Marsha Carlisle

MARSHA CARLISLE, a native Houstonian, was born December 18, 1951. She died on April 30, 2009. Marsha received the Bachelor of Music in Education degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Master of Music in Conducting from Sam Houston State University where she was a student of B. R. Henson and Walter Foster. She completed coursework for the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Carlisle began her teaching career in choral music in 1976 at MacArthur High School in the Aldine ISD (Houston), moving to Thompson and San Jacinto Middle Schools in Pasadena and continuing at South Houston High School until she entered graduate school in 1986. While the associate director at South Houston High School, Ms. Carlisle conducted performances at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association in New Orleans in 1981, the ACDA Southwestern Division convention in Dallas in 1984 and the state convention of the Texas Music Educators Association in San Antonio in 1986. At the university level, she was the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Southwest Texas State University for five years. While under her direction the SWTSU Women's Choir performed at TMEA in 1993 and made a concert tour of Ireland in 1994. In 1995 she taught in the Music Education Division of the School of Music at Baylor University. Returning to secondary schools, she held posts as head director at Madison High School (San Antonio) and as associate director at Brazoswood High School (Lake Jackson). Her most recent position was at Mayde Creek High School (Katy). Her Madison High School students appeared at TMEA as a demonstration group for a sight reading workshop in 1996. A Past President of the Texas Choral Directors Association (1997-1999), Ms. Carlisle also served for three years as TCDA Secretary-Treasurer. She served for two terms on the Texas University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List Selection Committee, chairing the committee the last five years of her tenure. Additional professional service includes being the Vocal Chair of Region 19 of the TMEA and current service as a member of the UIL Sight Reading Committee, a position she had to give up due to her illness. Active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout Texas and the southwestern United States, Ms. Carlisle maintained memberships in ACDA, TCDA, TMEA, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Sigma Alpha Iota, and the honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda. A talented vocalist, Marsha Carlisle was a charter member of the Concert Chorale of Houston and was a featured soprano soloist at many of the group's performances, including a concert conducted by the renowned Roger Wagner. She appeared as a soloist with the Sam Rayburn High School Men's Choir at their 1985 TMEA performance as well as the 1981 South Houston High School ACDA performance in New Orleans. She also performed with the SHHS and Mesquite High Scholl choirs at the 1986 and 1987 Round Top Festival at Festival Hill in Round Top, Texas. Publications in the music education field include choral arrangements and sight reading exercises in the Keys to Sight Reading Success series published by AMC Publications. Ms. Carlisle also contributed to the Something to Sing About series, a choral textbook published by G. Schirmer. A masterful voice teacher and vocal coach, Marsha Carlisle provided her students with the tools, motivation and support to achieve excellence. A constant source of encouragement and positive energy, her beaming smile and optimism illuminated and elevated those around her as she won the love and admiration of students and colleagues alike. Marsha Carlisle was a thoughtful and devoted daughter, a compassionate educator and a positive role model for generations of music students. Her spirituality was manifested in the steadfast faith she displayed during the months of her illness as well as how she lived her life. She served churches in numerous communities as music director. Her versatility was displayed in her successful real estate business as well as in her artistic pursuits, jewelry making, sculpting, painting and her life-long love of antiques and decorative arts. Marsha was preceded in death by her brother, William "Billy" Gordon Carlisle, Jr., and her parents Elizabeth "Sissy" and William Gordon Carlisle, Sr.. She will be missed by her many relatives and friends. Marsha's legacy is defined by those students and associates in the musical crafts she touched and influenced along her journey. Interment will be at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery on Friday, May 8th at 11 AM. On Saturday, May 9th at 2 PM, Reverend Larry Hall will officiate the memorial service at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. Pallbearers will be Eddie Quaid, Robert Littlefield, Michael Madrid, John Hemmenway, Kelly Hughes and Shannon Carter. Donations in Marsha's memory may be made to Holly Hall Christian Retirement Community, 2000 Holly Hall Drive, Houston, Texas, or to the Past President's scholarship fund of the Texas Choral Director's Association (TCDA).