The Oak Ridge High School Choral Department is a family of extraordinary students who eagerly share their passion for singing, learning, and developing life-long friendships. We pride ourselves not only in excelling in the fundamentals of choral music literacy but also in practicing valuable leadership skills. By building community through song, we strive to create young men and women who will be the positive differences in our future.
Thomas Kang, Director
Mr. Kang is excited to share his seventh year as the Choir Director at Oak Ridge High School. Under his direction, the Oak Ridge Choirs have received multiple Sweepstakes awards at the UIL Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation, as well as various First Division ratings in competitions throughout the state of Texas. The Oak Ridge Rhapsody under his direction recently won first place at the North Texas Madrigal Festival.
Mr. Kang holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baylor University. While at Baylor, he performed in various locations throughout the United States, including TMEA in San Antonio, the National ACDA in Salt Lake City, the Yale Summer Institute, and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. He has also toured internationally to France and Kenya.
Mr. Kang is a member of TMEA, TMAA, and TCDA. He was awarded the Collegiate Music Educator Award from TMEA, and the Young Director of Distinction Award from TCDA. He has served in the TMEA as a Section Leader for the TMEA All-State Tenor-Bass Choir, and for several Region 9 Choirs. He was also featured as the Tenor in the All-State Practice Track. Mr. Kang is a frequent clinician for Junior High and High School Choirs around the Houston area.
Mr. Kang is a native of Seoul, South Korea, but has called Houston home for the past 21 years. He is a proud graduate of Cypress Falls High School, where he was a 4-year All-State Choir member under the direction of Deidre Douglas, a starting Offensive Lineman for the Football team, and an Honor graduate. In his spare time, he enjoys being a Dad to his newborn daughter, Rebekah, cooking, the great outdoors, playing golf, and watching all sports.
tkang@conroeisd.net
Natalie Parrish, Associate Director
Natalie Parrish is so excited to join the team at Oak Ridge! Mrs. Parrish is starting her 11th year teaching. She has spent the past 4 years at Anthony Middle School as head choir director in CFISD, where she lead choirs to numerous sweepstakes and awards at various festivals. Mrs. Parrish graduated Summa Cum Laude and University Scholar from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2015 where she studied with Tod Fish, Debbie Berry, and Tim King and was in multiple ensembles including the SFA A Cappella Choir and Madrigal Singers. Mrs. Parrish is a member of TMEA, TCDA, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Mrs. Parrish loves being in the same district as Mr. Parrish and they along with their cat, Hugo have moved to a new house in Magnolia.