Galena Park ISD Alumni Spotlight

  • Meet Clifton Joseph Guidry III, a former student of Normandy Crossing Elementary, Havard Elementary, Dr. Gerald D. Cobb 6th Grade Campus, North Shore Middle School, and a proud 2013 graduate of North Shore Senior High School.

    Guidry's passion has been music, and while in high school, he played the saxophone and participated in the North shore Senior High School's Wind Ensemble and Marching Band. He decided to switch to try his hand at the bassoon his senior year of high school, and now he attributes much of his success to Billie Briggs, Dr. Gerald D. Cobb 6th Grade Campus math thecher, the entire GPISD Music Department, and Beverly Conner, North Shore Senior High School Counselor.

    Joseph is currently a junior at the prestigious Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where he studies with internationally renowned Phillip Kolker. He previously studied at Stephen F. Austin State University. While in Texas, he held the principal position in several ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Opera Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Pines at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has also performed with the Longview Symphony Orchestra and other local church orchestras. Bassoonist Guidry’s master class experience includes performances for William Short, Kathleen McLean, Steven Dibner, Laura Miller, Jorge Cruz, Laura Bennett Cameron and Peter Simpson.

    While in Houston, Joseph studied bassoon with Hugo Doege, a Houston area freelancer and teacher.  He spends his summers participating in the Glickman-Popkin Bassoon Camp. Joseph also assists Galena Park ISD and surrounding area schools with summer band camps. In addition to his passion for music, Guidry loves to practice yoga and meditation regularly. He plans to pursue a certification in the practice of the Alexander Technique, which is an educational method used worldwide for over 100 years which helps change faulty postural habits by enabling improved mobility, posture, performance and altertness along with relief of chronic stiffness, tension and stress.

    Once he obtains his master’s degree, Joseph plans to take major auditions for orchestral positions. After two years of performing, he will begin applying for doctoral studies in Bassoon Performance. He aspires to open a small private studio to work with young bassoonists.

    GPISD is very proud to call Joseph a member of our family!  We wish him the best of luck as he continues to reach for his goals.  We look forward to hearing of his talent and contributions as he pursues his dreams and passion.

    Clifton Joseph Guidry III