be required outside of class for rehearsals, trips, and other engagements. Attendance at all outside of school rehearsal and performances is required. This is a full-year course. 

The Honors Orchestra, composed of a select group of student musicians, has been recognized by professional musicians, university music professors and other music educators from across the country as one of the finest orchestral training programs in North Texas. Our students learn the same ensemble skills and procedural protocols used in professional symphony orchestras. An emphasis is placed on learning and performing actual orchestral repertory rather than educational arrangements or abridgements of musical selections.

This is the one of the courses offering a fine arts credit required for graduation. This performance oriented organization is designed for the advanced musician who is interested in the study and performance of the many forms of string music. Students must audition for this group and must maintain membership in one of the main orchestra groups for membership in this ensemble. Students should expect to participate in rehearsals and performances outside of the school day. Performances may include school and civic functions.

These music ensemble courses offer a fine arts credit required for graduation. These chamber music groups are designed for the advanced orchestra student who has proven through audition the ability to perform above average on an instrument. Students must maintain membership in either the Symphonic or Honors Orchestra in order to be eligible for the orchestra ensemble class. The study and performance of various types of orchestra ensembles provide the main focus of this class. These ensembles may participate in U.I.L. contests as well as perform for school and community functions.