Orchestra and Chorus Music Staff
DOMINIQUE RØYEM, Music Director/Conductor
The Houston Chronicle has said that Dominique Royem “conducts with style and feeling” and that “her energy and passion are boundless.” She has been the Music Director of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra since 2014. During her tenure, she has radically diversified the organization's programming, increased the organization's reach by starting a chorus, instituted family and children’s programming, and commissioned new works for the ensemble. In 2015, the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra was recognized as a Finalist in the American Prize based in New York City. Through the programming done for FBSO, Dominique was Semifinalist for The American Prize—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programming in the 2017-2018 season.
She has worked with ensembles such as the Ukrainian State Orchestra, Plevin Philharmonic, Galveston Symphony, Moores Opera Center, Sugarland Opera, HBU Opera Theatre, HITS, and the Houston Civic Orchestra. She was the Resident Conductor for Bayou City Concert Musicals, Music Director for Houston Grand Opera’s Opera to Go! during the 12-13 and 13-14 seasons, and the Conducting Fellow for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra’s 2012-2013 season.
She has a Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. Her dissertation, entitled “Generic Integration and Its Expressive Potential in the Music of Kurt Weill and Richard Rodgers,” uses semiotic and genre theory to illuminate the similarities between opera and musical theatre in the 1940s and 1950s. Dominique currently lectures at the Women’s Institute of Houston.
Dominique is the lead artist facilitator for Artist INC, Houston, where she helps to train artists in entrepreneur skills such as web design, social media, grant writing, and strategic planning. Dominique’s YouTube channel focuses on bringing her joy about classical music to listeners everywhere. Check out her videos about Music History, Music Theory, and Pop Music.
Her upcoming engagements can be found on www.dominiqueroyem.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube @dominiqueroyem.
William Tackett, Assistant Conductor Orchestra
Now entering his first season as the Assistant Conductor for the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, William Tackett began conducting at the age of 20. He earned his degree from Florida State University while studying under Alex Jiménez. Since earning his degree, William has worked with several orchestras in and out of the country, including conducting a children’s production with musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic.
Outside of the FBSO, William maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule. He has a studio of around 40 violists and violinists and has had students pursue music at Sam Houston State University, Texas State University, and the University of North Texas in Denton. William also plays viola for the Symphony of Southeast Texas and has most recently founded a non-classical string trio called Pluto for which he writes music and plays.
In his free time, you can usually find him climbing at one of the local rock gyms or unwinding with a little bit of karaoke.
RAY RHOADS, Chorus Director
Ray Rhoads is a Choral Director, Theatrical Music Director, Composer and Performer who makes his home in Missouri City. Ray is a transplant to the Houston area from Sheboygan, WI. However, he originally hails from Reading, PA. Ray’s extensive Music Theatre experience includes many musicals and revues performed at schools, universities, community, and professional theatre companies around the country. He has taught choir and music theatre from sixth grade through the college level, and is an accomplished arranger for several school, community, professional choirs, and Broadway actors. Ray has directed several plays and revues including The Mousetrap at Stageworks TX, The House of Yes, Jerry’s Girls, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and several other musical revues and shows. As a Conductor, Ray is the founding director of the Sheboygan County Chamber Choir and directed the Reading Area Community College Concert Choir also as founding director, and the Penn State Berks Campus and Chamber Choirs. He also teaches and music directs summer camps for youth and spent seven summers working at Stagedoor Manor, a top performing arts camp, in the Catskill Mountains of NY. Ray is currently the Director Choral Activities at Pin Oak Middle School in the Houston ISD.
STEVE KALKE, Assistant Chorus Director
Steve Kalke holds a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Houston (Dr. Charles Hausmann’s studio). He comes from an extensive educational background having taught students from kindergarten age all the way up to university students.
While he is in his 25 year of teaching, he is currently in his tenth year as Head Choir Director at McMeans Junior High in Katy ISD. His choirs have won three national choral championships and have been featured at the Music for All Choral festival in 2018 and 2020. In 2022, his Varsity Choir won the Mark of Excellence National Choir Honors.
He has taught private voice/piano lessons for years and some of his students have gone on to professional singing careers. He is the proud father of three terrific kids and the lucky husband of Angela.