Embedded Files
Director of Orchestras
Director of Orchestras
Mindy Florian is in her ninth year of teaching and first year as the Director of Orchestras at Klein High School. She served as the Assistant Director at Klein High from 2021-2025. Ms. Florian graduated in 2017 from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education.
As a student at Alabama, Ms. Florian taught students privately, coached chamber strings and taught an adult strings class with her mentor, Dr. Anne Witt. Ms. Florian was named Presser Scholar for the School of Music in 2016-2017 and was awarded the Most Outstanding Senior Instrumental Music Education Major. During her time at the University, Ms. Florian studied violin with Jenny Grégoire, strings education with Dr. Anne Witt, and conducting with Dr. Blake Richardson.
Ms. Florian served her alma mater, Oak Ridge High School, as the Director of Orchestras and instructor of AP Music Theory from 2017-2021. In her four years there, the Oak Ridge Orchestras consistently received UIL Sweepstakes awards for both string and full symphony orchestras. Despite a feeder split, retention in the program increased, as did student success in UIL Solo & Ensemble, TMEA Region Orchestra, and TMEA All-State Orchestra. Ms. Florian also began a scholarship program through the booster association to allow more students access to private lesson instruction.
A lifelong learner, Ms. Florian is a proud member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association. Ms. Florian is an active performer, both as a violinist and a vocalist. She lives in The Woodlands with her beloved golden retriever, Bear.
Assistant Director of Orchestras
Assistant Director of Orchestras
Michael Casagrande grew up in Spring, TX and started his study of double bass at Klein Oak High School in Klein ISD. He discovered his passion for music at an early age and implemented it to help his community by organizing and leading an instrument drive for his Eagle Scout project, leading the Klein ISD cluster of Texas Future Music Educators as President, and excelling in music by earning chairs in both All-Region and All-State Orchestras. Mr. Casagrande has studied privately with renowned bassists Ron White, Lex Valk, Steve Martin, and Deborah Dunham.
Mr. Casagrande received his Associate of Arts from Lonestar College, where he performed with the Lonestar Tomball Choir and Orchestra and earned the Outstanding Leadership award. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Sam Houston State University where he performed with the SHSU Symphony Orchestra, SHSU Men’s Choir, and SHSU Wind Ensemble. Prior to teaching at Klein High, Mr. Casagrande taught at Grand Oaks High School as the Assistant Orchestra Director for three years. He has taken many orchestras to both String and Full Orchestra UIL Concert and Sightreading and received numerous UIL Sweepstakes awards.
Mr. Casagrande is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys cooking, playing video games, and spending time with his wife, Tanya and his two dogs, Maya and Ziggy.
Google Sites
Report abuse