Dr. Guillermo Hernández Ching has served as Director of Orchestras and Music Teacher at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston since 2000. A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans with a Bachelor of Music Education, he later earned a Master of Educational Technology from Grand Canyon University and a Doctor of Education in Catholic Leadership from Saint Louis University. His early musical training began in Costa Rica, where he studied clarinet at the Instituto Nacional de Música and performed with the Banda Nacional de Heredia. At Strake Jesuit, he directs both string and full orchestras, teaches AP Music Theory, and programs music for school liturgies. He has previously served as the Orchestra Division Chair for TPSMEA and as the association’s Webmaster. Dr. Hernández Ching is also an active clarinetist, performing with ECHOrchestra. He also served as assistant conductor with the Houston Concert Band.
The orchestra program at Strake Jesuit has grown steadily under his leadership and is now the largest private-school string program in the Houston area, with students spanning grades 9–12. The program includes string orchestras, full symphony ensembles, chamber groups, and liturgical ensembles that serve the school’s major Masses and community events. Students participate in multiple activities: from benefit concerts to regional and state contests through TMEA and TPSMEA. Notably, in 2004, the Strake Jesuit String Orchestra became the first and only private-school ensemble in Texas to earn a Sweepstakes Award at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Festival for TMEA Region 23. Alums of the program have continued to university music programs, national festival ensembles, and professional careers in both performance and education. The orchestra program is grounded in the school’s Jesuit mission, fostering character formation, disciplined artistry, and service to the community. Through ensemble work, liturgical music, and a commitment to excellence, the program helps students grow as compassionate musicians for others.