26 May 2011 - LSC-Montgomery students choose favorite faculty member by Kassia Micek (Conroe Courier)
Dominick DiOrio, Lone Star College-Montgomery assistant professor of music and choir director, was chosen by students to receive the 2012 Student’s Star award, which students nominate faculty for and an administrative team names.

The students at Lone Star College-Montgomery have spoken.

Among the professors they see every day, students chose Dominick DiOrio, LSC-Montgomery assistant professor of music and choir director, to receive the 2012 Student’s Star award, which students nominate faculty for and an administrative team names.

“ I’m just so thrilled,” DiOrio said. “… It means one thing to be recognized by the faculty or your peers, but to be recognized by students is another thing.”

DiOrio has been teaching at LSC-Montgomery two years, after three years of student teaching at Yale University as a graduate student.

“ Music is such a great field to study because it connects people across cultures,” DiOrio said about his career field.
Although he and all four of his siblings went through piano lessons with their mother, DiOrio is the only one who chose it as a career, but it wasn’t until high school that he realized his love for music.

“ I wanted to pass that love on to people through teaching,” DiOrio said. “If you’re passionate about something, you bring that to others.”

And that’s exactly what his students get.

“ He’s very professional at what he does and he’s really one of the best quality teachers I’ve ever had,” said Daniel Vallery, 21.

In a nomination letter, another student wrote “He is truly the best choir director I’ve ever had. … He has given the music students here at Lone Star even more incredible opportunities. He brings a level of professionalism with him that filters into the minds of the students as well, and comes out in our performance and work. His personality demands respect, and he has to do nothing more to get it.”

The Students’ Star recipient is invited to sit on stage during commencement, which was May 13.
In addition to teaching at LSC-Montgomery and composing his own music, DiOrio is also a member of the Houston Chamber Choir. In March 2012 the group will perform one of his pieces.

DiOrio earned a bachelor of music in composition summa cum laude from the Ithaca College School of Music in 2006, a master of music in choral conducting from Yale University in 2008 and is currently working toward his doctorate of musical arts from Yale. He has completed all course work. A recital in October and an oral final exam remain next year for him to receive the degree in 2012.

The following were Faculty Excellence award recipients: Danny Kainer, biotechnology; James Zipperer, accounting; Karen Buckman, psychology; and Jared Cootz, sociology.

To learn more about Lone Star College-Montgomery, visit www.lonestar.edu/montgomery.htm.

To learn more about Dominick DiOrio, visit www.dominickdiorio.com.