Southeast Texas Choral Society
Our purpose is to build a multi-generational community of local vocalists for the pure pleasure of raising our voices together in song.
-
We intend to enrich our local community by coordinating events with area schools, churches, and other organizations and by encouraging young musicians with performance and scholarship opportunities.
-
On September 3, 2009, under the leadership of conductor and singer, Suzannah Moorman, a group of 18 musicians gathered at Senior Hall in Mont Belvieu to organize a new community Choral Society for Chambers County. After discovering the group represented 3 counties ~ Chambers, Harris, and Liberty ~ the name Southeast Texas Choral Society was chosen. The group has come together to sing on various occasions since its inception, and it has had a special affinity for performing the music of American composers. After being stalled by Covid, the group is once again up and singing. The locally based group of singers is now led by Clarence Frank, Jr., who also conducts the Baytown Symphony Orchestra. Our dedicated singers and musicians come from all over the Southeast Texas area.
-
We are currently seeking new members to join our team. We are actively recruiting sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. Experience levels vary, but all that we require is that members come willing to learn, and we’ll teach you all you need to know. Currently, the age range of our group is from 17-80’s. Practice for our Fall 2025 season continues. We meet on Thursday evenings, from 7:00-8:30 pm at Baytown Community Church 915 E Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Baytown, TX 77521
Our 2025 Fall season begins: Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Various Events: the STCS has several opportunities to perform for our community. To be prepared for the opportunities when they come about, the STCS choir has a repertoire of songs prepared to range from spirituals, hymns, show tunes, and several American composers.
We also offer scholarships to student’s who join the choir. The scholarships cover the cost of their membership dues.
-
Maestro Frank was accepted into the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. He received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 2000. While there he studied cello with Richard Rose and conducting with the late Dr. George Adams and Dr. Burt Allen. He was a member of the symphony orchestra, the chamber choir, and the wind ensemble, playing string bass under Dr. Jeff Mathews.
After graduating from NSU, he began his teaching career in Goose Creek CISD in Baytown. He taught on both the junior high and high school levels before leaving to pursue higher education opportunities. Maestro Frank entered Sam Houston State University in the fall of 2017 as a graduate assistant to his conducting professor Dr. Jake Sustaita. While there he also studied cello with Dr. Daniel Saenz. He graduated in May of 2019 with a Master of Music in Conducting.
In addition to his post with the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, he teaches Orchestra at Baytown Christian Academy and is also the Music Director for the Southeast Texas Choral Society, a community chorus in the area.
When not on the podium, Clarence enjoys outdoor sports and is a major Dallas Cowboys fan. He also enjoys serving in the worship ministry at Old River Baptist Church and playing in the orchestra at Houston’s First Baptist Church. In addition, he continues to freelance around the Houston area for various events.
Music Director
Baytown native, Clarence Frank, Jr., has been named the 4th Music Director and Conductor of the Baytown Symphony Orchestra. He has always had an interest and ear for music as he first started singing in the church choir at 8 years old at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Baytown. His love for music began while singing praises to God. Upon entering the 6th grade, he chose to play cello in the school orchestra at Cedar Bayou Junior School. This opportunity opened many doors to a whole new world of music as he discovered his love for classical music. He quickly developed on the cello, earning spots in the all-region and all city orchestras in the 7th and 8th grade. He then started performing with the Baytown Symphony Orchestra in the 8th grade under the baton of Dr. David Corder. This was a total boost to his cello career as he entered Ross Sterling High School and immediately started leading the cello section as a freshman under the direction of Dennis Eichler and the late Karan Pitts. While in high school orchestra he won spots in the All-region orchestra for all 4 years and the coveted Texas All State Orchestra his senior year. During high school was when he decided to teach professionally.