Theater/Music Directing

Maestro Garrett Watson began his studies of conducting in 2006 and hasn't stopped directing since... At Northwestern State University as Vocal Performance BA student, Garrett studied choral conducting with Dr. Burt Allen, a pupil of the well-respected Robert Shaw and orchestral conducting under Dr. Douglas Bakenhus who has made a name for himself as a conductor overseas. Garrett also heavily studied the conducting and rehearsing techniques of Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and Seiji Ozawa, to name a few. 

Garrett's passion is community driven music and has served in a number of Community Chorales including as the Assistant Conductor of the Red River Chorale in Alexandria, LA and the Principle Conductor of the Trinidad Community Chorale, as well as serving as the Director for the Trinidad Music Association, both in Colorado. He has also served as the Music Director for The Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players where he strives to fill the big shoes of his late mentor and past Carnegie Music Director himself, Dick Helmcamp. 

In rehearsals, the Maestro strives to be time-efficient and to the point while also ensuring everyone is on the same page. His rehearsal style is summed up as being a team-player and not as much commander-in-chief, although he always makes his vision for whatever music he is working on clear. In performance, he follows Maestro Karajan's motto: "Rehearse so that when the performance arrives, the orchestra doesn't need you." 

Many musicians who have worked under his baton (or bare hands in choral settings) have commented on his community driven spirit and passion for the music being performed.