Fort Bend ISD

Gene Holkup serves as the Assistant Director of Fine Arts for Choral and Elementary Music and Innovative Programs in Fort Bend ISD. Prior to his current role, he was Director of Choral Music at Hanna Early College High School in Brownsville. Ensembles under Gene’s direction earned the distinction of performing for the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, the Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association Conference, as well as invited performances with Choirs of America and CODA Concerts at Carnegie Hall. He previously taught choral music in McAllen, Edinburg and Calallen. For 35 years, he has tirelessly served and promoted Fine Arts Education in public schools.

Since his appointment as Assistant Director of Fine Arts in 2017, Gene has worked to improve the secondary choral and elementary music programs. These programs are now receiving state and regional recognition through performances for the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention as well as the Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association Conference. FBISD has established the FBISD Kodály Institute where Elementary Music teachers and Secondary Choral Directors earn Level I, Level II, and Level III Kodály Certification.

Under Mr. Holkup’s leadership, Fort Bend ISD began the first Piano Technician program to be offered at a public school in the Fall of 2020. This innovative course is approved by the Texas Education Agency and students receive Fine Arts Credit. Fort Bend ISD began their Mariachi program at Thurgood Marshall High School and Willowridge High School in the Fall of 2021. We are proud to see these programs grow in interest through the years.

Mr. Holkup has helped the Fort Bend ISD programs to grow and improve through collaboration, collective teacher efficacy, quality professional development and teacher coaching by guest clinicians and mentor teachers. He is committed to make a positive influence in the Fine Arts Department of Fort Bend ISD by equipping, empowering, and inspiring the elementary and secondary choral music educators. He has worked to provide opportunities for additional experiences and training for the piano technician and mariachi educators.

Gene earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Dakota and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Sam Houston State University. Gene holds membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Texas Fine Arts Administrators, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, the American Choral Directors Association, Pi Kappa Lambda (Music Honor Society). The Texas Choral Directors Association honored him with the Choral Excellence Award for contributions to choral music in Texas, mentorship and inspiration to colleagues and students, and continued advocacy for the future of choral singing.