Orchestra Directors
David Irish
David Irish is in his fourth year serving as Director of Orchestras at Summer Creek High School.
Since being named Director of Orchestras in 2021, Summer Creek Orchestras have achieved many program firsts including the Summer Creek Symphony being selected to perform at the 2023 Midwest Clinic, 2024 National Finalist for the American Prize in Orchestral Performance, the Chamber Orchestra performing at the 2023 Music for All National Festival, and 2023 National Winner of the Mark of Excellence. The group also performed for the Humble ISD School Board, which was named "This Month's Inspiring Moment."
In Irish's first three years at Summer Creek, all Irish led ensembles received Sweepstakes Awards at UIL. Dozens of Summer Creek students were named to region, area, all-state, received gold medals at State TSSEC, and performed with the Houston Youth Orchestras. In the Spring of 2022, the Summer Creek Symphony was highly praised with two judges noting they were moved to tears, while the Chamber Orchestra was credited with "exceptional artistry" by a Music for All evaluator. In 2023, an abundance of judges and clinicians commented on the both the Full Symphony and Chamber Orchestra's musicality including panel members judging Sightreading at UIL. In 2024, judges continued their appreciation citing "WOW WOW WOW - Stunning, mature, musical performance", "I loved all the details, it gave me all the feels", and another's commenting on Adagio for Strings of just "Thank you."
Previously, Mr. Irish served as the Director of Orchestras (2015-2021) and Director of Bands (2013-2020) at Palo Verde World School in Las Vegas, Nevada. His work with the Palo Verde music program led to being named to the inaugural Yamaha 40 Under 40 for Music Education.
Named Indiana Music Educator of the Year in 2013 by Indianapolis Youth Orchestras, Irish tripled the enrollment of both the band and orchestra program in his first three years as director, creating the Palo Verde Philharmonic in 2016. The Palo Verde Philharmonic finished 2nd place in the full orchestra division at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in 2019 and was invited to perform at the 2020 Music for All National Festival. Under Irish’s tenure as Director of Bands, Palo Verde's Wind Orchestra was selected three times (2015, 2018, 2020) to the featured stage of the National Festival, performed at numerous Music for All Regional Affiliate festivals and hosted the Las Vegas Concert Band Festival, starting in 2019. All ensembles under Irish’s direction received Superior Ratings in all CCSD-sponsored festivals including concert band, jazz band, and orchestra. Irish was recognized by U.S. House Representative Susie Lee for the accomplishments achieved at Palo Verde during Irish's tenure.
Irish has conducted performances in Czech Republic, Germany, and China. Irish is a published arranger with his setting “Suite from ‘The Mikado’” having been performed on “Marquee Mojo” with the UNLV Wind Orchestra on Klavier Records (K11185), as well as being found in Teaching Music Through Performance in Band Vol. 9, and featured on “Wind and Rhythm” on NPR. Teaming with David Maccabee, Irish was a presenter at the Arts Empowerment Conference, discussing transitioning a marching program from competitive to non-competitive. Irish received an MM in Wind Conducting and BME from UNLV, as well as having taken undergraduate music classes at Ball State University. Irish previously taught band and choir at North White Jr./Sr. High School in Monon, Indiana where similar growth occurred. Irish was recognized by U.S. House Representative Todd Rokita for having 100% superior ratings for all entries at Solo & Ensemble in his second year at North White.
Irish welcomed his first born, Kieran, in the summer of 2024 with his wife and love of his life Karen.
Karen Irish
Karen Irish is in her second year as Associate Orchestra Director at Summer Creek HS in Humble ISD where she leads three string orchestras as well as assists and conducts the Summer Creek Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Sinfonia Orchestra. She received the UIL Sweepstakes award in 2023 while leading the Summer Creek Camerata and has enjoyed conducting the Summer Creek Symphony and Chamber Orchestras on national stages. Having started her public school teaching career in 2022, her pedagogical impact has been noted through the growth of players at both Woodcreek Middle School and in all five Summer Creek String Orchestras, including contributions to the 2023 Mark of Excellence Award as well as conducting at the Music for All National Festival and Midwest Clinic.
Mrs. Irish graduated from the University of New Mexico where she received a double bachelor's degree in violin performance and string pedagogy. While at UNM she taught private and group violin lessons under the mentorship of pedagogy professor Susan Kempter, and she also received her Books 1-10 Suzuki Teacher Training and certification. In addition, she performed with several ensembles including the UNM Undergraduate String Quartet in 2017 at the John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium.
Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, she began studying violin at the age of 5 with Caroll Berns-Wixom and later studied at the Nevada School of the Arts with Jennifer Hellewell and Mary Straub. After graduating, she returned to Las Vegas and assisted with the nationally renowned Cashman Middle School orchestra program. She also taught at the Nevada School of the Arts, where her students participated in solo and ensemble, the district honor orchestra, and the Nevada All-State Orchestra.
After moving to Houston, Mrs. Irish began teaching private violin/viola lessons for Humble ISD and has coached upper strings, chamber ensembles, and done clinics at several middle and high schools. She was also an assistant orchestra director at Woodcreek MS during the 2021-2022 school year, where she led the Camerata to a UIL Sweepstakes award.
She met her husband David in February 2020 in Las Vegas after filling in as a judge at his symphony's pre-festival concert. They were wed in June 2023 and enjoy rock climbing and hiking together. She has a passion for choral music and has sung with the Lake Houston Chamber Singers, the Las Vegas Reformation Chorale, and the Dublin Choral Festival at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.
