Home

10%

A Dream Team in Strings: Webb and Cook’s Impact at Krimmel

By Klein ISD Jessica Williams

January 12^th, 2026

At Krimmel Intermediate, orchestra directors Ms. Tiffany Webb and Mr. Stephen Cook are leading a powerhouse program defined by achievement, high expectations, and a sense of family. With combined teaching experience spanning more than three decades, the duo has orchestrated a culture where students rise to extraordinary musical and personal heights.

A Partnership Built on Balance and Trust

The directors describe their partnership as seamless, a genuine team effort.

“You know your team is functioning well when things just happen without having to say much,” Ms. Webb said. “We complement each other. The kids see us as equals, and that makes a huge difference.”

Their diverse backgrounds reinforce their strength. Mr. Cook brings years of high school band experience and technology integration, while Ms. Webb’s career includes classroom instruction, instrument repair at Fishburn Violin, and professional experience at Carnegie Hall.

“You just collect knowledge everywhere you go,” Ms. Webb said. “We never stop learning as teachers or musicians.”

Community, Family, and the Krimmel Culture

Krimmel’s orchestra program is built not just on musical excellence but also on belonging. The directors frequently remind students and families that they are part of the Krimmel orchestra family, the Krimmel community, and the Klein ISD family.

That philosophy extends into community performances, including a recent concert for local clergy members and annual holiday tours to elementary campuses. They also maintain close connections with students at Benignus and Mueller Elementary through the fifth-grade strings program.

“We need our community’s support,” Mr. Cook said. “Performing for them is our way of saying thank you.”

One of the most beloved traditions is the annual trip to the Houston Symphony, which the directors intentionally frame as a family experience. Parents, siblings, and students attend together, many for their very first live symphony.

“Parents tell us afterward that they’ve never been to a symphony before,” Mr. Cook said. “It’s meaningful to open that door for entire families.”

A group of people in black clothing stand together, holding up their index fingers and a plaque, in front of a brick wall.

A Rare Honor: Performing at the Midwest Clinic

One of the program’s most significant achievements came in 2024, when the Krimmel Intermediate Orchestra was selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, one of the highest honors an intermediate school ensemble can receive. Out of schools worldwide, only three intermediate orchestras were chosen to perform.

“For me, it was the honor of a career,” Ms. Webb said. “It’s truly the biggest stage an intermediate orchestra can stand on.”

The students prepared intensely, rehearsing multiple mornings each week and even practicing over school breaks. The result? A standing-room-only performance in Chicago and a buzz that spread throughout the conference.

“There was constant chatter about our concert,” Mr. Cook said. “By the time we walked on stage, the room was packed. That doesn’t happen often for intermediate school groups.”

National Recognition and Award-Winning Excellence

Beyond the Midwest Clinic, the orchestra has also earned national honors, including the 2023 National Grand Champion title from the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).

So what sets Krimmel’s program apart?

“It starts with the kids and the parents,” Ms. Webb said. “Their dedication is unmatched. And our administration, especially Principal Farmer, supports our program at every step.”

Mr. Cook added that their shared expectations play a significant role.

“We both came from the high school level,” he said. “So we expect our students to think and play with a maturity that’s unusual for their age. And they rise to it, they just don’t know any different.”

Overhead shot of a youth orchestra on stage, with a conductor in front of them. The orchestra includes violins, cellos, and basses.

Inspiring Growth Beyond the Music

While the program produces exceptional musicians, Ms. Webb and Mr. Cook say their true goal is deeper.

“We hope students learn the value of hard work over time,” Ms. Webb said. “Long-term effort toward a long-term goal, that’s something they’ll carry for life.”

The directors encourage professionalism, self-sufficiency, leadership, and personal accountability from day one.

“We have high expectations,” Mr. Cook said. “And the students step up.”

Moments of student growth continue to remind them why they teach.

“Today we handed out a challenging new piece,” Ms. Webb said. “At first, some students said, ‘There’s no way I can do this.’ A few minutes later, their eyes lit up. That transformation, that’s why we do what we do.”

A Model of Excellence

With national recognition, a thriving community culture, and a teaching team described by many as the program’s “Dream Team,” Krimmel Intermediate’s orchestra stands as a shining example of what young musicians can achieve when talent, support, and passion come together.

For Ms. Webb and Mr. Cook, there’s no secret formula, just a shared mission:

“We focus on what we value,” Ms. Webb said. “We model it. We nurture it. And the students truly become something extraordinary together.”

Thank you, Ms. Webb and Mr. Cook, for the time, love, and care you put into the students of the Krimmel Intermediate Orchestra program. Your #KleinFamily is so grateful for all you do.

Amazing teachers like Ms. Webb and Mr. Cook show why Klein ISD is the #1 Education Employer in Texas on Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers 2025 list. Forbes compiles its annual Best-in-State Employers list through an independent survey of more than 160,000 employees, asking them to rate their employers on working conditions, growth opportunities, compensation, and likelihood of recommendation. Klein ISD placed #33 overall among all employers in the state. The district stands alongside top-ranked organizations such as Google, Chick-fil-A, NASA, and Apple.

Button Label

Klein Collins and Benignus Students Team Up for Model City Project

A Dream Team in Strings: Webb and Cook’s Impact at Krimmel

February 26^th, 2026

February 20^th, 2026

February 20^th, 2026

January 16^th, 2026

January 8^th, 2026

January 5^th, 2026

February 26th, 2026

February 20th, 2026

February 20th, 2026

January 16th, 2026

January 8th, 2026

January 5th, 2026

February 26^th, 2026

February 20^th, 2026

February 20^th, 2026

January 16^th, 2026

January 8^th, 2026

January 5^th, 2026