DirectorS

Catherine Olivier is the orchestra director at J.T. Hutchinson Middle School, an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) school in Lubbock, TX. Originally from El Paso, TX, Mrs. Olivier received both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Summa Cum Laude) and a Master of Music in Music Education from Texas Tech University.

Mrs. Olivier has taught privately for 15+ years and has taught orchestra at Smylie Wilson Middle School and Monterey High School in Lubbock ISD before her position at Hutch Middle School.

Under Olivier's direction, the Hutchinson orchestras have received "Sweepstakes" at University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert and Sightreading Evaluations, "Superior" performances at UIL Solo and Ensemble events, and "Best in Class" for various festival performances.  In 2019, the Hutchinson Varsity Orchestra was recognized as a National Winner with the Foundation for Music Education 2019 Mark of Excellence project, a first for any Lubbock orchestra.  

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Hutch Varsity Orchestra was honored to perform as the Invited Middle School String Orchestra for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) State Virtual Conference!   

In addition, Olivier developed a harp program in August 2018.  Hutch Middle School is currently the only orchestra program in Lubbock ISD to offer a cohesive and integrated harp program to students in the Region.

In addition to teaching, Mrs. Olivier has performed in several local and regional symphonies and ensembles including the San Angelo Symphony, Big Spring Symphony, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and Lubbock Civic Orchestra, and Lubbock Moonlight Musicals. She is also an original, and active, member of Lubbock's premiere touring tango ensemble, Tango Llaneros. Olivier is an avid performer, adjudicator, presenter, and clinician. She is an active member of several professional organizations and is currently serving as the TMEA Region XVI Secretary.

Olivier enjoys tango, dance, art, reading, Star Wars, anything pretty nerdy, cheesy puns, bad Dad jokes, learning new things, coffee, and spending time with her family.  She and her husband have a son named Evan, two super-cute dogs named Viola and Celli, and a son on the way named Rowan! 

Dr. Israel Mello began studying the violin at the age of 5 in Sapiranga, Brazil. He switched to viola when he was 11 and started traveling to international music festivals by the age of 14. Dr. Mello graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and received his Master’s in Music and Doctor in Musical Arts diplomas from Texas Tech University.

As an educator, Mello taught violin and viola at the SA’ OAXACA International String Festival in Mexico, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and coached orchestra sectionals at Hutchinson Middle School and Lubbock High School. Some of his private students have won awards in international competitions and were accepted in prestigious universities.

In addition to teaching, Mello plays with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra regularly and has performed with world renowned artist such as Yo-Yo Ma, Kristen Chenoweth, David Gaschen, Leon Spierer, Boyz II Men, Flatland Cavalry, and Susan Graham. He has also toured with the Nova Orquestra String Quartet in NYC in 2023.

When he is not working, Mello enjoys swimming, playing and watching tennis, studying linguistics/languages, and trying different types of tea.