Bill Owens

Bill Owens grew up in Shreveport, LA., attended public schools, and started studying piano at the age of five. He continued with the same piano teacher until his family moved to Houston when he was sixteen. In his childhood, Bill enjoyed performing for his friends’ parents even as his friends played sports outside. Bill laughs about being six years old and a professional. “I got paid in cookies!” He says. Bill also sang in the church choir as a teenager and later in an advanced ensemble at the University of Texas at Austin.

He continued his musical pursuits in college, participating in the Morris Beachy Chorale and studying education. After earning his master’s degree in education, Bill worked in various educational settings while teaching piano and voice at home. He also played piano and sang at restaurants as an enjoyable side gig. Bill and his late wife Katherine ran Owens Music Co. in Round Rock and Bastrop, Texas, until Katherine’s passing in 2007. After leaving retail, Bill became a full-time private music teacher at home, but also volunteered at schools to stay connected with lots of teacher friends. In 2009 he answered a newspaper ad seeking volunteers for the Bastrop Children’s Advocacy Center and suggested forming a children’s choir for their annual Child Abuse Prevention Month event. Because of the choir’s roots and investment with the CAC, Bill decided that part of being in the choir required that all singers learn how the CAC helps abused and neglected children and provides intervention with their families. He also developed a curriculum specifically for the Honor Choir called The CaringLife Leadership Program, which teaches children about the hundreds of microdecisions they make daily and how each decision brings upon them assets and resources or risks and liabilities. The result is an intense study of these concepts and how leading a mindful and caring life makes for a cadre of skilled and compassionate leaders. Bill now spends most of his time volunteering in school choirs and directing The Honor Choir.

Steve Carlton

“It’s been my privilege to have worked with Bill Owens and The Honor Choir for the past nine years as an accompanist, and, on occasion, as an assistant director. Mr. Owens is extraordinarily dedicated to the young people in the community, and it is such a joy to see kids becoming empowered through singing in his choir. Perhaps more importantly though, are the lessons they learn about kindness, empathy, and leadership.”

- Steve Carlton, Accompanist (2014 - present)

Choir Presidents

Members Mia and Anabel serve as our choir presidents, actively role modeling leadership qualities to the junior choir members.