{"Musicians":{"CEMusician1":{"musicianBio":"Violinist Lindsey Baggett joined the team of Community-Embedded Musicians in the Fall of 2023. She has been a frequent substitute for the Houston Symphony since 2013, including three seasons as a contracted substitute. She also enjoys performing locally with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Houston Ballet Orchestra. She holds a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University. Her principal teachers include William Preucil and Frank Huang. As a Community-Embedded Musician, Lindsey is thrilled to be able to share music through performances, workshops, and education.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LindseyBaggett_014crop-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician1","musicianName":"Lindsey Baggett","musicianTitle":"Lead Community-Embedded Musician (violin)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/lindsey-baggett/"},"CEMusician10":{"musicianBio":"Adrian Ponce is a Houston-based musician, composer, educator, and arts administrator originally from Guatemala and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Inspired by the teachers who shaped his early life, Adrian is committed to making music education accessible for all. He has taught in a wide range of settings—from public schools and private studios to youth arts organizations and UIL adjudication—and has worked toward expanding access to the arts by creating education and community programs. As a performer, Adrian has appeared with orchestras and ensembles across Texas and the southern United States.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Adrian-Ponce.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician10","musicianName":"Adrian Ponce","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (Viola)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/adrian-ponce/"},"CEMusician11":{"musicianBio":"Lauren Ross is a passionate Houston-based violist, arts administrator, and educator. In 2025, she joined the Houston Symphony as a CEM Teaching Artist. During the workweek, she serves as Digital Communications Manager at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, her alma mater, where she studied with Ivo-Jan van der Werff. A former DACAMERA Young Artist, Lauren spent two years performing and leading workshops in schools, museums, and community centers across Houston. Her artistry has also taken her to international festivals, including the Fontainebleau Schools in France, Music in PyeongChang in Korea, and Domaine Forget in Canada.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Lauren-Ross-2022-headshot-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician11","musicianName":"Lauren Ross","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (Viola)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/lauren-ross/"},"CEMusician12":{"musicianBio":"A jack-of-all-trades, master of one, percussionist Bensen Kwan received his master’s from the University of Delaware and bachelor’s from the University of Houston. He has been a featured soloist with the United States Army Field Band and West Point Band, along with being a prizewinner of several competitions. His international endeavors include study in Leipzig, Germany under Stefan Rapp; marimba in Greece with Theodor Milkov; Trinidad & Tobago to play steelpan with the First Citizens Supernovas; and most recently, Japan to study with marimba virtuoso, Keiko Abe. “Community through music” is a mantra he stands by, and he hopes to combine music and community service in a way that brings people together.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/September2024-16-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician12","musicianName":"Bensen Kwan","musicianTitle":"CEM Education Specialist","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/bensen-kwan/"},"CEMusician13":{"musicianBio":"Jaya Varma, D.M.A., is a versatile violinist based in Houston, TX, with a dynamic freelance career performing with orchestras across the U.S. She has appeared with Mercury Chamber Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, Sarasota Opera, Oregon Bach Festival, and served as acting section violinist with the Oregon Symphony (2024–2025). Her performances have graced prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Miami’s Arsht Center. Jaya’s broad experience includes work with the Louisville Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, New World Symphony, and in Nashville’s recording studios on major soundtracks. She has shared the stage with artists like Björk, Gloria Estefan, Andrea Bocelli, and Chick Corea.\n\nShe holds degrees from the University of Miami, University of Michigan, and Duquesne University. Beyond music, she is passionate about yoga, and holistic artistic growth.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/jayaFitProofs-64_Original-scaled.jpeg","musicianID":"CEMusician13","musicianName":"Jaya Varma, D.M.A","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (Violin)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/Jaya-Varma/"},"CEMusician3":{"musicianBio":"Lucinda Chiu is a first violinist of the Los Angeles Opera, and a substitute musician with the Houston Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Ballet. She has appeared with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Mercury Chamber Orchestra, Candlelight Concerts, and on films and albums recorded at Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, and more. A dedicated educator, she teaches at the Houston Youth Symphony, British International School of Houston, Carver High School, and maintains a thriving private studio. Lucinda holds degrees from The Peabody Conservatory and Rice University. She enjoys crocheting, learning Japanese, and playing with her puppy, Pancake.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lucinda-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician3","musicianName":"Lucinda Chiu","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (violin)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/lucinda-chiu/"},"CEMusician4":{"musicianBio":"David Connor has served as a Houston Symphony Community-Embedded Musician since August 2015. He was born in Chelmsford, MA and began playing the double bass when he was nine years old. He joins the Houston Symphony as a Community-Embedded Musician after two seasons with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL. Connor earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University and his Masters of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. While at Rice, he was a fellow of the Da Camera of Houston Young Artist Program for two seasons, which led to many community outreach opportunities and chamber music collaborations in the greater Houston area. Connor has participated in summer festivals including Music Academy of the West, Aspen, Sarasota, Domaine Forget, and the Britten Pears Young Artist Program. He has been a recipient of the Aspen Academy Orchestra Fellowship and was chosen in 2011 to be a member of the New York String Orchestra Seminar at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Jaime Laredo. As a member of the New World Symphony, he has had the opportunity to teach double bass both at home and abroad, traveling to Medellín, Colombia and Geneva, Switzerland in 2014.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/David-Connor_CEM.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician4","musicianName":"David Connor","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (double bass)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/david-connor/"},"CEMusician6":{"musicianBio":"Cuban-born violinist Rainel Joubert joined the Houston Symphony as a Community-Embedded Musician in 2016. He has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, the Opera and Ballet Orchestras of Havana and has played for many renowned musicians, including Claudio Abbado, Gidon Kremer, Erick Grossman, Ilmar López Gavilán, Paul Kantor, and the Borromeo String Quartet. His many awards include being named one of the four finalists of the 15th Annual Sphinx Competition, First Prize in the Concerto Competition of the University of Southern Mississippi, and Second Prize in the Violin Competition and Best Interpretation of Cuban Music at the 2006 Union de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (Cuban Artists and Writers Union). As a member of Sphinx Virtuosi (SV) he performed in important halls such as New World Center (Miami), Kennedy Center (Washington), Carnegie Hall (New York), and participated in extensive community engagement activities. He speaks three languages (Spanish, Portuguese, and English) and holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rainel-Joubert_CEM.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician6","musicianName":"Rainel Joubert","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (violin)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/rainel-joubert/"},"CEMusician7":{"musicianBio":"Alexis Mitrushi is a violist who has recently joined the Houston Symphony in the fall of 2024 as a Community Embedded Musician and is currently serving as a substitute violist for the New World Symphony. She served as a substitute violist of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas, and Denver Philharmonic. She was also a principal & associate principal of the Chautauqua MSFO, NRO, and Westside Chamber Players. She holds an MM from Mannes School of Music and a BM + minor from Oberlin Conservatory. She believes music is a tool utilized for the expression of one’s soul.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Alexis.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician7","musicianName":"Alexis Mitrushi","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (viola)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/alexis-mitrushi/"},"CEMusician8":{"musicianBio":"Stephen Hudson is a Houston-based artist, voice coach, and educator with a passion for performance and music. He holds a B.A. in Music Education from Loyola University and an M.Ed. from the University of St. Thomas. He has taught in public schools, worked with organizations like Dreamyard Project, Broadway’s Babies, Houston Grand Opera, TUTS and co-directed the NYC Youth Pride Chorus. As the founder of Life Studios, he uses creativity to inspire others. Stephen is a producer continuing to impact communities through arts education.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Headshot-2024.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician8","musicianName":"Stephen Hudson","musicianTitle":"CEM Education Specialist","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/stephen-hudson/"},"CEMusician9":{"musicianBio":"Beginning with guitar and violin at a young age, Bianca Lozano is a full-time vocalist and violinist specializing in mariachi style and repertoire. She started her musical journey with the Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), making her debut as a soloist and musical director in 2024. She has performed with professional mariachi ensembles throughout Houston, including current Grand Champions of the Houston Rodeo Mariachi Invitational, Mariachi del Bosque. Bianca teaches private violin and vocal students, giving masterclasses to local students and ensembles. Bianca graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2021, performing in the SHSU Symphony for 5 years.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/9Y5A8913-1-1.jpg","musicianID":"CEMusician9","musicianName":"Bianca Lozano","musicianTitle":"CEM Teaching Artist (violin)","musicianType":"CEM Musicians","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/bianca-lozano/"},"Chorus1":{"musicianBio":"Conductor, Composer, Producer Anthony J. Maglione is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston and Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus. He joins the Moores School of Music faculty from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where he was the Director of Choral Studies and held the Robert H. McKee Chair of Music. Choirs under his direction have appeared at state, regional, and national conventions, released internationally-distributed commercial recordings, and have twice been named “Runner Up” for the American Prize in Choral Performance, College/University Division. A frequent collaborator, he has prepared choirs for performances with the American Spiritual Ensemble, Boston Camerata, The Canadian Brass, Joyce DiDonato, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, The King’s Singers, Kings Return, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. \\n\\nAn often-performed and commissioned composer with a growing national reputation, Maglione’s music has appeared at state, regional, and national-level conventions, on TV, in video games, and has been recorded on Albany Records, Centaur Records, GIA Choral Works, and Gothic Records. Several of his choral works are published on James Jordan’s “Evoking Sound” choral series through GIA Publications as well as “The Amanda Quist Signature Choral Series” on Gentry Publications. In 2018, Maglione’s cantata for soloists, choir, and orchestra, ##The Wedding of Solomon##, premiered at the American Guild of Organists National Convention. The Miami University Men’s Glee Club premiered Maglione’s ##On Life## at the 2019 National ACDA Conference. In early 2020, Verdigris Ensemble premiered his extended dramatic work ##Dust Bowl## as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Elevator Project in Dallas, Texas. ##Dust Bowl ##was recently revised and performed again in 2024 at the Wyly Theatre in Dallas through funding in-part from the National Endowment of the Arts. From 2023 to 2025, Maglione served as Composer-In-Residence with Te Deum, a professional choir based in Kansas City. \\n\\nAs a producer, Maglione lends his ears to recording projects around the country and recently received national attention through his production work with Sam Brukhman and Verdigris Ensemble on ##Betty’s Notebook## by composer Nicholas Reeves. This ground-breaking, programmable art music is the first of its kind and the first to be sold using blockchain technology. \\n\\nAs a tenor, Maglione has appeared with renowned organizations such as Artefact Ensemble, Cappella Romana, Kansas City Baroque Consortium, Kantorei KC, The Same Stream, The St. Tikhon Choir, Sunflower Baroque, and Spire Chamber Ensemble. \\n\\nA sought-after clinician and frequent guest conductor, Maglione teaches workshops and has conducted All-State and honor choirs in California, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Anthony_Mgn-02-02.webp","musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianName":"Anthony J. Maglione","musicianPriority":"5","musicianTitle":"director, Houston Symphony Chorus","musicianType":"Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/anthony-j-maglione/"},"Chorus2":{"musicianBio":"Houston Chamber Choir Artistic Director, Dr. Betsy Cook Weber, enjoys an international reputation as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter. She has led acclaimed choral performances in numerous countries throughout Europe as well as in most of the states of the United States.\n\nWeber is the Madison Endowed Professor of Music Emeritus at the University of Houston Moores School of Music as well as Director Emeritus of the Houston Symphony Chorus. Before coming to the University of Houston, where she served as Director of Choral Studies and directed the internationally ranked Concert Chorale, she taught 13 years of public school vocal music, K–12.\n\nChoirs under Weber’s direction have won top prizes at prestigious competitions in Wales, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and Austria. They have also been featured at multiple state, regional, and national conferences in the U.S. (Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Southwest Division of American Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, and National Collegiate Choral Organization).\n\nInternationally, she has conducted at Leipzig’s Bachfest and the Litomysil Festival in the Czech Republic and has judged choral competitions in Europe and throughout the U.S.\n\nIn the summer of 2013, Weber became the 13th person and first woman to receive the Texas Choral Directors Association’s coveted Texas Choirmaster Award. She serves as editor of the Betsy Cook Weber Choral Series with Alliance Music Publishing and has prepared singers for early music orchestras Ars Lyrica and Mercury Houston as well as for touring shows, including Josh Groban, NBC’s Clash of the Choirs, Telemundo’s Latin Grammys, Star Wars in Concert, Andreas Bocelli, Eric Whitacre, and The Eagles.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BetsyCookWeber_101-1-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Chorus2","musicianName":"Betsy Cook Weber","musicianTitle":"artistic director, Houston Chamber Choir","musicianType":"Chorus","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/betsy-weber/"},"Chorus3":{"musicianBio":"The Houston Symphony Chorus is the official choral unit of the Houston Symphony and consists of highly skilled and talented volunteer singers. Over the years, members of this historic ensemble have learned and performed the world’s great choral orchestral masterworks under the batons of Juraj Valčuha, Andrés Orozco Estrada, Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, Robert Shaw, and Helmuth Rilling, among many others. \\n\\nIn addition, the Chorus enjoys participating in the Houston Symphony’s popular programming under the batons of conductors such as Steven Reineke and Michael Krajewski. Recently, the ensemble sang the closing subscription concerts with the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic. Singers are selected for specific programs for which they have indicated interest. A singer might choose to perform in all 45 concerts, as was the case in a recent season, or might elect to participate in a single series. The Houston Symphony Chorus holds auditions by appointment and welcomes inquiries from interested singers.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HS_Opening-Night_10.4.2024_Photographer-Melissa-Taylor-104-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianName":"Houston Symphony Chorus","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Chorus","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/houston-symphony-chorus/"},"Chorus4":{"musicianBio":"The Houston Chamber Choir is a Grammy-winning professional ensemble whose mission is to share choral music performed at the highest level. Proud to be a part of Houston's vibrant arts scene, the Chamber Choir looks forward to collaborations with some of the city's finest groups during its 30th anniversary season featuring everything from an exciting world premiere to traditional crowd favorites. Led by Founder and Artistic Director Robert Simpson and Artistic Director Designate Betsy Cook Weber, the Houston Chamber Choir has been described by The Tallis Scholars founder Peter Phillips as “one of this country’s leading ensembles.\" The Choir comprises 24 professional singers, most of whom have studied at the top music schools and conservatories in the United States. These musicians are selected through rigorous auditions from the finest singers in our region and are compensated for all rehearsals and performances. The Chamber Choir’s travels have taken it on tour in this country and abroad. Its first national exposure came in 1999, four years after its founding, when it was invited to perform at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association in Chicago’s famed Orchestra Hall. The Chamber Choir has received similar invitations from Chorus America, The American Guild of Organists,\n\nThe Association of Anglican Musicians, the Association of Lutheran Musicians, the Texas Choral Directors Association, and the Organization of American Kodály Educators. It will tour Latvia, Estonia, and Sweden in 2025 in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The Chamber Choir is proud to offer a wide breadth of recorded albums. Highlights include ##Ravishingly Russian,##Ravishingly Russian, a collection of 19th- and 20th-century Russian secular choral music; the world premiere recording of ##Psalmi ad Vesperas##Psalmi ad Vesperasby 17th-century Italian composer Giovanni Paolo Colonna; and the Grammy-winning ##Duruflé, Complete Choral Works##Duruflé, Complete Choral Works. Winner of Best Choral Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards and winner of Chorus America's 2018 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the Houston Chamber Choir has established itself as one of the premier professional choirs in the United States, serving Houston through concerts and educational initiatives that enlighten, entertain, and educate people of all ages.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HCC-Photo.png","musicianID":"Chorus4","musicianName":"Houston Chamber Choir","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Chorus","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/houston-chamber-choir/"},"Chorus5":{"musicianBio":"The Houston Symphony Chorus is the official choral unit of the Houston Symphony and consists of highly skilled and talented volunteer singers. Over the years, members of this historic ensemble have learned and performed the world’s great choral orchestral masterworks under the batons of Juraj Valčuha, Andrés Orozco Estrada, Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, Robert Shaw, and Helmuth Rilling, among many others.\n\nIn addition, the Chorus enjoys participating in the Houston Symphony’s popular programming under the batons of conductors such as Steven Reineke and Michael Krajewski. Recently, the ensemble sang the closing subscription concerts with the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic. Singers are selected for specific programs for which they have indicated interest. A singer might choose to perform in all 45 concerts, as was the case in a recent season, or might elect to participate in a single series. The Houston Symphony Chorus holds auditions by appointment and welcomes inquiries from interested singers.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HS_Andres-Conducts-Strauss_3.9.2025_Photographer-Melissa-Taylor-145-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Chorus5","musicianName":"Sopranos And Altos Of The Houston Symphony Chorus","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Chorus","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/sopranos-and-altos-of-the-houston-symphony-chorus/"},"Chorus6":{"musicianBio":"The Houston Children’s Chorus was founded in 1989 by Director Stephen Roddy. More than 200 children in grades two through eight are enrolled in Chorus activities, including a Music in The Schools program for inner-city schools that cannot afford a music teacher. The Chorus represents the diverse cultures of Houston and performs at numerous civic events throughout the year. It has been featured with the Houston Symphony, Houston Symphony POPS, Masterworks Chorus, Houston Choral Society, and Rice University Chorale. Along with President George H. W. Bush, the Chorus was featured on Glad Tidings, a recording of the Houston Symphony POPS.\n\nThe Houston Children’s Chorus has performed for the U.S. President on 34 occasions and was featured in the national broadcast of the “Celebration of the Life of Barbara Bush.” Favorite performances include the recording of the Blue Bell Ice Cream commercial, a concert with Celine Dion, the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Super Bowl with Josh Groban, the premiere of a major commissioned work at Carnegie Hall entitled “Heartsongs”, and most recently, the world premiere of the opera, “Can We Know the Sound of Forgiveness” by internationally recognized composer, Gabriela Ortiz. The Chorus will premiere a new commissioned work, “Lessons Learned From Kids” at Carnegie Hall in June, 2025.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/HCCPromoPhotoInRobes-copy.jpg","musicianID":"Chorus6","musicianName":"Houston Children’s Chorus","musicianTitle":"Stephen Roddy, founder and director","musicianType":"Chorus","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/houston-childrens-chorus/"},"Chorus7":{"musicianBio":"Julia C. Hall is the retired chair of the vocal music department at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. In addition to her duties as the primary HSPVA voice instructor, she conducted the Concert Singers, Chorale, and HSPVA Madrigal Singers. Before returning to her high school alma mater 12 years ago, Julia taught at Lamar High School, Episcopal High School, and Memorial Middle School. She conducted invited choirs twice at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention: in 2011, with the Memorial Advanced Treble Choir and in 2017, with the HSPVA Treble Chorus.\n\nJulia earned her Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude, from the University of St. Thomas where she studied voice with Diane Tobola, and her Master of Music, choral conducting, from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies.\n\nIn addition to her many years as a Houston Symphony Chorus soprano, she has sung with the Houston Chamber Choir and Houston Masterworks Chorus. A life-long Episcopalian, she served on the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Music Commission for many years.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hall_Julia_AD-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Chorus7","musicianName":"Julia Hall","musicianTitle":"Assistant Director, Houston Symphony Chorus","musicianType":"Chorus","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/julia-hall/"},"Conductor1":{"musicianBio":"Houston Symphony Music Director Juraj Valčuha is recognized for his effortless expressiveness and depth of musicianship. He is known for his sharp baton technique, natural stage presence, and the impressive ease of his interpretations that translate even the most complex scores into immersive experiences.  \\n\\nBefore joining the Houston Symphony in June 2022, Valčuha was Music Director of the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, from 2016 to 2022 and first guest conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. He was Chief Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI from 2009 to 2016. In 2023, he assumed the post of Principal Guest Conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.  \\n\\nThe 2005–06 Season marked the start of his international career on the podium of the Orchestre National de France followed by remarkable debuts in the United Kingdom with the Philharmonia London, in Germany with the Munich Philharmonic, in the United States with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and in Italy with Puccini’s ##La bohème## in Bologna.  \\n\\nHe has since led the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Munich Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Maggio Musicale in Florence, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Rome, Milan’s Filarmonica della Scala, Montréal Symphony, and the NHK and Yomiuri orchestras in Tokyo.   \\n\\nHe enjoys regular collaborations with the Pittsburgh and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the San Francisco Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. International touring with the Orchestra Sinfonica della RAI took them to the Musikverein in Vienna, Philharmonie in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Zurich, and Munich; to the Enesco Festival in Bucharest; and to the Abu Dhabi Classics. With the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, he visited Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn to mark the 100th anniversary of the Baltic nations.   \\n\\nValčuha champions the compositions of living composers and programs contemporary pieces in most of his concerts. He has conducted world premieres, including Christopher Rouse’s ##Supplica## with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Steven Mackey’s violin concerto with Leila Josefowicz and the BBC Symphony in Manchester, and Nico Muhly’s ##Bright Idea## with the Houston Symphony. In 2005, he conducted, in the presence of the composer, Steve Reich’s ##Four Seasons## at the Melos-Ethos Festival in Bratislava. Other composers he has supported and continues to follow with interest are Bryce Dessner, Steven Stucky, Andrew Norman, James MacMillan, Luca Francesconi, Anna Thorvaldsdóttir, Anna Clyne, Julia Wolfe, and Jessie Montgomery, among others.  \\n\\nIncluding his engagements in Houston, the 2023–24 Season took him to the Pittsburgh and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, San Francisco Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra as well as to the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra in Tokyo. On the European stage, he performed ##La fanciulla del West## and ##Tristan und Isolde## at the Bavarian State Opera and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and ##Jenůfa## at the Opera di Roma. He led concerts with the RAI Orchestra, the Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Orchestre National de France, the NDR, SWR, and the Bamberg Symphony, among others.  \\n\\nIn the 2024–25 Season, Valčuha joined the Semperoper in Dresden with Strauss’s ##Salome## as well as the Paris Opéra Bastille with Janáček’s ##The Cunning Little Vixen## and the Deutsche Oper Berlin with Tchaikovsky’s ##Pique Dame##. In addition to his concerts with the Houston Symphony, he returned to the Munich Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de France, the London Philharmonic, the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchester, the San Francisco Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra in Tokyo.  \\n\\nThe 2025–26 season marks his fourth season with the Houston Symphony. His guest engagements will lead him to the San Francisco, Chicago, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras. In Europe, he will join the Orchestre National de France, the Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, the Bamberg Symphony, the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, the Basque National Orchestra, the NDR Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and on tour, and the RAI National Orchestra in Turin. On the opera stage, he will conduct ##Pelleas et Mélisande## at the Geneva Opera as well as ##Don Carlo## and ##La bohème## at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.  \\n\\nBorn in Bratislava, Slovakia, Valčuha studied composition and conducting in his birthplace, then at the conservatory in St. Petersburg (with Ilya Musin), and finally, at the Conservatoire Supérieur de la Musique in Paris.","musicianChair":"Music Director, ##Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Sub18_Juraj_TNEW-resized.webp","musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianName":"Juraj Valčuha","musicianPriority":"0","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Conductors","webURL":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/our-conductors/juraj-valcuha/"},"Conductor10":{"musicianBio":"Berklee-trained arranger/conductor Brent Havens has written music for orchestras, feature films, and virtually every kind of television. His TV work includes movies for networks such as ABC, CBS, and ABC Family Channel Network; commercials; sports music for networks such as ESPN; and even cartoons. Havens has also worked with the Doobie Brothers and the Milwaukee Symphony, arranging and conducting the combined group for Harley Davidson’s 100thAnniversary Birthday Party Finale attended by more than 150,000 fans.  He has worked with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic and the BBC Concert Orchestra in London; the CBSO in Birmingham, England; the Malaysian Philharmonic; the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; the Minnesota Orchestra; the Pittsburgh Symphony; the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; the Houston Symphony; the Atlanta Symphony; the Baltimore Symphony; the Dallas Symphony; the Fort Worth Symphony; the Nashville Symphony; Orchestra of Opera North in Leeds, England; and countless others.  Havens recently completed the score for the film “Quo Vadis,” a Premier Pictures remake of the 1956 gladiator film. In 2013, he worked with the Baltimore Symphony and the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens to arrange and produce the music for the Thanksgiving Day halftime show between the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, adapting both classical music and rock songs into a single four-minute show. Havens is Arranger/Guest Conductor for all of the symphonic rock programs for Windborne Music.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Havens_325x325.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor10","musicianName":"Brent Havens","musicianPriority":"13","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/our-conductors/brent-havens/"},"Conductor11":{"musicianBio":"Spanish-American conductor François López-Ferrer has carved an impressive path in the world of classical music, distinguished by his dynamic artistry and compelling performances. Recipient of the prestigious 2024 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, his international career has been marked by recent debuts with esteemed orchestras worldwide, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) at the Hollywood Bowl, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Opéra national de Paris, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Nacional de España, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Orquesta Sinfónica Radio Televisión Española, Verbier Festival Orchestra, Ensemble intercontemporain, Opéra de Lausanne, and George Enescu Philharmonic. Upcoming engagements include debuts with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid at the Teatro Real de Madrid in a production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, Houston and Utah Symphonies, Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini at the Rossini Opera Festival, Basque National Orchestra, Biel Solothurn Symphony Orchestra, and the Spoleto Festival USA leading Britten’s Turn of the Screw, as well as returns to the Omaha Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, and the Symphony San Jose.  His journey began as Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony (CSO) and May Festival, where he made a significant impact on audiences and critics alike. In January 2022, he seamlessly stepped in for Louis Langrée with the CSO for the U.S. premiere of Mark Simpson’s Violin Concerto, featuring Nicola Benedetti. López-Ferrer’s artistry was further refined during his tenure as a 2021–22 Dudamel Fellow with the LA Phil, as well as Resident Conductor of the Opéra de Paris's Académie. He was a featured conductor in the 2022 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview alongside the Louisiana Philharmonic. Early career achievements include serving as Associate Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Chile and Principal Conductor of the Ballet Nacional Chileno. As a 2018 Verbier Festival Conducting Fellow, he made a memorable debut stepping in for Iván Fischer in a shared program alongside Sir Simon Rattle and Gábor Takács-Nagy. Furthermore, he is a two-time recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S.’s Career Assistance Award, winner of the inaugural 2015 Neeme Järvi Prize at the Menuhin-Gstaad Festival, and former member of the Deutsche Dirigentenforum.  López-Ferrer holds a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne and a bachelor’s in Composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Born in Switzerland and raised in the United States, he embodies a rich multicultural lineage, with a Cuban mother and Spanish father, and speaks six languages fluently.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/d1897fa3_Copyright-Stefania-Parolin-6-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor11","musicianName":"François López-Ferrer","musicianPriority":"12","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/francois-lopez-ferrer/"},"Conductor12":{"musicianBio":"Described by Yannick Nézet-Séguin as ##“a musician who lives the Music,”## American conductor Conner Gray Covington performs an unusually broad repertory of symphonic, opera, and film repertoire ranging from classical to the present day. \\n\\nIn the 2025–26 Season, Covington debuts with the Boston Pops, Chicago Symphony, Houston Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, and Phoenix Symphony. He also makes return visits to the North Carolina Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, and Tucson Symphony. Additionally, Covington returns to the Utah Symphony where he maintains a close relationship after completing a successful four-year tenure as Associate Conductor and Principal Conductor of the Deer Valley Music Festival. \\n\\nDuring his tenure with the Utah Symphony, Conner conducted nearly 300 performances of classical subscription, education, film, pops, and family concerts as well as tours throughout the state and has returned several times each season as a guest conductor since 2021. Other recent guest conducting includes appearances with the Hawai’i Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, and Vancouver Symphony as well as the Bellingham Festival of Music and the Grand Teton Music Festival. Conner is a five-time recipient of a Career Assistance Award from the Solti Foundation U.S. \\n\\nConner’s operatic engagements include Britten’s ##The Turn of the Screw ##for the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, The Rape of Lucretia and the world premiere of Rene Orth’s Empty the House at the Curtis Opera Theatre, and ##Le Nozze di Figaro## for his debut with Utah Opera.  He has also conducted more than 20 feature films with orchestra.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Conner-Covington_Headshot-202260.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor12","musicianName":"Conner Gray Covington","musicianPriority":"11","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/conner-covington/"},"Conductor13":{"musicianBio":"Chief Conductor of the Gävle Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, Christian Reif has established a reputation for his natural musicality, innovative programming, and technical command.  Since 2022, Reif has served as Music Director of the Lakes Area Music Festival, a month-long summer festival in Minnesota featuring the nation’s top classical performers in programming that ranges from opera and chamber music to symphonic performances along with commissioned new works. LAMF believes that high quality arts experiences should be accessible to all and operates on a name-your-price ticket model.  Highlights of Reif’s 2025–26 Season include debut performances with the Nashville Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Danish Chamber Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and Australian Youth Orchestra. He returns to conduct the Houston Symphony; National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic; Belgrade Philharmonic; and National Radio Orchestra of Romania.  In 2024, Reif won a Grammy Award for the Nonesuch Records album ##Walking in the Dark##, the debut solo album of classical singer Julia Bullock in which he accompanied her on piano and led London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. The album was praised by ##Gramophone Magazine## as “illuminating” and described Reif as providing “excellent support” for Bullock. In 2020 during the pandemic, Reif and Bullock recorded a series of at-home virtual “Songs of Comfort,” ranging from Carole King’s classic “Up on the Roof” to Schubert’s “Wanderers Nachtlied.” NPR Music featured the duo in a Tiny Desk Concert for their special quarantine edition of the series, and ##The New York Times## highlighted them on their Best Classical Music of 2020 list.  From 2016 to 2019, Christian was Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, after being the Conducting Fellow at the New World Symphony from 2014 to 2016 and at Tanglewood Music Center in 2015 and 2016.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/christian_reif_credit-simon-pauly-7-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor13","musicianName":"Christian Reif","musicianPriority":"10","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/christian-reif/"},"Conductor14":{"musicianBio":"Juanjo Mena began his conducting career in his native Spain as Artistic Director of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra in 1999. His uncommon talent was soon recognized internationally with appointments as Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic and Chief Guest Conductor of the Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. In 2011, he was named Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, which he led for seven seasons, taking the orchestra on tours of Europe and Asia and conducting annual televised concerts at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. He held the position of Principal Conductor of the Cincinnati May Festival until 2023.  A sought-after guest conductor, Mena has led Europe’s top ensembles and he also appears regularly with all the major orchestras in his native Spain. Since his North American debut with the Baltimore Symphony in 2004, he has conducted most of the continent’s leading orchestras. In Asia, he is a regular guest conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo.  In the world of opera, Mena conducted a new production of Arthur Honegger’s ##Joan of Arc at the Stake with Marion Cotillard## in the leading role, paired with Debussy’s ##La damoiselle## élue staged by Madrid’s Teatro Real. His operatic repertoire also includes Wagner’s ##The Flying Dutchman##, Richard Strauss’s ##Salome##, ##Elektra##, ##Ariadne auf Naxos##, Bartók's ##Duke Bluebeard’s Castle##, and Schoenberg’s ##Erwartung##.  His latest release of Roberto Gerhard’s orchestral works with the BBC Philharmonic on the Chandos label was praised by The Guardian as “deft and exuberant.”  His disc of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 was described by The Classical Review as “intensely musical” and “impressive.” Mena’s rich discography with the BBC Philharmonic on Chandos also includes an acclaimed Gabriel Pierné release selected as a Gramophone Editor’s Choice, Weber symphonies, Ginastera’s orchestral works to mark the composer’s centenary, and works by Arriaga, Albéniz, Montsalvatge, Turina, and Manuel de Falla.  Juanjo Mena studied conducting with Sergiu Celibidache following his musical education at the Madrid Royal Conservatory. In 2016, he was awarded the Spanish National Music Award. He lives with his family in his native Basque Country.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Juanjo-Mena_MG_5621-©Michal-Novak-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor14","musicianName":"Juanjo Mena","musicianPriority":"9","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor15":{"musicianBio":"American conductor Nicholas Hersh is Music Director of the Modesto Symphony, having been appointed in August 2023. Across the country, Nicholas has earned critical acclaim for his innovative programming and natural ability to connect with musicians and audiences alike, and he was the unanimous choice of the search committee in Modesto.  Hersh’s 2024–25 season included guest conducting engagements with the Nashville, Madison, Omaha, and Tucson Symphony Orchestras; and the Florida and Apollo Orchestras. He continues to enjoy regular relationships with the New York Philharmonic, Baltimore, Houston, National, and Colorado Symphony Orchestras; and Budapest Festival Orchestra.  Recent engagements include the Detroit, Grand Rapids, New World, North Carolina, Phoenix, Portland (ME), Richmond, Utah, and Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestras; Louisiana and Rochester Philharmonics; and the Sarasota Orchestra.  Over a remarkable tenure as Associate Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Hersh created the BSO Pulse series, through which he brought together indie bands and orchestral musicians in unique collaborations; he led the BSO in several subscription weeks; and he directed the BSO’s educational and family programming, including the celebrated Academy for adult amateur musicians. Hersh also maintains a close relationship with the National Symphony Orchestra, leading concerts throughout Washington, D.C.  Hersh is frequently in demand as an arranger and orchestrator, with commissions from orchestras around the globe for adaptations of everything from classical solo and chamber music to popular songs. His orchestration of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata, Op. 69, was premiered by the Philharmonie Zuidnederland in January 2022, while his symphonic arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” continues to see worldwide success as a viral YouTube hit. He also serves as arranger and editor for the James P. Johnson Orchestra Edition.  Hersh grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and started his musical training as a cellist. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Stanford University and a Master’s Degree in Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Hersh is also a two-time recipient of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. Nicholas lives in Philadelphia with his wife Caitlin and their two cats, and in his free time enjoys baking (and eating) sourdough bread.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SNP_NH1_094_Large_Print-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor15","musicianName":"Nicholas Hersh","musicianPriority":"8","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/nicholas-hersh/"},"Conductor16":{"musicianBio":"One of the foremost conductors of our time, Marin Alsop is the first woman to serve as the head of major orchestras in the United States, South America, Austria, and Great Britain. She is internationally recognized for her innovative approach to programming and is the first and only conductor to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.  \\n\\nAlsop serves as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony; Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra; Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra; and Chief Conductor of the Ravinia Festival. She made history as the first female conductor of the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms. Her long-awaited Berlin Philharmonic debut was in 2025.  \\n\\nTo nurture the careers of women conductors, Alsop founded the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship to empower extraordinary women conductors through intensive coaching, mentoring, and financial support. Today, all 36 award winners hold more than 30 music director or chief conductor positions.  \\n\\nAlsop is a 2025–26 Carnegie Hall Perspectives artist, leading concerts by the Philharmonia Orchestra and America at 250 programs with The Philadelphia Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, and The Juilliard Orchestra.   \\n\\nOther season highlights include opening The Philadelphia Orchestra’s season with the world premiere of John Adams’s ##The Rock You Stand On##, dedicated to her; concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Houston Symphony; Washington National Opera; Polish National Radio Symphony; ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra; and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.  \\n\\nIn 2021, Alsop assumed the title of Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. During her 14-year tenure as Music Director, she led the orchestra on its first European tour in 13 years, conducted more than two dozen world premieres, and founded the music education program OrchKids. She is the winner of the 2025 Golden Baton Award from the League of American Orchestras.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Alsop_2024cAndrejGrilc-01-1365x2048.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor16","musicianName":"Marin Alsop","musicianPriority":"7","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/marin-alsop/"},"Conductor17":{"musicianBio":"Raised in Los Angeles, conductor Ryan Bancroft has rapidly built an international career which takes him all over the globe working with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Since September 2021, Bancroft has been Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In September 2023, he became Chief Conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic. He also holds the position of Artist-in-Association with the Tapiola Sinfonietta in Finland.  \\n\\nIn August 2023, Bancroft returned to Los Angeles to make his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In the 2025–26 season, he conducts them at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, following on from his critically acclaimed debut at the venue in April 2025. Elsewhere in the U.S. this season, he makes his debuts with the St. Louis, Houston, and New World Symphony Orchestras, following recent successful debuts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco, and Dallas Symphony Orchestras. He has close relationships in Canada with the Toronto Symphony and National Arts Centre, Ottawa.  \\n\\nSince his success at the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors in 2018, where he won both First Prize and Audience Prize, Bancroft has conducted a number of other leading European orchestras including the BBC Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and Rai Torino.  \\n\\nBancroft has a passion for contemporary music and has performed with Ensemble Intercontemporain and Amsterdam’s acclaimed Nieuw Ensemble; assisted Pierre Boulez in a performance of his ##Sur Incises## in Los Angeles; premiered works by Sofia Gubaidulina, John Cage, and Anders Hillborg; and has worked closely with improvisers such as Wadada Leo Smith and Charlie Haden.  \\n\\nBancroft studied trumpet at the California Institute of the Arts, alongside additional studies in harp, flute, cello, and Ghanaian music and dance. He then went on to receive a Master of Music in orchestral conducting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He continued his conducting studies in the Netherlands and is a graduate of the prestigious Nationale Master Orkestdirectie run jointly by the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ryan-Bancroft-3-cr-B.Ealovega.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor17","musicianName":"Ryan Bancroft","musicianPriority":"6","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor18":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Credit-Antoine-Saito-03-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor18","musicianName":"Vasily Petrenko","musicianPriority":"5","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor19":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/csm_40793c1b_Slobodeniouk_Dima047_c_Marco_Borggreve_4c578aba4d.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor19","musicianName":"Dima Slobodeniouk","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor2":{"musicianBio":"Steven Reineke is one of North America's leading conductors of popular music and is in his second decade as Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. He is the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston and Toronto Symphony Orchestras.  \\n\\nReineke is a frequent guest conductor and can be seen on the podium with the Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.  \\n\\nOn stage, Mr. Reineke creates and collaborates with a range of leading artists in hip-hop, R & B, Broadway, television, and rock including Killer Mike, Maxwell, Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Ne-Yo, Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio, Barry Manilow, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Sutton Foster, Amos Lee, Dispatch, Jason Mraz, and Ben Folds, amongst others. In 2024, he led the NSO on PBS’ ##Next at the Kennedy Center## featuring Ben Folds DeClassified with Jacob Collier, Laufey, and dodie. He was previously seen with the NSO on PBS’ ##Great Performances## with hip-hop legend Nas performing his seminal album “Illmatic.\" Reineke is the conductor on “Ben Folds Live with The National Symphony Orchestra and William Shatner’s “So Fragile, So Blue” with The National Symphony Orchestra.  \\n\\nAs the creator of hundreds of orchestral arrangements, Reineke’s work is performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings. His symphonic works “Celebration Fanfare,” “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “Casey at the Bat” are performed frequently in North America, including performances by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His “Sun Valley Festival Fanfare” was used to commemorate the Sun Valley Summer Symphony’s pavilion, and his pieces “Festival Te Deum” and “Swan’s Island Sojourn” were debuted by the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras. His numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands perennially.  \\n\\nA native of Ohio, Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio (2020 Alumnus Distinguished Achievement Medal) where he earned Bachelor of Music degrees with honors in both trumpet performance and music composition. He currently resides in New York City with his husband Eric Gabbard.  \\n\\nMeredith & Ben Marshall, sponsor","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Formal-head-shot-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianName":"Steven Reineke","musicianPriority":"1","musicianTitle":"Principal POPS Conductor","musicianType":"Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/steven-reineke/"},"Conductor20":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"","musicianID":"Conductor20","musicianName":"John Adams","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor21":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AM_BBC_Proms_2012_1_credit_Chris_Christodoulou-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor21","musicianName":"Andrew Manze","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor22":{"musicianBio":"A focused, elegant stage presence, maestro Thiago Tiberio is often praised for mature musicianship, clarity of expression, and sophisticated technique. His classical, operatic, and film music career includes work with the world’s most prestigious orchestras in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, South Korea, China, Japan, Argentina, and Brazil, to name a few. \\n\\nFusing his conducting experience with a technology background and award-winning training as composer, he has arranged, orchestrated, and directed concert adaptations of a variety of films, most notably ##Love Actually##, ##The Hunger Games##, ##Cinema Paradiso##, ##The Goonies, Coraline, ####Bridget Jones’s Diary##, ##Get Out##, ##Grease##, ##Twilight, How the Grinch Stole Christmas##, and ##Paddington##. Further work includes titles like Danny Elfman’s ##Batman##, ##Nightmare Before Christmas##, and ##Al####ice in Wonderland##; Zilbalodis–Zalupe’s Oscar-winning ##Flow##; and ##The Morricone Symphonic Experience##. \\n\\nHe joined orchestra with a jazz band in ##Get Happy: A Judy ####Garland Centennial Celebration ##and with an actor-narrator in ##The ####Nu####tcracker and the Mouse ####King##. Finally, Tiberio co-produced ##Magia y Sinfonía ##(2022) and ##Disney 100 ##(2023) with Disney Latin America; both toured the world after premiering under his baton at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires. \\n\\nTiberio’s awards include an ##Emmy##, a ##Luso-Brazilian Award## from the United Nations, and an ##International Brazilian ####Press ####Award##. He was the first Western conductor to perform in the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square, Beijing, with ##La La Land in Concert##, which he premiered in China and Turkey. At Disney’s request, he premiered ##Star Wars Live ##in France, Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina; the fully orchestrated version of ##Coco in Concert ##at Ravinia Festival, 2019; and the new version of ##Fantasia ##in Bologna, Italy. His latest accolades include conducting the 50<sup>th </sup>Anniversary Concert of ##Jaws ##at Martha’s Vineyard and the 40<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Concert of ##The Goonies ##in Portland. \\n\\nPerhaps the only maestro in the world who makes his own batons and binds his own scores in hardcover, Tiberio is a polyglot and multi-instrumentalist in the classical and jazz domains. He lives in New York with his wife Patricia and their Maltese, Dòri.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/thiago-tiberio-20241110.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor22","musicianName":"Thiago Tiberio","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor23":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Lucas-Waldin-2.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor23","musicianName":"Lucas Waldin","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor24":{"musicianBio":"Patrick Dupre Quigley, conductor/arranger/composer/producer, is Founder and Artistic Director of Seraphic Fire, and Artistic Director of the period instrument opera company Opera Lafayette.  Quigley is known for his engaging performances of historically informed programming that draw in new audiences and delight regular concertgoers. A ceaseless advocate for a more inclusive concert experience, Quigley’s programs regularly span more than 1,000 years of musical history.   Last season with Opera Lafayette and OperaCréole, Quigley gave the world premiere of Edmond Dédé’s 1887 French grand opera ##Morgiane, ou, Le Sultan d’Ispahan##, the earliest extant opera by a Black American, and with Seraphic Fire gave the modern world premiere of 18th-century composer Mariana Martines’s ##O, virgo, cui salutem## for soprano and orchestra.  Recent and upcoming programs include Bach’s orchestral suites with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque; return engagements with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony, and Phoenix Symphony; and conducting debuts with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, and Rhode Island Philharmonic.  Other guest conducting invitations have come from The Cleveland Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Mobile Symphony, ARTIS Naples, New Jersey Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and the Utah Symphony.  Quigley holds an undergraduate degree in Music Theory and History from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Music degree in conducting from the Yale School of Music. He has assisted Michael Tilson Thomas in rehearsals, performances, and recordings at the San Francisco Symphony.  Quigley is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and currently resides in Washington, D.C. ","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PATRICK_DUPRE_QUIGLEY-6435-scaled-e1752069654354.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor24","musicianName":"Patrick Quigley","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor26":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"","musicianID":"Conductor26","musicianName":"","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor27":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"","musicianID":"Conductor27","musicianName":"","musicianPriority":"","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor3":{"musicianBio":"Former Houston Symphony Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada is distinguished as a musician by his energy, elegance, and spirit. After a wonderful collaboration with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai in May 2022, Andrés was appointed the new principal conductor of the Rai Orchestra beginning in the 2023-24 Season.  \\n\\nIn the 2025-26 Season, he will take up the position of GMD of the city of Cologne and Gürzenich Kapellmeister. Andrés attaches great importance to inspiring all the people of Cologne with music and for music, and to internationally representing and presenting Cologne as a city of music. Already in the coming season, he will be a guest at the Kölner Philharmonie with a special concert.  \\n\\nDebuts and return invitations this season take him to the Vienna Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, the Swedish Radio, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and the Radio Sinfonieorchester Berlin, among others. He will also return to the hr-Sinfonieorchester (principal conductor 2014-21) and to Houston where he served as Music Director from 2014 to 2022.  \\n\\nHe will accompany the SWR Symphony Orchestra on a tour of Spain and will also tour with the Filarmonica della Scala. Other highlights include a European tour with his Filarmónica Joven de Colombia and violinist Hilary Hahn, which will take him to Paris, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Dortmund, and Switzerland, among other places.  \\n\\nHe will make his debuts at La Scala in Milan (Mozart’s Figaro) and at the Amsterdam Opera (Beethoven’s Fidelio) where he will conduct the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest. Andrés also returns to the Staatsoper Berlin after numerous successful productions with a repeat performance of Tosca.  \\n\\nBorn in Medellín (Colombia), Andrés Orozco-Estrada began his musical education by playing the violin, receiving his first conducting lessons at age 15. In 1997, he moved to Vienna, where he was accepted into the conducting class of Uroš Lajovic, a student of the legendary Hans Swarowsky, at the renowned Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst. Since October 2022, he has been professor of orchestral conducting at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WebHeader_SUB6_2400x550-700x431-1.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor3","musicianName":"Andrés Orozco-Estrada","musicianPriority":"4","musicianTitle":"Conductor Laureate","musicianType":"Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/andres-orozco-estrada/"},"Conductor4":{"musicianBio":"Gonzalo Farias, Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony, is an imaginative and engaging orchestral leader, award-winning pianist, and dedicated educator. Praised for his “clear, engaging style with a lyrical, almost Zen-like quality,” he is recognized as “a focused, musical artist who knows what he wants and how to get it—with grace and substance.” \\n\\nHe has held conducting posts with the Kansas City Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. As Music Director of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra, he strengthened community connections through innovative programming, pre-concert lectures, and bilingual collaborations, including a narrated performance of Bizet’s ##Carmen##. \\n\\nRecent and upcoming appearances include the Nashville Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Buffalo Philharmonic, Tallahassee Symphony, and the Houston Symphony, where in 2024 he conducted the world premiere of Arturo Márquez’s Guitar Concerto with Pablo Sainz-Villegas. \\n\\nHe was one of six conductors chosen for the prestigious Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, presented by the League of American Orchestras, and was appointed by the National Endowment for the Arts as a grant review panelist. \\n\\nBorn in Santiago de Chile, Farias began piano studies at age five. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and continued his education at the New England Conservatory, studying under Wha-Kyung Byun and Russell Sherman. He has won prizes at the Claudio Arrau International Piano Competition, Maria Canals, and Luis Sigall competitions. His conducting mentors include Donald Schleicher, Marin Alsop, Larry Rachleff, and Otto-Werner Mueller. \\n\\nBeyond performance, Farias is committed to reimagining music as a force for personal growth, dialogue, cooperation, and community-building. His doctoral dissertation, ##Logical Predictions and Cybernetics##, examines Cornelius Cardew’s ##The Great Learning## to explore music-making as a self-organizing system. Influenced by Zen Buddhist practice and second-order cybernetics, he views music as a shared space where performers and audiences co-create meaning, reflecting on our shared human condition.","musicianChair":"Associate Conductor","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GonzaloFarias_046crop-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianName":"Gonzalo Farias","musicianPriority":"3","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/gonzalo-farias/"},"Conductor5":{"musicianBio":"In 2024–25, Stephanie Childress began her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya and made a series of international returns to the Cleveland, New World, Utah, and North Carolina Symphony Orchestras, as well as Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, and Opéra Orchestre National de Montpellier. She also made her debut with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig.  From 2021 to 2023, Childress was the Assistant Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony under Stéphane Denève, during which time she enjoyed multiple subscription concerts with the orchestra and developed strong musical ties in North America. Last season saw her debut with the National Arts Centre Ottawa, Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Minnesota Symphony Orchestras. She is currently the Associate Conductor of the Sun Valley Music Festival.  Inspired to pursue conducting through her love for opera, Childress is developing a reputation as a fine Mozartian, hailed by the Guardian for the “lithe vitality” of her interpretation of ##Le nozze di Figaro## at Glyndebourne in 2022. A passionate advocate for contemporary opera, she made her debut last season at the Detroit Opera with Missy Mazzoli’s ##Breaking the Waves## and the world premiere of Simon Voseček’s ##Ogres## at the Prague State Opera.  Childress enjoys a close relationship with the French cultural scene following her second-prize win at the 2020 inaugural conducting competition, La Maestra. Since then, she has conducted Orchestre de Paris, Paris Mozart Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and l’Orchestre Pasdeloup, and was one of the first conducting fellows of l’Académie de l’Opéra national de Paris.  A passionate advocate for amplifying the role of music within today’s world, Childress undertook a residency at the Villa Albertine, a network for arts and ideas spanning France and the United States, and is a member of the Franco-British Young Leaders’ Program. Stephanie is a relentless supporter of youth music programs and is passionate about conducting, coaching, and mentoring young musicians. She is currently the artistic director of the Sun Valley Music Festival Institute and returned to the Sarasota Music Festival in June 2025.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Stephanie-Childress_1I0A1118-RGB-Credit-Karolina-Heller-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor5","musicianName":"Stephanie Childress","musicianPriority":"1","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/stephanie-childress/"},"Conductor6":{"musicianBio":"Christoph Eschenbach is a phenomenon among the top league of international conductors. Universally acclaimed as a conductor and pianist, he firmly belongs to the European intellectual line of musical tradition, combined with a rare emotional intensity, producing performances revered by concertgoers worldwide. Renowned for the breadth of his repertoire and the depth of his interpretations, he has held directorships with many leading orchestras—including the Houston Symphony from 1988 to 1999—and gained the highest musical honors. \\n\\nBorn at the heart of war-torn Europe in 1940, Christoph had an early childhood scarred by a succession of personal tragedies. Music was his savior, and his life began to change when he learned the piano. Now over 80, his keen artistic curiosity is undiminished, and he still thoroughly enjoys working with the finest international orchestras. \\n\\nHe is also well-known as a tireless supporter of young talent—this is his greatest passion, and he values his contribution to mentoring up-and-coming talent. Moved by the energy and the drive of young people (“Those one hundred percent artists,” as he calls them), he has a personal mission to pass the torch to the next generation. Some of his notable discoveries include pianist Lang Lang, violinist Julia Fischer, and cellists Leonard Elschenbroich and Daniel Müller-Schott. \\n\\nAlongside prestigious appointments from Washington, D.C. to Zurich, Christoph has always attached great importance to his extensive activities as a guest conductor, working with the world’s leading orchestras. \\n\\nOver the course of six decades, Christoph has built an impressive discography as a conductor and a pianist, with a repertoire ranging from J.S. Bach to contemporary music. Many of his recordings have gained benchmark status and have received numerous awards, including the German Record Critics’ Prize, the MIDEM Classical Award, and a Grammy Award. He has been awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres; he holds the German Federal Cross of Merit and the Leonard Bernstein Award. In 2015, he received the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, known as “The Nobel Prize of music,” for his achievements as conductor and pianist.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Christoph_Eschenbach_header_web-updated.webp","musicianID":"Conductor6","musicianName":"Christoph Eschenbach","musicianPriority":"0","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"Conductor7":{"musicianBio":"Anna Rakitina has firmly established herself as one of the most sought-after conductors of her generation following a series of highly acclaimed appearances with Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras as well as the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Tonkünstler-Orchester, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.  The 2024–25 season sees Rakitina make debuts with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, and North Carolina Symphony. In May 2025, as part of the Leipzig Shostakovich Festival, she conducted a specially assembled festival orchestra consisting of young musicians from the Gewandhaus Orchestra’s Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, and students from the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig. She also appears with many other European orchestras this season.  Rakitina regularly collaborates with soloists including Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Inon Barnatan, Joshua Bell, Renaud Capuçon, Augustin Hadelich, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Gil Shaham, Christian Tetzlaff, and Alisa Weilerstein. She continues to champion music by today’s composers.  Rakitina was Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 2019 to 2023, only the second woman in the orchestra’s history to hold the position. In 2025, she received the prestigious European Cultural Award in recognition of her unique talent.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/3c55c1a9_Rakitina_Anna7_c_Julia_Piven_300-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor7","musicianName":"Anna Rakitina","musicianPriority":"2","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/anna-rakitina/"},"Conductor8":{"musicianBio":"Hailed for presenting engaging, in-depth explorations of thoughtfully curated programs, American conductor Brett Mitchell currently serves as Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony and Artistic Director and Conductor of Oregon’s Sunriver Music Festival.  \\n\\nHe previously served as Music Director of the Colorado Symphony (2017–21), Associate Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra (2013–17), and Assistant Conductor of the Houston Symphony (2007–11) and Orchestre National de France (2006–09).  \\n\\nIn May 2025, with less than 24 hours’ notice, Mitchell stepped in for his subscription debut with the New York Philharmonic, leading three performances of Kevin Puts’s ##The Brightness of Light## featuring soprano Renée Fleming, followed by the complete score of Ravel’s ##Daphnis et Chloé## featuring the New York Philharmonic Chorus.  \\n\\nWorking widely as a guest conductor, Mitchell has made appearances with the Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, National, North Carolina, Oregon, Pasadena, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Vancouver symphonies; the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl; the Cleveland and Minnesota orchestras; the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; the Grant Park Festival Orchestra; and a two-week tour with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.  \\n\\nMitchell also regularly collaborates with the world’s leading soloists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming, Itzhak Perlman, Kirill Gerstein, Conrad Tao, Rudolf Buchbinder, James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Leila Josefowicz, and Alisa Weilerstein.  \\n\\nBorn in Seattle, Mitchell holds degrees in conducting from the University of Texas at Austin and composition from Western Washington University. His two principal professional mentors were Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel.","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mitchell11_print-1-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor8","musicianName":"Brett Mitchell","musicianPriority":"3","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/our-conductors/brett-mitchell/"},"Conductor9":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Nicholas-Buc-Head-Shot-2018-Square-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Conductor9","musicianName":"Nicholas Buc","musicianPriority":"4","musicianTitle":"conductor","musicianType":"Guest Conductors","webURL":""},"GuestMusician1":{"musicianBio":"Award-winning Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak has achieved international acclaim as a trailblazing artist, praised for his radiant stage presence, dynamic interpretations, and fearless power. The recipient of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Alexandra Jupin Award and a former Young Classical Artist Trust’s (YCAT) Robey Artist, Bak was also a prizewinner in the Sphinx, Lionel Tertis, and Concert Artists Guild Competitions.\n\nFor the 2025–26 season, Bak will join the world-renowned Takács Quartet on a tour of rarely  performed Mozart viola quintets, in addition to making his concerto debuts with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Houston Symphony Orchestra. Bak will also give the world premiere of composer Michael Frazier’s new viola concerto, ##Los quetzales##Los quetzales, commissioned by Eastman School of Music, The Sphinx Organization, and American Composers Orchestra.\n\nBak’s enthusiastically received sophomore album, ##Cantabile: Anthems for Viola##Cantabile: Anthems for Viola (Delphian Records), has garnered significant international attention, featuring works by Arnold Bax, Benjamin Britten, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, paired with contemporary compositions by Jonathan Harvey, Bright Sheng, and Augusta Read Thomas. Bak is a proud advocate of new music.\n\nBak has appeared as soloist with such orchestras as London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, London Mozart Players, New York Classical Players, Juilliard Orchestra, and Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra, among others. As a recitalist and chamber musician, he has been heard at some of the world’s greatest performance venues. Bak has been a presence at numerous chamber music festivals such as Marlboro Music Festival, Tippet Rise, Chamber Music Northwest, and Newport Classical.\n\nPassionate about education, Bak currently serves as Assistant Professor of Viola at University of North Carolina School of the Arts and as an Ambassador for UK Music Masters in London.\n\nOnly the third violist to earn the Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School, Jordan Bak holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New England Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School where he was awarded the prestigious Kovner Fellowship. His principal teachers were Dimitri Murrath, Hsin-Yun Huang, and Samuel Rhodes.\n\nJordan Bak plays on two violas both made by Jon van Kouwenhoven. He is married to violist Rubina Bak.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jordan-Bak-6_Titilayo-Ayangade-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician1","musicianName":"Jordan Bak","musicianTitle":"viola","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jordan-bak/"},"GuestMusician10":{"musicianBio":"A Gilmore Young Artist and winner of Salon de Virtuosi, Janice Carissa has “the multicolored highlights of a mature pianist” (##Philadelphia Inquirer##Philadelphia Inquirer) and “strong, sure hands” (##Voice of America##Voice of America) that “convey a vivid story rather than a mere showpiece” (##Chicago Classical Review##Chicago Classical Review). Her artistry has been showcased at an array of renowned stages, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, the Kennedy Center, Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.\n\nFollowing her Philadelphia Orchestra debut at age 16, Janice has since performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Pittsburgh, San Diego, Nashville, Kansas City, Delaware, Amarillo, Des Moines, Knoxville, and Jakarta symphonies, among others. Highlights of the 2025–26 season include concerto appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra, Houston Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, Jackson (MI) Symphony, and Florida Orchestra, as well as a solo recital at Pepperdine University and a duo with cellist Sterling Elliott for Capital Region Classical.\n\nJanice’s passion for chamber music has led her to performances with Bravo! Vail where she was a piano fellow, the Brooklyn Chamber Music Society, and Jupiter Chamber Concert Series; collaborations with Vadim Gluzman, Miriam Fried, Paul Neuebauer, Lucy Shelton, Marcy Rosen, David Shifrin, Jennifer Cano, and Peter Wiley, among other distinguished musicians; and appearances at Marlboro, North Shore, Ravinia, Caramoor, and Kneisel Hall festivals.\n\nBorn in Indonesia, Janice left there in 2013 to enter the Curtis Institute of Music with a full scholarship from Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest, where she was a pupil of Gary Graffman. She went on to earn a Master of Music at The Juilliard School where she studied with Robert McDonald. When away from the piano, Janice is an avid foodie and loves going on strolls with her camera.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Carissa_2024cTBD01-scaled.jpeg","musicianID":"GuestMusician10","musicianName":"Janice Carissa","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/janice-carissa/"},"GuestMusician100":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Francesca_Dego2-photo-by-David-Cerati.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician100","musicianName":"Francesca Dego","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/francesca-dego/"},"GuestMusician101":{"musicianBio":"Lacey Schwimmer has choreographed and performed for some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Her credits span major recording artists, film, television, and live productions, including Christina Aguilera’s ##Candyman##Candyman music video, Adam Sandler’s ##Bedtime Stories##Bedtime Stories, the legendary Jackson family, Frankie Moreno, Reba McEntire, OneRepublic, Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, Brad Paisley, and Whitney Houston, as well as special performances for NBA and NFL teams.\n\nIn addition to her extensive performance career, Lacey is a full-time faculty member with the touring convention NRG Dance Project and the founder of The Ballroom Project—the first ballroom-only dance convention in the U.S., now touring nationwide.\n\nExpanding her influence beyond the stage, she recently partnered with the world-renowned dance company Só Dança, developing a signature line of ballroom shoes, dancewear, and a groundbreaking non-toxic, cruelty-free beauty brand.\n\nFollowing in the footsteps of her celebrated family—her brother Benji Schwimmer, winner of ##So You Think You Can Dance##So You Think You Can Dance, and her father, the choreographer of ##American Graffiti##American Graffiti—Lacey continues to inspire, educate, and perform around the globe. She is honored to join forces with your esteemed symphony and conductor, bringing her passion for dance and artistry to the stage.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/LaceySchwimmer48.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician101","musicianName":"Lacey Schwimmer","musicianTitle":"dancer","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/lacey-schwimmer/"},"GuestMusician102":{"musicianBio":"Josh Bradford is a professional dancer with many years of experience in hip hop, Latin, and ballroom dances. He has been a competitor, educator, and choreographer for Fred Astaire Dance Corporation, based in Houston, Texas. Josh has danced competitively for 14 years in ballroom dancing and is a world finalist in American rhythm Latin dancing. He is thrilled to join your Houston Symphony!","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Josh-Bradford78-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician102","musicianName":"Josh Bradford","musicianTitle":"dancer","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/josh-bradford/"},"GuestMusician103":{"musicianBio":"Baiba Skride’s natural approach to music-making has endeared her to many of today’s most prestigious conductors and orchestras worldwide. She performs regularly with orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Orchestre de Paris, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra.\n\nShe enjoys close collaborations with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Christoph Eschenbach, Edward Gardner, Susanna Mälkki, Andris Nelsons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Dima Slobodeniouk, John Storgårds, Juraj Valčuha, and Kazuki Yamada.\n\nRecent highlights include critically acclaimed performances of Shostakovich’s violin concertos with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons, and with the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester as part of the inaugural Shostakovich Festival. In North America, Skride is a frequent guest with major orchestras including Houston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Utah Symphony, and Baltimore Symphony.\n\nIn 2025, Baiba Skride released the recording ##Shostakovich Violin Concertos##Shostakovich Violin Concertos with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons on Deutsche Grammophon. The recording was nominated for an Opus Klassik Award in the category of Best Concert Recording. With Orfeo, she released Gubaidulina’s Triple Concerto with the NDR Radiophilharmonie (Hannover) and Andrew Manze and Britten’s Violin Concerto and Double Concerto with the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien and Marin Alsop.\n\nBaiba Skride is an internationally sought-after chamber musician and performs regularly at festivals and concert halls across the world, including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Musikverein Wien, Wigmore Hall London, Louvre Paris, as well as touring in North America and Australia. Skride is an advocate of new music and some of today’s most prominent composers—including Sofia Gubaidulina, Victoria Borisova-Ollas, Sebastian Currier, and Hans Abrahamsen—have written concertos for her.\n\nSkride was born into a musical Latvian family in Riga and continued her studies from 1995 with Petru Munteanu at the Rostock University of Music and Theatre. She plays the ‘Yfrah Neaman’ Stradivarius kindly on loan by the Neaman family through Beare’s International Violin Society.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/csm_ee8a764b_Skride_Baiba011_c_Marco_Borggreve_6484399d05.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician103","musicianName":"Baiba Skride","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/baiba-skride/"},"GuestMusician104":{"musicianBio":"Behzod Abduraimov’s performances combine an immense depth of musicality with phenomenal technique and delicacy. He performs with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, and his critically acclaimed recordings have set a new standard for the piano repertoire.\n\nBehzod has a number of notable debuts in the 2025–26 season including with the New York Philharmonic and National Symphony Orchestra, both with Gianandrea Noseda. Other concerto performances include Houston and Pittsburgh Symphonies as well as Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Frankfurt Opern- und Museumsorchester, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.\n\nRecital highlights this season include his fourth solo recital at Carnegie Hall’s Stern auditorium and a return to the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, as well as other appearances in the USA and Europe, including the Scherzo series in Madrid. He has performed in many of the most important international recital series presented by Alte Oper Frankfurt, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, CAL Performances, La Società dei Concerti di Milano, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seoul Arts Centre, Shanghai Concert Hall, and Toppan Hall.\n\nBehzod has performed with leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Czech Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Los Angeles Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, San Francisco Symphony, and Wiener Symphoniker. Conductor collaborations include Semyon Bychkov, Constantinos Carydis, Gustavo Dudamel, Edward Gardner, Gustavo Gimeno, Jakub Hrůša, Stanislav Kochanovsky, Vasily Petrenko, Aziz Shokhakimov, Juraj Valčuha, and Long Yu.\n\nBehzod’s critically acclaimed recordings have won numerous international awards including the Choc de Classica and Diapason Découverte. ##Shadows of My Ancestors##Shadows of My Ancestors, his second recital recording for Alpha Classics released in January 2024, features works by Ravel, Prokofiev, and Uzbek composer Dilorom Saidaminova. It was recognized as a ##Gramophone##Gramophone Editor’s Choice and shortlisted for a Gramophone Award.\n\nBorn in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Behzod began playing the piano at age five as a pupil of Tamara Popovich at Uspensky State Central Lyceum in Tashkent. In 2009, he won first prize at the London International Piano Competition with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. He is Artist-in-Residence at the International Center for Music at Park University where he studied with Stanislav Ioudenitch.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/edit.0U2A6744-Evgeny-Eutykhov-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician104","musicianName":"Behzod Abduraimov","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/behzod-abduraimov/"},"GuestMusician105":{"musicianBio":"Praised as “The Goddess of Flute” by The Korea Times and described as “A Living History” by Echelon Press, Jasmine Choi is celebrated worldwide for her extraordinary virtuosity, acclaimed recordings, and a robust online presence that reaches over one million followers across social media. Renowned for pushing the instrument’s traditional boundaries, she has become an icon of the flute in the 21st century.\n\nBorn in Korea into a third-generation family of musicians, Choi discovered the flute at nine and by twelve was studying in Seoul, where she developed the resilience that would shape her artistry. At sixteen, she moved to the United States, training at the Curtis Institute of Music with Julius Baker and Jeffrey Khaner, followed by graduate studies at The Juilliard School. Her career began with meteoric success: Associate Principal Flute of the Cincinnati Symphony under Paavo Järvi, and in 2012, Principal Flute of the Vienna Symphony under Fabio Luisi, the first female woodwind principal in the orchestra’s history.\n\nAs a soloist, Choi has appeared with leading ensembles including the Vienna Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Salzburg Mozarteum, Berlin Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, and Seoul Philharmonic. She has performed on primary stages across Europe, Asia, and North America, and her performance of Arirang at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics remains a cultural milestone. Chamber collaborations with artists such as Martha Argerich, Robert Levin, Kit Armstrong, Julien Quentin, Sumi Jo and the Schumann Quartet showcase her versatility, from intimate recitals to dynamic ensemble projects.\n\nHer discography spans Sony Classical releases, solo albums, and original arrangements, with more than fifteen flute concertos composed for her. Beyond performance, she designed her own signature flute case, praised for its innovation, and published best-selling educational works with Theodore Presser Company.\n\nDedicated to mentorship, Choi has taught masterclasses at The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, Harvard University, and Vienna’s Universität für Musik. She now serves as Professor at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, guiding the next generation of flutists.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jasmine-Choi-2024-8-cStudioSW-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician105","musicianName":"Jasmine Choi","musicianTitle":"flute","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician106":{"musicianBio":"Regarded as one of the most outstanding violinists of her generation, Clara-Jumi Kang is celebrated for her exceptional musicality, technical mastery, and artistic depth. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including First Prize at the 2010 Indianapolis International Violin Competition.  \\n\\nIn the 2025–26 season, Kang is Artist-in-Residence with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. As part of her residency, she will perform concertos by Lalo, Shostakovich, and Bernstein with Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft. Other highlights this season include her subscription debut with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a tour with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Philharmonia Orchestra on their Korean tour.  \\n\\nKang regularly appears at major international festivals including the BBC Proms, the Hollywood Bowl alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Salzburg Festival, Verbier Festival, Edinburgh Festival, and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo. In 2025, she was the soloist for the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra’s major tour to China and Europe with Zubin Mehta.  \\n\\nKang has made two recordings for Decca: Modern Solo, featuring works by Schubert and Ysaÿe, and a Brahms-Schumann album with Yeol Eum Son. In 2021, she released a cycle of Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas with pianist Sunwook Kim.  \\n\\nA dedicated chamber musician, she collaborates with musicians including Martha Argerich, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, and Janine Jansen.  \\n\\nBorn in Germany to Korean parents, Clara-Jumi Kang took up the violin at age three and a year later enrolled as the youngest-ever student at the Mannheim Musikhochschule. She went on to study with Zakhar Bron at the Lübeck Musikhochschule and at age seven was awarded a full scholarship to The Julliard School to study with Dorothy Delay. Having received musical guidance from Barenboim starting from the age of 11, she was then invited to perform with him and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 12. She took her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Korean National University of Arts under Nam-Yun Kim before completing her studies at the Munich Musikhochschule with Christoph Poppen.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CJK036-scaled.jpeg","musicianID":"GuestMusician106","musicianName":"Clara-Jumi Kang","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/clara-jumi-kang/"},"GuestMusician107":{"musicianBio":"Violinist Alexi Kenney is forging a career that defies categorization, following his interests, intuition, and heart. He is equally at home creating experimental programs, commissioning new works, soloing with major orchestras around the world, and collaborating with some of the most celebrated musicians of our time. Alexi is the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.  \\n\\nAlexi’s 2025–26 season includes his return to the Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Dallas Symphony and debuts with the Houston Symphony and Slovak Philharmonic. Recital and chamber appearances include the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Phillips Collection, 92nd Street Y, and Spoleto Festival.  \\n\\nAlexi continues to perform and develop Shifting Ground, a multimedia program in collaboration with the video artist Xuan, which weaves together pieces for violin and electronics by J.S. Bach, Rafiq Bhatia, Matthew Burtner, Mario Davidovsky, Salina Fisher, Nicola Matteis, Angélica Negrón, and Paul Wiancko. He also explores his love for period instruments and playing, recently performing the complete Schumann Violin Sonatas on gut strings with Amy Yang on fortepiano.  \\n\\nChamber music continues to be a major part of Alexi’s life, regularly performing at festivals including Caramoor, ChamberFest Cleveland, Chamber Music Northwest, Kronberg, La Jolla, Ojai, Marlboro, Music@Menlo, Ravinia, Seattle, and Spoleto. He is a founding member of Owls—an inverted quartet hailed as a “dream group” by ##The New York Times##—alongside violist Ayane Kozasa, cellist Gabe Cabezas, and cellist-composer Paul Wiancko.  \\n\\nBorn in Palo Alto, California, Alexi is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston. Winner of the 2013 Concert Artists Guild Competition and laureate of the 2012 Menuhin Competition, Alexi has been profiled by ##Musical America##, ##Strings Magazine##, and ##The New York Times##, and has written for ##The Strad##. He plays a violin made in London by Stefan-Peter Greiner in 2009 and a bow made in Port Townsend, Washington by Charles Espey in 2024.  \\n\\nOutside of music, Alexi enjoys hojicha, modernist design and architecture, baking for friends, and walking for miles on end in whichever city he finds himself, listening to podcasts and Bach on repeat.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kenney_2020cMikeGrittani-01-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician107","musicianName":"Alexi Kenney","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/alexi-kenney/"},"GuestMusician108":{"musicianBio":"Grammy Award-winning soprano Tamara Wilson is the recipient of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award. Other recent honors include an Olivier Award nomination and Grand Prize in the annual Francisco Viñas Competition held at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain.  \\n\\n2025–26 season highlights include a debut with Festival d’Aix-en-Provence in ##Die Frau ohne Schatten## and a return to the Opéra national de Paris for new productions of ##Die Walküre## and ##Siegfried##. On the concert stage, she makes debut appearances with Staatstheater Darmstadt ##(War Requiem)##, Houston Symphony ##(Tristan und Isolde)##, and NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo (selections from ##Götterdämmerung##), and returns to The Cleveland Orchestra ##(War Requiem)##.  \\n\\nOperatic highlights of Wilson’s career include ##Die Walküre, Turandot, Lohengrin, Tosca, Ernani, Tristan undIsolde, Fidelio, Ariadne auf Naxos, Otello, Un ballo in Maschera, Don Carlo, Don Carlos, Aida, Il trovatore, Macbeth, Elektra, La forza del destino, Die Fledermaus, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Die Feen, I due Foscari, Falstaff, Un giorno di regno, Simon Boccanegra, Idomeneo, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Il corsaro, La clemeza di Tito,## and ##Norma##.  \\n\\nShe regularly appears on the stages of the world’s leading opera houses including The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra national de Paris, Los Angeles Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Oper Frankfurt, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro La Fenice, The Santa Fe Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Dutch National Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Teatro alla Scala, Arena di Verona, Washington National Opera, English National Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro de la Maestranza, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Opera Australia, Opéra National de Lyon, and Théâtre du Capitole.  \\n\\nWilson frequently partners with Warren Jones and has given recitals at Oper Frankfurt, Source Song Festival, Performance Santa Fe, and Cleveland Art Song Festival. She recorded a duet orchestral concert with Russell Braun at the Canadian Opera Company.  \\n\\nAs a champion of new music, she commissioned and recorded ##Tiffany’s Spellbook## by Evan L. Snyder, available on Lexicon Classics and popular streaming platforms. Additional recordings include ##Die Frau ohne Schatten## conducted by Sebastian Weigle and released by Oehms Classics.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6504962a40583d78e9d6fc27_64a556af972af613cacf7a87_tamarawilson_42220sito.jpeg","musicianID":"GuestMusician108","musicianName":"Tamara Wilson","musicianTitle":"soprano (Isolde)","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tamara-wilson/"},"GuestMusician109":{"musicianBio":"Stuart Skelton is one of the finest heldentenors on the stage today, critically acclaimed for his outstanding musicianship, tonal beauty, and intensely dramatic portrayals. \\n\\nRichard Wagner’s music takes center stage in Stuart Skelton’s 2025–26 season. He makes his debut with the Korean National Opera in a new production of ##Tristan und Isolde##, conducted by long-time collaborator Jaap van Zweden. A robust season also features major Wagner concert performances, including ##Die Walküre## (Act I) with the Gulbenkian Orchestra under Hannu Lintu; ##Die Walküre## (Act I) with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and van Zweden; and Wagner Gala concerts with soprano Nina Stemme and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. He sings concert performances of ##Tristan und Isolde## with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and van Zweden as well as with the Houston Symphony and Juraj Valčuha. \\n\\nLast season, Skelton gave critically acclaimed performances of ##Tristan und Isolde## in semi-staged performances with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as concert performances of ##Parsifal## and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Marek Janowski leading the NHK Symphony Orchestra. \\n\\nRecent operatic highlights for Skelton include ##Tristan und Isolde## at Teatro San Carlo under Constantin Trinks, at Glyndebourne with Robin Ticciati, and at Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville under Henrik Nánási. He also has appeared at the Bayerische Staatsoper in productions of ##Parsifal##, conducted by Marek Janowski, and ##Peter Grimes## led by Edward Gardner. With the Wiener Staatsoper, Skelton joined Philippe Jordan for a Wagner Gala under the auspices of the Musikverein für Steiermark in Graz and he returned to the main stage as Siegmund in ##Die Walküre## conducted by Axel Kober. Skelton’s first solo album, ##Shining Knight##, presents a program of Wagner, Griffes, and Barber accompanied by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. His expansive recording catalogue also includes ##Tristan und Isolde##, Britten’s ##Peter Grimes##, Schoenberg’s ##Gurre-Lieder##, a Grammy Award-nominated Janáček ##Glagolitic Mass##, a ##Gramophone Magazine## award-winning recording of Elgar’s ##The Dream of Gerontius##, ##Die Walküre##, Stravinsky’s ##Oedipus Rex##, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Mahler’s ##Das Lied von der Erde##. He has contributed to four recordings of Wagner’s ##Der Ring des Nibelungen##.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Stuart-Skelton_SS18__cSim-Canetty-Clarke-200x200-1.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician109","musicianName":"Stuart Skelton","musicianTitle":"tenor (Tristan)","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/stuart-skelton/"},"GuestMusician11":{"musicianBio":"As one of the youngest in a rare art form, Brett Miller is an active organist, conductor, and arranger specializing in silent film accompaniment. Currently, he is the Assistant conductor of the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra and the Eastman Philharmonia.\n\nIn the Spring of 2021, he was appointed Music Director of the Empire Film and Media Ensemble, an ensemble based in Rochester, NY, that advocates for the education, performance, and production of film music. In the Fall of 2022, he was appointed Artistic Director of the organization. Brett shares a close relationship between the ensemble and the Beal Institute of Film and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music.\n\nHis recent scores have been recorded with organizations such as the Eye Filmmuseum, the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation, and Kino Lober Classics. He has been featured in the past at various film festivals and has played events in conjunction with film preservationists from the Library of Congress and George Eastman House. Highlights include sold-out performances of ##Nosferatu##Nosferatu at Verizon Hall in conjunction with the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Boston Pops, and Houston Symphony. He is a frequent recitalist at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, playing the world’s largest pipe organ.\n\nBrett studied organ with renowned organist Jelani Eddington and piano with Beth Crompton. He studied film accompaniment with Ben Model and Bernie Anderson. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Eastman School of Music where he studies with Neil Varon.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Miller_Brett.webp","musicianID":"GuestMusician11","musicianName":"Brett Miller","musicianTitle":"organist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/brett-miller/"},"GuestMusician110":{"musicianBio":"Critically acclaimed by virtually every major outlet covering classical music, American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton is increasingly recognized for how she uses her powerful instrument offstage—lifting up women, queer people, and other marginalized communities. Her lively social media presence on Instagram and Twitter (@jbartonmezzo) serves as a hub for conversations about body positivity, social justice issues, and LGBTQ+ rights.  \\n\\nIn recognition of her iconic performance at the Last Night of the Proms, Barton was named 2020 Personality of the Year at the ##BBC Music Magazine## Awards. She is also the winner of the Beverly Sills Artist Award, Richard Tucker Award, both Main and Song Prizes at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her solo albums include ##All Who Wander##, which received the 2018 ##BBC Music Magazine## Vocal Award, and ##Unexpected Shadows##, nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.  \\n\\nThis season, Barton stars as Sister Helen Prejean in a highly anticipated 25th anniversary production of Jake Heggie’s ##Dead Man Walking## at San Francisco Opera. She returns to Houston Grand Opera for a series of role debuts, including Frugola, Zia Principessa, and Zita in Puccini’s ##Il trittico##, as well as the Witch in ##Hansel and Gretel##, and she brings her acclaimed Ježibaba to performances of ##Rusalka## at Bayerische Staatsoper and Opéra National de Paris.  \\n\\nElsewhere, she appears in concert with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra, and in recital with Opera Memphis and Arizona Opera with Tucson Desert Song Festival. Following the fulfillment of a long-held dream to create a role in a new opera by Jake Heggie, her work as Elizabeth Van Lew in Heggie’s ##Intelligence## at Houston Grand Opera will be released on a world premiere recording on the LSO Live label.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/JamieBarton_creditStaceyBode6-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician110","musicianName":"Jamie Barton","musicianTitle":"mezzo-soprano (Brangäne)","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jamie-barton/"},"GuestMusician111":{"musicianBio":"Described as “the possessor of a major voice” (##Opera##) and a “magnificent Wotan” (##Die Zeit##), Australian-born bass-baritone Derek Welton has emerged as a leading  dramatic voice of his generation, as well as a dedicated and versatile interpreter of concert repertoire ranging from Bach and Handel to the present day. \\n\\nIn the 2025–26 season, Welton returns to the Wiener Staatsoper as Orest (##Elektra##), to the Deutsche Oper Berlin in the title role of ##Der fliegende Holländer##, and to the Opéra de Lyon as Claggart (##Billy Budd##). He makes his house debut at the Opernhaus Zürich as Pizarro (##Fidelio##), his house and role debut as König Heinrich (##Lohengrin##) at the Hungarian State Opera, and performs Wanderer (##Siegfried##) at the Müpa Budapest. \\n\\nHe is a regular guest at many of the world’s foremost opera houses and festivals, including The Royal Ballet and Opera, Salzburg Festival, Vienna State Opera, Bayreuth Festival, Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Opéra national de Paris, Teatro Real Madrid, Dutch National Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. His wide-ranging roles include Wotan/Wanderer (##Der Ring des Nibelungen##), Holländer (##Der fliegende Holländer##), King Marke (##Tristan und Isolde##), Orest (##Elektra##), Bluebeard (##Bluebeard’s Castle##), Forester (##The Cunning Little Vixen##) and Mozart’s ##Figaro##. \\n\\nDerek has performed with orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Czech Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig in repertoire including Bach’s ##St####. Matthew Passion##, ##St####. John Passion##, and ##Mass in B ####Minor##, Handel’s ##Messiah##, Haydn’s ##Creation##, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mendelssohn’s ##Elijah##, and Tippett’s ##A Child of ####Our Time##. \\n\\nWelton’s discography includes performances as Wotan (##Das Rheingold##, Naxos), Amfortas (##Parsifal##, Deutsche Grammophon), Orest (##Elektra##, Unitel Edition), Creonte in Haydn’s ##L’anima del filosofo## (Pinchgut Live), as well as Martinů’s ##The Epic of Gilgamesh## (Supraphon Records), Stravinsky’s ##Pulcinella## (Harmonia Mundi), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Ondine and Brattle Media), and a solo CD of Vaughan Williams songs with Iain Burnside for Albion Records. \\n\\nDerek Welton holds degrees in Linguistics and German from the University of Melbourne and in Music from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Derek-Welton-Bass-Baritone1-picture-by-Eduardus-Lee-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician111","musicianName":"Derek Welton","musicianTitle":"bass (King Marke)","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/derek-welton/"},"GuestMusician112":{"musicianBio":"Bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee is the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, was named the International Opera Awards 2025 Male Singer of the Year, and is First Prize winner of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, winner of the Zarzuela Prize at Operalia, and Grand Prize Winner of The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. \\n\\nIn the 2025–26 season, Brownlee makes debuts at Lyric Opera of Chicago in ##Salome##(Jochanaan) and with Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería for a recording of ##Salome## (Jochanaan). He returns to Bayerische Staatsoper for a new production of ##Die Walküre## (Wotan) directed by Calixto Bieito, Bayreuther Festspiele in ##Der fliegende Holländer## (title role), Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía for ##Salome## (Jochanaan), and to Oper Frankfurt in ##Peter Grimes## (Captain Balstrode), ##Tosca## (Scarpia), and ##Tristan und Isolde## (Kurwenal). \\n\\nOn the concert stage, he debuts with the Houston Symphony for Act II of ##Tristan und Isolde##(Kurwenal & Melot), returns to the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Beethoven’s ##Missa Solemnis##, and appears on the 2025 Richard Tucker Gala. \\n\\nBrownlee has performed at many of the world’s leading opera houses including The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Wiener Staatsoper, Dutch National Opera, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Oper Frankfurt, Opernhaus Zürich, Bayerische Staatsoper, The Santa Fe Opera, Teatro de São Carlos, LA Opera, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Bayreuther Festspiele, Oper Leipzig, Irish National Opera, the Dallas Opera, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, The Atlanta Opera, and Bard SummerScape. \\n\\nHe has worked with a diverse group of conductors, among them Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Susanna Mälkki, Pablo Heras-Casado, Kent Nagano, James Conlon, Emmanuel Villaume, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Thomas Guggeis, Carlo Rizzi, Harry Bicket, Vladimir Jurowski, Eun Sun Kim, Fabio Luisi, Gemma New, Giacomo Sagripanti, James Gaffigan, Marco Armiliato, Sebastian Weigle, Tarmo Peltokoski, Simone Young, Speranza Scappucci, and Erik Nielsen. \\n\\nBrownlee began his professional career as a member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at LA Opera, where he appeared in ##Les pêcheurs de perles## (Nourabad), ##Die Zauberflöte## (Sprecher), ##Madama Butterfly## (Bonze), and ##Moby-Dick## (Captain Gardiner) and is a graduate of the University of South Alabama and Rice University.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/7a429a_c6d4f8cf37f24e58aa19cab77fff5e47mv2_d_5633_4116_s_4_2.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician112","musicianName":"Nicholas Brownlee","musicianTitle":"bass-baritone, Kurwenal and Melot","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/nicholas-brownlee/"},"GuestMusician113":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/csm_202c124e_Lisiecki_Mendelssohn_2018_12_0533_c_Christoph_Koestlin_KDSedit_342b3213b5.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician113","musicianName":"Jan Lisiecki","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jan-lisiecki/"},"GuestMusician114":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Headshot-2-credit_-Phillip-Knott-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician114","musicianName":"Joshua Bell","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/joshua-bell/"},"GuestMusician115":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician115","musicianName":"Wendall K. Harrington","musicianTitle":"projection design","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/wendall-k-harrington/"},"GuestMusician116":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician116","musicianName":"Paul Vershbow","musicianTitle":"projection programming","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/paul-vershbow/"},"GuestMusician117":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/csm_08bfaa21_Hadelich_AugustinBalboa1_c_Suxiao_Yang_60d25f3e17.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician117","musicianName":"Augustin Hadelich","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/augustin-hadelich/"},"GuestMusician118":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician118","musicianName":"Tony Moreno","musicianTitle":"bass guitar","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tony-moreno/"},"GuestMusician119":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician119","musicianName":"Giovanni Moreno","musicianTitle":"drums","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/giovanni-moreno/"},"GuestMusician12":{"musicianBio":"A cappella sensation Voctave has had more than 160 million social media views of their videos, and their albums frequently debut in the top 10 on the Billboard and iTunes charts. In 2024, they released the third volume in their popular ##The Corner of Broadway &amp; Main Street## series and recorded a number of collaborations with guest artists, including Tituss Burgess and The Swingles. Last season, Voctave released a brand-new holiday album ##It Feels Like Christmas## and embarked on a North American holiday tour. Other recent highlights include an album of lullabies entitled ##Goodnight, My Someone##and tours of their popular show ##The Corner of Broadway &amp; Main Street##. The group was formed in 2015 by producer and arranger Jamey Ray, and the voices that bring their arrangements to life represent a wealth of diverse backgrounds and musical experiences. Hailing from Central Florida, the 11 members of Voctave have performed across the globe and appear on countless recordings. The group has performed with Grammy, Dove, and American Music Award recipients, including Sandi Patty, Pentatonix’s Kirstin Maldonado, Mark Lowry, David Phelps, and Jody McBrayer. Voctave’s albums are digitally available on all platforms.  Voctave is:  E.J. Cardona Tiffany Coburn Ashley Espinoza John Hannigan Karl Hudson Chrystal Johnson Kate Lott Drew Ochoa Jamey Ray Kurt Von Schmittou Sarah Whittemore","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/VOC2021_Green_Square-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician12","musicianName":"Voctave","musicianTitle":"vocalists","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/voctave/"},"GuestMusician120":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician120","musicianName":"Mundo Juillerat","musicianTitle":"lead guitar","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mundo-juillerat/"},"GuestMusician121":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician121","musicianName":"Ashley Kellough","musicianTitle":"background vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/ashley-kellough/"},"GuestMusician122":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician122","musicianName":"Dre Young","musicianTitle":"background vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/dre-young/"},"GuestMusician123":{"musicianBio":"Ali Stroker is a Tony Award winner for her role as Ado Annie in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ##Oklahoma!## She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West’s acclaimed revival of ##Spring Awakening## and the first actor in a wheelchair to win a Tony.  She was a series regular on the Netflix series, ##Echoes##, and starred in the Lifetime holiday film, ##Christmas Ever After##. Ali recurred in the final season of Netflix’s ##Ozark## and in Hulu’s ##Only Murders in the Building##.  She co-wrote the novel ##The Chance to Fly## and its sequel, ##Cut Loose!##; and she wrote the children’s book ##Ali and the Sea Stars##.  She was recently seen opposite Matthew Broderick in Babbitt at Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC and played Lady Anne in the Shakespeare in the Park production of ##Richard III##.  She has performed her one-woman show all over the country. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations Into Your Opportunities.”","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ali-Stroker-23-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician123","musicianName":"Ali Stroker","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/ali-stroker/"},"GuestMusician124":{"musicianBio":"In addition to his talents as a pianist, percussionist, and actor, Denzal Sinclaire is one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists and is ranked among the finest jazz singers of his generation. From the moment he steps on stage, he seems to naturally and effortlessly evoke a profound emotional interaction with his audience, touching the listener with his passionate and sincere delivery and the purity of the message in every song he sings.  From his early days as a canny interpreter of Nat King Cole’s mentholated crooning, he has grown into one of the most distinctive and individualistic singers anywhere. Sinclaire is a multiple nominee of the Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy Award), a recipient of the 2004 National Jazz Award for “Best Album,” four-time consecutive recipient of Jazz Report Magazine Award for Male Jazz Vocalist, and France’s 2007 Choc Jazzman Award.  He has graced the stages of numerous concert halls and festivals around the world, and appeared on several TV shows, including Canada’s ##Bravo! TV##, ##Canada AM##, ##Nashville Now##, and Ireland’s ##The Late Late Show##. As a former member of UK soul artist Jamie Lidell’s band, he has appeared on ##Late Night with Conan O’Brien##, ##Jimmie Kimmel Live!##, and Manu Katché’s show in France, ##One Shot Not##. Additional television and film credits include appearances in the new ##Battlestar Gallactica## TV series and ##Being Julia##, starring Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons.  Sinclaire has recorded three albums for Universal Music: ##I Found Love, Denzal Sinclaire,## and ##My One and Only Love##.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Denzal-Sinclaire-HD-scaled-1.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician124","musicianName":"Denzal Sinclaire","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/denzal-sinclaire/"},"GuestMusician125":{"musicianBio":"A protégé of the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, Cuban-born trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval is one of the most celebrated and electrifying musicians of our time. Born in Artemisa, Cuba in 1949, he began classical trumpet at age 12, but soon found his voice in jazz. Defecting from Cuba in pursuit of artistic freedom, he rose to become a symbol of virtuosity, resilience, and joy in music. \\n\\nSandoval has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards (19 nominations), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, six Billboard Awards, and an Emmy Award for his stirring score to HBO’s ##For Love or Country## starring Andy Garcia. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him “one of the best ever to play.” In 2024, he was honored as a Kennedy Center Honoree, cementing his place in cultural history. \\n\\nEqually at home in jazz, classical, and Latin music, Sandoval has performed with the world’s leading orchestras and recorded John Williams’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony. He has composed two concertos for trumpet and orchestra and created music for films including Clint Eastwood’s ##The Mule## and ##Richard Jewell##, ##Mambo Kings##, and ##Havana##. His commissioned works for the Kennedy Center and Debbie Allen’s ##Hot Chocolate Nutcracker## further showcase his vast range. \\n\\nA founding member of the groundbreaking Cuban group Irakere, Sandoval later formed his own acclaimed band, dazzling audiences from the Oscars and Grammys to sold-out concert halls worldwide. His collaborations span generations and genres: Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, Celia Cruz, Tony Bennett, John Williams, Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, and Dizzy Gillespie, among countless others. \\n\\nKnown for his blazing high notes, breathtaking range, and unmatched energy, Sandoval is also a gifted pianist, percussionist, composer, and educator who has inspired generations. Critics worldwide hail him as “arguably the most prodigious trumpeter of his generation” (##The Guardian##), while John Williams praises: “Arturo Sandoval exudes the true joy of music in everything he does…long may he reign.” \\n\\nToday, Arturo Sandoval stands as a once-in-a-generation artist: a master who has not only redefined the trumpet, but elevated the language of music itself.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Action-Shot-Blue-1-scaled-1.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician125","musicianName":"Arturo Sandoval","musicianTitle":"trumpet","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/arturo-sandoval/"},"GuestMusician126":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Tony-DeSare_IMG_8696-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician126","musicianName":"Tony DeSare","musicianTitle":"pianist and vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tony-desare/"},"GuestMusician127":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Concert-Page_Adapted.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician127","musicianName":"Capathia Jenkins","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/capathia-jenkins-artist/"},"GuestMusician128":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RYAN-SHAW.1-Photo-credit-Dave-Giordano.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician128","musicianName":"Ryan Shaw","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/ryan-shaw/"},"GuestMusician129":{"musicianBio":"Born Orville Richard Burrell and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Shaggy got his start as an MC in New York City’s burgeoning dancehall scene soon after moving to Brooklyn in his teens. Not long after serving four years in the U.S. Marines (including two tours of duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Desert Storm), he inked his first record deal and quickly scored a global crossover smash with “Oh Carolina.”  \\n\\nAs the only diamond-selling dancehall artist in music history, Shaggy, managed by Martin Kierszenbaum/Cherrytree Music Company, has sold more than 40 million album units to date, in addition to landing eight singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and seven albums on the Billboard 200 (including four in the top 40). He has received two Grammy Awards and is among the top three streamed reggae artists of all time on Spotify.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Shaggy-Headshot.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician129","musicianName":"Shaggy","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/shaggy/"},"GuestMusician130":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/LL-2020-©-OLAF-HEINE-Deutsche-Grammophon-2-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician130","musicianName":"Lang Lang","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/lang-lang/"},"GuestMusician131":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DEBUSSY-RAMEAU-1-╕Ari-Magg-Deutsche-Grammophon-1.png","musicianID":"GuestMusician131","musicianName":"Víkingur Ólafsson","musicianTitle":"pianist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vikingur-olafsson/"},"GuestMusician132":{"musicianBio":"At home in repertoire from early music to new commissions, coloratura soprano Kathryn Mueller is praised for her “crystalline soaring soprano.” She has sung with ensembles including the Cincinnati Symphony (Mozart’s Mass in C Minor), ROCO (##Knoxville: Summer of 1915##), Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (Reena Esmail’s ##The History of Red##), Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9), Tucson and Phoenix Symphonies (##Messiah##), and Spartanburg Philharmonic (Glière’s Concerto for Coloratura Soprano), as well as with ensembles including the Baltimore, Charlotte, and Memphis Symphonies; American Bach Soloists; Portland Baroque Orchestra; and Santa Fe Pro Musica.  An advocate for new music, Kathryn co-commissioned Reena Esmail’s ##The History of Red ##along with Santa Fe Pro Musica, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, and The Knights. ##The History of Red## premiered in 2021 and was hailed for its “evocative sonorities, sensitivity to the changing moods of the poem, and skillfully crafted, natural-sounding text rhythms.”  Kathryn turned to her musical roots in the Baroque period for her debut solo album, ##Love &amp; Loss: Songs of Purcell, Bach, and Handel. ##Released in 2020, it was praised by Early Music America for Kathryn’s “sheer beauty,” “deliberate restraint,” and “concern for the text.” She has also been featured as a soloist on recordings by New Trinity Baroque, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Tucson Chamber Artists, and Seraphic Fire. Awards include an Adams Fellowship at the Carmel Bach Festival, finalist in the Oratorio Society of New York’s Solo Competition, and finalist (with her soprano duo Les Sirènes) in Early Music America’s Baroque Performance Competition.  Kathryn began her musical studies at 7,000' elevation in the White Mountains of Arizona. She continued her vocal studies as an undergraduate at Brown University and then earned a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. She is based in Raleigh, N.C., where she lives with her choral conductor husband and two lively young children. She belongs to Beyond Artists, a coalition of musicians who donate a percentage of their concert fees to organizations they care about. She supports the Poor People’s Campaign through her performances.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/KathrynMuellerHeadshot1-credit-Rob-Taylor-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician132","musicianName":"Kathryn Mueller","musicianTitle":"soprano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/kathryn-mueller/"},"GuestMusician133":{"musicianBio":"American countertenor Reginald Mobley is globally renowned for his purity of tone and deft interpretation of baroque, classical, and modern repertoire, leading an award-winning career on both sides of the Atlantic. His debut solo album ##Because ##released in June 2023 on Alpha Classics earned raves reviews, winning both the Opus Klassik and the Edison Klassiek, while also garnering a Grammy Award nomination. The ##Chicago Reader## keenly heralded him as “Curator, musical code-switcher, YouTube sensation: Reginald Mobley is a countertenor for our time”     Highlights of his 2025–26 season include debuts with Grant Park Music Festival and newly minted Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero and The Cleveland Orchestra with Osmo Vänska, performing Orff ##Carmina Burana##. He returns to Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the same oratorio under the baton of Music Director Jader Bignamini, which will be recorded on Pentatone. In December, he performs Handel’s ##Messiah ##in his debut with Houston Symphony and longtime collaborator Patrick Dupré Quigley; Pittsburgh Symphony with Music Director Manfred Honeck; Ancient Academy of Music and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, both under the baton of Laurence Cummings; and then on tour with Bach Collegium Japan with the luminary Masaaki Suzuki. In addition, he performs Bach’s Passions and Cantatas with Musica Angelica, Washington Bach Consort, Bach Collegium San Diego, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and Dunedin Consort.     An advocate for diversity in music and its programming, Reginald became the first-ever Programming Consultant for the Handel and Haydn Society following several years of leading H&amp;H in its community engagement concerts entitled ##Every Voice##. He holds the position of Visiting Artist for Diversity Outreach with Apollo’s Fire and has served as Artistic Advisor at the Portland Baroque Orchestra. Reginald is also leading a research project in the United Kingdom funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to uncover music by composers from diverse backgrounds, currently working on the music of Charles Ignatius Sancho.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Mobley_2021cRichardDumas-10.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician133","musicianName":"Reginald Mobley","musicianTitle":"countertenor","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/reginald-mobley/"},"GuestMusician134":{"musicianBio":"Praised for his “strong, pleasant timbre with textual command and expressiveness” ##(Opera Magazine)##, John Matthew Myers has garnered acclaim for his “lovely, warm tenor of considerable promise” ##(Opera News)## in recent collaborations with companies such as the New York Philharmonic, American Symphony Orchestra, Verbier Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Teatro alla Scala, and Teatro La Fenice.  \\n\\nThis season, Myers returns to the Opéra National de Paris, reprising his celebrated portrayal of Mao in ##Nixon## in China alongside Thomas Hampson and Renée Fleming, conducted by Kent Nagano. He sings Florestan in ##Fidelio## at Deutsche Oper am Rhein and the Prince in ##The Love for Three Oranges## at Semperoper Dresden.  \\n\\nOn the concert stage, he joins the Pittsburgh Symphony and conductor Manfred Honeck, Houston Symphony and conductor Patrick Quigley, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for Handel’s ##Messiah##.  \\n\\nMyers made his surprise Los Angeles Philharmonic debut in 2017 as Mao in John Adams’s ##Nixon## in Chinaconducted by the composer. Myers has covered roles for the Metropolitan Opera in productions of Britten’s Peter Grimes, Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, Wagner’s Die Meistersinger, Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, and Brett Dean’s Hamlet.  \\n\\nMyers has made concert appearances with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and the Oratorio Society of New York.  \\n\\nHis critically acclaimed solo debut album, a thoughtful program of works by American and American émigré composers titled ##Desiderium## with pianist Myra Huang, was released on AVIE Records in 2022.  \\n\\nOriginally from Southern California, Myers received his graduate and undergraduate degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. He was a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, an Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera, an alumnus of the Verbier Festival Academy, and a fellow with Music Academy of the West. He won Third Prize and the Richard Tauber Prize for the best interpretation of Schubert Lieder at the 2022 Wigmore Hall Bollinger International Song Competition.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Aaron_Jay_Young_4N4A7327-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician134","musicianName":"John Matthew Myers","musicianTitle":"tenor","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/john-matthew-myers/"},"GuestMusician135":{"musicianBio":"Douglas Ray Williams, bass-baritone, is a singer and actor with a repertoire ranging from the early baroque to the golden age musical and contemporary opera.  He got his start in opera chorus at the 2003 Boston Early Music Festival while an undergraduate at the New England Conservatory. He then studied at Yale in the first class of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music’s vocal program.  In concerts and opera, Douglas has appeared with the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Hungarian National Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, San Francisco Symphony, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in repertoire that includes Félicien David, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Puccini, and Stravinsky.  Douglas can be heard on a slate of classical recordings, including ##Die Zauberflöte## for Deutsche Gramophone with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the world premiere of the late serialist Charles Wuorinen’s ##It Happens Like This##, Lully’s ##Alceste and Armide## with Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques, and multiple opera recordings with the Boston Early Music Festival.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2018-10-Douglas-14-c-Juan-Camilo-Roa-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician135","musicianName":"Douglas Williams","musicianTitle":"bass-baritone","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/douglas-williams/"},"GuestMusician136":{"musicianBio":"Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn brings expressive musicality to a repertoire guided by artistic curiosity. She is a prolific recording artist and her 23 feature recordings have received every critical prize. Hahn is a staunch supporter of new music; recent commissions include new works from Barbara Assiginaak, Steven Banks, Jennifer Higdon, Jessie Montgomery, and Carlos Simon. She is currently visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, after several years as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s first-ever Artist-in-Residence, Artist-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic, Visiting Artist at The Juilliard School, and Curating Artist of the Dortmund Festival. \\n\\nIn the 2024–25 season, Hahn tours the globe: in Japan, Beethoven with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen; in the U.S., Korngold with the Berlin Philharmonic; throughout Europe, Tchaikovsky with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France; throughout Spain and the Canary Islands, Mendelssohn with the Munich Philharmonic; on tour with the National Symphony Orchestra; and at the BBC Proms in Korea. In addition, she joins the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and many others. She also continues her immensely popular all-Bach solo recitals in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. \\n\\nHahn has related to her fans naturally from the very beginning of her career. She has committed to signings after nearly every concert and maintains and shares a collection of the fan-art she has received over the course of 20 years. Her “Bring Your Own Baby” concerts create opportunities for parents of infants to share their enjoyment of live classical music with their children in a nurturing, welcoming environment. Hahn’s commitment to her fans extends to a long history of educational outreach. Her social media-based practice initiative, #100daysofpractice, has transformed practice into a community-building celebration of artistic development.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/73de3109_HilaryHahn_202230102_ChrisLee_1101fn2.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician136","musicianName":"Hilary Hahn","musicianTitle":"Violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/hilary-hahn/"},"GuestMusician137":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician137","musicianName":"Janice Fehlauer","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician138":{"musicianBio":"Neal Kurz has appeared nationally as a collaborative pianist. He has appeared in performance with Camilla Wicks, Arthur Weisberg, Kathleen Winkler, Brian Lewis, Sadao Harada, Toby Appel, Kate Ransom, Lawrence Stomberg, and Norman Fischer, among others. He studied with Frank Glazer and Rebecca Penneys at the Eastman School of Music, and with Martin Katz at the University of Michigan. \\n\\nKurz has been on the staff at the Meadowmount School of Music, appearing in performance there and at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts with Alan Bodman and Corey Cerovsik. He has also appeared at the Roundtop Festival Institute, in Texas, and in performances with Jorja Fleezanis, Peter Rejto, James Dunham, Håkan Rosengren, and the Dorian Wind Quintet. He is currently on the faculty at the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) and has appeared in performances with Jennifer Montone and Mark Livshits. \\n\\nHe is a member of the collaborative piano staff at the Shepherd School of Music, and has worked with the students of Kathleen Winkler, Cho-Liang Lin, Ivo van der Werff, and Lynn Harrell. He is a regular keyboardist with the Houston Symphony and has accompanied the orchestra on tour performances in Carnegie Hall and in the UK. He appears in their Grammy Award-winning recording of Berg’s ##Wozzeck##, and an upcoming release of works by Jennifer Higdon, for Naxos Records. \\n\\nHe has accompanied participants in several international competitions, including the Corpus Christi Young Artists’ Competition, Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Competition, the William Byrd Young Artists’ Competition, and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He has worked with Houston Grand Opera as a coach. Kurz has also arranged and performed numerous scores for silent films; DVD releases include “Captain Fracasse,” “The Parson’s Widow” and “Michael,” “Unseen Cinema,” and George Melies: Cinema Magician. Several of these releases have aired on Turner Classic Movies, Kanopy, and HBOMax.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Neal-Kurz-headshot.png","musicianID":"GuestMusician138","musicianName":"Neal Kurz","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician139":{"musicianBio":"Musician Bio Coming Soon.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician139","musicianName":"John Malkovich","musicianTitle":"narrator","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/john-malkovich-in-the-music-critic/"},"GuestMusician14":{"musicianBio":"Angel Blue has emerged in recent seasons as one of the most influential sopranos before the public today. The two-time Grammy Award winner, 2020 Beverly Sills Award recipient, and the 2022 Richard Tucker Award winner is celebrated worldwide for her honeyed soprano and affecting deliveries of many of the most beloved roles in the operatic repertory, such as the title roles in ##Aida##Aida and ##Tosca##Tosca, Violetta in ##La Traviata##La Traviata, Bess in Gershwin’s ##Porgy and Bess##Porgy and Bess, Mimì in ##La bohème##La bohème, and Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in Terrence Blanchard’s ##Fire Shut Up in My Bones##Fire Shut Up in My Bones.\n\nHer 25–26 season starts with her performances as Bess in Houston Grand Opera’s anticipated new production of ##Porgy and Bess##Porgy and Bess, celebrating the anniversary of the house’s first production of the piece. Angel also returns to the Opéra national de Paris to sing the title role in ##Tosca##Tosca, and to the Metropolitan Opera to sing both Mimì in ##La bohème##La bohème and Liu in ##Turandot##Turandot.\n\nOn the concert stage, she performs Florent Schmidt’s ##Psalm 47##Psalm 47 with the Houston Symphony, the Christmas in Vienna concert at the Konzerthaus Vienna, and concerts at the Grafenegg Festival and Annapolis Symphony. She also performs recitals with pianist Bryan Wagorn at Reykjavik Arts Festival, Spivey Hall, and Four Arts Palm Beach.\n\nAngel kicked off her 24–25 season with the hugely popular Last Night of the Proms, and then returned to her home stage at the Metropolitan Opera, where she spent a major portion of her season. In the fall, she played Margarita Xirgu in Osvaldo Golijov’s first opera, ##Ainadamar##Ainadamar, and in two separate stints over the winter and spring, she made her long-anticipated debut as Aida, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She joined Nézet-Séguin and the Rotterdam Philharmonic on tour in the Netherlands, Germany, and France. Angel also made a company debut as Mimì in the Bayerische Staatsoper’s production of ##La bohème##La bohème. She appeared twice at Carnegie Hall, first in recital with the legendary pianist Lang Lang, and again with the Met Opera Orchestra and Nézet-Séguin. Concert engagements included a solo recital at the Los Angeles Opera and ##Aida##Aida in concert at the Baltimore Symphony.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dario-Acosta-3-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician14","musicianName":"Angel Blue","musicianTitle":"soprano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/angel-blue/"},"GuestMusician140":{"musicianBio":"Kelton Koch, born in Lake Jackson, Texas, is Second Trombonist of the Vienna Philharmonic/Vienna State Opera and Professor of Trombone at the Kunstuniversität Graz-Oberschützen. Prior to joining the Vienna Philharmonic, he was a member of Zurich Opera Academy (2017–18) and New World Symphony in Miami Beach under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas from 2014 to 2017. \\n\\nHe has been recognized in many national and international solo competitions, including winning a Special Prize at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in St. Petersburg (2019). In 2023, he performed Tōru Takemitsu’s ##Cantos II and Fantasma## for Trombone and Orchestra with the Bern Symphony Orchestra. \\n\\nHe has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Munich Philharmonic, and London Philharmonia. He has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Silk Road Ensemble. \\n\\nAs a teacher with a strong interest in pedagogy, he has given masterclasses in the United States, Colombia, Switzerland, and China, and was Teaching Assistant at the Hochschule der Künste Bern from 2020–22. \\n\\nHe is the son of a high school band director and began piano lessons at age six and trombone when he was 11 years old. He has a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance, Mathematics, and a minor in Economics from Northwestern University, where he studied primarily with Michael Mulcahy. He also studied with former principal trombone of the Vienna Philharmonic, Ian Bousfield, at the Hochschule der Künste Bern, while completing a Specialized Master’s in Solo Performance.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/kelton-headshot-4.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician140","musicianName":"Kelton Koch","musicianTitle":"trombone","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician141":{"musicianBio":"Musician Bio Coming Soon.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician141","musicianName":"Aleksey Igudesman","musicianTitle":"artist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/john-malkovich-in-the-music-critic/"},"GuestMusician142":{"musicianBio":"Musician Bio Coming Soon.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician142","musicianName":"Hyung-ki Joo","musicianTitle":"artist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/john-malkovich-in-the-music-critic/"},"GuestMusician143":{"musicianBio":"Dr. Richard Kogan has a distinguished career both as a psychiatrist and as a concert pianist. He is renowned for his concert/lectures that explore the influence of psychological factors and psychiatric and medical illness on the creative output of the great composers.  \\n\\nA master storyteller, Kogan has given these programs at concert series, music festivals, medical conferences, universities, and scholarly symposia throughout the world, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Aspen Ideas Festival, the TEDMED Conference, The Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi, the Accelerating Bio-Innovation Conference at MIT, the BBC in London, and the World Psychiatric Congress in Berlin.  \\n\\nKogan’s tours have included performances at concerts of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and Buffalo Philharmonic. Kogan is prominently featured on the ##PBS Great Performances## “Now Hear This” episodes entitled “Schumann: Genius and Madness,” “Rachmaninoff Reborn,” and “Old Friends,” about his musical and personal collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Chang.  \\n\\nBridging the worlds of arts and medicine, Kogan has given programs throughout the world in which he illuminates the importance of the humanities in medical education. He has used his explorations of the mental health struggles of the great composers as a way of advocating for the destigmatization of mental illness.  \\n\\nKogan is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, Artistic Director of the Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Program, and Co-Director of Weill Cornell’s Human Sexuality Program. He has been praised by ##The New York Times## for his “exquisite playing” and ##The Boston Globe## wrote that, “Kogan has somehow managed to excel at the world’s two most demanding professions.” He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards in both psychiatry and the arts.  \\n\\nDr. Kogan is a graduate of Juilliard School of Music Pre-College, Harvard College, and Harvard Medical School, and completed a psychiatric residency and academic fellowship at NYU. In addition to his active career as a performing artist, he maintains a private practice of psychiatry in New York City.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/thumbnail_Dr.-Richard-Kogan-publicity1-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician143","musicianName":"Dr. Richard Kogan","musicianTitle":"speaker","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician144":{"musicianBio":"A second-year Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio artist from Brooklyn, New York, Sam Dhobhany received the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award at HGO’s 2024 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. He is a 2022 alumnus of HGO’s Young Artist Vocal Academy.  In HGO’s 2025–26 season, Dhobhany sings the roles of Undertaker in Porgy and Bess, Notary in Gianni Schicchi (Il trittico), British Major in Silent Night, George Milton in the Butler Studio production of Of Mice and Men, and Officer in The Barber of Seville. In HGO’s 2024–25 season, he made his company debut as Alidoro in HGO Family Day Presents Cinderella and sang the role of Terry in Breaking the Waves.  In the summer of 2025, Dhobhany performed the roles of Zuniga in Carmen and Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro at Wolf Trap Opera, where in 2021, he was a member of the Studio Artist Program, covering the role of Doctor Grenvil in La traviata.  In 2024, Dhobhany sang the role of Angelotti in Tosca with Dayton Opera. He was an apprentice artist with Santa Fe Opera in 2023 and 2024, performing roles including Un Médecin in Pelléas et Mélisande and Marchese d’Obigny in La traviata.  Dhobhany was the second-place winner of the 2025 Rocky Mountain Region of The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SamDhobhany_030-1-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician144","musicianName":"Sam Dhobhany","musicianTitle":"baritone","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician145":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician145","musicianName":"John Sutton","musicianTitle":"bass","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician146":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician146","musicianName":"Arcoiris Sandoval","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician147":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician147","musicianName":"Corey Rawls","musicianTitle":"drums","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician148":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician148","musicianName":"","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician149":{"musicianBio":"Juan Sebastian Cruz is an actor, musician, emcee, and circus artist based in Houston. He is a proud alum of Rice University where he received a BA in Visual and Dramatic Arts.  \\n\\nHis passion for public speaking alongside his love for symphonic and orchestral music landed him his first collaboration with the Houston Symphony in 2020, and since then he has enjoyed hosting student matinees, family concerts, and even dressing up as various characters to entertain audiences at Jones Hall.  \\n\\nAs a professional actor, he has worked with many local theaters including Stages, The Alley, TUTS, 4th Wall, Catastrophic, TEATRX, and The Ensemble. Nationally, he has worked with La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, La Mama Studios in New York City, Horizons in Atlanta, and Yale Rep in New Haven.  \\n\\nHe is a frequent collaborator with writer Hilary Bettis and has performed in two of her world premieres, ##72 Miles to Go…## and ##falcon girls##.  \\n\\nAlongside his work as a stage actor, he is also a Teaching Artist with the Alley and TUTS. His work as an educator has allowed him to engage with community centers, hospitals, and students of all ages ranging from elementary to high school. He enjoys combining his multi-disciplinary artistic experience with a highly dynamic style and encourages everyone to learn in unconventional ways.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Juan-67.png","musicianID":"GuestMusician149","musicianName":"Juan Sebastián Cruz","musicianTitle":"host","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician15":{"musicianBio":"The search for inspiration is a never-ending and vital journey in a person‘s life. In the case of the Greek artist Stathis Karapanos, he found this inspiration by playing the flute and conducting. His international career spans solo, orchestral, chamber, and increasingly, symphonic repertoire. He studied at the National Conservatory in Athens and the University of Music in Karlsruhe, which he completed with distinction in 2018.\n\nHe has performed as a member of youth and professional orchestras, such as the Staatstheater Karlsruhe, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and others. His teachers and mentors included Mathieu Dufour, Vangelis Papathanassiou, and Peter Lukas Graf, as well as Prof. Philippe Bernold at the Conservatoire National Superieur in Paris. After his graduation, he was appointed principal flute of the Athens State Symphony Orchestra.\n\nSince 2018, Karapanos has been invited to perform with renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, and Yutaka Sado; orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra; and artists such as Gidon Kremer, Vilde Frang, Matthias Goerne, Nicolas Altstaedt, Daniel Hope, Chen Reiss, and Marisol Montalvo.\n\nIn May 2024, Karapanos released a critically praised album, ##Hindemith’s Complete Works for Flute##Hindemith’s Complete Works for Flute on Ondine Records, followed by recordings of Michael Shapiro’s ##In the Light of the Sun##In the Light of the Sun with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been featured on international podcasts and media and is increasingly active in environmental and cross-cultural projects.\n\nIn 2025, he was named Flutist Artistic Liaison to Greenpeace, reflecting his commitment to musical ‘artivism’ and together they have released a series of videos on online platforms to help raise awareness of some of today’s most pressing environmental issues.\n\nKarapanos has received several awards for his musical skills, such as the Bernstein Award of the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival (2020), the Lotto Prize of the Rheingau Festival (2019), and numerous prizes at international competitions.\n\nHe regularly performs on a wide range of flutes including alto, bass, contrabass, piccolo, pan-flute, recorder, conch shell, and ancient Greek lyra—blending classical, contemporary, and traditional idioms into a distinctive artistic voice.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/S.Karapanos.3451a_-c-Janine-Kuehn.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician15","musicianName":"Stathis Karapanos","musicianTitle":"flute","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/stathis-karapanos/"},"GuestMusician150":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician150","musicianName":"","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician151":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician151","musicianName":"Bobby Floyd","musicianTitle":"keyboard","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician152":{"musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician152","musicianName":"Jim Rupp","musicianTitle":"drum set","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists"},"GuestMusician153":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician153","musicianName":"Rajdulari","musicianTitle":"backup vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician154":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician154","musicianName":"Calli Graver","musicianTitle":"backup vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":""},"GuestMusician16":{"musicianBio":"With 18 Top Ten albums (nine No. 1s), 142 Top Ten singles (109 No. 1s), an Emmy nomination, and being named Las Vegas’s “Headliner of the Year” five times, Frankie Moreno is consistently breaking records and wowing audiences from coast to coast with his own brand of genre-blurring rock n’ roll. Frankie has more number one singles than any other artist.\n\nReaching millions of record sales worldwide, Frankie continues to write and release new music. In 2019, he made music history by becoming the only artist to have six albums debut at a Top Ten spot on the Billboard Charts in a 12-month period.\n\nAs a child prodigy on the piano and a gifted multi-instrumentalist, Frankie was first introduced to American audiences at the age of 10 on CBS’s ##Star Search##Star Search. His performance on ABC’s ##Dancing with the Stars##Dancing with the Stars brought him into America’s living rooms again, performing his self-penned hit “Tangerine Honey.” He has continued to perform sold-out concerts including at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl, and Vegas residencies.\n\nFrankie’s collaboration with world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell, ##At Home with Friends##At Home with Friends, reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard. The album included Sting, Josh Groban, Chris Botti, Kristin Chenoweth, and Regina Spektor. Frankie and Josh have since released ##Musical Gifts##Musical Gifts, which reached No. 8 on Billboard and featured Placido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Allison Krauss, and Chick Corea.\n\nFrankie toured the U.S. with Sugarland and Billy Currington. He joined multi-platinum artists Air Supply for their world tour as musical director, and wrote their radio single “Dance with Me,” reaching No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 40. He has performed his original works for his symphony concerts with the nation’s premier orchestras.\n\nFrankie Moreno commands audiences around the world with his highly contagious music and playful stage antics. His songs are cleverly crafted and his musicianship is virtuoso. Frankie is an all-around talent who puts his heart and soul into his music. He is unquestionably a unique artist.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Frankie-Moreno-Press-Shot-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician16","musicianName":"Frankie Moreno","musicianTitle":"vocalist, piano, and guitar","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/frankie-moreno/"},"GuestMusician17":{"musicianBio":"Through elegant musicality and an insightful approach to contemporary and established repertoire, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest pianists. He is especially known for his diverse interests beyond the classical world, including numerous collaborations in film, fashion, and visual art. He is a devoted educator and the first-ever Artist-in-Residence at the Colburn School, which awards several scholarships in his name. \\n\\nA prolific recording artist, Thibaudet has appeared on more than 70 albums and six film scores; his extensive catalog has received two Grammy nominations, two ECHO Awards, the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Diapason d’Or, the CHOC du Monde de la Musique, the Edison Prize, and ##Gramophone## awards. His recent recordings include ##Khachaturian##, a celebration of the Armenian composer’s works including his Piano Concerto and several solo piano pieces; ##Gershwin Rhapsody##, a selection of Gershwin pieces recorded with Michael Feinstein, including four newly discovered ones; and ##Carte Blanche##, a collection of deeply personal solo piano pieces never before recorded by the pianist. He is the soloist on Dario Marianelli’s recently reissued score for ##Pride & Prejudice## his playing can also be head on Marianelli’s score for ##Atonement##, Alexandre Desplat’s scores for ##The French Dispatch## and ##Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close##, and Aaron Zigman’s score for ##Wakefield##. \\n\\nJean-Yves Thibaudet was born in Lyon, France, where he began his piano studies at age five and made his first public appearance at age seven. At 12, he entered the Paris Conservatory to study with Aldo Ciccolini and Lucette Descaves, a friend and collaborator of Ravel. Among his numerous commendations is the Victoire d’Honneur, a lifetime career achievement award and the highest honor given by France’s Victoires de la Musique. In 2010, the Hollywood Bowl honored Thibaudet for his musical achievements by inducting him into its Hall of Fame. Previously a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Thibaudet was awarded the title Officier by the French Ministry of Culture in 2012. In 2020, he was named Special Representative for the promotion of French Creative and Cultural Industries in Romania.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1JYT-┬⌐E.CAREN-3646-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician17","musicianName":"Jean-Yves Thibaudet","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jean-yves-thibaudet/"},"GuestMusician18":{"musicianBio":"Renaissance woman Hélène Grimaud is not just a deeply passionate and committed musical artist whose pianistic accomplishments play a central role in her life. Her multiple talents extend far beyond the instrument she plays with such poetic expression and technical control. Grimaud has established herself as a wildlife conservationist, a human rights activist, and a writer; her deep dedication to her musical career is reflected in and amplified by the scope and depth of her environmental, literary, and artistic interests.  \\n\\nShe has been an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2002 and her recordings have received prestigious accolades. Her discography includes acclaimed albums such as ##Credo##, ##Reflection##, and a Beethoven album with Staatskapelle Dresden. Her 2010 solo album ##Resonances## and subsequent releases—including ##Duo##Duo with cellist Sol Gabetta and ##Memory## (2018)—highlight her diverse musical range. Her latest project, ##For Clara##For Clara (September 2023), revisits Robert Schumann’s ##Kreisleriana## alongside Brahms’s Intermezzi and songs. \\n\\nIn the 2025–26 season, Hélène Grimaud brings her exceptional artistry to George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, performing this iconic work with prestigious orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, among others. Alongside these highlights, she embarks on a West Coast tour with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performing Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, while additional orchestral engagements underscore the rich breadth of her repertoire. Throughout the season, she continues to captivate audiences worldwide with solo recitals and chamber music performances.\\n\\n Born in Aix-en-Provence in 1969, Grimaud entered the Paris Conservatoire at 13. In 1987, she gave her debut recital in Tokyo. That same year, conductor Daniel Barenboim invited her to perform with the Orchestre de Paris, marking the launch of her career, which has since been characterized by concerts with major orchestras and celebrated conductors worldwide.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hg23-5-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician18","musicianName":"Hélène Grimaud","musicianTitle":"piano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/helene-grimaud/"},"GuestMusician19":{"musicianBio":"Elizabeth Stanley is an award-winning actor, singer, and musician, best known perhaps for her work on Broadway, recently starring in the Alanis Morissette musical ##Jagged Little Pill##Jagged Little Pill, earning nominations for the Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle, as well as a Grammy Award for the original cast recording.\n\nElizabeth has captivated New York theater audiences ever since her Broadway debut as “April” in the revival of Sondheim’s ##Company##Company directed by John Doyle, and has since played an eclectic array of comedic and dramatic, classic and contemporary leading ladies including roles in the Broadway revival of ##On the Town##On the Town(Drama Desk nomination), ##Million Dollar Quartet##Million Dollar Quartet, ##Cry-Baby##Cry-Baby, and James Lapine’s production of Sondheim’s ##Merrily We Roll Along##Merrily We Roll Along (Encores). Last year, ##The New York Times##The New York Times nodded to her performance as Vera in the City Center’s gala production of ##Pal Joey##Pal Joey as “Best Theater of 2023.”\n\nOther credits include as The Nurse in ##Hello, Again##Hello, Again (Transport Group, Drama League Award), ##F####king A##F####king A(Signature Theatre), and starred opposite Vanessa Williams and Santino Fontana in Sondheim’s ##Anyone Can Whistle##Anyone Can Whistle in Concert at Carnegie Hall with MasterVoices and recently as Luisa in Maury Yeston’s ##Nine##Nine opposite Steven Pasquale at The Kennedy Center. Elizabeth also starred as Francesca in the First National Tour of Jason Robert Brown’s ##The Bridges of Madison Country##The Bridges of Madison Country, and as Kira in the First National Tour of ##Xanadu##Xanadu.\n\nEqually present on screen, Elizabeth appears in Season 3 of Katori Hall’s ##P-Valley##P-Valley and was a recurring guest star on the FX series ##Kindred##Kindred and HBO Max’s ##Gossip Girl##Gossip Girl. Other guest appearances include ##The Equalizer##The Equalizer, ##New Amsterdam##New Amsterdam, ##Younger##Younger, ##Blue Bloods##Blue Bloods, ##N0S482##N0S482, ##FBI##FBI, ##The Get Down##The Get Down, ##The Affair##The Affair, ##Black Box##Black Box, ##Made in Jersey##Made in Jersey, ##Fringe##Fringe, and ##Company##Company (PBS Great Performances).\n\nAs a concert soloist, she appeared last season with the San Diego Symphony conducted by Rob Fisher, and in a new symphonic production of ##Ragtime##Ragtime with The Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart. She has also performed with Colorado Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Ocean City Symphony, New York Pops Underground, and many solo engagements.\n\nElizabeth is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Elizabeth5-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician19","musicianName":"Elizabeth Stanley","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/elizabeth-stanley/"},"GuestMusician2":{"musicianBio":"With a contagious smile and captivating charm, conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer, and actor Byron Stripling ignites audiences across the globe. In 2020, Stripling was named Principal Pops Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and in 2024, he was named Principal Pops Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also currently serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Stripling’s baton has led countless orchestras throughout the United States and Canada, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood and orchestras from San Diego to Sarasota. Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with more than 100 orchestras around the world. As a soloist with the Boston Pops, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being the featured soloist on the PBS television special ##Evening at Pops##, with conductors John Williams and Lockhart. An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling starred in the lead role of the Broadway-bound musical ##Satchmo##; had a cameo performance in the television movie ##The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles##; and performed in the 42nd Street production of ##From Second Avenue to Broadway##. Television viewers have enjoyed his work as a soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards and in television commercials and TV theme songs. In addition to multiple recordings with his quintet and work with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, his prolific recording career includes hundreds of albums with the greatest pops, Broadway, soul, and jazz artists of all time. Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra. He has also played and recorded with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton, in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All-Star Big Band. Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. ","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/101_BYRON-STRIPLING-by-John-Abbott-1_325x325.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician2","musicianName":"Byron Stripling","musicianTitle":"conductor, trumpet, and vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/byron-stripling/"},"GuestMusician20":{"musicianBio":"Hugh Panaro is perhaps best known for having played the coveted role of the Phantom in Broadway’s ##The Phantom of the Opera##The Phantom of the Opera more than 2,000 times, including the 25th Anniversary production. In fact, Hugh is one of the few actors to be cast by Harold Prince as both The Phantom and Raoul in the show’s Broadway production and recently starred as the title role in the New York production of ##Sweeney Todd##Sweeney Todd.\n\nHugh made his Broadway debut in the original production of ##Les Misérables##Les Misérables as Marius, the role he originated in the First National Company. He also created the roles of Buddy in the original ##Side Show##Side Show (Sony cast recording); Julian Craster in Jule Styne’s last musical, ##The Red Shoes;##The Red Shoes; and the title role in the American premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s ##Martin Guerre##Martin Guerre. Hugh was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in the title role of Elton John’s ##Lestat,##Lestat, based on Anne Rice’s ##Vampire Chronicles##Vampire Chronicles.\n\nAn active concert artist, Panaro has performed with numerous symphony orchestras including the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall; The Cleveland Orchestra; Philly Pops; Dallas, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, and Utah Symphonies; and the London Sinfonietta, among many others. Panaro’s upcoming engagements include the Philly Pops, Charlotte Symphony, Cleveland Pops, Tucson Symphony, Maui Pops, and Hawaii Symphony, among others. Hugh also recently returned as a guest soloist with the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. He also had the privilege of performing in the world premiere of Penderecki’s ##Te Deum##Te Deum at Carnegie Hall and was a guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch.\n\nHis recordings include ##Jerome Kern Treasury##Jerome Kern Treasury, the original cast recording of ##Side Show, Tap Your Troubles Away##Side Show, Tap Your Troubles Away (Herman), ##The Centennial##The Centennial (Weil), and ##Life on the Wicked Stage##Life on the Wicked Stage (Kern). His first solo CD, ##Man Without a Mask##Man Without a Mask, was recorded live at 54 Below and released in 2024. In addition, he toured throughout Europe with the legendary Barbra Streisand.\n\nA native of Philadelphia, Panaro graduated from Temple University and was awarded the Boyer College of Music Certificate of Honor.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Hugh-Panaro.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician20","musicianName":"Hugh Panaro","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/hugh-panaro-2/"},"GuestMusician21":{"musicianBio":"Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, the United States Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Its mission is unique—to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.\n\nPresident John Adams invited the Marine Band to make its White House debut on New Year’s Day, 1801, in the then-unfinished Executive Mansion. In March of that year, the band performed for Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration and it is believed that it has performed for every presidential inaugural since. In Jefferson, the band found its most visionary advocate. An accomplished musician himself, Jefferson recognized the unique relationship between the band and the Chief Executive and he is credited with giving the Marine Band its title, “The President’s Own.”\n\nWhether performing for State Dinners or South Lawn arrivals, events of national significance, or receptions, Marine Band musicians appear at the White House an average of 200 times each year. These performances range from small ensembles such as a solo pianist, jazz combo or brass quintet to a country band, dance band or full concert band. The diversity of music often presented at the Executive Mansion makes versatility an important requirement for Marine Band members. Musicians are selected at auditions much like those of major symphony orchestras, and they enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps for permanent duty with the Marine Band. Most of today’s members are graduates of the nation’s finest music schools, and more than 60 percent hold advanced degrees in music.\n\nIn addition to its White House mission, “The President’s Own” performs an annual season showcase series of indoor concerts and a popular outdoor summer concert series on the National Mall. Musicians from the band are frequently highlighted in solo performances and participate in more intimate chamber ensemble recitals that feature a wide range of smaller instrumental groups. Marine Band musicians also perform in many different types of ceremonies and events throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area including the Presidential Inauguration, Full Honors funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, Honor Flight ceremonies for veterans at the National World War II Memorial, Friday Evening Parades at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., and educational programs in schools throughout the National Capital Region.\n\nEach fall, the Marine Band travels throughout a portion of the continental United States during its concert tour, a tradition initiated in 1891 by “The March King” John Philip Sousa, who was the band’s legendary 17th Director. As Director from 1880–92, Sousa brought “The President’s Own” to an unprecedented level of excellence and shaped the band into a world-famous musical organization. Since Sousa’s time, the band’s musical reach has extended beyond America’s borders on several occasions with performances in England, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, and the former Soviet Union. During Sousa’s tenure, the Marine Band was one of the first musical ensembles to make sound recordings. By 1892, more than 200 different titles were available for sale, placing Sousa’s marches among the first and most popular pieces ever recorded.\n\nWhile the Marine Band is firmly dedicated to preserving the unique musical traditions established over its long history, it is equally committed to serving as a leading ensemble in the development of new repertoire for winds. In 2000, “The President’s Own” commissioned David Rakowski’s ##Ten of a Kind##Ten of a Kind, a piece honored as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in music in 2002. In 2007, the band commissioned “Scamp” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Melinda Wagner, and the Marine Band premièred Scott Lindroth’s ##Passage##Passage at the 2010 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. In 2011, the band commissioned and premièred ##Flourishes and Meditations on a Renaissance Theme##Flourishes and Meditations on a Renaissance Theme by Michael Gandolfi at the American Bandmasters Association’s annual convention in Norfolk, Va. Most recently, music written for the Marine Band has included Gerard Schwarz’ ##Above and Beyond##Above and Beyond, Jacob Bancks’ ##The Information Age##The Information Age and Laurence Bitensky to write ##Fearsome Critters##Fearsome Critters, the latter of which was premièred at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio in July 2012.\n\nOn July 11, 1998, the Marine Band celebrated its 200th anniversary with a command performance at the White House and a gala concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington attended by President and Mrs. Clinton. Also during its bicentennial year, the Marine Band was the only ensemble inducted into the inaugural class of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in Cincinnati.\n\nGiven its status among American musical organizations, “The President’s Own” continues to attract prominent guest conductors from major orchestras around the globe, including Osmo Vänskä, Leonard Slatkin, José Serebrier and Gerard Schwarz. On July 12, 2003, the Marine Band returned to the Kennedy Center to celebrate its 205th anniversary in a concert featuring guest conductor John Williams, renowned composer of American film and concert works and laureate conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Williams returned to the podium in 2008 to conduct the final concert of the ##Living History##Living History concert series celebrating the Marine Band’s 210th anniversary. In honor of the Marine Band’s 215th birthday, John Williams composed and dedicated an original work to the Marine Band aptly titled “For ‘The President’s Own.’”\n\nThe Marine Band’s integral role in the national culture and in the government’s official life has affirmed the importance of the arts as a bridge between people. Since 1798, the Marine Band’s mission has been to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. As the only musical organization with that mission, the Marine Band looks to the future, viewing its history and tradition as the foundation upon which to build its third century of bringing music to the White House and to the American people.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Marine-Band-Official-Portrait-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician21","musicianName":"“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band","musicianTitle":"band","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/presidents-own-marine-band/"},"GuestMusician22":{"musicianBio":"Tammy McCann is an internationally recognized jazz vocalist and is currently Artist in Residence for the Music Institute of Chicago. Her powerful, sultry, and emotionally charged voice paints pictures and tells stories by merging classical vocal technique and gospel aesthetic with jazz to create a sound that is completely her own. Alyce Claerbaut, President of Strayhorn Songs Publishing, Inc. says, “Tammy is a star with a one-of-a-kind voice.” Tammy has performed with such luminaries as Chicago’s own Ramsey Lewis and NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman, John Clayton, Branford Marsalis, Joe Locke, Charles McPherson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carmen Bradford, and toured as a Raelette with the great Ray Charles. She has thrilled audiences in festivals and clubs worldwide from Bangkok, Thailand, to the Harrods Atticus in Greece, as well as this nation’s premier concert and jazz venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, The Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, and Chicago’s own Jazz Showcase.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/orginal-crop-4x6-ratio_20210726-tammy-mccann-222_mrv21631711416589-2-1.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician22","musicianName":"Tammy McCann","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tammy-mccann/"},"GuestMusician23":{"musicianBio":"Dallas-born mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado has been critically acclaimed by The Texas Classical Review and Theater Jones as “vocally superb” with a “remarkably rich timbre.” Maldonado was a young artist with The Dallas Opera Outreach Program in multiple roles in 2019. That year she also made her European debut as a principal artist in the modern-day premieres of two 17th-century serenatas by Johannes Schmelzer, Le veglie ossequiose and Die sieben Alter stimmen zusammen, for the Olomouc’s Baroque Festival in the Czech Republic.\n\nIn May 2022, she made her debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the Cincinnati May Festival in John Adams’s El Niño, conducted by the composer, followed by her debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in the same role in November 2022. She was reengaged by the Cleveland Orchestra to sing Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater in March 2024, conducted by Dalia Stasevska.\nShe made her debut in May 2025 with the San Antonio Philharmonic in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 conducted by Jeffrey Kahane and has been invited back in 2026 for Bach’s B Minor Mass. This is her Houston Symphony debut.\n\nMaldonado holds a degree from the University of North Texas where she was a frequently featured soloist with the UNT Symphony Orchestra and UNT Opera.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Josefina_Maldonado.jpeg","musicianID":"GuestMusician23","musicianName":"Josefina Maldonado","musicianTitle":"mezzo-soprano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/josefina-maldonado/"},"GuestMusician24":{"musicianBio":"Praised by ##Opera News##Opera News for her “unusually rich and resonant” voice, contralto Sara Couden is a premier interpreter of operatic, orchestral, chamber, and song repertoire. Her 2025–26 season includes a debut with Detroit Opera as Rita in Poul Ruders’s ##The Handmaid’s Tale;##The Handmaid’s Tale; a debut with the Houston Symphony in selections from ##La vida breve;##La vida breve; a role and house debut as Ježibaba ##(Rusalka)##(Rusalka) with Pacific Northwest Opera; Die Hexe/Die Mutter ##(Hänsel und Gretel)##(Hänsel und Gretel) with Lakes Area Music Festival; and appearances with the St. Louis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and Tucson Symphony as the Alto Soloist in Händel’s ##Messiah.##Messiah.\n\nCouden’s latest triumphs include her San Francisco Opera debut as Rita ##(The Handmaid’s Tale),##(The Handmaid’s Tale), a return to the Metropolitan Opera to cover Mrs. Sedley ##(Peter Grimes),##(Peter Grimes), her debut appearance in recital at the Manchester Music Festival, and a role debut as Baba the Turk ##(The Rake’s Progress)##(The Rake’s Progress) with Lakes Area Music Festival; as well as company debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra as Mother/Chinese Cup/Dragon Fly ##(L’Enfant et les sortilèges),##(L’Enfant et les sortilèges), the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as the Alto Soloist in Julia Perry’s ##Stabat Mater,##Stabat Mater, the Seattle Symphony in Händel’s ##Messiah,##Messiah, and the California Symphony in songs by Mahler##.##. Couden also recently released her debut solo album, the ##Complete Vocal Works of Artur Schnabel##Complete Vocal Works of Artur Schnabel, on the Steinway & Sons label.\n\nHighlights from previous seasons include her debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Tetka ##(Jenufa)##(Jenufa) and Albine ##(Thaïs)##(Thaïs), as well as returns to Carnegie Hall as the Alto Soloist in Karl Jenkins’s ##Stabat Mater##Stabat Mater and to the Met to cover Erste Magd ##(Elektra)##(Elektra) and Marta and Pantalis ##(Mefistofele).##(Mefistofele). She also made role debuts as Ottavia ##(L’Incoronazione di Poppea)##(L’Incoronazione di Poppea) and Nurse in Dukas’s ##Ariane et Barbe-Bleue##Ariane et Barbe-Bleue with West Edge Opera, Juno ##(Semele)##(Semele) and Marquise de Berkenfeld ##(La Fille du Régiment)##(La Fille du Régiment) with St. Petersburg Opera##,##, Israelitish Man ##(Judas Maccabaeus)##(Judas Maccabaeus) with Philharmonia Baroque, Ormindo ##(Ermelinda)##(Ermelinda) with Ars Minerva, Dejanira ##(Hercules)##(Hercules) at the Staunton Music Festival, and Testo in Stradella’s ##La Susanna##La Susanna with Heartbeat Opera and Opera Lafayette.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Photo-by-Veronique-Kherian-2-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician24","musicianName":"Sara Couden","musicianTitle":"contralto","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/sara-couden/"},"GuestMusician3":{"musicianBio":"Christina Wells is a nurse, singer, actress, and motivational speaker from Houston, Texas. After years of caring for othersas a Registered Nurse, and single mother to her two incredible sons, Christina embarked upon a journey of\n\nself-discovery that would lead her to national recognition. While in her 40s, she shifted focus toward her passion for singing and performance and found herself auditioning for America’s Got Talent. She not only landed a spot in the competition but was a semifinalist earning praise from the infamous Simon Cowell while winning over the hearts of America.\n\nIn addition to her musical talent, she discovered that her message of self-love, confidence, and positivity would inspire millions. She encourages everyone to pursue their own dreams and learn to accept themselves just as they are. News publications such as ##USA Today##USA Today, ##Forbes##Forbes, ##The Houston Chronicle##The Houston Chronicle, ##Billboard Magazine##Billboard Magazine, ##The Washington Post##The Washington Post, NPR, ##Outsmart Magazine##Outsmart Magazine, and more have featured her as a performer with a message of positivity, love, and hope who also has a powerhouse voice that will blow the roof off of any stage.\n\nSince her time on America’s Got Talent, Christina has appeared in professional productions such as Ursula in ##The Little Mermaid##The Little Mermaid (Theatre Under the Stars TUTS), Sour Kangaroo in ##Seussical##Seussical (TUTS), Medda Larkin in ##Newsies!##Newsies! (TUTS), Charilee in ##Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular##Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular (Stages), Deloris Van Cartier in ##Sister Act the Musical##Sister Act the Musical (Art Park Players), and Motormouth Maybelle in ##Hairspray##Hairspray (Art Park Players). Christina also spent 2022 and 2023 touring the country as Matron “Mama” Morton in the Broadway National tour of ##Chicago the Musical##Chicago the Musical.\n\nChristina has sung the National Anthem for the MLB, NFL, and NBA. She has also released two original singles, “Ready or Not” and “Somebody,” available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music. Each song bears her message of confidence and self-love.\n\nFrom her time inspiring others as a Semi-Finalist on America’s Got Talent to her appearances at schools, women’s conferences, and benefits across the nation, Christina uplifts her audience with her own unique brand of motivational entertainment.  Visit christinawells.com for more information.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Christina-8382.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician3","musicianName":"Christina Wells","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/christina-wells/"},"GuestMusician4":{"musicianBio":"Originally from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Gabriela Lara began her violin studies at age eight and later became a member of the Latin American Violin Academy, where she was a student of Jose Francisco del Castillo and Francisco Diaz. She was also a member of El Sistema in Venezuela and, as part of that ensemble, had the opportunity to make a 2014 Europe Tour with the Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra. She performed with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra as part of a 2016 European tour that included a concert at the Berliner Philharmonie and performed with Sir Simon Rattle as part of a tour that included concerts at the Salzburg Festival.\n\nSince moving to the United States in 2017, Lara was recognized as the winner of the 28th Sphinx Annual Competition as well as placing second place in the 25th edition, and was the winner of the 2021 Frank Preuss International Violin Competition. She was also the recipient of a 2022 Project Inclusion Fellowship from the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, Lara received a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she was a student of Almita Vamos and went on to receive a Master’s degree in Suzuki Pedagogy from Roosevelt University in 2024.\n\nIn the 2022–23 Season, Lara was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago serving as Civic’s Concertmaster in 2023 to later become the first Chicago Symphony Orchestra Fellow. As a CSO Fellow, Lara performed on tour in North America and Europe with Riccardo Muti performing in prestigious halls like the Grand Hall of the Musikverein, the Paris Philharmonie, and the Teatro alla Scala. Lara held that position with the CSO first in the 2022–23 Season and continued in the program during the 2023–24 Season before her appointment to the second violin section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In 2025, Lara became the first CSO musician appointed by Klaus Mäkelä as a member of the first violin section.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gabriela-Lara-2-PC-Brian-Hatton-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician4","musicianName":"Gabriela Lara","musicianTitle":"violin","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/gabriela-lara/"},"GuestMusician5":{"musicianBio":"José Hernández is a master of mariachi music.\n\nThe Grammy-winning world-renowned musician, composer, and music educator, is founder of the world-famous Mariachi Sol de México and America’s first all-female professional mariachi ensemble Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. He also directs the mariachi ensemble that plays at L.A. Rams football games.\n\nJosé’s family hails from Miraflores, Jalisco. He is a seven-generation mariachi whose family, arguably the longest continuous mariachi family, has played music professionally since the 1700s when Mexico was New Spain. José’s daughter, Crystal, is following the family tradition, joining her father’s ensemble Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.\n\nJosé and his Mariachi Sol de México received their latest Latin Grammy nomination in 2022 for their album ##40 Aniversario Embajadores del Mariachi##40 Aniversario Embajadores del Mariachi, a collection of classic rancheras. José has nine Latin Grammy nominations, and the ensemble has seven. His arrangements and orchestrations have led his mariachi to share the stage with Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Jalisco Symphony. Recently, the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra debuted his composition ##Rapsodia para un mariachi##Rapsodia para un mariachi. Mariachi Sol de México has played sold-out concerts from Madison Square Garden to Beijing, China, and Pyongyang, North Korea. It has played for five U.S. presidents from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama.\n\nThe versatility of Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández led to amazing collaborations with legacy artists such as The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Selena, Linda Ronstadt, Juan Gabriel, Jose Feliciano, Vicente Fernández, and a record-breaking tour with superstar Luis Miguel. The ensemble has also provided music for the soundtracks for films ##Old Gringo, American Me, Rango, Glory Road, Sea Biscuit, Don Juan de Marco##Old Gringo, American Me, Rango, Glory Road, Sea Biscuit, Don Juan de Marco, ##Beverly Hills Chihuahua##Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and many more.\n\nJosé works tirelessly to inspire and empower the next generation of musicians, helping to create mariachi music programs in schools in 37 states. He founded The José Hernández' Mariachi Nationals and Summer Institute and the Mariachi Heritage Society. In 2021, he received the Cesar Chavez Legacy of Service Award, recognized for his work elevating the perception of mariachi music throughout the world.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JoseHernandez_1-01.webp","musicianID":"GuestMusician5","musicianName":"Jose Hernandez","musicianTitle":"director musical","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jose-hernandez/"},"GuestMusician6":{"musicianBio":"In 1981, at the age of 23, Mr. Jose Hernandez founded Mariachi Sol de Mexico in Los Angeles, California. As true representatives of a treasured musical heritage, the 33 year old Mariachi Sol de Mexico has grown to become a dynamic team that has accepted the mantel as the nation’s mariachi ambassadors. More than any American citizen, Maestro Hernandez is responsible for the recognition that this musical tradition is receiving throughout the world. His ensemble of musical artists brings together refined vocal power and superb musicianship. His 13 member concert mariachi ensemble is one of the finest mariachi ensembles to be found both in Mexico and the United States.\n\nMr. Hernandez' compositions are bright, splashy celebrations. No one else in the mariachi music scene navigates traditional Mexican folk, classical, and pop music with such grace. Their 8th CD was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 (##Tequila con Limon con El Mariachi Sol de Mexico##Tequila con Limon con El Mariachi Sol de Mexico). This nomination made them the first mariachi ensemble to receive such an honor. Their 13th CD, ##25##25 ##Anniversario José Hernández y Su Mariachi Sol de México##Anniversario José Hernández y Su Mariachi Sol de México, was also nominated for a Grammy in 2007.\n\nTheir most recent recording, ##LA MUSICA, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández con La Sinfónica Nacional de Las Américas##LA MUSICA, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández con La Sinfónica Nacional de Las Américas, was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2013. Hernandez has taken his ensemble to perform with the New Mexico, Denver, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles symphony orchestras. Sol has recorded with American and Mexican artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, Juan Gabriel, Lola Beltran, Vicente Fernandez, Green Day, Luis Miguel, Shaila Durcal, and Vikki Carr.\n\nMr. Hernandez has grown to become an American cultural ambassador having toured to Spain, Chile, Venezuela, and Colombia, as well as holding the distinction of being the first mariachi to perform in the People’s Republic of China and North Korea.\n\nJose Hernandez comes from a family that has been performing mariachi music for five generations. He has shared the stage with his five brothers since the age of three. His fluent mastery of the medium has led him to assist in many film scores. He has participated in more than 20 Hollywood soundtracks including ##Rango, Seabiscuit##Rango, Seabiscuit, ##Don Juan De Marco##Don Juan De Marco, and ##A Million to Juan.##A Million to Juan. Mariachi Sol de Mexico represents 126 years of mariachi tradition. 2016 marks their 35th Anniversary.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/MariachiSoldeMexicodeJoseHernandez2023-1-scaled.webp","musicianID":"GuestMusician6","musicianName":"Mariachi El Sol de México by José Hernández","musicianTitle":"mariachi","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mariachi-el-sol-de-mexico-by-jose-hernandez/"},"GuestMusician7":{"musicianBio":"Juan Del Castillo is a singer-songwriter born and raised in San Diego, California. He began making music at a very young age. As a child, Juan sang in choir and performed in plays and musicals. He also acted in television shows and commercials throughout his teens. Juan is a polished, dynamic showman whose passion for performing, natural charisma, and innate ability to completely captivate audiences with his stage presence have led him down a path of artistry and success.\n\nAs a recording artist, formerly on Sony’s BMG US Latin label, Juan is known for his vocal timbre, range, and fierce control which have more recently drawn comparisons to the former Journey frontman, Steve Perry.\n\nJuan is also the founder and lead vocalist for the internationally touring DSB Band tapped by Ryan Seacrest and Mark Cuban’s AXS TV as “The World’s Greatest Journey Tribute Band.”\n\nJuan is thrilled to share his talents and honored to perform with Windborne and Journey’s catalogue of timeless classics.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Juan-79-hres-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician7","musicianName":"Juan Del Castillo","musicianTitle":"vocalist","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/juan-del-castillo/"},"GuestMusician8":{"musicianBio":"Marina Prudenskaya studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and began her career at the Stanislavski Theatre in Moscow. After engagements at Staatstheater Nürnberg, she was a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (2005–07) and the Staatsoper Stuttgart (2007–13). Since 2013, she has been an ensemble member at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, where she has performed roles such as Herodias (##Salome##Salome), Venus (##Tannhäuser##Tannhäuser), Composer (##Ariadne auf Naxos##Ariadne auf Naxos), Marfa (##Khovanshchina##Khovanshchina), Eboli (##Don Carlos##Don Carlos), Azucena (##Il Trovatore##Il Trovatore), Ortrud (##Lohengrin##Lohengrin), Octavian (##Rosenkavalier##Rosenkavalier), and Euphrates (##Babylon##Babylon).\n\nShe has appeared as a guest at major opera houses worldwide, including Royal Opera House Covent Garden (Azucena, Fricka), Vienna State Opera (Herodias, Mescalina), Teatro Real Madrid, Zurich Opera House (Eboli), Bavarian State Opera (Octavian), Opéra de Paris (Kundry), Grand Théâtre de Genève (Amneris), Washington National Opera, as well as at the Bayreuth Festival (Fricka, Waltraute) and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.\n\nShe has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Philippe Jordan, Christian Thielemann, Mariss Jansons, Fabio Luisi, Marek Janowski, Simone Young, Daniel Harding, Hartmut Haenchen, and Plácido Domingo.\n\nAs a sought-after concert singer, her highlights include Verdi’s Requiem with the Berlin Philharmonic under Mariss Jansons (Salzburg Easter Festival), Janáček’s ##Glagolitic Mass##Glagolitic Mass with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under Philippe Jordan (Vienna Konzerthaus), Mahler’s ##Das Lied von der Erde##Das Lied von der Erde with Vladimir Jurowski (Moscow Philharmonic), and Berlioz’s ##Les nuits d’été##Les nuits d’été and Verdi’s Messa da Requiem with Marek Janowski (Dresden Philharmonic, RSB Berlin). She has also performed at Berlin Philharmonie, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Musikverein Vienna, and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.\n\nHighlights of the 2024–25 season include Fenena (##Nabucco##Nabucco) at Staatsoper Berlin, her debut as the Nurse (##Die Frau ohne Schatten##Die Frau ohne Schatten) at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Fricka (##Die Walküre##Die Walküre) at ROH London, as well as concert engagements in Boston, Houston, Leipzig, and Dresden.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MarinaPrudenskaya_crop.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician8","musicianName":"Marina Prudenskaya","musicianTitle":"mezzo-soprano","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/marina-prudenskaya/"},"GuestMusician9":{"musicianBio":"Known around the world for its eclectic repertoire and dazzling virtuosity, the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer—under the leadership of Music Director Tim Keeler—has been hailed by the ##Boston Globe##Boston Globe as “breathtaking in its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, of color and swagger of style.” Founded in San Francisco in 1978 by singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer quickly took its place as one of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world, an “orchestra of voices” performing thousands of live concerts and selling more than one million recordings.\n\nRooted in the Renaissance, Chanticleer’s repertoire has expanded to include a wide range of classical, gospel, jazz, and popular music. With a deep commitment to the commissioning of new compositions and arrangements, Chanticleer foregrounds American repertoire and a distinctively American sound, complementing the group’s signature diversity in terms of membership and genre. The ensemble has dedicated much of its vast recording catalogue to these commissions, garnering Grammy Awards for its recordings of Sir John Tavener’s ##Lamentations and Praises##Lamentations and Praises and the ambitious collection of commissioned works entitled ##Colors of Love##Colors of Love. Chanticleer is the recipient of Chorus America’s Dale Warland Commission Award and the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. The group’s Music Director Emeritus, Joseph H. Jennings, received the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award for his contribution to the African American choral tradition during his 25-year tenure as both singer and Music Director.\n\nChanticleer—named for the “clear-singing” rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer’s ##Canterbury Tales##Canterbury Tales—was named Ensemble of the Year by ##Musical America##Musical America in 2008 and inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. The group’s award-winning education programs were recognized with the 2010 Chorus America Education Outreach Award, and have engaged tens of thousands of students since the ensemble began.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CasualGroupShot_by_Stephen_K_Mack-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"GuestMusician9","musicianName":"Chanticleer","musicianTitle":"vocal ensemble","musicianType":"Guest Musicians & Artists","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/chanticleer/"},"Musician1":{"musicianBio":"Yoonshin Song was appointed as Concertmaster of the Houston Symphony in August 2019. Prior to that, she held the same position with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for seven seasons. In Europe, Yoonshin has served as guest concertmaster of the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer for several years, and she has led the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra under numerous top-tiered conductors, such as Sir Simon Rattle, Klaus Mäkelä, Daniel Harding, Mikhail Pletnev, and Antonio Pappano. She also served as guest concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the KBS Symphony Orchestra. Beyond her first chair duties, Yoonshin has performed as a soloist with many orchestras around the world, including the Houston Symphony, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Paul Constantinescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and the KBS Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She has also participated as a soloist and a chamber musician in various roles in leading music festivals, including the ones in Verbier, Lucerne, Samos, and Bayreuth in Europe; and the Marlboro, Great Lakes, and Deer Valley in the United States. Yoonshin has earned many prestigious prizes throughout her career, including top prize awards in the Lipizer International Violin Competition, the Lipinski and Wieniawski International Violin Competition, the Henry Marteau International Violin Competition, and first prize at the Stradivarius International Competition in the United States. She studied under the tutelage of Donald Weilerstein at the New England Conservatory and with Robert Mann, Glenn Dicterow, and Lisa Kim at the Manhattan School of Music.","musicianChair":"Concertmaster: Max Levine Chair","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConcertArt_2048x2048_0028_YoonshinSong_021.webp","musicianID":"Musician1","musicianName":"Yoonshin Song","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"1","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/yoonshin-song/"},"Musician10":{"musicianBio":"Ferenc Illenyi, violin, is a native of Hungary where his first teacher was his father, a violinist with the Hungarian State Opera. He made his debut in Budapest performing the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos. He has performed recitals in Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and the United States, and has recorded works by Paganini, Saint-Saens and Schubert for Hungarian radio and television.\n\nIllenyi has a master’s degree in music from the Liszt Music Academy in Budapest and has done graduate work at the Banff Center in Alberta, Canada, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and the University of Houston‚ Moores School of Music. Illenyi has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1991.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Ferenc-Illenyi_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician10","musicianName":"Ferenc Illenyi","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"10","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/ferenc-illenyi/"},"Musician11":{"musicianBio":"Si-Yang Lao, originally from China, began his violin studies with his father at the age of 7. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Shang-Hai Conservatory of Music, he became a violin teacher at the Xin-Hai Conservatory of Music for two years before coming to the United States to further his studies. He earned his master’s degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston.\n\nLao was first Prize winner of the 1990 Leopold Shopmaker Award (a Mid-American violin competition) and 1992 Texas Music Teacher Association Competition. He was awarded a full scholarship and was one of a few who received the Dorothy Sterling Foundation Scholarship from the school, which provided him the opportunity to serve as assistant teacher to Ms. Fredell Lack while he was in school.\n\nLao joined the Houston Symphony during the 1997–1998 season and has performed as solo artist with Galveston Symphony Orchestra, Austin City Symphony Orchestra, and Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. He has toured the United States, Hong Kong, Japan and all major cities in Europe with the Chinese Virtuoso Orchestra and the Houston Symphony. He performs on an old Italian violin made in 1750 by Gulius Caesar Gigli.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Si-Yang-Lao_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician11","musicianName":"Si-Yang Lao","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"11","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/si-yang-lao/"},"Musician13":{"musicianBio":"Christopher Neal joined the Houston Symphony in 2001. Prior to that he was a member of the Michigan Opera Theatre, North Carolina Symphony, and Naples Philharmonic. He holds degrees from Loyola University New Orleans and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Neal has participated in festivals at Spoleto USA, Tanglewood, and Norfolk and has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Houston Symphony.\n\nAs a chamber musician, he has performed in venues as varied as KUHF radio and Saez and Zouk, a midtown nightclub. Neal enjoys teaching and has been on the faculty of the American Festival of the Arts in Houston. He is married to Mila Ivkovich Neal, a professional violinist who works with the Houston Grand Opera and Ballet, and has two grown children, Maja and Luka.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Christopher-Neal_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician13","musicianName":"Christopher Neal","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"13","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/christopher-neal/"},"Musician14":{"musicianBio":"A native of Moscow, Russia, Sergei Galperin began studying violin at the age of 5 and shortly thereafter gave his first public performance in the Concert Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Galperin comes from a family of musicians – a choral conductor mother, a recording engineer father, and a younger sister who plays the piano.\n\nAfter studying at the Moscow Conservatory with professor N. Boyarsky, Galperin received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School, where he was a full-scholarship student in the class of Dorothy DeLay and Hyo Kang. He later earned Artist Diplomas from Indiana University and Peabody Conservatory in the class of Z. Gilels, N. Shkolnikova, and H. Greenberg.\n\nGalperin made his American solo orchestral debut in May 1982 at the age of 16, playing the Wieniawski Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. He has also performed as a soloist with the Houston Symphony in their Educational and Pops Series, as well as with the Indiana University, Aspen Symphony, and Dallas Festival orchestras.\n\nAs a winner of Artist International auditions, Galperin made his New York solo recital debut in March 1988 at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. After winning New York’s National Arts Club Competition in 1987, he was featured in recital on live ABC and PBS news shows. Subsequently he appeared in recital at Alice Tully and Merkin Concert Halls at Lincoln Center. In May 1993, he won an honorable mention award as a finalist of a prestigious Concert Artist Guild competition.\n\nCurrently a first violinist of the Houston Symphony, Galperin has also been invited to serve as Concertmaster with the Rochester Philharmonic for the 2004–05 season, as well as with the Adelaide Symphony in Australia. Prior to his current position, Galperin was a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony first violin section from 1999–2002. He has also worked with the Chicago and Baltimore symphony orchestras, as well as the Grant Park, Aspen, and Grand Teton festival orchestras, A. Schneider String Seminar, and Taos Chamber Music Festival. As a member of chamber and symphony orchestras Galperin has toured internationally in Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Israel and Europe.\n\nSergei Galperin teaches privately and has served as a faculty member at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1999–2003, as well as a Professor of Violin at the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1998–99 and teaching assistant at the Indiana University School of Music from 1990–1994.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Sergei-Galperin_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician14","musicianName":"Sergei Galperin","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"14","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/sergei-galperin/"},"Musician15":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/timothy-peters-headshot.webp","musicianID":"Musician15","musicianName":"Timothy Peters+","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"15","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/timothy-peters/"},"Musician16":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Park-Samuel.webp","musicianID":"Musician16","musicianName":"Samuel Park+","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"16","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/samuel-park/"},"Musician17":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/violin-325_tnew.jpg","musicianID":"Musician17","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"17","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-second-violin-principal/"},"Musician18":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Associate Principal Second","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/violin-325_tnew.jpg","musicianID":"Musician18","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"18","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-second-violin/"},"Musician19":{"musicianBio":"Originally from the Philadelphia area, Amy joined the Houston Symphony in 2019. Before starting in the Houston Symphony she completed her Masters of Music degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice studying with Kathleen Winkler. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Naoko Tanaka.\n\nAmy has performed as an orchestral musician with ensembles around the US and abroad, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, Tanglewood Music Center Festival Orchestra, and National Youth Orchestra of the USA. In the summers, Amy performs at the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, WY.\n\nAmy has also performed as soloist with orchestras around the US and Asia, including the Shanghai Philharmonic.\n\nIn her spare time outside of the orchestra, Amy enjoys long distance running and spending time with her Australian Shepherd, Haven.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Amy-Semes_Second-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician19","musicianName":"Amy Semes","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"19","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/amy-semes/"},"Musician2":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Associate Concertmaster","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pexels-raymond-petrik-1448389535-27706637-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician2","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"2","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-violin/"},"Musician20":{"musicianBio":"A native of Taiwan, Annie Chen began her musical studies at age 6 on piano and at age 8 on violin. At age 14, she moved to the United States to continue her music education at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts and the New England Conservatory Preparatory Program in Boston.\n\nChen has been a participant of numerous summer music festivals including the Heifetz International Music Institute, the Music Academy of the West, where she was a winner of the 2011 concerto competition, and the Tanglewood Music Center. She has toured with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas and was a regular member of Discovery Ensemble, a Boston-based chamber orchestra that provides outreach concerts to inner-city schools with no music programs. She has also been featured as a soloist with the Dorchester Symphony Orchestra.\n\nChen holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston and a master’s degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she held the Shepherd School Distinguished Fellowship in Violin. Her principal teachers have included Lynn Chang, James Buswell, and Kathleen Winkler.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Annie-Kuan-Yu-Chen-Second-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician20","musicianName":"Annie Kuan-Yu Chen","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"20","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/annie-kuan-yu-chen/"},"Musician21":{"musicianBio":"Mihaela Frusina, violin, was born in Bucharest, Romania. Before coming to Houston to study with Sergiu Luca at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, she received a high school diploma in Violin Performance from the George Enescu Conservatory. Frusina earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the Shepherd School. She played with the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera orchestras before joining the Houston Symphony in 1995. Her sister, Rodica Gonzalez, is also a member of the orchestra’s violin section.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Mihaela-Frusina_Second-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician21","musicianName":"Mihaela Frusina","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"21","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mihaela-frusina/"},"Musician22":{"musicianBio":"Jing Zheng, originally from Beijing, has played with the Houston Symphony since 2015. She earned her Master of Music degree on a full scholarship under Kathleen Winkler at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University as a recipient of Dr. Mischa Caplan Endowed Scholarship. Jing also holds a Bachelor of Music degree on a full scholarship from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she was a student of Ian Swensen as a recipient of the Walter & Elise Haas Scholarship. Her principal teachers include William van der Sloot, and Lin Yao Ji.\n\nJing has participated in Kneisel Hall, Meadowmount School of Music, Morningside Music Bridge, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar under Jaime Laredo.\n\nJing is a prizewinner of the Shean competition, Berkley Piano Club, and concerto competition at SFCM. She has performed as a soloist with several orchestras including Calgary Philharmonic.\n\nJing has had the privilege to work with Ron Leonard, Laurence Lesser, Cho Liang-Lin, Desmond Hoebig, James Ehnes, Pierre Amoyal, Pamela Frank, Donald Weilerstein, Pinchas Zukerman, and members of the Diaz Trio and Concord Quartet.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Jing-Zheng_Second-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician22","musicianName":"Jing Zheng","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"22","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jing-zheng/"},"Musician23":{"musicianBio":"Tianjie Lu was born in Qingdao, China, and is currently a violinist at the Houston Symphony. He received his Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he was offered a full scholarship to study with Kathleen Winkler. In 2014, Lu won second Prize in the Ruth Burr Music Competition.\n\nLu completed his Bachelor of Music at Mannes College, where he studied with Sally Thomas. He previously studied with Tong Weidong at the middle school attached to Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In June 2005, he attended the Great Wall International Music Academy. The following year, Lu studied with Kathleen Winkler, took first prize in the concerto competition at the second Beijing International Music Festival and Academy, and was honored at China’s eighth National Violin Performance Competition. He attended the Music Academy and studied with Kathleen Winkler in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was at Meadowmount Music School as a student with a full scholarship and teaching assistance of Sally Thomas in the summer of 2012.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TianjieLu_029crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician23","musicianName":"Tianjie Lu","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"23","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tianjie-lu/"},"Musician24":{"musicianBio":"A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Anastasia Iglesias joined the second violins of the Houston Symphony in 2017 while performing in their first violin section as a contracted substitute.\n\nAfter Anastasia moved to the United States at the age of 17, her musical career took a diversion into jazz and contemporary music. Realizing her passion for orchestral playing, she returned to her classical training and earned full scholarships to attend the Boston Conservatory studying with Lynn Chang, Indiana University with Jaime Laredo, and Rice University with Kathleen Winkler.\n\nAnastasia has attended numerous music festivals including the Music Academy of the West, Sarasota Music Festival, Britten Pears Young Artists Program, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar at Carnegie Hall.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Anastasia-Ehrlich_Second-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician24","musicianName":"Anastasia Iglesias","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"24","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/anastasia-iglesias/"},"Musician25":{"musicianBio":"Tina Zhang has been a violinist with the Houston Symphony since 2011. Prior to joining the orchestra, she received her bachelor’s degree in both music and mathematics at Bard College where she studied with Weigang Li. She completed her master’s degree at Rice University with Cho-Liang Lin.\n\nAfter starting the violin at age 6 with Keqiang Li in Montreal, Tina placed second in the national round of the Canadian Music Competition at age 11 and made her solo debut a year later with the FACE Symphony Orchestra. She went on to place first in the Canadian Music Competition, the New World Philharmonic Orchestra Competition, and the Montreal Classical Music Festival; she placed third in the HAMS Competition of Chicago.\n\nTina is an active chamber musician and has participated in festivals such as the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival in Maine; the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan; the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado; the Kent Blossom Music Festival in Ohio; the Académie Domaine Forget in Quebec; and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada in Hamilton, Ontario.\n\nIn her spare time, Tina enjoys teaching violin, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and 1-year-old daughter.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Tina-Zhang_Second-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician25","musicianName":"Tina Zhang","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"25","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tina-zhang/"},"Musician26":{"musicianBio":"A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Yankı Karataş joined the Houston Symphony in April 2024. Prior to her appointment, she was a violin fellow at the New World Symphony and performed with many orchestras including the San Diego Symphony, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic, and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.\n\nShe moved to the United States in 2014 and received her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at Stony Brook University studying with Hagai Shaham, Philip Setzer, and Arnaud Sussmann. She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Istanbul Conservatory, studying with Pelin Halkaci Akin and graduating with the highest honors.\n\nAn avid chamber musician, Yankı studied under the Emerson String Quartet Intensive program and won the Lauren V. Ackerman Chamber Music Prize performing Ligeti’s Horn Trio. Additionally, she’s had the privilege of performing alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Lawrence Dutton, Paul Watkins, Colin Carr, and Arnaud Sussmann during her studies. As a soloist, Yankı played various concertos with the Mersin University Academic Chamber Orchestra, Mimar Sinan Symphony, and Stony Brook Symphony.\n\nOutside of performing, Yankı has maintained and enjoyed her private teaching studio for many years and plans to keep teaching an integral part of her life.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/YankiKaratas_024crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician26","musicianName":"Yankı Karataş","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"26","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/yanki-karatas/"},"Musician27":{"musicianBio":"A native of Belle Plaine, Iowa Hannah began violin studies in 2004 under the guidance of John Schultz. She is an alumna of the Cleveland Institute of Music having been mentored by Jessica Lee and Joan Kwuon. Additionally, she holds a minor in acting from Case Western Reserve University and is a recent graduate with her master’s degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University under Kathleen Winkler.\n\nAs an avid chamber musician, she was the first violinist of the ILO Quartet, who won accolades at the Coltman Competition and the Stockholm International Music Competition (2021). Hannah’s artistry has been showcased with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra, where she also served as concertmaster, and NPR’s From the Top where she was the recipient of the Jack Cooke Kent Scholarship. She frequently gives violin recitals to benefit different charities and the local communities.\n\nShe was a member of Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA (2017 & 2018) touring both South America and Asia. She was also awarded a fellowship to perform alongside the London Symphony Orchestra after attending the Music Academy of the West on full scholarship.\n\nAside from performing, she enjoys making jewelry, baking, and designing practice planners.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/HannahDuncan_028crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician27","musicianName":"Hannah Duncan","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"27","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/hannah-duncan/"},"Musician28":{"musicianBio":"Violinist Alexandros Sakarellos has performed as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician across five continents and in 25 countries.\n\nA native of Greece, Sakarellos received his early musical training at the Athens Conservatory, Greece's leading musical institution. While in Greece he enjoyed a satisfying performing career from a very early age. Before turning 20 he was already appearing frequently as a soloist and recitalist, serving as Concertmaster of the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra and as a first violinist with the Athens State Orchestra.\n\nIn 2005 Alexandros moved to New York. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music with New York Philarmonic's Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow, Assistant Principal Lisa Kim and Professor Isaac Malkin.\n\nDuring his years in New York, his activities included performances with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Concertmaster appearances under renowned artists such as Kurt Masur and Pinchas Zuckerman, performances in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Museum Of Modern Arts, the Onassis Foundation and other such venues.\n\nSakarellos is a leading violinist with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Gabor Takacs Nagy and has worked closely with artists such as Martha Argerich, Maxim Vengerov and Yuri Bashmet.\n\nOther appearances include the Festivals of Ravello in Italy, Miyazaki in Japan, Bellerive in Switzerland and Santo Domingo. In 2009 he was privileged to be invited by the prestigious Athens-Epidaurus Festival to give the Greek premiere of several works by the awarded American-Greek composer George Tsontakis.\n\nBefore joining the Houston Symphony, Sakarellos has been a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 2014. Prior to that he played for two years in the 1st Violin section of the San Francisco Opera.\n\nSince 2022 he has been working very closely with world renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos as part of the ApollΩn Ensemble , under the leadership of the great artist.\n\nHe is playing on violins by Joseph Gagliano (made in 1760) and Stephan von Baehr (made in 2020).","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Alexandros-SakarellosHSS-01.webp","musicianID":"Musician28","musicianName":"Alexandros Sakarellos","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"28","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/alexandros-sakarellos/"},"Musician29":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/violin-325_tnew.jpg","musicianID":"Musician29","musicianName":"Tianxu Liu+","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"29","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tianxu-liu/"},"Musician3":{"musicianBio":"Winner of Third Prize at the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Boson was named as one of Canada’s “30 under 30 Top Classical Musicians of 2015” by CBC Radio-Canada. He is a recipient of the “Prix Joseph-Rouleau” at the 2010 Montreal International Violin Competition as well as a top 25 candidate at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, and is a winner of Canada’s prestigious Sylva Geber Foundation Award. Additionally, he is a two-time winner of Canada Council for the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank loan. Mo served as Acting Assistant Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in the autumn of 2017 and is now a member of the Houston Symphony. He will forever be a student of mentors Keqiang Li and Paul Kantor, and he currently performs on a violin by MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Joseph Curtin.","musicianChair":"Assistant Concertmaster","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Boson-Mo_Second-Viollin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician3","musicianName":"Boson Mo","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"3","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/boson-mo/"},"Musician30":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/James_Gikas.jpg","musicianID":"Musician30","musicianName":"James Gikas+","musicianPosition":"Second Violin","musicianPriority":"30","musicianTitle":"Second Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/james-gikas/"},"Musician31":{"musicianBio":"Joan DerHovsepian is the newly appointed Principal Viola of the Houston Symphony after winning the international audition held in May 2023. She first joined the viola section of the Houston Symphony in 1999, hired by Christoph Eschenbach, won the audition for Associate Principal Viola in the fall of 2010 during the tenure of Hans Graf, and now begins serving as Principal with Music Director Juraj Valčuha. Recent solo performances with the Houston Symphony include Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with Concertmaster Yoonshin Song in October 2022 and Bruch Double Concerto with Principal 2nd Violin MuChen Hsieh in March 2022. Joan was formerly Principal Viola of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as guest principal viola with the Chicago and Cincinnati symphonies.\n\nJoan is Artist Teacher of Viola at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, instructing students in viola orchestral repertoire and independent study. Students who have come through her course have gone on to win positions in the Cincinnati Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Houston Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, National Arts Center Orchestra, National Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Pittsburgh Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Washington National Opera, among others. She is regular guest faculty for the New World Symphony and has given masterclasses in the study of orchestral excerpts for viola students of the Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory and the University of Melbourne Conservatorium.\n\nRecent festival and chamber music appearances include the Seattle Chamber Music Society, Mainly Mozart Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Mimir Chamber Music Festival (Ft. Worth TX and Melbourne Australia), Music in Context, Peninsula Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute and Lake Lure Chamber Music Festival.\n\nShe was the violist of the award winning Everest Quartet, top prize winners at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Joan was the second prize recipient of the Primrose International Viola Competition. She attended the Eastman School of Music studying with violist James Dunham, and the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg Germany, with violist Kim Kashkashian.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Joan-DerHovsepian_Principal_Viola-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician31","musicianName":"Joan DerHovsepian","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"31","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/joan-derhovsepian/"},"Musician32":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pexels-raymond-petrik-1448389535-27706637-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician32","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"32","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-viola/"},"Musician33":{"musicianBio":"Born in China, Wei Jiang began studying violin with his father at the age of 5 and began studying viola after being admitted to the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Having graduated with the highest honor, he was subsequently offered a teaching position at the conservatory as the youngest member of the music faculty. During his five-year tenure at the Central Conservatory, Jiang was actively involved in performing both solo and chamber music and toured extensively with his string quartet in Asia and Europe. He was also a founding member of the Eclipse Ensemble, a unique performing group that showcases music by contemporary Chinese composers throughout China.\n\nJiang came to the United States in 1996 to further his musical training at the Oberlin Conservatory and later at the University of Maryland. In 1999, he became a member of the Houston Symphony. Jiang is also a member of the Fidelis String Quartet which performed in recital at Carnegie Hall in 2005 and toured Puerto Rico in 2006.","musicianChair":"Acting Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Wei-Jiang_Acting-Associate-Principal-Viola.jpg","musicianID":"Musician33","musicianName":"Wei Jiang","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"33","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/wei-jiang/"},"Musician34":{"musicianBio":"Samuel Pedersen joined the Houston Symphony viola section in 2022 under Maestro Orozco-Estrada and was appointed Assistant Principal in 2024 by Maestro Valčuha.\n\nPedersen was raised in Batavia, IL. He holds a master’s degree from Rice University and a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University. Principal teachers include Ivo van der Werff and Rami Solomonow, with additional instruction from Lawrence Neuman and Joan DerHovsepian.\n\nAs a student, he was a fellow of the New World Symphony and a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He spent summers performing and studying at the Tanglewood Music Center and Madeline Island Chamber Music.\n\nPedersen is a regular collaborator with other Symphony colleagues for chamber music performances facilitated by Third Space Music.\n\nOutside of Jones Hall, Pedersen enjoys cycling, frisbee, grilling, and spending time with his brother, Andrew, Houston Symphony’s Assistant Principal double bassist.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Samuel-Pedersen_Viola.jpg","musicianID":"Musician34","musicianName":"Samuel Pedersen","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"34","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/samuel-pedersen/"},"Musician35":{"musicianBio":"Hailed by audiences across North America and Europe for his commanding and expressive performances, Venezuelan/American violinist and violist Paul Aguilar currently resides in Houston, Texas. As an orchestral musician, he was recently appointed as a member of the Houston Symphony viola section, and he also maintains an active solo and chamber music\nperformance schedule of over 40 recitals every year.\n\nAs a chamber musician, Paul has appeared on concert series and in concert halls across North America and internationally, including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Ravinia Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, La Jolla Summerfest, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, the Schneider Concert Series, the Heidelberg String Quartet Festival, and the Emilia-Romagna Festival. Equally comfortable on both violin and viola, Paul has won top prizes in nearly every major chamber music competition, including the Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, the Melbourne International String Quartet Competition, and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. He was selected as the only Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Performance Fellow for the 2020-2021 season, and he also performs regularly as a member of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble. His chamber music collaborators have included artists such as James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Phil Setzer, Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins, Desmond Hoebig, Jon Kimura Parker, Frank Cohen, and Shirley Brill.\n\nBringing total dedication and commitment to everything he does, Paul strives to educate the next generation on the importance of true excellence in every area of life, and of classical music’s role as simply a tool along that path. As an educator, Paul has appeared as guest artist faculty at festivals and institutions across the United States including Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Program, the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute, and the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC. He is actively involved with the Sphinx Organization in both performance and outreach and was a 2019 MPower Grant recipient.\n\nA graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Paul counts Jaime Laredo, Jan Mark Sloman, and Si-Yan Darren Li as some of his most formative musical influences; he also holds a degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music where he participated in their String Quartet Residency. Paul pursued further chamber music studies in Europe at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid and at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna where he was fortunate to study under Günter Pichler, Gerhard Schulz, Johannes Meissl, and Avri Levitan.\n\nIn addition to his busy travel and performance schedule, Paul is committed to regularly sharing music in schools and organizations throughout his community. When not involved with music, Paul enjoys running, reading, and spending time with his family. Paul plays on a very fine violin and viola that were commissioned from master luthier Kevin Lee.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PaulAguilar_001crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician35","musicianName":"Paul Aguilar","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"35","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/paul-aguilar/"},"Musician36":{"musicianBio":"Praised by the Edmonton Journal for performing “with precision and grace,” and by NUVO Magazine for his “consistently rich tone [and] expressive, intense playing,” Sheldon Person is a violist in the Houston Symphony and enjoys an active career as a chamber musician, recitalist, and teacher.\n\nHe has toured with the Houston Symphony in seven countries on three continents and performed with them on their live recording of Alban Berg’s ##Wozzeck##Wozzeck that received the 2017 Grammy Award. Mr. Person was previously a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and as soloist and guest principal with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.\n\nSince 2016 and 2017 respectively, he has been a faculty artist at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and an artist at the Zenith Chamber Music Festival at Drake University. Mr. Person has appeared on the Houston Symphony Chamber Music Series Inaugural 2019-20 season, as well as at the Texas Music Festival, Musica Tra Amici, and Musiqa Houston. Radio broadcasts include appearances on Houston Public Radio and NPR. Mr. Person’s collaborations on new trios by Per Mårtensson and Karim Al-Zand were released on the Centaur Records label in 2017 and 2018. He has also given world and European premiere performances of ##Variations on a theme of Bartók##Variations on a theme of Bartók, a work for viola and piano that was written for him by Mr. Al-Zand. Mr. Person has performed as a guest artist at Rice University, University of Houston, Indiana State University, and Michigan State University.\n\nHe is the current President of Third Space Music, a non-profit partnership between musicians from the Houston Symphony and the Houston community that presents four chamber music concerts annually and contributes to Houston-area non-profit organizations.\n\nAs first prize winner of the Royal Overseas League’s Bernard Shore Viola Competition, Mr. Person performed recitals in London, including an appearance at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. While a member of the Artea String Quartet, Leverhulme Fellows at the Royal Academy of Music, Mr. Person performed chamber music throughout the U.K., including appearances at Wigmore Hall, the South Bank Centre, the Brighton Festival, Buckingham Palace, and live on BBC Radio 3. He was also the winner of the Wayne Crouse Viola Prize at the Corpus Christi International Competition for Piano and Strings.\n\nMr. Person holds degrees and certificates from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London), Indiana University, Rice University, and the University of Alberta. His principal teachers have included Atar Arad, David Takeno and Karen Ritscher. As a fellow of the Aspen Music Festival and School, he served as the Assistant Principal Viola of both the Aspen Festival and Chamber Orchestras.\n\nMr. Person performs on a modern viola by Theodore Skreko that was awarded the silver medal for tone at the 2010 Violin Society of America Competition. He is a native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. For more information, visit www.sheldonperson.com.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Sheldon-Person_Viola.jpg","musicianID":"Musician36","musicianName":"Sheldon Person","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"36","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/sheldon-person/"},"Musician37":{"musicianBio":"Fay Shapiro, born in Davenport, Iowa, received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Iowa, where she studied with William Preucil, Sr. She spent one season with the Oklahoma Symphony in Oklahoma City, then joined the viola section of the Houston Symphony in 1981. She is married to Mark Shapiro, a member of the Houston Symphony bass section.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fay-Shapiro_Viola.jpg","musicianID":"Musician37","musicianName":"Fay Shapiro","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"37","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/fay-shapiro/"},"Musician38":{"musicianBio":"Described as “mesmerizing” by ##The Burlington Hawkeye Times##The Burlington Hawkeye Times and “transportive” by the ##Santa Barbara Voice##Santa Barbara Voice, 25-year-old violist Keoni Bolding has established a career across the United States and Europe. He has toured Europe with the New York Philharmonic and Rome Chamber Music Festival as well as performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and London Symphony. Last year, he won the Transcription Prize at the Primrose International Viola Competition with his transcription of ##Tosca Act II##Tosca Act II. Earlier this year, he oversaw the premiere of his electronic chamber opera ##52 Hz##52 Hz at Lincoln Center.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Keoni-Bolding_Viola.jpg","musicianID":"Musician38","musicianName":"Keoni Bolding","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"38","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/keoni-bolding/"},"Musician39":{"musicianBio":"James (Jimmy) Cunningham IV was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and recently moved to Houston to study with James Dunham at Rice University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan where he studied with Yizhak Schotten, and an Artist Diploma from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings where he worked with Victoria Chiang and Rebecca Albers. During his Artist Diploma, he also worked closely with mentors Lawrence Dutton and Annie Fullard, and performed in numerous chamber ensembles alongside Amy Schwartz Moretti, Cho-Liang Lin, Andy Armstrong, Ettore Causa, and others.\n\nDuring summer of 2024, Cunningham was a member of the New Fromm Quartet at the Tanglewood Music Center. In addition to working with student composers to premier brand-new compositions, the quartet presented a wide variety of contemporary chamber works under the direction of curators Tania León and Steven Mackey. During summer 2023, Cunningham was an orchestral fellow at Tanglewood; and from 2018 to 2022, he spent four summers at the Aspen Music Festival as an orchestral fellow. While at Aspen, he performed as Principal Viola of the Aspen Opera Orchestra and Assistant Principal Viola of the Aspen Chamber Symphony.\n\nIn 2016, Cunningham performed with the National Youth Orchestra of the USA at Carnegie Hall conducted by Christoph Eschenbach and Valery Gergiev. That fall, Cunningham debuted with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing the Telemann Double Concerto with his teacher at the time, Marylène Gingras-Roy. He hopes to have a viola studio of his own in the future, and at home he enjoys making pasta from scratch and exploring manual espresso.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/JamesCunningham_001crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician39","musicianName":"Jimmy Cunningham","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"39","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jimmy-cunningham/"},"Musician4":{"musicianBio":"Qi Ming, violin, was born in Canton, China. She was educated at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music in Ohio. She came to Houston to study at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and in 1993 won a position in the violin section of the Houston Symphony. In 1998, she was named assistant concertmaster, a post she holds today. Ming has appeared as soloist with many orchestras, both in the United States and in her native country of China.","musicianChair":"Assistant Concertmaster: ##Fondren Foundation Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Qi-Ming_Assitant-Concertmaster.jpg","musicianID":"Musician4","musicianName":"Qi Ming","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"4","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/qi-ming/"},"Musician40":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pexels-raymond-petrik-1448389535-27706637-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician40","musicianName":"Suzanne LeFevre+","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"40","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/suzanne-lefevre/"},"Musician41":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Smith-Yvonne.webp","musicianID":"Musician41","musicianName":"Yvonne Smith+","musicianPosition":"Viola","musicianPriority":"41","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/yvonne-smith/"},"Musician42":{"musicianBio":"Critics have described American cellist Brinton Averil Smith as a “##virtuoso cellist with few equals##virtuoso cellist with few equals,” hailing him as “##a proponent of old-school string playing such as that of Piatigorsky and Heifetz.##a proponent of old-school string playing such as that of Piatigorsky and Heifetz.” ##Gramophone##Gramophone praised Brinton in his debut recording of Miklós Rózsa’s Cello Concerto as a “##hugely eloquent, impassioned soloist##hugely eloquent, impassioned soloist,” writing “##The sheer bravura of Smith’s reading is infectious.##The sheer bravura of Smith’s reading is infectious.” ##BBC Music##BBC Music magazine wrote of his recent Naxos recording of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Cello Concerto, ##“his is a cast iron technique of verve and refinement put entirely at the service of the music… The artistry on display here is breathtaking,##“his is a cast iron technique of verve and refinement put entirely at the service of the music… The artistry on display here is breathtaking,” while David Hurwitz of ##Classics Today##Classics Today wrote, ##“Smith plays the living daylights out of it. His full tone, impeccable intonation, and fleet passage work–never for a moment ungainly or stressed–lets the music soar.”##“Smith plays the living daylights out of it. His full tone, impeccable intonation, and fleet passage work–never for a moment ungainly or stressed–lets the music soar.” ##Gramophone##Gramophone also wrote of Smith’s most recent Naxos recording, ##Exiles in Paradise##Exiles in Paradise, which explores the rich legacy of the émigré composers who gathered in Hollywood in the mid-20th century, ##“Smith plays the bejesus out of it, making child’s play of the rapid-fire spiccatos and almost impossible-to-control harmonics. …and teems with old-school elegance and just the right dose of schmaltz.”##“Smith plays the bejesus out of it, making child’s play of the rapid-fire spiccatos and almost impossible-to-control harmonics. …and teems with old-school elegance and just the right dose of schmaltz.”\n\nBrinton’s North American engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and recital and concerto engagements throughout the country, while his broadcast performances include CBS’s ##Sunday Morning##Sunday Morning and regular appearances on NPR’s ##Performance Today##Performance Today and##Symphonycast## Symphonycast. He has appeared regularly as a soloist with the Houston Symphony since joining the orchestra as principal cellist in 2005. Prior to this, he was the first musician chosen by Lorin Maazel to join the New York Philharmonic and the principal cellist of the Fort Worth and San Diego Symphony Orchestras. His live concert performances on YouTube have been viewed more than one million times, including more than 250,000 views of a live encore of Paganini’s 24th Caprice. Devoted to expanding the cello repertoire, Brinton performs a wide variety of violin, piano, and vocal transcriptions, and gave the North American premiers of rediscovered cello works of Jean Sibelius and Alexander Zemlinsky as well as the world premiere of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Sonata for violin and cello. He also gave the first professional performance of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s cello concerto since its 1935 premiere with Arturo Toscanini and Gregor Piatigorsky.\n\nAn active chamber musician, Brinton has collaborated with violinist Gil Shaham on numerous occasions, including Carnegie Hall’s ##Gil Shaham and Friends##Gil Shaham and Friends series. He has also collaborated with cellists Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Harrell; pianists Yefim Bronfman, Emanuel Ax, Jeffrey Kahane, and Kirill Gerstein; violinists James Ehnes, Cho-Liang Lin, and Sarah Chang; soprano Dawn Upshaw; and members of the Beaux Arts Trio; and the Guarneri, Emerson, Juilliard, Cleveland, and Berg quartets. He has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Marlboro Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, the Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Brevard Music Festival, and the Texas Music Festival. Brinton is currently an associate professor at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and a faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival.\n\nThe son of a mathematician and a pianist, Brinton Averil Smith was admitted to Arizona State University at age 10, where he took courses in mathematics and German and, at age 17, completed a B.A. in mathematics. He then became a student of Eleonore Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California, where he was also a teaching assistant in the mathematics department, and completed work for an M.A. in mathematics at age 19. He subsequently studied with the legendary cellist Zara Nelsova at The Juilliard School. While there, he was a prize winner in several consecutive Juilliard concerto competitions and the Leonard Rose International Cello Competition and received a doctor of musical arts degree, writing on the playing of Emanuel Feuermann. Brinton lives in Houston with his wife, the pianist Evelyn Chen, and their enormous but benevolent dog. Their daughter, Calista, is a soprano studying at Northwestern University. His cello was made by Gaetano Pasta in Brescia, c.1710.\n\nVisit www.brintonaverilsmith.com","musicianChair":"Principal Cello: ##Janice H. And Thomas D. Barrow Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Brinton-Averil-Smith_Principal-Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician42","musicianName":"Brinton Averil Smith","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"42","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/brinton-averil-smith/"},"Musician43":{"musicianBio":"Christopher French is the associate principal cellist of the Houston Symphony. Before joining the orchestra in 1986, he held titled positions in both the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and the Honolulu Symphony. French is the seventh of a full octave of musical siblings. He enjoys performing with the Bad Boys of Cello, the alter ego of the Houston Symphony cello section. The Bad Boys have played in homeless shelters and elementary schools in an effort to eliminate the classist misconceptions about classical music.\n\nFrench is a graduate of North Park University in Chicago, where he won the Performance Award. In addition to three concerto performances with the Houston Symphony, he has appeared on the Chamber Players series, and with Da Camera of Houston and the Greenbriar Consortium. He participates in the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, Music in the Mountains in Durango, Colorado, and the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.\n\nFrench teaches orchestral repertoire at Rice University.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal Cello: ##Jane and Robert Cizik Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Christopher-French_Associate-Principal-Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician43","musicianName":"Christopher French","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"43","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/christopher-french/"},"Musician44":{"musicianBio":"Anthony Kitai joined the Houston Symphony in 2001, serving as acting associate principal cellist from 2003–2005. Previously, he was a member of the Memphis Symphony and the Iris Chamber Orchestra.\n\nKitai currently serves as an affiliate artist of cello at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. He is an artist faculty member at the Texas Music Festival and is the principal cellist of the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria.\n\nKitai received his bachelor’s degree and performer’s certificate from the Eastman School of Music and his master’s degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. His major teachers have included Desmond Hoebig, Steven Doane, Paul Katz, and Peter Spurbeck.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Anthony-Kitai_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician44","musicianName":"Anthony Kitai","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"44","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/anthony-kitai/"},"Musician45":{"musicianBio":"Louis-Marie Fardet was appointed cellist with the Houston Symphony in January 2015. Previously, he served as assistant principal cellist for the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet. Prior to moving to Houston, he was a tenured member of L’Opéra de Paris Orchestra for five years. Born in Rochefort, the south-west coast of France, Fardet moved to Paris to pursue his cello studies at the prestigious Paris Conservatory and then came to Houston in 1999 to study with Paul Katz at Rice University.\n\nFardet has won top prizes at several international competitions, including the Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Zagreb, Croatia and the Ima Hogg Competition in Houston, and has participated in numerous international music festivals such as the Ravinia Festival, Isaac Stern Chamber Music Workshop at Carnegie Hall, and Chamber Music Encounters in Jerusalem.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Louis-Maarie-Fardet_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician45","musicianName":"Louis-Marie Fardet","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"45","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/louis-marie-fardet/"},"Musician46":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Jeffrey-Butler_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician46","musicianName":"Jeffrey Butler","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"46","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jeffrey-butler/"},"Musician47":{"musicianBio":"Maki Kubota was appointed a member of the Houston Symphony in 2017 by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. He has made appearances with the Dallas Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic, performing with conductors such as Thomas Ades, Edward Gardner, Alan Gilbert, Osmo Vanska, Edo de Waart, and Christoph von Dohnanyi. As a chamber musician, he has performed at the Library of Congress, Morgan Library, and Embassy of Singapore, collaborating with artists such as Jeremy Denk, Richard O’Neill, and Lynn Harrell.\n\nPrior to joining the Houston Symphony, Kubota toured Mediterranean Europe and Central America with Lincoln Center Stage, Holland America Line’s partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.\n\nKubota first began cello lessons while in high school as a student of Stanley Sharp. After completing his undergraduate studies with Alan Stepansky at the Peabody Conservatory, he graduated from Rice University under the tutelage of Desmond Hoebig. His training includes fellowships at the Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival, and Takacs String Quartet Seminar, as well as studying abroad at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore with Li-Wei Qin and in residence with the New York Philharmonic as a Zarin Mehta Fellow.\n\nOutside of music, Kubota enjoys weight lifting and has recently picked up a liking of fine whiskey.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Maki-Kubota_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician47","musicianName":"Maki Kubota","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"47","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/maki-kubota/"},"Musician48":{"musicianBio":"Xiao Wong was born in Beijing, China, where he first received ear-training and piano lessons from his father at the age of 3. He began to study cello when he was 7 and entered the pre-college at the Central Conservatory of Music at the age of 9. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to the Manhattan School of Music in New York. His cello teachers were Lian San Wang, David Geber, David Soyer, Nathaniel Rosen, and Evelyn Elsing.\n\nWong was the recipient of numerous awards and prizes in both China and the United States. He won first prize in the Junior Division at the National Cello Competition in Beijing, China, and first prize at the Alexandria Symphony Concerto Competition, Paul Rolland String Competition, 5 Town Music and Arts Competition, and the University of Maryland Concerto Competition. He received a full scholarship to the Curtis Institute, the Manhattan School of Music, and an orchestra fellowship at the University of Maryland. He also attended music festivals such as the Tanglewood Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and National Orchestra Institute.\n\nBefore joining the Houston Symphony, Wong was the associate principal of the Fort Worth Symphony and frequently appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington D.C. In 2006 and 2009, he was invited to perform with the world Chinese Orchestra in Beijing and Shanghai.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Xiao-Wong_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician48","musicianName":"Xiao Wong","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"48","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/xiao-wong/"},"Musician49":{"musicianBio":"Cellist Charles Seo was appointed cellist of the Houston Symphony in the summer of 2018 at age 22. Previously, he served as principal cellist in the Colburn Orchestra. Charles, who made his solo orchestral debut at age 10, has performed as guest soloist with the Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and San José Chamber Orchestra.\n\nHe is silver medalist of the 2014 Irving M. Klein International String Competition and bronze medalist of the 2014 Stulberg International String Competition. In 2013, he was the gold medalist of the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, the Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, the Schmidbauer International Competition, and the 30th Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition. Charles performed Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen with Christopher O’Riley on NPR’s ##From the Top##From the Top.\n\nCharles has collaborated with cellists Lynn Harrell, Robert deMaine, Clive Greensmith, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, David Geringas, Steven Isserlis, Jian Wang, Myung-wha Chung, Lluís Claret, Li-Wei Qin, Bion Tsang, and Laurence Lesser. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn School, where he studied with Ronald Leonard and Clive Greensmith.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Charles-Seo_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician49","musicianName":"Charles Seo","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"49","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/charles-seo/"},"Musician5":{"musicianBio":"Marina Brubaker, violin, was born in Tucson, Arizona, into a family of musicians. Her father was a violist, conductor, composer and educator, and her mother was a violinist in the Barcelona Symphony and currently plays viola with the Tucson Symphony. She has music degrees from Wichita State University and Yale School of Music.\n\nBrubaker began her career in the Fort Worth Symphony and has served as concertmaster of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan. She joined the violin section of the Houston Symphony in 1988 and is currently serving as acting assistant concertmaster. Other family members involved in orchestral playing include a brother in the Minnesota Orchestra and a sister in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Marina-Brubaker_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician5","musicianName":"Marina Brubaker","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"5","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/marina-brubaker/"},"Musician50":{"musicianBio":"Originally from Loveland, Colorado, Jeremy Kreutz was appointed a member of the Houston Symphony in 2020 by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Prior to joining the orchestra, he worked under conductors such as Marin Alsop, Christoph Eschenbach, David Robertson, Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff, and Valery Gergiev. His primary studies were completed with Darrett Adkins at the Oberlin Conservatory, and Desmond Hoebig at Rice University’s Shepherd School.\n\nKreutz has performed both domestically and abroad as an orchestral and chamber musician, including engagements with the Aspen Music Festival, Round Top Institute, National Youth Orchestra of the USA, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. An avid chamber musician, he has studied with members of the Juilliard, Borromeo, Miró, Verona, and Cleveland Quartets, and was a two time fellow at the Kneisel Hall Festival in Maine. In the summer of 2017, he was invited to perform alongside members of the International Contemporary Ensemble as part of the Ojai Festival, premiering works by Vijay Iyer and Courtney Bryan. While at Oberlin, he was featured in the premiere of Jesse Jones’ Snippet Variations, recorded for the Oberlin Music label.\n\nKreutz began learning the cello at age 11 in his local public school system, where his father taught the orchestral program for 30 years. He continued his studies in high school with cellist Katherine Azari. He considers community engagement an incredibly important aspect of his life, and has worked with public schools in Colorado, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois, as well as Colorado’s El Sistema program. Outside of music, he enjoys exploring Houston’s vibrant food culture and marathons of competition reality shows.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Jeremy-Kreutz_Cello.jpg","musicianID":"Musician50","musicianName":"Jeremy Kreutz","musicianPosition":"Cello","musicianPriority":"50","musicianTitle":"Cello","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jeremy-kreutz/"},"Musician51":{"musicianBio":"Robin Kesselman was appointed Principal Bass of the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 2014. He has performed as Guest Principal Bass with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic, travelled internationally with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic, and appeared with the National, Atlanta, and Baltimore symphonies.\n\nKesselman has appeared multiple times as soloist with the Houston Symphony, in subscription performances of the Koussevitzky Concerto for Double Bass, Missy Mazzoli’s concerto Dark with Excessive Bright, and Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante with Gil Shaham. Previous season highlights include Krzysztof Penderecki’s Duo Concertante during the composer’s Carnegie Hall residency in collaboration with the Curtis Institute and Bottesini’s Concerto No. 2 with the Houston Civic Symphony. Recent festival engagements include leading the bass sections of the Grand Teton, Mainly Mozart, Arizona Musicfest and Aspen Festival orchestras.\n\nKesselman frequently performs as a soloist and chamber musician and presents recital programs and masterclasses at the Nation’s top universities. He has also served as faculty for the National Youth Orchestra – USA, Curtis Institute’s Summerfest, the Richard Davis Bass Conference, and the summer residency of the Youth Philharmonic of Colombia. He recently released Bow Speed Geography, a method book and video series dedicated to the improvement of legato and sustain from the standpoint of bow speed. Kesselman holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California and an Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music. His primary teachers have included David Allen Moore, Harold Robinson, Edgar Meyer, Paul Ellison, Chris Hanulik, and Virginia Dixon.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Robin-Kesselman_Principal-Double-Bass.jpg","musicianID":"Musician51","musicianName":"Robin Kesselman","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"51","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/robin-kesselman/"},"Musician52":{"musicianBio":"Timothy Dilenschneider was appointed associate principal double bass of the Houston Symphony in January of 2019. Prior to joining the Houston Symphony, Dilenschneider was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of music director Marin Alsop. During the summers, he is the double bass faculty for the Blackburn Music Academy in California and an active performer in prestigious music festivals including Festival Napa Valley, Arizona Music Fest, and Classical Tahoe where he is the recipient of an endowed chair. He is an alumnus of the New World Symphony and a 2014 graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music.\n\nAn avid lover of travel, Dilenschneider’s orchestral performances have taken him around the world. He has been invited to participate in international tours across Europe, Asia, and Africa with distinguished orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and the Florida Orchestra. He has performed in some of the world’s most notable halls including Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Musikverein, Suntory Hall, Theatre des Champs-Élysées, National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and most recently Royal Albert Hall in London for the 2018 BBC Proms.\n\nIn addition to his orchestral work, Dilenschneider has performed in numerous recitals and chamber music programs including the Candlelight Chamber Series in Baltimore, Napa Valley Chamber Festival in California, and Marin Alsop’s New Music Festival. In 2018 he was invited on a chamber orchestra tour with musicians from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to Marrakech, Morocco to perform in the desert of Agafay.\n\nDilenschneider is on faculty for the Blackburn Music Academy and his passion for music education has led him to work with students at the Peabody Institute of Music, Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. He has been featured in magazines such as the ##ISB Bass World##ISB Bass World and ##Next Level Bassist.##Next Level Bassist. He is also recorded on the Grammy Award winning CD “East Coast 2×4”.\n\nDilenschneider began playing the double bass at age 8 and studied with “Time for Three” bassist Ranaan Meyer, prior to his studies with Harold Robinson and Edgar Meyer at the Curtis Institute of Music.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Timothy-Dilenschneider_Associate-Principal-Double-Bass.jpg","musicianID":"Musician52","musicianName":"Timothy Dilenschneider","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"52","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/timothy-dilenschneider/"},"Musician53":{"musicianBio":"Andrew Pedersen joined the Houston Symphony double bass section in August 2017. A native of Batavia, Illinois, Pedersen received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and master’s degree from Rice University, where he studied with Robert Kassinger and Timothy Pitts, respectively. Other mentors include Paul Ellison, Alexander Hanna, and Gregory Sarchet.\n\nWhile in Chicago, Pedersen was a member of the Civic Orchestra where he served as assistant principal bass from 2012 to 2014. During this time, he also worked closely with Yo-Yo Ma on stage and in community outreach programs. He has regularly subbed with the New World Symphony, including a recent tour to Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He has also attended the Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and Verbier Festival.\n\nOutside of the orchestra, Pedersen enjoys arranging music for bass ensembles and exploring the unique cuisine of Houston.","musicianChair":"Assistant Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Andrew-Pedersen_Double-Bass.jpg","musicianID":"Musician53","musicianName":"Andrew Pedersen","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"53","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/andrew-pedersen/"},"Musician54":{"musicianBio":"Double bassist Eric Larson has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1999. Larson pursued undergraduate studies at Boston University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance. Larson received his training from Edwin Barker and Hal Robinson.\n\nLarson has participated in several music festivals including the National Orchestral Institute, Tanglewood, Grand Teton Music Festival, and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Symphony Orchestra, and was Principal Double Bass of the Haddonfield Symphony (now Symphony in C). As an active chamber musician, Larson has worked with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra and has collaborated with the T’ang String Quartet.\n\nAn avid teacher, Larson spent three years teaching at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia and 10 years teaching double bass and coaching chamber music at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Larson currently spends his summers teaching at the Texas Music Festival and the Wabass Institute for Double Bass.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Eric-Larson_Double-Bass.jpg","musicianID":"Musician54","musicianName":"Eric Larson","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"54","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/eric-larson/"},"Musician55":{"musicianBio":"Logan May joined the Houston Symphony bass section in 2025, under the baton of Juraj Valčuha. Prior to joining the Houston Symphony, Logan was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach for three seasons. This past year, Logan won the second prize at the Sphinx SOPA competition in Detroit, one of the first double bassists to have been awarded this prize. He has also had the honor of performing with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and most recently A Far Cry, a conductorless chamber ensemble based in Boston.\n\nHe spent this most recent summer at the Verbier Festival, as a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra, and other festival appearances have been as a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Wabass Institute, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. Logan was also the second prize winner of the 2021 ISB Orchestral Competition.\n\nLogan graduated with his Master’s degree from The Juilliard School in 2022 where he studied with Timothy Cobb and Harold Robinson, and with his Bachelor’s from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Mr. Cobb. While at Juilliard, he took baroque bass lessons with Doug Balliet, and performed with Juilliard’s historical performance department, Juilliard415, including a tour of the Netherlands in 2022. In May of 2025, Logan was part of the concert series that reopened The Frick Collection in New York, where he performed works by Handel, and a world premier by Nico Muhly, with the Jupiter Ensemble led by Thomas Dunford and Lea Desandre.\n\nOutside of the orchestra, Logan watches and plays soccer, basketball and baseball, and especially loves to cook for his friends. He definitely can’t wait to explore the Houston food scene.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/May_Logan_Headshot_Portrait-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician55","musicianName":"Logan May","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"55","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/logan-may/"},"Musician56":{"musicianBio":"Burke Shaw became a member of the Houston Symphony double bass section in 2000 under Christoph Eschenbach. His teachers included Homer Mensch at the Juilliard School and Roger Scott at the Curtis Institute of Music.\n\nHe previously played with the Oregon Symphony under James Depriest, and was Co-Principal of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, Spain. He has performed with festival orchestras in Japan, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Burke-Shaw_Double-Ball.jpg","musicianID":"Musician56","musicianName":"Burke Shaw","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"56","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/burke-shaw/"},"Musician57":{"musicianBio":"Donald Howey has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1999. He has performed with the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and has been principal and soloist with the Houston Chamber Orchestra. He began playing the bass at age 15 in his hometown of Sudbury, Massachusetts.\n\nHowey completed his Master of Music in Performance at Rice University in 1998 and graduated with distinction from Boston University in 1995. He is married to harpist Laurie Meister. In addition to their busy musical careers, Howey and his wife enjoy being the proud parents of their two sons, Gunther and Ian.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Donald-Howey_Double-Bass.jpg","musicianID":"Musician57","musicianName":"Donald Howey","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"57","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/donald-howey/"},"Musician58":{"musicianBio":"Avery Weeks joined the Houston Symphony in 2024 under the baton of Juraj Valčuha. Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Weeks received his bachelor’s degree in music performance and economics from Northwestern University, where he studied with Andrew Raciti. He continued his training at the University of Southern California, where he studied with David Allen Moore.\n\nWeeks has performed with various orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Utah Symphony, before joining the Houston Symphony. He has also been selected as a fellow for music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, The Music Academy of the West, and Spoleto (USA).\n\nIn his spare time, Weeks enjoys losing golf balls on the golf course and searching for the perfect cup of coffee, the latter of which fuels the former","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AveryWeeks_001crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician58","musicianName":"Avery Weeks","musicianPosition":"Double Bass","musicianPriority":"58","musicianTitle":"Double Bass","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/avery-weeks/"},"Musician59":{"musicianBio":"Aralee Dorough began her tenure with the Houston Symphony as second flute in 1985, becoming the orchestra’s principal flutist in 1991. Dorough teaches orchestral repertoire at the Texas Music Festival and the Festival-Institute at Round Top and is an affiliate artist on the faculty of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston.\n\nShe first appeared as a soloist with the Houston Symphony performing Mozart’s Concerto in C Major for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra with internationally-renowned harpist, Marisa Robles, and led by then-Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, for the 1992–93 season Opening Night gala concert. Dorough also performed Mozart’s Concerto in G Major with Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony in 1993 for a triple CD set released by IMP Records in 1994, and again in concert in 2004 under former Music Director Hans Graf. Her latest performance of the popular D major flute concerto completed her personal “Mozart cycle.”\n\nDorough gave the world premiere of Bright Sheng’s concerto, ##Flute Moon##Flute Moon in 1999, which was commissioned by the Houston Symphony and broadcasted live on PBS. In 2003, she gave the U.S. premiere of a Salvador Brotons’s concerto, which Brotons himself conducted for the National Flute Association Convention. In 2006, Dorough and Houston Symphony colleagues presented the premiere of a chamber work by composer Gabriela Frank on a collaborative program between the Houston Symphony and the Da Camara Society. Other solo appearances with the Symphony have included Quantz’s Concerto in G major with conductor Nicholas McGegan and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with conductor Joshua Rifkin and violinist Eric Halen.\n\nAn avid chamber player and contemporary music performer, Dorough has played with the Houston Symphony Chamber Players, whose recording of Schoenberg’s Quintet for Winds on the Koch label has been met with critical acclaim. She has also performed with the Da Camera Society of Houston, The Foundation for Modern Music, Musiqa, the Festival-Institute at Round Top, and Chicago’s Ravinia Festival in collaboration with Christoph Eschenbach at the piano. Dorough can be heard on over 20 Houston Symphony recordings and performances aired on PBS and American Public Media’s ##Performance Today##Performance Today, and she has worked with a distinguished roster of conductors and guest artists including Eric Leinsdorf, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, and Yo-Yo Ma.\n\nShe also collaborated with her father, jazz artist and ##Schoolhouse Rock##Schoolhouse Rock composer Bob Dorough, on The Houston Branch CD project in 2005, available at cdbaby.com. The album features Dorough along with her husband, father, and three of Houston’s top jazz musicians performing standard tunes and her father’s originals, including one of her own compositions. Because of her father, Dorough has been peripherally involved with jazz and studio work throughout her career, including a speaking part on “My Hero Zero” for ABC TV’s ##Schoolhouse Rock##Schoolhouse Rock at age nine.\n\nDorough received her undergraduate degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1983, where she studied with master teacher Robert Willoughby and met her future husband, Houston Symphony oboist Colin Gatwood. She continued her studies as a graduate student at the Yale School of Music where she worked with renowned teacher, the late Thomas Nyfenger.\n\nAlong with their son, Corin, Dorough and her husband enjoy traveling, most recently on the Houston Symphony’s ##The Planets–An HD Odyssey##The Planets–An HD Odyssey tour to the UK. They also participated in the Walled City Music Festival in Derry, Ireland.","musicianChair":"Principal Flute: ##General Maurice Hirsch Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Aralee-Dorough_Principal-Flute.jpg","musicianID":"Musician59","musicianName":"Aralee Dorough","musicianPosition":"Flute","musicianPriority":"59","musicianTitle":"Flute","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/aralee-dorough/"},"Musician6":{"musicianBio":"A winner of international competitions, Tong Yan has claimed first prize at the International Music Competition of Union Francaise des Artistes Musiciens in Paris, International Violin Competition in Kazakhstan, International Chinese Violin Competition in New York, and string winner at the Gisborne International Orchestral Instruments Competition in New Zealand. She has also placed in the top three at the Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Italy and the Brahms International Violin Competition in Austria. Yan has had many recitals and solo performances with orchestras in Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, Canada, and the United States.\n\nYan is currently an active chamber musician and has participated in festivals such as the Summer Strings Academy in Australia, Canada’s Morningside Music Bridge, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Bar Harbor Music Festival in Maine, Pacific Music Festival in Japan, Spoleto Music Festival in South Carolina, Britt Music Festival in Oregon, and the Meadowmount Summer School in New York.\n\nYan joined the Houston Symphony in 2012 while pursuing her Graduate Diploma at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Donald Weilerstein. She also holds a Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory, and a split bachelor’s degree from the Vienna University of Fine Arts, Joseph Haydn Conservatory, and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Her teachers include Elisabeth Kropfitsch, Klaus Maetzl, and Marilyn McDonald.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tong-Yan_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician6","musicianName":"Tong Yan","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"6","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/tong-yan/"},"Musician60":{"musicianBio":"Originally from Valencia, CA, Matthew Roitstein joined the Houston Symphony in 2014 as Associate Principal Flute, the first appointment made by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada.   He served as Principal Flute of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra from 2022 to 2024, and has previously held positions with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and Sarasota Opera Orchestra.\n\nRoitstein has performed as a concerto soloist with the Houston Symphony and as guest Principal Flute with Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Music festival appearances include Tanglewood, Music Academy of the West, Arizona Musicfest, Aspen, Sarasota, Britt, and Lakes Area Music Festivals. Roitstein can be heard on recordings with the Houston Symphony and New World Symphony, as well as on Gloria Estefan’s 2013 album, ##The Standards##The Standards. In 2018 he recorded ##Studies in Nature##Studies in Nature, a trio for flute, viola, and harp by award-winning composer Karim Al-Zand, on an album of Al-Zand’s chamber music. This year, Roitstein is releasing his own debut album, featuring John Harbison’s ##Duo for Flute and Piano##Duo for Flute and Piano, and the premiere recordings of newly commissioned pieces by Amanda Harberg, Karim Al-Zand, and Matthew’s father, David Roitstein.\n\nA passionate educator, Roitstein has been on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp since 2018, and he has also taught at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute and at Bard College. His orchestral path was shaped by a fellowship at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, and graduate studies at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under conductor Larry Rachleff. He received his Bachelor’s Degrees in both architecture and music from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was the 2007 winner of the MIT Symphony Concerto Competition. His primary flute teachers were Leone Buyse and Seta Der Hohannesian, and other significant influences include Mark Sparks, Elizabeth Rowe, Stephen Kujala, Gary Woodward, Pedro Eustache, and Matthew’s mother, Rosy Sackstein.\n\nMatthew Roitstein is a Powell Artist and plays on a handmade 14K Powell flute.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MatthewRoitstein_029crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician60","musicianName":"Matthew Roitstein","musicianPosition":"Flute","musicianPriority":"60","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/matthew-roitstein/"},"Musician61":{"musicianBio":"Flutist Judy Dines is a very active performer in Houston and beyond. Locally, she is a frequent performer in the Greenbriar Consortium, a diverse chamber group made up of Houston Symphony members and other musicians in the Houston area. She was also a member and frequent soloist with the former Houston Chamber Symphony. Other local groups Dines has played with include Mukuru, Aperio and the St. Cecilia Society.\n\nOutside of Houston, Dines is a member of the Ritz Chamber Players, a dynamic chamber ensemble which performs all around the country. She is also a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, which convenes every summer in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Several times, most recently in August 2008, she performed at the National Flute Association Convention, a four-day extravaganza which celebrates the flute. In the orchestral world, Dines has performed selected weeks with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.\n\nBorn in Washington, D.C., Dines attended Temple University in Philadelphia and the Peabody Institute in Baltimore before coming to Houston. She joined the Houston Symphony in 1992.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Judy-Dines_Acting-Associate-Principal-Flute.jpg","musicianID":"Musician61","musicianName":"Judy Dines","musicianPosition":"Flute","musicianPriority":"61","musicianTitle":"Flute","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/judy-dines/"},"Musician62":{"musicianBio":"Kathryn Ladner joined the Houston Symphony in the fall of 2016. She moved to Houston from Nashville, Tennessee, where she played third flute and piccolo with the Nashville Symphony from 2012–2016. While in Nashville, Ladner also enjoyed playing with the Nashville Opera Orchestra and the Alias Chamber Ensemble, among other groups, and teaching flute lessons at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt and the W.O. Smith Music School.\n\nBorn and raised in Seattle, Ladner began playing flute in public schools at age 10. She holds a Bachelors of Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a Masters of Music from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. While at Eastman, she studied flute with Bonita Boyd and took piccolo lessons with Anne Harrow. In 2010, she was the Piccolo Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival, and she has also performed with the National Repertory Orchestra and the Pacific Music Festival. At the Shepherd School of Music Ladner studied with Leone Buyse, graduating in 2012.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Kathryn-Ladner_Flute-and-Piccolo.jpg","musicianID":"Musician62","musicianName":"Kathryn Ladner","musicianPosition":"Flute & Piccolo","musicianPriority":"62","musicianTitle":"Flute & Piccolo","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/kathryn-ladner/"},"Musician63":{"musicianBio":"Jonathan Fischer joined the Houston Symphony as principal oboe in September 2012 and was invited to join the faculty of the University of Houston in September 2014. Prior to his appointment with the Houston Symphony, Fischer served as associate principal oboe with the San Francisco Symphony for nine seasons. He has also held positions with The Cleveland Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Savannah Symphony, and the New World Symphony. Fischer has performed as a guest principal with many of the nation’s leading orchestras including the Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the St. Louis and Atlanta Symphonies, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist with the Houston Symphony, Grant Park Symphony, New World Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony.\n\nFischer currently teaches at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and Texas Music Festival. He has taught and performed at the Aspen Music Festival and the Oberlin Conservatory. He has given masterclasses at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, the San Francisco Conservatory, Rice University, and University of Michigan, and has been a coach at the New World Symphony. He holds a degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Woodhams.\n\nA native of South Carolina, Fischer now enjoys living in the Heights with his dog, a Louisiana Catahoula mix.","musicianChair":"Principal Oboe: ##Lucy Binyon Stude Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Jonathan-Fischer_Principal-Oboe.jpg","musicianID":"Musician63","musicianName":"Jonathan Fischer","musicianPriority":"63","musicianTitle":"Oboe","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/jonathan-fischer/"},"Musician64":{"musicianBio":"Anne Leek was educated at Juilliard where she received her bachelor of music, master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees. During her time in New York, she performed on a recital in Carnegie Hall sponsored by the Artists International Contest, which she won. During the 1980s, Leek was Solo Principal Oboe of the Mannheim Orchestra in Germany.\n\nBefore joining the Houston Symphony, she played a two year position as principal oboe in the Pittsburgh Symphony, under the baton of Lorin Maazel. Along with her career as an orchestral musician, Leek has taught at Indiana University, Arizona State University and has taught at the University of Houston. As a recital soloist and chamber musician, she has appeared in numerous major cities across the world.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Anne-Leek_Associate-Oboe.jpg","musicianID":"Musician64","musicianName":"Anne Leek","musicianPriority":"64","musicianTitle":"Oboe","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/anne-leek/"},"Musician65":{"musicianBio":"Colin Gatwood was born in Cleveland, Ohio but grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where his father was principal oboist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and his mother, a violinist, was a freelance musician and teacher. He began his musical studies on the piano at age 5, but by the time he was nine, he had begun taking oboe lessons from his father.\n\nGatwood is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. His first orchestra job was with the Pittsburgh Symphony, playing second oboe for four years. From there, he went on to join the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra in Mexico, and in 1991, he won the position of second oboe with the Houston Symphony.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Colin-Gatwood_Oboe.jpg","musicianID":"Musician65","musicianName":"Colin Gatwood","musicianPriority":"65","musicianTitle":"Oboe","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/colin-gatwood/"},"Musician66":{"musicianBio":"Adam Dinitz joined the Houston Symphony as solo English horn in September 2007. Prior to joining the Houston Symphony, Dinitz held positions with the San Francisco Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, and the Sarasota Orchestra. He has participated in many summer festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Center, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Spoleto USA, and the St. Bart’s Music Festival, among others. Dinitz is an active soloist and chamber musician and was recently featured with Da Camera of Houston, as well as with The Greenbriar Consortium.\n\nIn July 2005, Dinitz was selected to perform the world premiere of John Harbison’s ##Crossing##Crossing in memory of Phil West at the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Dinitz is the co-founder of Noncert, a concert series which seeks to perform classical music outside of traditional venues. A native of suburban Washington, D.C., Dinitz received his Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University and Master of Music from Rice University.","musicianChair":"English horn: ##Barbara and Pat McCelvey Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Adam-Dinitz_English-Horn-and-Oboe.jpg","musicianID":"Musician66","musicianName":"Adam Dinitz","musicianPriority":"66","musicianTitle":"English Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/adam-dinitz/"},"Musician67":{"musicianBio":"Critics have praised clarinetist Mark Nuccio for both his solo and chamber appearances,  describing him as “the evening’s highlight”, full of “mystery and insight” and “shaping his phrases beautifully with a rich, expressive tone.” (##New York Times##New York Times)\n\nMr. Nuccio is currently the Principal Clarinetist of the Houston Symphony since 2016.  Prior to that, he was a member of the New York Philharmonic having joined in 1999 as Associate Principal and Solo  E-flat Clarinetist. During Nuccio’s 17 years in the NYP, he served as Acting Principal Clarinet for four years from 2009-2013. Prior to his service with the Philharmonic, he has held positions with orchestras in Pittsburgh, Denver, Savannah, and Florida working with distinguished conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Mariss Jansons, Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Erich Leinsdorf, Alan Gilbert, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Chailly, André Previn, Christoph von Dohnányi, Valero Gergiev, Charles Dutoit, Gustavo Dudamel, Esa Pekka Salonen, Andres Orozco Estrada, and Juraj Valcuha. Additionally, Mr. Nuccio has toured extensively with the Houston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and in numerous countries, recorded with all three orchestras, and performed regularly with the Philharmonic on the award-winning series, ##Live from Lincoln Center##Live from Lincoln Center, broadcast on PBS. Recent highlights include the Philharmonic’s historic and newsworthy visits to North Korea and Vietnam.\n\nAn active solo and chamber musician, Mr. Nuccio has been featured with various orchestras in the United States and made multiple appearances as a featured performer at the International Clarinet Association conventions. He made his subscription solo debut with the Houston Symphony in 2018 with several other appearances since then, with the subscription solo debut with the New York Philharmonic on Feb. 10, 2010 and returned to perform the Copland Concerto with the NY Philharmonic under the baton of Alan Gilbert on May 31 and June 1 of 2013. Other highlights include a New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 2001, his Japanese recital debut in 2002. He continues to regularly perform recitals in  Asia and Europe as well as across the United States and in New York, he can often be heard at Merkin Concert Hall, 92nd Street Y, Carnegie Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Nuccio also participates in the chamber music series at the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, performs/teaches at Festival Napa Valley, and teaches at ARIA Music Festival, among others.\n\nAs a studio musician, Mr. Nuccio is featured on numerous movie soundtracks, including Failure To Launch, The Last Holiday, The Rookie, The Score, Intolerable Cruelty, Alamo, Pooh’s Heffalump, Hitch, The Manchurian Candidate, as well as various television commercials, Super Bowl music and the Master’s Golf Tournament. Additionally he has performed on the Late Show with David Letterman and on the 2003 Grammy Awards. His own debut album featuring the clarinet quintets of Mozart and Brahms, ##Opening Night##Opening Night, was released in November 2006.\n\nA Colorado native, Mr. Nuccio was recently awarded the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from his alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado. He also holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University where he studied with renowned pedagogue Robert Marcellus. Beyond his active performing schedule, Mr. Nuccio is committed to training the next generation of musicians and currently serves as music faculty for Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music in Evanston, IL.  He also teaches masterclasses in the U.S. and abroad. Mark Nuccio is a D’Addario Advising Artist & Clinician and a performing artist/clinician for Buffet Music Group.","musicianChair":"Principal Clarinet: ##Bobbie Nau Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Mark-Nuccio_Principal-Clarinet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician67","musicianName":"Mark Nuccio","musicianPriority":"67","musicianTitle":"Clarinet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mark-nuccio/"},"Musician68":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Associate Principal Clarinet and E-flat Clarinet","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/clarinet_behind_a_black_solid__3dkmlc2tem75vwzfdr4c_1.jpg","musicianID":"Musician68","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPriority":"68","musicianTitle":"Clarinet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-clarient/"},"Musician69":{"musicianBio":"Christian Schubert joined the Houston Symphony as Second Clarinetist in 1996, appointed by then music director Christoph Eschenbach. A native of Burbank, California, Mr. Schubert studied with Kalman Bloch (Principal Clarinet, Los Angeles Philharmonic) for seven years before moving to Chicago to study with Robert Marcellus at Northwestern University, where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance. As a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Mr. Schubert also studied with Larry Combs of the Chicago Symphony.\n\nPrior to arriving in Houston, Mr. Schubert played extensively with numerous Chicago area ensembles including the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, The Chicago Ensemble, as well as performing commercial jingle session work in the Chicago studios. He also served as the second clarinetist and E-flat clarinetist with the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago for 17 seasons between 1991 and 2016. Active as a chamber musician as well as a recitalist, he has been a featured performer at the Schlesswig Holstein Musik Festival, the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Tanglewood Music Festival.\n\nWell known for his success in teaching young people, he has served on the music faculties of North Park College in Chicago and the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. He is also the co-founder of Houston Clarinet Camp and has presented masterclasses across the country. A dedicated pedagogue, he has maintained a private instruction studio at home every year of his professional career as well as serving as a lead teacher in several music education initiatives sponsored by the Houston Symphony.\n\nIn his time away from performing and teaching, Mr. Schubert owns and operates a recording engineering company, Schubert Recording Services, specializing in the quality digital recording of classical music.\n\nMr. Schubert exclusively performs and records on Buffet clarinets, and on D’Addario Reserve Classic reeds, and has been a Performing Artist & Clinician for both companies since 2016.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Christian-Schubert_Clarinet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician69","musicianName":"Christian Schubert","musicianPriority":"69","musicianTitle":"Clarinet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/christian-schubert/"},"Musician7":{"musicianBio":"MiHee Chung was born in Seoul, Korea. She left her family at age 15 to attend Interlochen Arts Academy on a full scholarship. She attended the academy for three years and upon graduation received the Young Artist Award. Chung earned her Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Michigan and Master of Music from The Juilliard School. She studied under Paul Makanowitzky and Ivan Galamian. In 1981, she joined the Houston Symphony.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MiHee-Chung_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician7","musicianName":"MiHee Chung","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"7","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mihee-chung/"},"Musician70":{"musicianBio":"Alexander Potiomkin joined the Houston Symphony as Bass Clarinet/Utility in October 2012. A native of Ukraine, he moved with his family to Israel in 1991, where he attended the Rubin Jerusalem Academy of Music, while appearing as a regular substitute clarinetist with Israel Philharmonic. He came to Houston in 1995 to study at Rice University, where he earned his Master of Music Degree in 1997.\n\nHe has appeared as substitute Principal Clarinet of the Alabama Symphony on their Carnegie Hall tour in spring 2012. He has also performed as guest principal clarinet with the Kansas City Symphony and as a soloist with the Tel Aviv Symphony and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has participated in the Mozart, Bellingham, Blossom, and Tanglewood music festivals.\n\nEqually committed to teaching, he maintains a large, private studio. His main teachers include David Peck and David Weber, with additional studies with Michael Wayne and Mark Nuccio on clarinet and Chester Rowell and Ben Freimuth on Bass Clarinet.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Alexander-Potiomkin_Bass-Clarinet-and-Clarinet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician70","musicianName":"Alexander Potiomkin","musicianPriority":"70","musicianTitle":"Bass Clarinet and Clarinet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/alexander-potiomkin/"},"Musician71":{"musicianBio":"Principal bassoonist Rian Craypo has been with the Houston Symphony since 2007. Born in Virginia, she moved to Texas at 10 months of age and grew up east of Austin in a small intentional community.\n\nAfter studying at the University of Texas at Austin with Kristin Wolfe Jensen, she attended Rice University, where she received her master’s degree under former Houston Symphony Principal Bassoon Benjamin Kamins.\n\nIn 2001, she was awarded a Federation of German/American Clubs Scholarship, which led to a year of study and performances in Germany and was a finalist in the Gillet-Fox International Bassoon Competition in both 2004 and 2006. Rian serves on the board of Third Space Music, which presents Houston Symphony musicians several times a year in intimate and engaging chamber settings. Rian is also the author of a book about bassoon reed making, published in 2017. She and her husband Sean have three children.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RianCraypo_Principal_Bassoon-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician71","musicianName":"Rian Craypo","musicianPriority":"71","musicianTitle":"Bassoon","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/rian-craypo/"},"Musician72":{"musicianBio":"Associate principal bassoonist Isaac Schultz, a native of Exeter, New Hampshire, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with Benjamin Kamins. While at Rice, Isaac was a fellow at the Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music School. In 2015, he was a prize winner at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition and a finalist at the Coleman Competition. Away from music, he enjoys rock climbing and other outdoor activities.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Isaac-Schultz_Associate-Principal-Bassoon.jpg","musicianID":"Musician72","musicianName":"Isaac Schultz","musicianPriority":"72","musicianTitle":"Bassoon","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/isaac-schultz/"},"Musician73":{"musicianBio":"Elise Wagner has been a member of the Houston Symphony bassoon section since September 2008. She also performs with the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and Lake Tahoe Music Festival. She was also awarded fellowships to the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival.\n\nWhen performing outside of the orchestra, Wagner is an advocate for modern music and a chamber musician. Wagner was part of the world premiere of “Who am I?”, a composition commissioned by the Foundation for Modern Music in March 2013. Following the premiere performance in Houston, she also performed the work at La Mama Theater in New York City in February 2014. As an active chamber musician, Wagner performs regularly with the Greenbriar Consortium and the St. Cecelia Chamber Music Series.\n\nIn addition to her performance schedule, Wagner is a faculty member at the University of Houston, the Texas Music Festival, and the American Festival for the Arts. When not playing bassoon, she can be found biking, running, on the golf course, or making reeds.\n\nA native of Monroe, Wisconsin, Wagner earned her master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University where she studied with Nancy Goeres, principal bassoon of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Temple University under the instruction of Daniel Matsukawa, principal bassoon of the Philadelphia Orchestra.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Elise-Wagner_Bassoon.jpg","musicianID":"Musician73","musicianName":"Elise Wagner","musicianPriority":"73","musicianTitle":"Bassoon","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/elise-wagner/"},"Musician74":{"musicianBio":"Originally from Portland, Maine, Adam Trussell is now the Contrabassoonist of the Houston Symphony. He won the position in 2018. Adam is also the Principal Bassoonist of Oregon Ballet Theater. In the past he has held full time positions with the Oregon Symphony (2011-2019) and the Omaha Symphony (2006-2011). During the summers Adam plays with the Colorado Music Festival. He’s played there since 2011 in addition to many other festivals.\n\nAdam is a dedicated teacher and has extensive experience teaching students of all ages. He has been on the faculties of Lewis and Clark College, University of Portland, Concordia University, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Creighton University. Adam loves teaching younger students and has helped out with numerous schools and their band programs. When unable to teach in person, Adam has had a lot of success teaching students on line via FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom. Adam also teaches adults and retirees at Midsummer Musical Retreat in Walla Walla, WA.\n\nIn addition to playing in orchestras and teaching, Adam has a business selling bassoons and finished bassoon reeds and contrabassoon reeds. He has been the owner of Portland Bassoon Company since 2015. He can also be found at adamtrusselldoublereeds.com.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Adam-Trussell_Bassoon-and-Contra.jpg","musicianID":"Musician74","musicianName":"Adam Trussell","musicianPriority":"74","musicianTitle":"Bassoon and Contrabassoon","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/adam-trussell/"},"Musician75":{"musicianBio":"Hailed as “one of today’s superstars of the international brass scene,” William VerMeulen leads a varied musical life of soloist, orchestral principal, chamber musician, master teacher, and music publisher. VerMeulen has been principal horn of the Houston Symphony since 1990 and has performed as a guest principal horn with the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Prior to joining the Houston Symphony, he was employed with the orchestras of Columbus, Honolulu, and Kansas City.\n\nVerMeulen has been an artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and participates as a performer and on faculty with the finest music festivals and chamber music presenters, among which include the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Aspen Music Festival, Music@Menlo, Banff Centre, Da Camera of Houston, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Joshua Bell and Friends, Tanglewood, Sarasota Music Festival, Strings Music Festival, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, New World Symphony, Domaine Forget, Chamber Music Northwest, and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony where he also serves as principal horn.\n\nVerMeulen has performed to critical acclaim on four continents as a soloist and chamber musician and is a popular artist at International Horn Society Symposiums where he was a member of the advisory council. He serves as a board member of the International Horn Competition of America. Along with the dozens of orchestral recordings in his discography are numerous solo and chamber recordings, including the complete Mozart Horn Concerti with Christoph Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony, ##Texas Horns##Texas Horns featuring the Dallas and Houston horn sections, and “The Christmas Horn” which features VerMeulen combined with his students from Rice University, conducted by Dale Clevenger. He has recorded live the Brahms Trio op. 40, Mozart Quintet K. 407, Beethoven Septet, Ravel Tombeau de Couperin for wind quintet, Schubert Octet, Spohr Nonet, Ligeti Bagatelles, and the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. A champion of new music, VerMeulen has had numerous pieces written for him including concerti by esteemed American composers Samuel Adler, Pierre Jalbert, Tony DiLorenzo, and the horn cantata “Canticum Sacrum” by Robert Bradshaw. He recorded the Canto XI by Samuel Adler for a CD called ##First Chairs##First Chairs. Among his awards and honors, VerMeulen received first prize at the 1980 International Horn Society Soloist Competition and the Shapiro Award for Most Outstanding Brass Player at the Tanglewood Festival.\n\nRegarded as one of the most influential horn teachers of all time, VerMeulen recently retired as professor of horn at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. His students perform in numerous major orchestras throughout the world including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Canadian Brass, Cleveland Orchestra, and the San Francisco, Cincinnati, Montreal, St. Louis, Toronto, Detroit, Dallas, and Houston Symphonies. Over 250 positions of employment have been offered to his students. In 1985, he was invited to the White House to receive a Distinguished Teacher of America Certificate of Excellence from President Reagan and the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.\n\nVerMeulen received his training from Dale Clevenger at Northwestern University and the Interlochen Arts Academy and is founder and president of VerMeulen Music, L.L.C., which offers music and products for horn players worldwide at www.vermeulenmusic.com\n\nVerMeulen is married to Houston Opera and Ballet violinist Sylvia VerMeulen, and they have two lovely children, Michael and Nicole. In his rare free time, he enjoys having good friends over to share in his passion for fine cooking and wine.","musicianChair":"Principal Horn: ##Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/William-VerMeulen_Principal-Horn.jpg","musicianID":"Musician75","musicianName":"William VerMeulen","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"75","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/william-vermeulen/"},"Musician76":{"musicianBio":"Robert Johnson enjoys a growing career as an orchestral and chamber musician, soloist, and teacher of horn. Before joining the Houston Symphony in 2012 as Associate Principal Horn, Johnson was Assistant Principal/Utility Horn of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, Principal Horn of both the Dayton Philharmonic and Richmond Symphony, and Fourth Horn of the Honolulu Symphony. He has also performed with the Houston Grand Opera, IRIS Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and both the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as a guest Principal Horn.\n\nJohnson has performed as a Concerto Soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, New World Symphony, Texas Music Festival, at Chicago’s Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and nationwide as a recitalist and chamber musician. In the summers, he has performed with the AIMS, Aspen, Cascade, Colorado, Strings, and Tanglewood Music Festivals, as well as the Perlman Music Program and Sun Valley Summer Symphony. He can be heard performing on numerous recordings, commercials, and soundtracks made with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, Dayton Philharmonic, Nashville String Machine Studio Orchestra, and the Houston Symphony.\n\nIn the Fall of 2013, Johnson joined the faculty of the Moores School of Music as an Affiliate Artist at the University of Houston, thus fulfilling a long-held dream of expanding his teaching to the collegiate level. Also a faculty member at the Texas Music Festival, he is in demand to lead masterclasses and lectures nationwide, most recently at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. Johnson’s previous students have enjoyed acceptance and appointment to a multitude of prestigious universities, conservatories, summer music festivals, and professional ensembles. Acceptances include the Banff Centre for the Arts, Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States, Interlochen Arts Camp and Academy, Yamaha’s Young Performing Artist Program, as well as the Brevard, Domaine Forget, Hot Springs, Lucerne, Pacific, Sarasota, and Texas Music Festivals. Collegiate acceptances include Carnegie Mellon, DePaul, Indiana, Northwestern, Rice, and Roosevelt Universities, the New England, Oberlin, and San Francisco Conservatories, as well as the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music, and Peabody Institute. His students have performed with a number of professional ensembles, including City Music Cleveland, Hawaii Symphony, Houston Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.\n\nA graduate of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, he studied with William VerMeulen and received further training as a fellow with the New World Symphony. Johnson is a lifetime member of the International Horn Society and has authored for The Horn Call magazine. He is married to flutist and teacher Ariella Perlman, with whom he chases their twin boys, Ezra and Reuben.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Robert-Johnson_Associate-Principal-Horn.jpg","musicianID":"Musician76","musicianName":"Robert Johnson","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"76","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/robert-johnson/"},"Musician77":{"musicianBio":"Nathan Cloeter, a native of Lake Jackson, Texas, was appointed as Assistant Principal/Utility Horn of the Houston Symphony in 2023 by Music Director Juraj Valčuha. He has previously performed with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and the Naples Philharmonic, and he has spent summers as a fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center. While a fellow at Tanglewood, he earned many plaudits for a performance as the solo horn of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony conducted by Andris Nelsons. Cloeter holds a bachelor’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music where he studied with William VerMeulen.","musicianChair":"Assistant Principal / Utility Horn","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nathan-Cloeter_Assistant-PrincipalUtility-Horn.jpg","musicianID":"Musician77","musicianName":"Nathan Cloeter","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"77","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/nathan-cloeter/"},"Musician78":{"musicianBio":"Ian Mayton, a native of Durham, North Carolina, was appointed fourth horn of the Houston Symphony by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada in November 2014. Mayton has performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the North Carolina Symphony. After completing his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Mayton spent a year in the Master of Music program at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music studying with William VerMeulen.","musicianChair":"Second Horn: Barbara Burger Chair","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Ian-Mayton_Horn.jpg","musicianID":"Musician78","musicianName":"Ian Mayton","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"78","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/ian-mayton/"},"Musician79":{"musicianBio":"Brian Mangrum joined the Houston Symphony as Third Horn in June of 2023. From Montreal, he started horn lessons with Denys Derôme in the sixth grade, later studying with John Milner at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and with John Zirbel at Collège Marianopolis and over the summers at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Brian attended Rice University in Bill VerMeulen’s studio, and began his tenure as Principal Horn of the Columbus Symphony upon graduation, in 2018.\n\nIn addition to his positions in Houston and Columbus, Brian has performed with orchestras across North America, notably as guest principal horn with the San Francisco Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the National Arts Center Orchestra of Canada and the Cleveland Orchestra.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BrianMangrum_022crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician79","musicianName":"Brian Mangrum","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"79","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/brian-mangrum/"},"Musician8":{"musicianBio":"Sophia Silivos, violin, has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1992. Silivos began her career as first violinist of the Dakota quartet and then was named principal second violinist of the New Mexico Symphony. She has performed as soloist with the Houston Symphony and served as Associate Concertmaster for the 2005–06 season.\n\nAn ardent proponent of chamber music, Silivos has appeared with ensembles throughout the United States and has performed live for public radio stations in Chicago, Houston, and Minneapolis. Here in Texas, she is a featured violinist for the St. Cecilia Chamber Music concert series.\n\nShe has served on the faculties of the University of Houston and Augustana college, teaches privately, and gives master classes.\n\nIn the summer of 2007, Silivos was an invited participant in a three-week tour of China, giving master classes and performing recitals and solos with orchestra.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sophie-Silivos_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician8","musicianName":"Sophia Silivos","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"8","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/sophia-silivos/"},"Musician80":{"musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/french-horn-crop-325x325.jpg","musicianID":"Musician80","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"80","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-horn/"},"Musician81":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Spencer-Bay.webp","musicianID":"Musician81","musicianName":"Spencer Bay+","musicianPosition":"Horn","musicianPriority":"81","musicianTitle":"Horn","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/spencer-bay/"},"Musician82":{"musicianBio":"Mark Hughes “knows how to spin out a long line with the eloquence of a gifted singer,” says Derrick Henry of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Hughes developed his abilities at Northwestern University where he studied with the late Vincent Cichowicz of the Chicago Symphony. After graduation, he joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a scholarship student of Adolph Herseth, the legendary Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony.\n\nHughes then began touring with Richard Morris as the popular organ and trumpet duo, “Toccatas and Flourishes,” performing throughout the United States and Canada. His appointment as Associate Principal Trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra followed, which he held for 12 years. During his time with the ASO, he appeared as soloist with the orchestra on numerous occasions, performed on dozens of recordings, and was an active studio musician.\n\nHughes is currently Principal Trumpet of the Houston Symphony, a position he has held since 2006. He has appeared as soloist with the orchestra on several occasions, including the performance of the Shostakovich Concerto no. 1 for Piano and Trumpet with Jon Kimura Parker, a performance heard nationally on American Public Radio’s SymphonyCast. Since his arrival in Houston, Hughes has performed and recorded with the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras and continues to be in demand as a soloist with orchestras and in recital. In addition, he serves on the faculties of the Brevard Music Center and the Texas Music Festival each summer. Hughes lives in Bellaire with his wife, Marilyn, and their two children, Thomas and Caroline.","musicianChair":"Principal Trumpet: ##George P. And Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair##","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Mark-Hughes_Principal-Trumpet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician82","musicianName":"Mark Hughes","musicianPosition":"Trumpet","musicianPriority":"82","musicianTitle":"Trumpet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mark-hughes/"},"Musician83":{"musicianBio":"John Parker, a native of High Point, North Carolina, joined the Houston Symphony in May of 2016 as Associate Principal Trumpet. Previously, he was Principal Trumpet with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, a position he attained after his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). While at UNC, Parker was a recipient of the Kenan Music Scholarship and also the Frank Comfort Education Scholarship. Parker has also performed as Principal Trumpet of the Charleston Symphony, the Roanoke Symphony, and the Greensboro Symphony. He attended the Aspen Music Festival and School on a full fellowship in both 2012 and 2013 and has also performed twice as a soloist at the National Trumpet Competition.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/John-Parker_Associate-Princpal-Trumpet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician83","musicianName":"John Parker","musicianPosition":"Trumpet","musicianPriority":"83","musicianTitle":"Trumpet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/john-parker/"},"Musician84":{"musicianBio":"Robert Walp joined the Houston Symphony as Assistant Principal Trumpet in 1983. Originally from Pasadena, California, Walp studied with Walter Laursen (Principal Trumpet, Pasadena Symphony) and Thomas Stevens (Principal Trumpet, Los Angeles Philharmonic) before moving to Chicago to study with Vincent Cichowicz at Northwestern University.\n\nAs a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Walp studied with Adolph Herseth and Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony. After graduating from Northwestern University in 1982, Walp worked with Albert Calvayrac in France, and Timofei Dokschitzer (Solo Trumpet, Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra) in Moscow.\n\nWell known for his success in teaching young people, Walp substituted for Vincent Cichowicz at Northwestern University, leading master classes, teaching, and giving a recital at his alma mater. Walp also served on the faculty of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music for five years. His students are some of the most sought-after musicians by major conservatories and schools of music.\n\nAn active chamber musician and recitalist, Walp has performed with the Carmel Bach Festival in California, Rheingau Musikfestival in Germany, Albi Festival in France, and Gidon Kremer’s Laurie Festival in Köln and St. Petersburg, Russia. His solo appearances include numerous recitals throughout the United States and Europe, and concerti performances with the Houston Symphony.\n\nAfter leading an amateur brass band for over a decade, Robert Walp has founded an all-professional group, The Magnolia City Brass Band. The debut concert will be at the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall on Sunday, November 14, 2021. Mr. Walp joined the faculty of the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music in January of 2015.\n\nRobert Walp is a Yamaha Performing Artist.","musicianChair":"Assistant Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Robert-Walp_Assistant-Trumpet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician84","musicianName":"Robert Walp","musicianPosition":"Trumpet","musicianPriority":"84","musicianTitle":"Trumpet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/robert-walp/"},"Musician85":{"musicianBio":"Richard Harris joined the Houston Symphony as second trumpet in 2018.  Previously, he was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra where he performed for 8 years. In March of 2018, Harris gained the distinction of being the only musician in an American orchestra to have won auditions for each position in one orchestral trumpet section.  He achieved this notable accomplishment during his tenure at the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra where he won nationally held blind auditions for the positions of Second Trumpet (2009), Associate Principal / 3rd Trumpet (2014) and Principal Trumpet (2018). As a soloist, Harris has performed J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 2, Copland’s Quiet City, and Concerti by Vivalidi, Hummel, Haydn, and Neruda. As an artist for Conn- Selmer (Vincent Bach Trumpets), he has enjoyed performing in orchestras all over the world including the Seoul Philharmonic in South Korea and the Jalisco Philharmonic in Guadalajara, Mexico. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, as well as many others.\n\nAn avid educator, Harris has given masterclasses at universities and high schools across the country. Currently he serves on the faculty at Texas Tech University, and at AFA Texas. He served on the faculty at Winthrop University from 2013–2018 and at UNC Charlotte from 2007–2009.  He also had the privilege of serving as the brass coach for the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra for 7 years. He strives to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere where students are encouraged and inspired to improve their playing. His primary goal is to ensure that their love of music remains an important and positive part of their lives, even beyond the stage. Harris’ students have enjoyed successful auditions for orchestras, wind ensembles, and prestigious programs of study.\n\nIn addition to his passion for playing trumpet, Harris is a chess enthusiast.  His volunteer work with inner-city schools in Charlotte allowed him to teach and run chess camps for underprivileged kids. As a master level chess player, he uses this game as a teaching tool to foster a sense of patience, sportsmanship, strategic thinking, and calm under pressure.\n\nHarris has studied with Thomas Booth, Barbara Butler, and many others. His degrees from Texas Tech University and Southern Methodist University (SMU) gave him a strong foundation. While a student at SMU he had the honor of playing two seasons with the National Repertory Orchestra. During his time at SMU he was hailed by the Dallas Observer as “a dream of a principal trumpet player.” Also, while a student at Texas Tech he won the concerto competition. He performed the Haydn Concerto at the Las Vegas Music Festival in 2003 as an invited soloist.\n\nHarris was born in Lander, Wyoming as the youngest of five siblings. Originally, he began his musical studies at age 5 on the cello. At age 8, he discovered his lifelong passion as he also began studying the trumpet. When he was given his first trumpet he felt instantly that it was the instrument he couldn’t put down.\n\nIn 2013, he met his wife, Angela, and they have two children between them, Edward and Eva.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Richard-Harris_Trumpet.jpg","musicianID":"Musician85","musicianName":"Richard Harris","musicianPosition":"Trumpet","musicianPriority":"85","musicianTitle":"Trumpet","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/richard-harris/"},"Musician86":{"musicianBio":"Nick Platoff harnesses the power of music to deliver compounding benefit to the world. He enjoys a multi-faceted career as a trombonist, composer/producer, singer, educator, conductor, and concert producer. After eight seasons as Associate Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony, where he was appointed by Michael Tilson Thomas at age 23, Nick joined the Houston Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trombone in September 2024.\n\nNick loves using music to delight, inspire, and empower audiences, and does so in a wide variety of mediums and genres as a soloist as well as in collaboration with artists like Jacob Collier, KNOWER, esperanza spalding, Common, Metallica, Steve Lacy, Sigur Ros, Nu Deco Ensemble, the New York Philharmonic, and Yo-Yo Ma.\n\nRecent highlights include conducting the Stanford Brass Ensemble on a concert which included the world premiere of his “The Fanford Stanfare”, composing music for Ramazan Nanayev’s film “Ikigai” and producing a silly music video about spies, both to be premiered Fall 2024. In August 2024, he toured Spain with Zirzuví, a Santa Cruz based band specializing in Sephardic music. Other proud moments include the August 2023 world premiere of his Symphony No. 1 with the SF Civic Symphony, and the November 2022 release of his debut album “Limousine of Creative Potential” featuring songs written and recorded in his friend Joel’s limousine during the pandemic.\n\nNick’s compositions center on themes of family, hope, mental health, and nature, and he genre-hops between the symphonic world, silly-pop, bumpin’ funk bangers, heartfelt tributes, and jungle soundscape. He regularly performs as a singer-songwriter on the Sofar Sounds series.\n\nNick joined the faculty of the University of Houston Moores School of Music in September 2024, and has previously served as a faculty member at Stanford University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division, and the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra. As a guest educator, he has taught recently at Rice, Yale, Juilliard, the National Orchestral Institute, and Amateur Music Network. He has collaborated as video producer and co-host with his father, musicologist John Platoff, on various SF Symphony online educational events as well as the Professor Platoff YouTube channel. Nick is a proud alumnus of New Haven’s Neighborhood Music School, Northwestern University, and the New World Symphony.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/NickPlatoff_001crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician86","musicianName":"Nick Platoff","musicianPosition":"Trombone","musicianPriority":"86","musicianTitle":"Trombone","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/nick-platoff/"},"Musician87":{"musicianBio":"Bradley White, trombone, joined the Houston Symphony in the fall of 2001 as Associate Principal and Second Trombone. He is a native Houstonian and earned his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in 1993. He went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where he received a Master of Music in 1997. White has performed with Ambient Brass, the Houston Ballet and Grand Opera Orchestras, and the San Antonio and Hawaii Symphonies.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Bradley-White_Acting-Principal-Trombone.jpg","musicianID":"Musician87","musicianName":"Bradley White","musicianPosition":"Trombone","musicianPriority":"87","musicianTitle":"Trombone","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/bradley-white/"},"Musician88":{"musicianBio":"Phillip I FREEMAN was appointed bass trombonist of the Houston Symphony in 2007 after six seasons with the Sarasota Opera. He has also performed with the Dallas Symphony, the Grant Park Music Festival, the Houston Ballet, the Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Sarasota Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony, and the Utah Symphony.\n\nA graduate of the University of Houston, Freeman received his bachelor’s degree in music, satisfying the requirements for both composition and euphonium performance. After taking up bass trombone during his senior year he continued its study at the Manhattan School of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center.\n\nHe has taught at the Moores School of Music, the Shepherd School of Music, and the Texas Music Festival, and has presented masterclasses and recitals at Baylor, McGill, and UTSA.\n\nFreeman is a MICHAEL RATH TROMBONES performing artist.\n\nphillipifreeman.com","musicianChair":"Bass Trombone","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Phillip-Freeman_Bass-trombone.jpg","musicianID":"Musician88","musicianName":"Phillip Freeman","musicianPosition":"Trombone","musicianPriority":"88","musicianTitle":"Trombone","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/phillip-freeman/"},"Musician89":{"musicianBio":"Dave Kirk is Principal Tubist of the Houston Symphony and an Associate Professor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, positions held since 1982.\n\nKirk was selected for his teaching and playing positions during his final year of undergraduate studies at New York’s Juilliard School. While at Juilliard, he studied with Don Harry. Dave’s other teachers include Chester Schmitz, Warren Deck, Neal Tidwell, and his Houston Symphony colleagues.\n\nKirk appears as a guest performer and teacher in North America and Japan. He enjoys an international reputation for his teaching of musicianship and physical aspects of wind playing. Locally, he is an active recitalist, chamber music collaborator, and conductor.\n\nHis orchestral playing is heard on Houston Symphony recordings under conductors Sergiu Comissiona, Newton Wayland, Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Krajewski, Hans Graf, and Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Kirk’s solo playing is featured on Mark Custom Recordings’ ##The Music of Leroy Osmon, Volume 1.##The Music of Leroy Osmon, Volume 1.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Dave-Kirk_Principal-Tuba.jpg","musicianID":"Musician89","musicianName":"Dave Kirk","musicianPosition":"Tuba","musicianPriority":"89","musicianTitle":"Tuba","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/dave-kirk/"},"Musician9":{"musicianBio":"Rodica Gonzalez is an accomplished violinist who has been studying and performing since the age of 4. She has been a member of the first violin section of the Houston Symphony since 1990.\n\nOriginally from Romania, Gonzalez studied, as a child, at the George Enescu Music School, giving her first solo performance with an orchestra at the age of 11. As a teenager, she studied with the acclaimed Romanian music teacher, Modest Iftinchi, at the Ciprian Porumbescu Conservatory in Bucharest. In the mid-eighties she was awarded scholarships at prestigious music academies in Italy and Switzerland. It was then that she had the opportunity to meet and study with Sergiu Luca, who was at Houston’s Rice University. Her life took an exciting turn when Luca invited her to study with him at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music. She received her master’s degree in music at Rice University in 1990.\n\nEarly in her career, Gonzalez performed with the Houston Ballet Orchestra and was concertmaster and soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra in Keystone, Colorado. She was winner of the Shepherd School Concerto Competition as well as the Campanile Orchestra Concerto Competition. She has been soloist with the Houston Symphony on many occasions, including the Sounds Like Fun! music festival.\n\nIn the spring of 1996, Gonzalez embarked on her first solo tour of Switzerland and her native Romania. Since then, she has performed extensively as a recitalist and in chamber ensembles in Romania, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. She has performed as a soloist with the Bucharest and Constanta Philharmonic, Doctor’s Orchestra of Houston, Galveston Symphony, the Houston Civic Symphony, and Houston Chamber Orchestra, where she was concertmaster. She is the founding violinist of the Tre Voci Trio and the Fidelis Quartet, ensembles that perform extensively in Houston and other parts of the United States.\n\nGonzalez has had the great honor of performing at Carnegie Hall several times. She performed her debut recital at Carnegie Hall in 2002 with her colleague John Hendrickson and had the privilege of returning twice with Tre Voci and pianist Ilgin Aka. She performed again in Carnegie Hall with the Fidelis String Quartet and was privileged to be invited back to perform with her sister Mihaela and pianist Ilonka Rus. In June 2011, Gonzalez performed a program of Brahms and Piazzola in Carnegie Hall with the Fidelis Quartet, flutist Judy Dines and clarinetist Danny Granados. This program was released in 2019 on CD by Delos label to rave reviews.\n\nMusic is the centerpiece of Gonzalez’s life, more than a profession, it is her avocation and passion. Of her playing, Atencion San Miguel wrote that she “uses the most delicate and articulate phrasing in her playing, yet her capriciousness at times yields the exciting singing of strings that audiences revere…her playing shows a polished and confident style.”\n\nIn addition to her performing duties, Gonzalez enjoys teaching young, aspiring musicians. She taught for many years at Houston Baptist University and is now on the faculty of The University of Saint Thomas. She and her husband Robert are proud parents of their son, Matthew.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Rodica-Gonzalez_First-Violin.jpg","musicianID":"Musician9","musicianName":"Rodica Gonzalez","musicianPosition":"First Violin","musicianPriority":"9","musicianTitle":"First Violin","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/rodica-gonzalez/"},"Musician90":{"musicianBio":"Leonardo R. Soto, Jr. was appointed Principal Timpanist of the Houston Symphony in 2018. Before arriving to Houston, Leo served as Principal Timpanist of the Charlotte Symphony from 2009 to 2018, and the Michigan Opera Theatre-Detroit Opera House from 2003 to 2009. He was also an active member of Miami’s Nu-Deco ensemble.\n\nLeo has the unique distinction of being the first native Hispanic Timpanist to play in a major orchestra in the United States.\n\nAs an educator, Leonardo was faculty at Queens University of Charlotte as well as Artist in residence at Central Piedmont College, and an instructor for the Charlotte Youth Symphony program. As a clinician, he has taught master classes including PASIC’s Pennsylvania day of percussion, the University of North Carolina, Eastern Michigan University, Filarmónica Joven de Colombia, University of Georgia, Rice University, University of Houston, Universidad de Antioquia de Colombia and schools throughout South America. Leo often travels back to his native Chile to perform recitals, master classes and clinics at the National University of Chile, the Youth Symphony Foundation and the National Symphony.\n\nLeonardo has appeared as a soloist with the Charlotte Symphony, Amarillo Symphony and the Houston Symphony. In January 2017 he performed the world premiere of “Evolution Percussion Concerto,” written for him by composer Leonard Mark Lewis.\n\nHe began his musical education at the University of Chile and was the recipient of the Teatro Municipal of Santiago National Scholarship. Concurrently, he was trained as a Latin percussionist by his father, Mr. Leonardo Soto, Sr., one of Chile’s most prominent musicians in the field. Leo embarked on his professional career with the Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Chile, where he gained experience in orchestral, opera and ballet repertoire. In 1997, he received the Fundación Andes International Scholarship, which brought him to the US and Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with Timpanist Timothy Adams from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He was made an honorary student at Cleveland State University by Tom Freer of the Cleveland Orchestra.\n\nLeonardo has worked with ensembles such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, City Music Cleveland, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Toledo Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, among others. As a Latin percussionist, he has recorded and toured with a number of artists from the Pennsylvania, Southern Michigan and New York areas.\n\nWorking with Luft Mallets Leo launched this own signature line of Timpani sticks to the market and is a proud performing artist for Pearl/Adams Percussion, Adams Percussion, Remo Drumheads, and Luft Mallets.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Leonardo-Soto_Principal-Timpani.jpg","musicianID":"Musician90","musicianName":"Leonardo Soto","musicianPosition":"Timpani","musicianPriority":"90","musicianTitle":"Timpani","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/leonardo-soto/"},"Musician91":{"musicianBio":"Matthew Strauss has been applauded throughout the United States as an energetic percussionist and timpanist with a diverse musical background. In addition to his position as Associate Principal Timpanist / Section Percussionist with the Houston Symphony, Mr. Strauss is an Associate Professor of Percussion at Rice University and faculty member at the Texas Music Festival at the University of Houston. Prior to his post in Houston, Mr. Strauss performed as a member of the percussion section in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.\n\nHe also has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. Solo appearances include performances with the Houston Symphony, Texas Music Festival Orchestra, Akron Symphony, New Hampshire Music Festival, Reading Symphony Orchestra and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Mr. Strauss has performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Da Camera of Houston, Foundation For Modern Music, Bard Festival Chamber Players, Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, Skaneateles Music Festival, and has participated in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s contemporary chamber series, Music Now, under the batons of Pierre Boulez and Esa-Pekka Salonen.\n\nMr. Strauss received his bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the Juilliard School and his master’s degree in Performance from the Temple University. He is an alumnus of both the Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals and has participated in the Spoleto Music Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to his post at Rice University, Mr. Strauss taught percussion performance as a Visiting Lecturer at the Frost School of Music at University of Miami for ten years. He has presented master classes and clinics at numerous schools, festivals, and conventions such as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, New World Symphony, Juilliard School, Aspen Music Festival, Northwestern University, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Conservatoire de Region in Paris, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Temple University, Bard Conservatory, New York University, Peabody Conservatory, Tanglewood Music Center, University of Maryland, George Mason University, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Roosevelt University, and DePaul University. Mr. Strauss is a performing artist and clinician for Promark, Evans Heads, Zildjian Inc., and Pearl/Adams Corporation.","musicianChair":"Associate Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Matthew-Strauss_Associate-Principal-Timpani.jpg","musicianID":"Musician91","musicianName":"Matthew Strauss","musicianPosition":"Timpani","musicianPriority":"91","musicianTitle":"Timpani","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/matthew-strauss/"},"Musician92":{"musicianBio":"Brian Del Signore is the Principal Percussionist of the Houston Symphony. Brian joined the Houston Symphony in 1986. Prior to the Houston Symphony appointment, he held a one-year position as principal percussionist of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and performed with numerous other orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra.\n\nBorn in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Brian Del Signore earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1981, where he studied with the Pittsburgh Symphony percussionists. In 1984, Mr. Del Signore earned a Masters in Music from Temple University where he studied with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He began piano lessons at age six and drums at age eleven. His first drum teacher in the late 1960’s was Lou Carto, pop star Bobby Vinton’s drummer and bandleader at that time.\n\nBesides keeping a very busy schedule with Houston Symphony performances, Mr. Del Signore heads the percussion department at Houston Baptist University. Additionally, he has presented clinics and master classes at music schools around the USA including Baylor University, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Yale University, The Julliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Curtis Institute of Music, Temple University, Peabody Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Texas A&M Commerce, Sam Houston State University, The Colburn School in Los Angeles, and San Francisco Conservatory. He also maintains a local education and outreach schedule, presenting percussion programs in elementary schools, and percussion clinics in high schools across the Houston area.\n\nAs a composer and soloist, Brian Del Signore premiered his Percussion Concerto with Houston Civic Symphony in 2018 and performed the Marimba Movement from that concerto with Houston Symphony in 2021.\n\nBrian Del Signore endorses and is sponsored by manufacturers of high-quality percussion instruments. These companies: Remo Corporation, Sabian Cymbals, Pearl/Adams Percussion, ProMark Sticks (D’Addario), and Black Swamp Percussion, support Mr. Del Signore’s educational and outreach programs. For more information on these programs please visit www.briandelsignore.com.\n\nBrian and his wife Leah have three grown children, Damian, Dominique, and Dione.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Brian-Del-Signore_Principal-Percussion.jpg","musicianID":"Musician92","musicianName":"Brian Del Signore","musicianPosition":"Percussion","musicianPriority":"92","musicianTitle":"Percussion","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/brian-del-signore/"},"Musician93":{"musicianBio":"Mark Griffith joined the Houston Symphony in 2004. Before coming to Houston, he was a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony, performing regularly under the baton of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. He has also performed with the Honolulu Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Charleston Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and the National Repertory Orchestra.\n\nHaving grown up in Dallas, Griffith is a native Texan but received his education in various parts of the country. He did undergraduate music studies at Wheaton College outside of Chicago and earned a Master of Music from the University of Michigan. While at Wheaton, Griffith twice won the university’s concerto competition, performing marimba concertos by Paul Creston and Jorge Sarmientos. He was the recipient of the University of Michigan’s prestigious Charlie Owen Memorial Scholarship. His teachers include Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Salvatore Rabbio of the Detroit Symphony, Michael Udow of the Santa Fe Opera, and renowned marimba soloist Leigh Howard Stevens.\n\nGriffith’s playing can be heard on a growing number of Houston Symphony recordings, as well as those of the New World Symphony. One particularly unique recording features a concerto for electric guitar and orchestra, performed by composer and guitar soloist Steve Mackey with the New World Symphony. In addition to percussion, Griffith is a trained pianist and organist. He and his wife Katherine are the proud parents of their son, Benjamin, and daughter, Katie.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Mark-Griffith_Percussion.jpg","musicianID":"Musician93","musicianName":"Mark Griffith","musicianPosition":"Percussion","musicianPriority":"93","musicianTitle":"Percussion","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/mark-griffith/"},"Musician94":{"musicianBio":"Matthew Strauss has been applauded throughout the United States as an energetic percussionist and timpanist with a diverse musical background. In addition to his position as Associate Principal Timpanist / Section Percussionist with the Houston Symphony, Mr. Strauss is an Associate Professor of Percussion at Rice University and faculty member at the Texas Music Festival at the University of Houston. Prior to his post in Houston, Mr. Strauss performed as a member of the percussion section in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.\n\nHe also has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. Solo appearances include performances with the Houston Symphony, Texas Music Festival Orchestra, Akron Symphony, New Hampshire Music Festival, Reading Symphony Orchestra and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Mr. Strauss has performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Da Camera of Houston, Foundation For Modern Music, Bard Festival Chamber Players, Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, Skaneateles Music Festival, and has participated in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s contemporary chamber series, Music Now, under the batons of Pierre Boulez and Esa-Pekka Salonen.\n\nMr. Strauss received his bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the Juilliard School and his master’s degree in Performance from the Temple University. He is an alumnus of both the Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals and has participated in the Spoleto Music Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to his post at Rice University, Mr. Strauss taught percussion performance as a Visiting Lecturer at the Frost School of Music at University of Miami for ten years. He has presented master classes and clinics at numerous schools, festivals, and conventions such as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, New World Symphony, Juilliard School, Aspen Music Festival, Northwestern University, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Conservatoire de Region in Paris, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Temple University, Bard Conservatory, New York University, Peabody Conservatory, Tanglewood Music Center, University of Maryland, George Mason University, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Roosevelt University, and DePaul University. Mr. Strauss is a performing artist and clinician for Promark, Evans Heads, Zildjian Inc., and Pearl/Adams Corporation.","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Matthew-Strauss_Associate-Principal-Timpani.jpg","musicianID":"Musician94","musicianName":"Matthew Strauss","musicianPosition":"Percussion","musicianPriority":"94","musicianTitle":"Percussion","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/matthew-strauss-2/"},"Musician95":{"musicianBio":"\\n\\nAllegra Lilly was appointed Principal Harp of the Houston Symphony in February of 2023. She previously held the Principal Harp position with the St. Louis Symphony for ten seasons. She has appeared as Guest Principal Harp with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, and Charlotte Symphony, and has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and All-Star Orchestra. \\n\\nSince making her solo debut at the age of twelve with the Detroit Symphony, Lilly has performed as soloist with the Lexington Philharmonic, Juilliard Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, International Symphony, Camerata Notturna, and numerous ensembles in New York and her home state of Michigan. During her tenure with the St. Louis Symphony, she appeared as soloist three times, performing Debussy’s Danses sacrée et profane, Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp with flutist Mark Sparks, and Ginastera’s Harp Concerto. Her festival appearances have included Brevard Music Center, Grand Teton Music Festival, Arizona Musicfest, Tanglewood Music Center, Artosphere Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, National Repertory Orchestra, and Castleton Festival. Lilly is an active chamber musician and has performed as a featured guest artist with the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington, Missouri Chamber Music Festival, Innsbrook Institute Music Festival, Missouri River Festival of the Arts, Argento New Music Project, and Carnegie Hall’s EnsembleConnect. \\n\\nIn addition to holding the harp faculty position at Brevard Music Center since 2017, Lilly has given masterclasses at many of the top conservatories and universities in the United States. She has also coached orchestral and chamber music for NYO-USA, NYO2, New World Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center, and the preparatory divisions of The Juilliard School and New England Conservatory. Born in Detroit, Lilly began her study of the harp with Ruth Myers at age seven. She was also a competitive pianist as a child, winning numerous state and local awards before electing to focus exclusively on the harp in college. She went on to join the studio of New York Philharmonic Principal Harpist Nancy Allen at The Juilliard School, where she earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees.","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Allegra-Lilly_Principal-Harp.jpg","musicianID":"Musician95","musicianName":"Allegra Lilly","musicianPosition":"Harp","musicianPriority":"95","musicianTitle":"","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/allegra-lilly/"},"Musician96":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Principal","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/grand_piano_instrument_behind_a_black_solid__hthiuxaz7x502xq8iz85_0.jpg","musicianID":"Musician96","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPosition":"Keyboard","musicianPriority":"96","musicianTitle":"Keyboard","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant-keyboard/"},"Musician97":{"musicianBio":"Luke Bryson joined the Houston Symphony in 2021 and was named Principal Librarian two seasons later. He came to Houston from the Nashville Symphony, where he served as Librarian and later Acting Principal Librarian. Previously, he served as Assistant Librarian with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and as a Library Apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera. After receiving a B.M. in Oboe Performance and Music History from the University of Memphis, Bryson trained as a performance library fellow at the Sarasota Music Festival and later as an intern with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.\n\nBryson is an active member of the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association, where he has served on the organization’s finance and pops committees. He also holds an M.A. in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky and completed graduate studies in oboe performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cycling, and spending time with his wife and two cats.","musicianChair":"Principal Librarian","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/LukeBryson_001crop.jpg","musicianID":"Musician97","musicianName":"Luke Bryson","musicianPosition":"Librarian","musicianPriority":"97","musicianTitle":"Librarian","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/luke-bryson/"},"Musician98":{"musicianBio":"","musicianChair":"Associate Concertmaster:","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/placeholder-image-alt.jpg","musicianID":"Musician98","musicianName":"Vacant","musicianPriority":"98","musicianTitle":"","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/vacant/"},"Musician99":{"musicianBio":"","musicianHeadshot":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pexels-raymond-petrik-1448389535-27706637-scaled.jpg","musicianID":"Musician99","musicianName":"Meredith Harris+","musicianPriority":"99","musicianTitle":"Viola","musicianType":"Orchestra","webURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/musicians/meredith-harris/"}},"Performances":{"chamber1":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician105":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician105","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician10":{"musicianID":"Musician10","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician31":{"musicianID":"Musician31","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician36":{"musicianID":"Musician36","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician45":{"musicianID":"Musician45","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician95":{"musicianID":"Musician95","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp","hsTitle":"DEBUSSY"},{"hsMovement":"Divertimento in E-flat major for string trio, K.563","hsTitle":"MOZART"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Sep. 28, 2025","performanceDescription":"Our 2025–26 Chamber Music Series opens with two extraordinary works by two of music’s most beloved composers. First, “the goddess of flute” ##(The Korea Times)##, Jasmine Choi, joins the Symphony’s Joan DerHovsepian and Allegra Lilly for Debussy’s dreamy Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp. Then, members of the Symphony’s string section come together for one of the greatest masterworks in all of chamber music—Mozart’s exquisite Divertimento in E-flat major.","performanceID":"chamber1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_1.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Mozart & Debussy","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/mozart-debussy/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber2":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician137":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician137","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician138":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician138","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician31":{"musicianID":"Musician31","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician35":{"musicianID":"Musician35","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician43":{"musicianID":"Musician43","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician49":{"musicianID":"Musician49","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician51":{"musicianID":"Musician51","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician59":{"musicianID":"Musician59","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician64":{"musicianID":"Musician64","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician65":{"musicianID":"Musician65","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician8":{"musicianID":"Musician8","musicianPriority":"7"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Phantasy## for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello","hsTitle":"BRITTEN"},{"hsMovement":"Impromptu No. 1 for Flute and Oboe","hsTitle":"MUSGRAVE"},{"hsMovement":"Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Piano","hsTitle":"DRING"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"Allegro con fuoco"},{"hsMovement":"Andante"},{"hsMovement":"Fantasai (quasi variazioni). Moderato"}],"hsMovement":"Piano Quintet in C minor","hsTitle":"VAUGHAN WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##How to Train Your Dragon##","hsTitle":"J. POWELL/S. O’LOUGHLIN"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025","performanceDescription":"Before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, escape to the green pastures and pastoral beauty of England as members of the Houston Symphony share an evening of exquisite chamber music. Vaughan Williams’s Piano Quintet in C minor sings with heartfelt passion, rich melodies, and shimmering beauty. Also on the program: Benjamin Britten’s dazzling ##Phantasy Quartet##—written when he was just 18 years old—Madeleine Dring’s lively Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Piano, and brief but brilliant music by Thea Musgrave.","performanceID":"chamber2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_2.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Echoes from the English Countryside","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/echoes-from-the-english-countryside/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber3":{"Musicians":{"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician20":{"musicianID":"Musician20","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician28":{"musicianID":"Musician28","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician33":{"musicianID":"Musician33","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician35":{"musicianID":"Musician35","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician38":{"musicianID":"Musician38","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician43":{"musicianID":"Musician43","musicianPriority":"7"},"Musician45":{"musicianID":"Musician45","musicianPriority":"14"},"Musician49":{"musicianID":"Musician49","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician51":{"musicianID":"Musician51","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician6":{"musicianID":"Musician6","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician67":{"musicianID":"Musician67","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician71":{"musicianID":"Musician71","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician76":{"musicianID":"Musician76","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Octet","hsTitle":"FRANÇAIX"},{"hsMovement":"Souvenir de Florence","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Waltz into the spring season with Tchaikovsky’s delightful Souvenir de Florence, a musical souvenir of Florence, Italy filled with romantic melodies in full bloom. Like a sun-drenched jaunt through the French Riviera, Jean Françaix’s Octet sparkles with joy, charm, and wit.   \\n\\nEnjoy a unique, up-close perspective of the artists—including the chance to sit onstage—in this special chamber music performance spotlighting musicians of the Houston Symphony. ","performanceID":"chamber3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_3.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Springtime in Italy: Tchaikovsky & More","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chamber-music-series-chamber-3/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber4":{"Musicians":{"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician3":{"musicianID":"Musician3","musicianPriority":"7"},"Musician31":{"musicianID":"Musician31","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician33":{"musicianID":"Musician33","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician42":{"musicianID":"Musician42","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician43":{"musicianID":"Musician43","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician78":{"musicianID":"Musician78","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician82":{"musicianID":"Musician82","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician83":{"musicianID":"Musician83","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician86":{"musicianID":"Musician86","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician88":{"musicianID":"Musician88","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Morning Music##","hsTitle":"D. SAMPSON"},{"hsMovement":"##Verklärte Nacht##","hsTitle":"SCHOENBERG"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, May. 17, 2026","performanceDescription":"One of the most spellbinding, powerful, and thought-provoking works in all of music, Schoenberg’s ##Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night)## tells the story of a couple’s emotional walk through a moonlit forest, exploring themes of acceptance, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love amidst a luminous musical backdrop. Plus, member of the Houston Symphony’s brass section take center stage for David Sampson’s invigorating ##Morning Music##.  \\n\\nEnjoy a unique, up-close perspective of the artists—including the chance to sit onstage—in this special chamber music performance spotlighting musicians of the Houston Symphony. This performance is part of our multi-week Transfiguration Festival.","performanceID":"chamber4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_4.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Ethereal Transformations","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chamber-music-series-chamber-4/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber525":{"Musicians":{"Musician52":{"musicianID":"Musician52","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician60":{"musicianID":"Musician60","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician61":{"musicianID":"Musician61","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician62":{"musicianID":"Musician62","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician92":{"musicianID":"Musician92","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Lady of the Lake##","hsTitle":"KATHRYN LADNER"},{"hsMovement":"Percussion Concerto, Mov. II","hsTitle":"BRIAN DEL SIGNORE"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Join us for a special chamber music performance spotlighting works composed, arranged, and performed by musicians of the Houston Symphony! Enjoy works by Kathryn Ladner (Flute & Piccolo), Brian Del Signore (Principal Percussion), Nick Platoff (Principal Trombone), and more, and hear the inspiration behind the works from the musicians themselves.","performanceID":"chamber525","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_5.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music: Houston Symphony Musician Spotlight","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chamber-musician-composition-spotlight/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam1":{"Musicians":{"Conductor15":{"musicianID":"Conductor15","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":{"0":{"hsMovement":"In the Hall of the Mountain King from ##Peer Gynt##","hsTitle":"GRIEG"},"1":{"hsMovement":"Tanz der Furien (Dance of the Furies) from ##Orfeo ed Euridice##","hsTitle":"GLUCK"},"2":{"hsMovement":"Buckbeak's Theme from ##Harry Potter## Symphonic Suite","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS/G. FRY"},"3":{"hsMovement":"Disney's ##Aladdin## Orchestral Suite","hsTitle":"A. MENKEN/D. TROOB"},"4":{"hsMovement":"##La Llorona##","hsTitle":"ARR. C. THOMAS"},"5":{"hsMovement":"Theme, Fugue, and Chorale from ##Godzilla##","hsTitle":"IFUKUBE/N. HERSH"},"6":{"hsMovement":"Parade of the Ewoks from ##The Star Wars Saga##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},"7":{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"IX. La cabane sur des pattes de poules (The Hut on Fowl’s Legs)"}],"hsMovement":"##Tableaux d'une exposition (Pictures at an Exhibition)## ","hsTitle":"MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL"},"8":{"hsMovement":"##How to Train Your Dragon##","hsTitle":"J. POWELL/S. O’LOUGHLIN"},"performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive"},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025","performanceDescription":"Bring your little ghosts and goblins to Jones Hall for a morning of family fun as a haunted Symphony full of costumed musicians perform frightful delights from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Godzilla, Disney’s Aladdin, and more. Plus, enjoy free candy stations, Halloween-themed arts and crafts, and an Instrument Petting Zoo. Costumes encouraged!","performanceID":"fam1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Halloween_Symphony_JPG.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive","performanceTitle":"Frightfully Fun! A Halloween Concert for Kids","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/frightfully-fun-halloween-concert-kids/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam2":{"Musicians":{"Conductor8":{"musicianID":"Conductor8","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician144":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician144","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Hark! The Herald Trumpets Sing##","hsTitle":"J. WASSON"},{"hsMovement":"##A Christmas Overture##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Christmas à la Valse##","hsTitle":"R. WENDEL"},{"hsMovement":"“Carol of the Bells”","hsTitle":"LEONTOVICH/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"##Hanukkah Suite##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Sleigh Ride##","hsTitle":"ANDERSON"},{"hsMovement":"“You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from ##How the Grinch Stole Christmas##","hsTitle":"HAGUE/M. NAUGHTIN"},{"hsMovement":"##Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer##","hsTitle":"MARKS/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"“Joy to the World”","hsTitle":"HANDEL/S. AMUNDSON"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025","performanceDescription":"Gather the whole family and jingle all the way to Jones Hall for a sparkling concert guaranteed to put the “ho-ho-ho” in your holiday! Sing along to festive favorites, sip free hot chocolate, and meet Santa himself. With arts and crafts, an Instrument Petting Zoo, and a sprinkle of holiday magic, this concert will make spirits bright for the whole family.","performanceID":"fam2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Christmas_Symphony_JPG.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive","performanceTitle":"Oh, What Fun! A Holiday Concert for Kids","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/oh-what-fun-holiday-concert-kids/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam3":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician149":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician149","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"1. ##When Instruments Roamed the Earth!## Theme"},{"hsMovement":"2. Sir Humphrey Treble Clef"},{"hsMovement":"3. Kaboom for Orchestra"},{"hsMovement":"4. String Dinosaurs"},{"hsMovement":"5. Toot Suite for Woodwinds"},{"hsMovement":"6. Horns Aplenty"},{"hsMovement":"7. Blunder Lizards"},{"hsMovement":"8. Finale Part 1"},{"hsMovement":"9. Cymbalasaurus"},{"hsMovement":"10. Finale Finish"}],"hsMovement":"##When Instruments Roamed the Earth!## \\n\\nNarration by Stephen White","hsTitle":"B. SINGLETON"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026","performanceDescription":"RAWRR! Come ready with your best dinosaur roar, and join us on a Jurassic adventure, back to a time when Instruments roamed the Earth! Hosted by “paleo-musicologist” Sir Humphrey Treble Clef, this all-ages family concert is filled with laughs, multi-media projections, on-stage action (and, maybe even a T-Rex sighting…) A perfect introduction to the instruments of the orchestra for young audiences.","performanceID":"fam3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_30-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive","performanceTitle":"When Instruments Roamed The Earth","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/when-instruments-roamed-the-earth/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam4":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026","performanceDescription":"Abracadabra! Grab your magic wands (or batons) for a spellbinding musical adventure—we’re conjuring up a morning of magical musical fun! Bring your little wizards and witches to Jones Hall and have your magic conducting batons at the ready for magical moments from ##Harry Potter##, ##The Sorcerer’s Apprentice##, and more that will delight little wizards and their families.","performanceID":"fam4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Magic_Symphony_JPG.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive","performanceTitle":"Abracadabra! A Magical Musical Adventure","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/abracadabra-magical-musical-adventure/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"holidays1":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician5":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician5","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician6":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician6","musicianPriority":"2"}},"performanceDate":"Monday, Dec. 15, 2025","performanceDescription":"Back by popular demand! Join us to celebrate a Feliz Navidad with José Hernández and his world-renowned, platinum-selling Mariachi Sol de México, performing treasured holiday classics such as ##El Niño del tambor (Little drummer boy)##, ##Himno de la alegría (A song of Joy)##, the ##Nutcracker Medley## and many more holiday favorites with a surprising Mariachi twist. José Hernández, a grammy-winning world-renowned musician, composer, music educator and seven-generation mariachi, leads the way to this amazing celebration with sabor a México at Jones Hall for one night only right before Christmas Eve.\\n\\n##This performance does not include the Houston Symphony.##","performanceID":"holidays1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Holiday-Mariachi_Concept-Art_Wide-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Mariachi Sol De Mexico de José Hernández presents: José Hernández' Merry-Achi Christmas","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/mariachi-sol-de-mexico-jose-hernandez-merry-achi-christmas/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops1":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician16":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician16","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Fanfare from ##Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra)##","hsTitle":"R. STRAUSS"},{"hsMovement":"“Burning Love”","hsTitle":"LINDE/CIACCA"},{"hsMovement":"“The Wonder of You”","hsTitle":"KNIGHT/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Love Me”","hsTitle":"LEIBER-STOLLER"},{"hsMovement":"“Always on My Mind\"","hsTitle":"CHRISTOPHER-THOMPSON-JAMES/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Great Balls of Fire\"","hsTitle":"HAMMER-BLACKWELL/HAAK"},{"hsMovement":"“Little Egypt”","hsTitle":"LEIBER-STOLLER/MORENO-RONDOR"},{"hsMovement":"“I Just Can’t Help Believing”","hsTitle":"MANN-WEIL"},{"hsMovement":"“Mystery Train”","hsTitle":"PARKER-CHARLES"},{"hsMovement":"“Can't Help Falling in Love”","hsTitle":"WEISS-PERETTI-CREATORE/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“A Big Hunk 'o Love”","hsTitle":"SCHROEDER-WYCHE/A. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Surrender”","hsTitle":"POMUS-SCHUMAN/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Moonlight Matinée”","hsTitle":"MORENO-MORENO/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“You Gave Me a Mountain”","hsTitle":"ROBBINS/JONOKUCHI"},{"hsMovement":"“Good Ol' Days”","hsTitle":"MORENO-MORENO/M. PODD-KONDOR"},{"hsMovement":"“If I Can Dream”","hsTitle":"BROWN/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Bridge Over Troubled Water”","hsTitle":"SIMON/MORENO"},{"hsMovement":"“Suspicious Minds”","hsTitle":"JAMES/NORRIS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 - Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","performanceDescription":"Get ready to rock—we’re celebrating the King! Known for his dynamic vocal range and high-octane performances, electrifying 5x Las Vegas Headliner of the Year Frankie Moreno brings Elvis’s signature swagger to hit after iconic hit: “Burning Love,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Always on My Mind,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and so many more.","performanceID":"pops1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/POPS1_Concept-Art-Wide-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"King for a Day: The Music of Elvis","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/king-for-a-day-elvis-music-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops2":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician19":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician19","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician20":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician20","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Overture to ##Overture to West Side Story##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN/PERESS"},{"hsMovement":"“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from ##Gentlemen Prefer Blondes##","hsTitle":"STYNE/BARTON"},{"hsMovement":"“Children Will Listen” from ##Into the Woods##","hsTitle":"SONDHEIM/TUNICK-S. REINEKE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Impossible Dream” from ##Man of La Mancha##","hsTitle":"LEIGH/HALL"},{"hsMovement":"“Out There” from ##The Hunchback of Notre Dame##","hsTitle":"A. MENKEN/STAROBIN"},{"hsMovement":"Excerpts from ##Fiddler On the Roof##","hsTitle":"BOCK/WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"“Unusual Way” from ##Nine##","hsTitle":"M. YESTON"},{"hsMovement":"“Bring Him Home” from ##Les Misérables##","hsTitle":"C. M. SCHÖNBERG/CAMERON"},{"hsMovement":"“One Second and a Million Miles” from ##The Bridges of Madison County##","hsTitle":"J. R. BROWN"},{"hsMovement":"Overture and “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from ##Oklahoma!##","hsTitle":"RODGERS/BENNETT"},{"hsMovement":"“Johanna” from ##Sweeney Todd##","hsTitle":"SONDHEIM/J. TUNICK"},{"hsMovement":"Prologue and “The Sound of Music” from ##The Sound of Music##","hsTitle":"RODGERS/KOSTAL"},{"hsMovement":"“Don’t Rain On My Parade” from ##Funny Girl##","hsTitle":"STYNE/MOORE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Jellicle Ball” from ##Cats##","hsTitle":"A. LLOYD WEBBER/CULLEN"},{"hsMovement":"“Back to Before” from ##Ragtime##","hsTitle":"FLAHERTY/BROHN"},{"hsMovement":"“The Music of the Night” from ##The Phantom of the Opera##","hsTitle":"A. LLOYD WEBBER"},{"hsMovement":"“Being Alive” from ##Company##","hsTitle":"SONDHEIM/J. TUNICK"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 - Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025","performanceDescription":"Broadway stars Hugh Panaro and Elizabeth Stanley join Steven Reineke and the Houston Symphony for an extravaganza of showstoppers from your favorite stage and movie musicals, including selections from West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, and more.","performanceID":"pops2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/POPS2-updated.png","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"From Stage to Screen: Broadway Meets Hollywood","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/stage-to-screen-broadway-hollywood/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops3":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"4"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"3"},"Conductor8":{"musicianID":"Conductor8","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician123":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician123","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Hark! The Herald Trumpets Sing##","hsTitle":"J. WASSON"},{"hsMovement":"“O Come, All Ye Faithful”","hsTitle":"ARR. M. WILBERG"},{"hsMovement":"“Somewhere in My Memory” from ##Home Alone##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”","hsTitle":"MARKS/HARDY"},{"hsMovement":"“White Christmas”","hsTitle":"BERLIN/BENNETT"},{"hsMovement":"“Carol of the Bells”","hsTitle":"LEONTOVICH/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”","hsTitle":"MARTIN-BLANE/D. MCKENZIE"},{"hsMovement":"##Christmas à la Valse##","hsTitle":"R. WENDEL"},{"hsMovement":"“In the Bleak Midwinter”","hsTitle":"HOLST/R. W. SMITH"},{"hsMovement":"“O Tannenbaum”","hsTitle":"ARR. HARRIS"},{"hsMovement":"##A Christmas Overture##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Hanukkah Suite##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer##","hsTitle":"MARKS/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"“Christmas Time Is Here” from ##A Charlie Brown Christmas##","hsTitle":"GUARALDI/M. NAUGHTIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Jingle Bells?”","hsTitle":"PIERPONT/P. HEMMER"},{"hsMovement":"“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”","hsTitle":"TORMÉ-WELLS/RIDDLE"},{"hsMovement":"“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”","hsTitle":"COOTS/HOLCOMBE"},{"hsMovement":"“Away in a Manger”","hsTitle":"MURRAY/S. AMUNDSON"},{"hsMovement":"“Joy to the World”","hsTitle":"HANDEL/S. AMUNDSON"}],"performanceDate":"Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025","performanceDescription":"Houston’s biggest holiday spectacle returns! Cozy up with friends and family and celebrate the best time of the year with Ali Stroker, the Houston Symphony, and a merry chorus. Featuring sparkling decorations, your favorite carols, and a special visit from Santa, this concert delivers instant holiday cheer.","performanceID":"pops3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/POPS3-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Very Merry POPS","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/very-merry-pops-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops4":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician124":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician124","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician151":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician151","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician152":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician152","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician2":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"AHLERT*","hsTitle":"“I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”"},{"hsMovement":"YOUMANS","hsTitle":"“I Want to Be Happy”"},{"hsMovement":"ELLINGTON-TIZOL","hsTitle":"“Caravan”"},{"hsMovement":"TROUP","hsTitle":"“(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66”"},{"hsMovement":"ARLEN","hsTitle":"“It’s Only a Paper Moon”"},{"hsMovement":"AHLERT","hsTitle":"“Walkin’ My Baby Back Home”"},{"hsMovement":"GARNER","hsTitle":"“Misty”"},{"hsMovement":"AHBEZ","hsTitle":"“Nature Boy”"},{"hsMovement":"COLE-MILLS","hsTitle":"“Straighten Up and Fly Right”"},{"hsMovement":"DELUGG-STEIN","hsTitle":"“Orange Colored Sky”"},{"hsMovement":"PORTER","hsTitle":"“Just One of Those Things”"},{"hsMovement":"BURWELL","hsTitle":"“Sweet Lorraine”"},{"hsMovement":"HANDY","hsTitle":"“Saint Louis Blues”"},{"hsMovement":"WARFIELD-WILLIAMS","hsTitle":"“Baby Won’t You Please Come Home”"},{"hsMovement":"BLOOM","hsTitle":"“Day In, Day Out”"},{"hsMovement":"YOUNG","hsTitle":"“When I Fall in Love”"},{"hsMovement":"CHAPLIN","hsTitle":"“Smile”"},{"hsMovement":"LIVINGSTON","hsTitle":"“Mona Lisa”"},{"hsMovement":"KAEMPFERT","hsTitle":"“L-O-V-E”"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026","performanceDescription":"Enjoy an “Unforgettable” start to 2026 as Byron Stripling, Denzal Sinclaire, and the Houston Symphony Big Band perform the timeless hits of Nat King Cole, along with well-known songs by other jazz legends. Hear the songs you know and L-O-V-E, including “Mona Lisa,” “Nature Boy,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Just One of Those Things,” and more.  \\n\\n##Performance does not include the Houston Symphony.##","performanceID":"pops4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NatKingColeArt_Wide.png","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"A Nat King Cole New Year","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/nat-king-cole-new-year-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops5":{"IndividualPerformances":{"Pops5A25":{"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026","performanceID":"Pops5A25","performanceTime":"7:30 P.M."},"Pops5B25":{"performanceDate":"Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026","performanceID":"Pops5B25","performanceTime":"2:00 P.M."}},"Musicians":{"Conductor22":{"musicianID":"Conductor22","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician125":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician125","musicianPriority":"2"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026","performanceDescription":"Legendary jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval joins the Houston Symphony for a must-see evening of music and storytelling. Garnering countless accolades and honors, including 10 Grammys and the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors, Sandoval’s dynamic stage presence and passionate playing has captivated audiences the world over. He’ll share a diverse and exhilarating program including traditional Son Cubano, Brazilian Samba, and Jazz, along with fascinating personal stories from his life and career. \\n\\n##Program curated and produced by conductor Thiago Tiberio and Arturo Sandoval. Concept created by Thiago Tiberio.##","performanceID":"pops5","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/POPS5_Concept-Art.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Arturo Sandoval: Journey To Freedom","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/arturo-sandoval-journey-to-freedom/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops6":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician126":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician126","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"“Billy the Kid Prelude”","hsTitle":"B. JOEL/ T. DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“My Life”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Vienna”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Root Beer Rag”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“She’s Always a Woman”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Miami 2017”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“East to the Sea (The Hampton Jitney Song)”","hsTitle":"DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Nocturne”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Only the Good Die Young”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Stranger”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Don’t Ask Me Why”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Best You Can Give”","hsTitle":"DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Big Shot”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Still Rock and Roll”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“You May Be Right”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Piano Man”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 - Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026","performanceDescription":"Join us for the ultimate celebration of music’s one-and-only “Piano Man.” With his silky-smooth voice and amazing piano skills, Tony DeSare will have you in a “New York State of Mind” with pitch-perfect recreations of signature Billy Joel hits like “Just the Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out,” “Vienna,” and “Piano Man.”","performanceID":"pops6","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ConceptArt_POPS6-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Piano Man: The Music of Billy Joel","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/piano-man-billy-joel-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops7":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 5 in C minor","hsTitle":"BEETHOVEN"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"III. Merry assembly of country folk: Allegro—"},{"hsMovement":"IV. Thunderstorm: Allegro—"},{"hsMovement":"V. Shepherd’s song; Happy, grateful feelings after the storm: Allegretto"}],"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 6 in F major","hsTitle":"BEETHOVEN"},{"hsMovement":"Suite from ##The Nutcracker##","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"},{"hsMovement":"Clair de lune from ##Suite bergamasque##","hsTitle":"DEBUSSY/STOKOWSKI"},{"hsMovement":"Suite from L’oiseau de feu (The Firebird)","hsTitle":"STRAVINSKY"},{"hsMovement":"##Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda##","hsTitle":"PONCHIELLI"},{"hsMovement":"##L’apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice)##","hsTitle":"DUKAS"},{"hsMovement":"Pomp and Circumstance March in D major","hsTitle":"ELGAR/SCHICKELE"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"I. I pini di Villa Borghese (The Pines of the Villa Borghese)"},{"hsMovement":"III. I pini del Gianicolo (The Pines of the Janiculum)"},{"hsMovement":"IV. I pini della via Appia (The Pines of the Appian Way)"}],"hsMovement":"Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome)","hsTitle":"RESPIGHI"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Apr. 3, 2026 - Saturday, Apr. 4, 2026","performanceDescription":"This Easter weekend, treat the entire family to the classic that’s captivated generations—Disney’s ##Fantasia##. Stunning animation fills the giant screen at Jones Hall while the Symphony brings the soundtrack to life, including favorites like Beethoven’s ##Fifth Symphony, Pomp and Circumstance, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite##, and, of course, ##The Sorcerer’s Apprentice##.","performanceID":"pops7","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_25-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Disney’s ##Fantasia## In Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/disneys-fantasia-in-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops8":{"Musicians":{"Conductor23":{"musicianID":"Conductor23","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician127":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician127","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician128":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician128","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician153":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician153","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician154":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician154","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##ICON## Overture","hsTitle":"ARR. L. WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”","hsTitle":"MERRILL-RUBICAM/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”","hsTitle":"B. JOEL/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“I Got You Babe”","hsTitle":"BONO/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Hey Jude\"","hsTitle":"P. MCCARTNEY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Your Song”","hsTitle":"E. JOHN-TAUPIN/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Lady Marmalade”","hsTitle":"CREWE-NOLAN/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Man in the Mirror”","hsTitle":"BALLARD-GARRETT/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Respect”","hsTitle":"REDDING/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“I’m Coming Out”","hsTitle":"EDWARDS-RODGERS/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“You’re All I Need To Get By”","hsTitle":"ASHFORD-SIMPSON/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“This Will Be”","hsTitle":"JACKSON-YANCY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“All Shook Up”","hsTitle":"BLACKWELL-PRESLEY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”","hsTitle":"WEATHERLY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”","hsTitle":"WONDER-HARDAWAY-GARRETT-WRIGHT/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“New York, New York” from ##New York, New York##","hsTitle":"KANDER/HALL"},{"hsMovement":"“I’ll Never Love This Way Again”—","hsTitle":"JACKSON-YANCY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"River Deep - Mountain High","hsTitle":"BARRY-GREENWICH-SPECTOR/WALDIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Apr. 24, 2026 - Sunday, Apr. 26, 2026","performanceDescription":"Elvis. Prince. Michael Jackson. Diana Ross. Whitney Houston. Stevie Wonder. Celebrate the greatest voices of all time in this powerhouse concert. Houston favorites Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw join forces with the Symphony for the biggest hits by the most iconic artists of all time, including beloved songs like “Purple Rain,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “Lady Marmalade,” and “Hey Jude.”","performanceID":"pops8","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_26-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Icon: The Voices that Changed Music","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/icon-voices-that-changed-music/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops9":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"2"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"3"},"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Friday, May. 29, 2026 - Sunday, May. 31, 2026","performanceDescription":"We’re rolling out the red carpet for the most famous movie-soundtrack moments in Hollywood history, from classic themes like ##King Kong## and ##The Godfather## to modern favorites like ##Pirates of the Caribbean## and ##Gladiator##. Join the Symphony and Chorus as we journey through Hollywood history in chronological order and relive the power of movie magic.","performanceID":"pops9","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_27-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Lights! Camera! Music! 100 Years of Epic Film Scores","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/lights-camera-music-epic-film-scores/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec1":{"performanceDate":"Friday, Sep. 12, 2025","performanceDescription":"Celebrate Hispanic heritage month with a FREE performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Led by Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the orchestra performs dance-inspired pieces by Revueltas and Ginastera. Bernstein’s beloved West Side Story is brought to life in all its rhythmic flair, and Ravel’s sultry Bólero caps off this celebration of music and community. ##This concert is sponsored in part by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.##","performanceID":"spec1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MR2_8767-copy-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Valčuha Conducts ##West Side Story##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/valcuha-conducts-west-side-story/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec17":{"performanceDate":"Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025","performanceDescription":"Never gonna bring us down…  Broadway music performs a gravity defying act every single time it leaps from the stage, in through our ears and eyes, straight into the depths of the heart. It makes us feel like we can fly, like we can finally be free, like we can be something new for the first time. The music magnifies the emotions of the story, amplifying our memories until the joy is hardly containable.  What we’re really saying is - Broadway music is special. That’s why we’re so excited that the Houston Symphony and a talented vocalist or two are taking on the best of New York’s legendary street. What is brilliant in NYC will be even more majestic as a full symphony orchestra illuminates these iconic scores under a Pavilion sky.  So - are you ready to fly? Everyone deserves the chance to.","performanceID":"spec17","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/web_background_hso_broadway_1743085906.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Bravo Broadway!","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/bravo-broadway/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec18":{"Program":[{"hsMovement":"March from ##Superman##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"Shark Theme from ##Jaws##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##Hexenritt (Witches' Ride) from Hansel und Gretel##","hsTitle":"HUMPERDINCK"},{"hsMovement":"##L'apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer's Apprentice)##","hsTitle":"DUKAS"},{"hsMovement":"##Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)##","hsTitle":"ROSAS"},{"hsMovement":"Fawkes the Phoenix from ##Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"Overture from ##Beauty and the Beast##","hsTitle":"A. MENKEN/KOSARIN-BESTERMAN"},{"hsMovement":"Menuet de Cendrillon from ##Cendrillon##","hsTitle":"MASSENET"},{"hsMovement":"Suite from ##Back to the Future##","hsTitle":"A. SILVESTRI"},{"hsMovement":"Theme from ##Jurassic Park##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 24, 2025","performanceDescription":"All treat, no trick!  Get ready to kick the Halloween season off in style! You’re invited to enjoy a haunting evening of plaza trick-or-treating, ghoulish games, spooky songs and a cacophony of costumes! It’s all the fun you’ve come to expect from a Pavilion performing arts show, with a creepy twist that’s just the right amount of scary for any family.  Everyone is encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costume for a chance to walk on stage during the concert. The first 100 boys and girls to check in at Hocus Pocus Central in the North Plaza, fully costumed, get the chance to march in the Goblin Parade. Wristbands are required to participate in the Goblin Parade.  Costumes that include accessories that resemble weapons are not permitted.","performanceID":"spec18","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/web_background_hso_hocus_pocus_pops_1743086378.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Hocus Pocus Pops","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/hocus-pocus-pops/","performanceVenue":"The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion"},"spec2":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"6"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"6"},"Conductor24":{"musicianID":"Conductor24","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician132":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician132","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician133":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician133","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician134":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician134","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician135":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician135","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Messiah##","hsTitle":"HANDEL/TOBIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","performanceDescription":"Hallelujah! Jones Hall will be filled with exultant arias and joyous refrains—including the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus—in this powerful presentation of the greatest story ever told.","performanceID":"spec2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_33-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Handel’s ##Messiah##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/handels-messiah-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec21":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician9":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician9","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026","performanceDescription":"Acclaimed a cappella ensemble Chanticleer celebrates America’s 250th year of independence with a program showcasing the diverse voices, songs, harmonies, and rhythms of our shared musical heritage. Audiences will enjoy settings of traditional American Bluegrass tunes, beloved folk songs like “Shenandoah,” and contemporary American classics like Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” and “Home” from ##The Wiz##. The program also features a new commission by composer Trevor Weston, demonstrating the link between traditional American hymnody and African American Spirituals.  \\n\\n##This is a presentation, and will not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec21","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FormalGroupShot_by_Stephen_K_Mac-2023-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Chanticleer: Our American Journey","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chanticleer-our-american-journey/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec22":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician11":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician11","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025","performanceDescription":"We’re turning back the clock on the 2024 hit remake, to the remarkable silent-era classic that started it all. Called the original vampire movie, ##Nosferatu (1922)## is one of the most chilling and influential horror movies of all time. For one performance only, experience this creepy classic on a giant screen exactly as audiences did when it was originally released, as organist Brett Miller performs a spinetingling original soundtrack, live with the movie.  \\n\\n##Performance does not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec22","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Nosferatu-Final.png","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Nosferatu:## Silent Film with Live Organ","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/nosferatu-silent-film-with-live-organ/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec24":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician12":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician12","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Monday, Dec. 8, 2025","performanceDescription":"A cappella sensation Voctave delivers a stocking full of all your favorite carols in this fun-filled, family-friendly holiday extravaganza! Acclaimed for their ability to bring a cappella music to a new dimension ##(Jazz Weekly)##, this 11-member ensemble's merry melodies and bright charm is the perfect way to kick of your Christmas season. \\n\\n##This performance is a presentation only and does not feature the Houston Symphony orchestra.##","performanceID":"spec24","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/VOC2021_Green_Square-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/voctave-it-feels-like-christmas/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec25":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician21":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician21","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025","performanceDescription":"America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization comes to Houston to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary! Enjoy an unforgettable evening with one of the most acclaimed bands in the world, featuring traditional band repertoire, John Philip Sousa’s “Daughters of Texas” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever”, music of Frank Sinatra, selections from Back to the Future, and a patriotic salute to the Armed Forces.  This concert is free, but tickets are required for admission. Please note that the performance does not include the Houston Symphony, and large handbags or backpacks will not be permitted inside the hall.","performanceID":"spec25","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Marine-Band-Official-Portrait-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/presidents-own-marine-band/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec26":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician145":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician145","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician146":{" musicianPriority":3,"musicianID":"GuestMusician146"},"GuestMusician147":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician147","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician22":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician22","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025","performanceDescription":"‘Tis the Season for a bluesy, soulful journey through your favorite Christmas songs with internationally renowned jazz vocalist Tammy McCann. Firmly rooted in the tradition of the great jazz singers of the past, but with her own modern flair, Tammy’s sensitivity and artistry are brilliantly on display as she conjures up the sparkle of the holiday season with hard-swinging takes on classics like “Let It Snow,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and “The Christmas Song.”  \\n\\n##This is a presentation, and will not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec26","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TAMMY-MCCANN-SIDE-FACING-HEAD-SHOT-2022-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Merry Christmas Baby!","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/merry-christmas-baby/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec27":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician139":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician139","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician141":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician141","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician142":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician142","musicianPriority":"3"}},"performanceDate":"Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026","performanceDescription":"In this unique theatrical production blending classical music with comedy, legendary actor John Malkovich steps into the role of the “evil music critic,” who believes the music of Beethoven, Chopin, and the like to be weary and dreary. As Malkovich delivers hilariously scathing real reviews with his trademark deadpan humor, Aleksey Igudesman, Hyung-ki Joo, and other world-renowned musicians fight back with live performances of well-known works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and more. It’s musician vs. critic as live theater, classical music, and comedy collide!  \\n\\n##Written and conceived by Aleksey Igudesman##","performanceID":"spec27","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/99d919c3_The-Music-Critic-JuliaWesely-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"John Malkovich in ##The Music Critic##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/john-malkovich-in-the-music-critic/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec28":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Sunday, May 3, 2026","performanceDescription":"Ever wonder what your toys do when you’re not around? ##Toy Story## answers that question with a fantastic, fun-filled journey, viewed through the eyes of two rival toys—Woody, the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger. When circumstances separate them from their owner, the duo learn to put aside their differences and embark on an adventure-filled mission to return home. The Houston Symphony goes to infinity and beyond as they bring Buzz and Woody’s journey to life on the big screen!  \\n\\n##Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts##","performanceID":"spec28","performanceImage":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/DIC_TS_7.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Disney & Pixar’s ##Toy Story## in Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/disney-pixars-toy-story-in-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec29":{"performanceDate":"Friday, Jun. 26, 2026 - Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026","performanceDescription":"Year Five begins! Between crushing on Cho Chang, studying for his O.W.L.s, and the ever-growing number of detentions from Professor Umbridge™, Harry Potter™ must find the time to discover the secret of his terrible nightmares! See ##Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert## presented in HD on a giant screen and accompanied by a live symphony orchestra! \\n\\n## All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.##","performanceID":"spec29","performanceImage":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HP5-Film-Stills-2-1.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec3":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician140":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician140","musicianPriority":"14"},"Musician75":{"musicianID":"Musician75","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician76":{"musicianID":"Musician76","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician77":{"musicianID":"Musician77","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician78":{"musicianID":"Musician78","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician79":{"musicianID":"Musician79","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician81":{"musicianID":"Musician81","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician82":{"musicianID":"Musician82","musicianPriority":"7"},"Musician83":{"musicianID":"Musician83","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician84":{"musicianID":"Musician84","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician85":{"musicianID":"Musician85","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician86":{"musicianID":"Musician86","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician87":{"musicianID":"Musician87","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician88":{"musicianID":"Musician88","musicianPriority":"13"},"Musician89":{"musicianID":"Musician89","musicianPriority":"15"},"Musician90":{"musicianID":"Musician90","musicianPriority":"16"},"Musician91":{"musicianID":"Musician91","musicianPriority":"17"},"Musician92":{"musicianID":"Musician92","musicianPriority":"18"},"Musician93":{"musicianID":"Musician93","musicianPriority":"19"}},"Program":[null,{"hsMovement":"La Mourisque from ##Susato Suite##","hsTitle":"SUSATO/IVESON"},{"hsMovement":"##Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming)##","hsTitle":"PRAETORIUS/T. HIGGINS"},{"hsMovement":"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from ##Cantata No. 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147##","hsTitle":"BACH/MILLS"},{"hsMovement":"##Hark! The Herald Angels Sing##","hsTitle":"MENDELSSOHN/P. SNEDECOR"},{"hsMovement":"Evening Prayer from ##Hänsel & Gretel##","hsTitle":"HUMPERDINCK/J. SHEPPARD"},{"hsMovement":"##Santa and Isolde##: A Holiday Opera Fantasy for Brass","hsTitle":"B. ADOLPHE"},{"hsMovement":"##Carol of the Bells/O Sanctissima##","hsTitle":"ARR. R. MEYER"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"I. Sevivon: Leggiero"},{"hsMovement":"II. Maoz Tzur: Andante"},{"hsMovement":"III. Dreydel: Theme and Variations: Slow, rubato"}],"hsMovement":"##The Hanukkah Rhapsody##","hsTitle":"ARR. S. BULLA"},{"hsMovement":"##Greensleeves##","hsTitle":"ARR. N. PLATOFF"},{"hsMovement":"##A Joyous Christmas##","hsTitle":"D. RICHARD"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","performanceDescription":"Sound the trumpets—the Houston Symphony brass section welcomes you for a concert brimming with holiday cheer! Featuring exquisite classical works, treasured carols, and festive favorites, this concert is the perfect way to kick off the holidays.","performanceID":"spec3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_32-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Joyful Fanfares: Holiday Brass Spectacular!","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/joyful-fanfares-holiday-brass-spectacular/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec4":{"Musicians":{"Conductor12":{"musicianID":"Conductor12","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Elf##","hsTitle":"J. DEBNEY"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025","performanceDescription":"Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season, relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in:  ##Elf ™## in Concert!  \\n\\nELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.","performanceID":"spec4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_34-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Elf## In Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/elf-in-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec5":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician130":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician130","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Pavane in F-sharp minor, Op. 50","hsTitle":"FAURE"},{"hsMovement":"##Kreisleriana##, Op. 16","hsTitle":"SCHUMANN"},{"Extended":[null,{"hsMovement":"Op. 17 No. 1, 2, 4"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 24 No. 2, 4"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 30 No. 3, 4"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 33 No. 3, 4, 2"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 59 No. 3"}],"hsMovement":"##Mazurkas##","hsTitle":"CHOPIN"},{"hsMovement":"Polonaise in F# minor, Op. 44","hsTitle":"CHOPIN"}],"performanceDate":"Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026","performanceDescription":"“The hottest artist on the classical music planet” ##(The New York Times)##. Superstar pianist Lang Lang performs a one-night-only recital at Jones Hall, featuring works by Chopin, Schumann, and more.  \\n\\n##Performances does not include the Houston Symphony
##","performanceID":"spec5","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_36-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Lang Lang in Recital","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/lang-lang-recital/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec6":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 10, 2026","performanceDescription":"“I am a Jedi, like my father before me.” Watch the thrilling final chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy on the big screen, and feel the full splendor and Force of John Williams' soaring score, performed live by the Symphony!  ##Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts##","performanceID":"spec6","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_35-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi## In Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec8":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician131":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician131","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Friday, Apr. 17, 2026","performanceDescription":"One of the most astounding pianists in the world meets one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time as the “breathtakingly brilliant” ##(Gramophone)## Víkingur Ólafsson shares an evening of Beethoven’s legendary final piano sonatas.  ##Performance does not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec8","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_37-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Víkingur Ólafsson In Recital","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/vikingur-olafsson-recital/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents1":{"performanceDate":"Friday, Sep. 19, 2025","performanceID":"specialEvents1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ONG-FY26-Banner_Clean.png","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"2025 Opening Night Concert & Gala","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents2":{"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026","performanceDescription":"Join us on January 31, 2026, for an unforgettable evening of elegance and fine wine as we celebrate the extraordinary artistry of the Houston Symphony. This glamorous event, a highlight of Houston’s social calendar, will be chaired by John and Lindy Rydman of Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods.  Set in the luxurious Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, the evening will feature spectacular entertainment, a gourmet multi-course dinner crafted by Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere, and exquisite French wine pairings thoughtfully curated by the Rydmans. Guests will enjoy dancing to Q the Band and a luxury silent auction - all in support of the Symphony's vital mission.  This gala supports the Houston Symphony’s world-class artistic programming and industry-leading Education and Community Engagement initiatives, at Jones Hall and in schools, hospitals, and other venues throughout the city. These activities include education programs that serve students in 26 area school districts and a Health and Wellness initiative for patients, their families, and caregivers at three Texas Medical Center hospitals.","performanceID":"specialEvents2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20_SymphonyBall25_JPP-scaled-1.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"2026 Houston Symphony Ball","performanceVenue":"The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston"},"specialEvents3":{"performanceDate":"Friday, May 8, 2026","performanceDescription":"Chaired this year by Janet F. Clark, the Houston Symphony’s Wine Dinner and Collectors’ Auction is one of Houston’s premier social events. Set on the stage of Jones Hall, with a gourmet dinner by Chef Felipe Botero of Michelin-starred ##Le Jardinier##, and expert pairings by John and Lindy Rydman of Spec’s, it is sure to be a night to remember!  The evening also features a highly anticipated auction—led by Jack Matzer—offering rare wines, spirits, exclusive experiences, and other unique items.  With a goal of raising $1 million, all proceeds will support the Symphony’s artistic programming and its far-reaching Education and Community Engagement initiatives that serve over 200,000 people each year.  \\n\\nThis event will sell out quickly, so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early! Individual tickets start at $2,000 with table sponsorships available. ","performanceID":"specialEvents3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Houston-Symphony-716-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"Wine Dinner & Collectors’ Auction","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents4":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician143":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician143"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026","performanceDescription":"Juilliard-trained concert pianist and Harvard-educated psychiatrist Dr. Richard Kogan returns to Jones Hall with a can’t-miss deep dive into the mind and music of Leonard Bernstein. Drawing on his dual background in psychiatry and music, Dr. Kogan offers unique insights into the inner world and creative genius of one of classical music’s most celebrated conductors and composers.  \\n\\nThis year’s appearance by Dr. Kogan is part of Houston Methodist’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) 30th Anniversary celebration and marks the beginning of the Houston Symphony’s USA 250th Anniversary programming.","performanceID":"specialEvents4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pexels-nikita-khandelwal-178978-685458-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"The Music and Mind of Leonard Bernstein","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/special-events/the-music-and-mind-of-leonard-bernstein/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents5":{"performanceDate":"Thursday, Apr. 2, 2026","performanceDescription":"Please check back later when more information has been announced.","performanceID":"specialEvents5","performanceImage":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/168-Houston-Symphony-YAC-Tasting-Notes-20241028-JT-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"2026 Young Associates Council Tasting Notes","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/special-events/2026-yac-tasting-notes","performanceVenue":"Late August"},"specials1":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4"},"GuestMusician23":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician23"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##El Cumbanchero##","hsTitle":"HERNÁNDEZ/GONZALES"},{"hsMovement":"“I Feel Pretty” from ##West Side Story##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Somewhere” from ##West Side Story##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN"},{"hsMovement":"##Kalamary##","hsTitle":"TOBAR"},{"hsMovement":"##Tres Aires Chilenos##","hsTitle":"SORO"},{"hsMovement":"##Neruda Songs##","hsTitle":"LIEBERSON"},{"hsMovement":"##Bailongo, o Danzas de Pasión y Desdén##","hsTitle":"SOTO"},{"hsMovement":"##El cóndor pasa##","hsTitle":"ROBLES/GONZALES"},{"hsMovement":"“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)” from ##Carmen##","hsTitle":"BIZET"},{"hsMovement":"##Mariachitlán##","hsTitle":"J.P. CONTRERAS"}],"Sponsors":{"Sponsors1":{"sponsorsID":"Sponsors1"}},"performanceDate":"Friday, Sep. 26, 2025","performanceDescription":"The Houston Symphony’s annual Fiesta Sinfónica concert returns! Join us for this free performance celebrating the musical contributions of Latin American and Hispanic composers, sponsored by Chevron. This year’s program welcomes mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado who brings music to poetry in Neruda Songs, based on the works of poet Pablo Neruda. Also featured is Tres Aires Chilenos and music from Carmen, West Side Story, and more.  This concert is hosted in partnership with the Hispanic Leadership Council.  This concert will not have an intermission.","performanceID":"specials1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/webheader_FiestaSinfonica_1920x1080.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Fiesta Sinfónica","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/fiesta-sinfonica/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub10":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician107":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician107","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"\"La Nuit et l’Amour\" from ##Ludus pro Patria##","hsTitle":"HOLMÈS"},{"hsMovement":"##In Tempus Praesens##","hsTitle":"S. GUBAIDULINA"},{"hsMovement":"##Romeo and Juliet## Overture-Fantasy","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"},{"hsMovement":"##Le Poème de l'extase (The Poem of Ecstasy)##","hsTitle":"SCRIABIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 - Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026","performanceDescription":"Instantly recognizable thanks to its use throughout pop culture, Tchaikovsky’s ##Romeo and Juliet## soars with tender poetry and heart-on-sleeve passion. Blazing with originality and raw intensity, Sofia Gubaidulina’s ##In Tempus Praesens## (“For the Present Time”) is one of those works that must be witnessed live, and a spectacular experience awaits you with rising-star violinist Alexi Kenney. And, get swept away on a sea of glorious sound in Scriabin’s earth-shattering ##Poem of Ecstasy##.","performanceID":"sub10","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_10-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Tchaikovsky’s ##Romeo and Juliet##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/tchaikovsky-romeo-and-juliet/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub11":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician108":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician108","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician109":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician109","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician110":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician110","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician111":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician111","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician112":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician112","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Tristan and Isolde##, Act II","hsTitle":"WAGNER"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026","performanceDescription":"In Wagner’s groundbreaking opera ##Tristan and Isolde##, a romance for the ages plays out through some of the most revelatory and transcendent music ever written. Act II of this masterpiece has it all—searing passion, spellbinding drama, and staggering vocal feats. Experience the complete second act live in concert, performed by an all-star cast of singers and the Symphony, and hear why ##Tristan and Isolde## is considered one of the greatest works of art ever created.","performanceID":"sub11","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB11.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Wagner’s ##Tristan and Isolde##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/wagners-tristan-and-isolde/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub12":{"Musicians":{"Conductor18":{"musicianID":"Conductor18","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician113":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician113","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Wuthering Heights Suite##","hsTitle":"NEWMAN"},{"hsMovement":"Piano Concerto No. 9, K. 271, ##Jenamy##","hsTitle":"W.A. MOZART"},{"hsMovement":"##Enigma Variations##","hsTitle":"ELGAR"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Mozart’s genius is on full display in his elegant and high-spirited Piano Concerto No. 9, and in the hands of Jan Lisiecki—recognized as one of today’s most astounding young talents—it promises pure magic. In his famous ##Enigma Variations##, Elgar lovingly renders those nearest and dearest to him, creating a musical photo album filled with heartfelt warmth and profound emotional depth. The concerts open with romantic music from the 1939 film adaptation of ##Wuthering Heights##.","performanceID":"sub12","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_12-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Mozart + Elgar’s ##Enigma Variations##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/mozart-elgar-enigma-variations/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub13":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician90":{"musicianID":"Musician90","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Overture No. 2","hsTitle":"FARRENC"},{"hsMovement":"Timpani Concerto, Houston Symphony Commission, World Premiere","hsTitle":"A. AKIHO"},{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 5","hsTitle":"BEETHOVEN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Mar. 20, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 22, 2026","performanceDescription":"The most famous four notes in history launch a towering masterpiece for the ages in Beethoven’s legendary Fifth Symphony. Award-winning composer Andy Akiho is known for bold, immersive music that shatters preconceptions, and you do not want to miss the world premiere of his Timpani Concerto, written especially for Houston Symphony Principal Timpanist Leonardo Soto.","performanceID":"sub13","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_13-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/beethoven-fifth-symphony-timpani-premiere/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub14":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"2"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"3"},"Conductor19":{"musicianID":"Conductor19","musicianPriority":"0"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Pohjola's Daughter##","hsTitle":"SIBELIUS"},{"hsMovement":"##Threnody: In Memory of Jean Sibelius##","hsTitle":"STILL"},{"hsMovement":"##The Captive Queen##","hsTitle":"SIBELIUS"},{"hsMovement":"Selections from ##Peer Gynt##","hsTitle":"GRIEG"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Mar. 27, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 29, 2026","performanceDescription":"Featuring the ethereal “Morning Mood” and the hair-raising “In the Hall of the Mountain King”—both pop-culture staples you’ll recognize instantly—Grieg’s ##Peer Gynt## is one of classical music’s most enduringly popular works. Prepare for a magical theatrical experience bringing the Peer Gynt story to vivid life. Bewitching works by Sibelius and William Grant Still round out a concert steeped in legend and enchantment.","performanceID":"sub14","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB14.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Grieg’s ##Peer Gynt##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/griegs-peer-gynt/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub15":{"Musicians":{"Conductor20":{"musicianID":"Conductor20","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician131":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician131","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##The Unanswered Question##","hsTitle":"IVES"},{"hsMovement":"##Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?##","hsTitle":"J. ADAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##The Rock You Stand On##","hsTitle":"J. ADAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##Appalachian Spring##","hsTitle":"COPLAND"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Apr. 18, 2026 - Sunday, Apr. 19, 2026","performanceDescription":"Piano concertos don’t get any more fun than John Adams’s ##Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?##, a showstopping whirlwind filled with funky grooves, propulsive rhythmic drive, and pop music influences from bebop to honky-tonk. Conducted by the composer himself, it’s the perfect showcase for Víkingur Ólafsson’s breathtaking piano prowess. To close this special celebration of American music, Adams leads Copland’s beloved ##Appalachian Spring##, culminating in the stirring Shaker Hymn, “Simple Gifts.”","performanceID":"sub15","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB15-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Adams Conducts ##Adams & Appalachian Spring##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/adams-conducts-adams-appalachian-spring/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub16":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician114":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician114","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician115":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician115","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician116":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician116","musicianPriority":"4"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##The Elements##","hsTitle":"K. PUTS, E. MEYER, J. HEGGIE, J. HIGDON, J. MONTGOMERY"},{"hsMovement":"Prelude and Liebestod from ##Tristan and Isolde##","hsTitle":"WAGNER"},null,{"hsMovement":"##Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration)##","hsTitle":"R. STRAUSS"}],"performanceDate":"Thursday, May. 7, 2026 - Sunday, May. 10, 2026","performanceDescription":"Grammy Award-winning violin icon Joshua Bell unleashes cosmic grandeur and world-shaking virtuosity in ##The Elements##, a stunning sound-plus-video experience which summons the elemental power of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space through spellbinding music and immersive video projections. Eternal questions of love, death, and the hereafter are explored through soaring, transcendent music of Wagner and Strauss.","performanceID":"sub16","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_16-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Joshua Bell Returns: ##The Elements## in Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/joshua-bell-the-elements-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub17":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"3"},"Chorus5":{"musicianID":"Chorus5","musicianPriority":"4"},"Conductor21":{"musicianID":"Conductor21","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician117":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician117","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##blue cathedral##","hsTitle":"J. HIGDON"},{"hsMovement":"Violin Concerto","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"},{"hsMovement":"##The Planets##","hsTitle":"HOLST"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, May. 15, 2026 - Sunday, May. 17, 2026","performanceDescription":"Houston favorite Augustin Hadelich returns for one of the most treasured works in all of music, Tchaikovsky’s lushly romantic (and dizzyingly difficult) Violin Concerto. Be transported to a world of soaring beauty and limitless possibility in Jennifer Higdon’s ##blue cathedral##, which, in Higdon’s words, represents an imaginary journey “through a glass cathedral in the sky.” Then, fasten your seatbelts and blast off to menacing Mars, jolly Jupiter, and beyond as the Symphony performs Holst’s sonic, celestial showpiece, ##The Planets##.","performanceID":"sub17","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB17.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"##The Planets## + Tchaikovsky’s Violin","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/the-planets-tchaikovsky-violin/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub18":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 9","hsTitle":"MAHLER"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, May. 22, 2026 - Sunday, May. 24, 2026","performanceDescription":"For the grand finale to our classical season, Music Director Juraj Valčuha leads Mahler’s final completed work, the extraordinary Symphony No. 9. To hear one of Mahler’s symphonies live is to feel why it’s an experience unlike anything else in music, and the Ninth is one of his most remarkable—a monumental journey of epic proportions, ending with music of rare transportive power and time-altering beauty.","performanceID":"sub18","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SUB18-updated-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Valčuha Conducts Mahler 9","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/valcuha-mahler-9-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub5":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)##","hsTitle":"DEBUSSY"},{"hsMovement":"##Variaciones Concertantes##","hsTitle":"GINASTERA"},{"hsMovement":"Romanian Rhapsody No. 1","hsTitle":"ENESCU"},{"hsMovement":"##Antrópolis##","hsTitle":"G. ORTIZ"},{"hsMovement":"##Symphonic Metamorphosis##","hsTitle":"HINDEMITH"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 - Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025","performanceDescription":"The virtuosity of the Houston Symphony will be on full display with dazzling delights guaranteed to get your blood pumping and your toes tapping! Ginastera’s ##Variaciones Concertantes## crackles with Argentinian rhythms, while Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 unfurls an exhilarating whirlwind of folk-dance flavor. In Gabriela Ortiz’s showstopping ##Antrópolis##, joyful percussion grooves transport you to the colorful dance halls of Mexico City. Debussy’s shimmering ##Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun## sets the stage, and Hindemith’s splashy ##Symphonic Metamorphosis## ends the program with a brass-filled bang.","performanceID":"sub5","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB5-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceLivestreamURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/livestreams/shall-we-dance/","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Shall We Dance?","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/shall-we-dance-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub6":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1"},"GuestMusician103":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician103"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 10","hsTitle":"BRITTEN"},{"hsMovement":"Violin Concerto","hsTitle":"BRITTEN BRITTEN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 - Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025","performanceDescription":"Under Joseph Stalin’s brutal regime, being an artist meant extreme censorship, unimaginable pressure, and life-or-death stakes. No composer of the era embodied this more than Dmitri Shostakovich, and in his Symphony No. 10—the first of his symphonies to be composed after Stalin’s death—his newfound artistic freedom unleashed an explosive torrent of earth-shaking emotional power. Music Director Juraj Valčuha leads this extraordinary darkness-to-light journey, and Baiba Skride heats up Jones Hall with Britten’s fiery Violin Concerto.","performanceID":"sub6","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB6-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Journey to Light: Valčuha Conducts Shostakovich 10","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/valcuha-shostakovich-10-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub7":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1"},"GuestMusician104":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician104"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Houston Symphony Commission, World Premiere","hsTitle":"L. ČEKOVSKÁ"},{"hsMovement":"Piano Concerto No. 1","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"},{"hsMovement":"##Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life)##","hsTitle":"R. STRAUSS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 - Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025","performanceDescription":"You’ll know it from the first note! Tchaikovsky’s famous Piano Concerto No. 1 has everything you could want in a piano concerto: jaw-dropping virtuosity, finger-flying fireworks, and impassioned melodies you’ll be humming on the way home. Strauss’s ##Ein Heldenleben## serves up epic battle scenes, tender love scenes, and gripping drama, portrayed through soaring music.","performanceID":"sub7","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB7-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Thanksgiving Weekend: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/thanksgiving-weekend-tchaikovskys-piano-concerto-no-1/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub8":{"Musicians":{"Conductor16":{"musicianID":"Conductor16"},"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Second Essay for Orchestra","hsTitle":"BARBER"},{"hsMovement":"##Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”)##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN"},{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 2","hsTitle":"BRAHMS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026","performanceDescription":"Conducting legend Marin Alsop unlocks the luminous jewel case that is Brahms’s Symphony No. 2: overflowing with gorgeous melodies that melt the heart, it ends with a triumphant burst of pure joy. Love is the unifying thread in Bernstein’s ##Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”)##, performed with dazzling virtuosity by Concertmaster Yoonshin Song. An all-American first half opens with Barber’s heartfelt Second Essay for Orchestra.","performanceID":"sub8","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_08-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Marin Alsop Conducts Brahms 2","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/marin-alsop-brahms-2-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub9":{"Musicians":{"Conductor17":{"musicianID":"Conductor17"},"GuestMusician106":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician106"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Tumblebird Contrails##","hsTitle":"G. SMITH"},{"hsMovement":"##Symphonie espagnole##","hsTitle":"LALO"},{"hsMovement":"##Symphonie fantastique##","hsTitle":"BERLIOZ"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 - Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Filled with sultry tango melodies, infectious Spanish dance rhythms, and dizzying displays of virtuosity, ##Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole## will sizzle in the hands of Clara-Jumi Kang. Then, buckle up for classical music’s ultimate thrill ride: with its wild story of a lovelorn artist who overdoses on opium, plunges into a hallucinogenic nightmare, and envisions his own funeral in hell, ##Symphonie fantastique## packs an emotional wallop unlike anything else in music.","performanceID":"sub9","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_09-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"##Symphonie espagnole + Symphonie fantastique##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/symphonie-espagnole-symphonie-fantastique/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"subs1":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"3"},"Chorus2":{"musicianID":"Chorus2","musicianPriority":"4"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"5"},"Chorus4":{"musicianID":"Chorus4","musicianPriority":"6"},"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician14":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician14","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Liberty Bell## (Houston Symphony Commission, World Premiere)","hsTitle":"J. 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Soprano Angel Blue makes her Houston Symphony debut in Florent Schmitt’s beyond-epic Psalm 47, and a Julia Wolfe world premiere kicks off this celebratory, season-opening program.","performanceID":"subs1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_01-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Opening Weekend: Valčuha Conducts Stravinsky’s ##Firebird##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/stravinsky-firebird-live-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"subs2":{"Musicians":{"Conductor6":{"musicianID":"Conductor6","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician105":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician105","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician95":{"musicianID":"Musician95","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Concerto for Flute and Harp, K. 299, C major","hsTitle":"W.A. 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From Mozart’s delicate grace, Christoph Eschenbach leads a foray into the vast, expansive sound-world of Bruckner’s stunning and immense Symphony No. 7.","performanceID":"subs2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_02-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Eschenbach Conducts Mozart & Bruckner","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/eschenbach-mozart-bruckner-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"subs3":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician17":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician17","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician24":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician24","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##La vida breve##: Interlude and Danza Española No. 1","hsTitle":"FALLA"},{"hsMovement":"##La vida breve##: ¡Vivan los que rien!","hsTitle":"FALLA"},{"hsMovement":"Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, ##Egyptian##","hsTitle":"SAINT-SAËNS"},{"hsMovement":"##El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat)##","hsTitle":"FALLA"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 - Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025","performanceDescription":"Composed during a vacation in Cairo, Saint-Saëns’s crowd-pleasing Piano Concerto No. 5, ##Egyptian## runs the gamut from delicate grace to powerhouse virtuosity. Beloved for his captivating mix of dramatic flair and tour-de-force brilliance, Jean-Yves Thibaudet will leave you spellbound. And, castanets click, fiery flamenco rhythms blaze, and sensuous sonic colors saturate the stage in a rare complete performance of Manuel de Falla’s exuberant ##The Three-Cornered Hat##.","performanceID":"subs3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_03-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceLivestreamURL":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Jean-Yves Thibaudet + ##The Three Cornered Hat##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/jean-yves-thibaudet-three-cornered-hat/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"subs4":{"Musicians":{"Conductor13":{"musicianID":"Conductor13"},"GuestMusician18":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician18"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##A Short Piece for Orchestra##","hsTitle":"PERRY"},{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 2","hsTitle":"WEILL"},{"hsMovement":"Concerto in F","hsTitle":"GERSHWIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 - Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025","performanceDescription":"Filled with hummable themes and sultry jazz tones, Gershwin’s crowd-pleasing Concerto in F will glisten and glow in the hands of Hélène Grimaud. Like Gershwin, Kurt Weill’s talents ranged from symphonies to Broadway and popular music (most notably, the jazz standard “Mack the Knife”), and his irresistible Symphony No. 2 showcases his effortless gift for songwriting. The concert opens with Julia Perry’s action-packed ##A Short Piece for Orchestra.##","performanceID":"subs4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB4.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceLivestreamURL":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Gershwin & Grimaud: Jazz Meets Symphony","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/gershwin-grimaud-jazz-symphony/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sum1":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician129":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician129","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Mood"},{"hsMovement":"Boombastic"},{"hsMovement":"Oh Carolina"},{"hsMovement":"I Need Your Love"},{"hsMovement":"That's Life"},{"hsMovement":"Zungguzungguguzungguzeng"},{"hsMovement":"54-46"},{"hsMovement":"A Love I Can Feel"},{"hsMovement":"Strength of a Woman"},{"hsMovement":"Angel"},{"hsTitle":"Keep'n it Real"},{"hsMovement":"Why Me Lord"},{"hsMovement":"Buck-In-Hamm Palace"},{"hsMovement":"Fight This Feeling"},{"hsMovement":"Wrong Room"},{"hsMovement":"Ain't No Sunshine"},{"hsMovement":"Church Heathen"},{"hsMovement":"Electric Avenue"},{"hsMovement":"It Wasn't Me"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026","performanceDescription":"This unique concert offers a captivating journey through the evolution of Reggae, showcasing its roots in mento, ska, and Rock Steady, all the way to contemporary Dance Hall. With Shaggy's dynamic performance and rich storytelling, you'll experience both his personal contributions and the broader cultural significance of Jamaican music. Don't miss this unforgettable evening that blends iconic melodies with symphonic brilliance!","performanceID":"sum1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Shaggy-Headshot.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Mr. Symphonic: Shaggy with the Houston Symphony","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/shaggy/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"}},"ProductionSeason":{"chamber1":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician105":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician105","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician10":{"musicianID":"Musician10","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician31":{"musicianID":"Musician31","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician36":{"musicianID":"Musician36","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician45":{"musicianID":"Musician45","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician95":{"musicianID":"Musician95","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp","hsTitle":"DEBUSSY"},{"hsMovement":"Divertimento in E-flat major for string trio, K.563","hsTitle":"MOZART"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Sep. 28, 2025","performanceDescription":"Our 2025–26 Chamber Music Series opens with two extraordinary works by two of music’s most beloved composers. First, “the goddess of flute” ##(The Korea Times)##, Jasmine Choi, joins the Symphony’s Joan DerHovsepian and Allegra Lilly for Debussy’s dreamy Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp. Then, members of the Symphony’s string section come together for one of the greatest masterworks in all of chamber music—Mozart’s exquisite Divertimento in E-flat major.","performanceID":"chamber1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_1.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Mozart & Debussy","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/mozart-debussy/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber2":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician137":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician137","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician138":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician138","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician31":{"musicianID":"Musician31","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician35":{"musicianID":"Musician35","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician43":{"musicianID":"Musician43","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician49":{"musicianID":"Musician49","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician51":{"musicianID":"Musician51","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician59":{"musicianID":"Musician59","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician64":{"musicianID":"Musician64","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician65":{"musicianID":"Musician65","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician8":{"musicianID":"Musician8","musicianPriority":"7"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Phantasy## for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello","hsTitle":"BRITTEN"},{"hsMovement":"Impromptu No. 1 for Flute and Oboe","hsTitle":"MUSGRAVE"},{"hsMovement":"Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Piano","hsTitle":"DRING"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"Allegro con fuoco"},{"hsMovement":"Andante"},{"hsMovement":"Fantasai (quasi variazioni). Moderato"}],"hsMovement":"Piano Quintet in C minor","hsTitle":"VAUGHAN WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##How to Train Your Dragon##","hsTitle":"J. POWELL/S. O’LOUGHLIN"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025","performanceDescription":"Before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, escape to the green pastures and pastoral beauty of England as members of the Houston Symphony share an evening of exquisite chamber music. Vaughan Williams’s Piano Quintet in C minor sings with heartfelt passion, rich melodies, and shimmering beauty. Also on the program: Benjamin Britten’s dazzling ##Phantasy Quartet##—written when he was just 18 years old—Madeleine Dring’s lively Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Piano, and brief but brilliant music by Thea Musgrave.","performanceID":"chamber2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_2.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Echoes from the English Countryside","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/echoes-from-the-english-countryside/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber3":{"Musicians":{"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician20":{"musicianID":"Musician20","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician28":{"musicianID":"Musician28","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician33":{"musicianID":"Musician33","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician35":{"musicianID":"Musician35","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician38":{"musicianID":"Musician38","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician43":{"musicianID":"Musician43","musicianPriority":"7"},"Musician45":{"musicianID":"Musician45","musicianPriority":"14"},"Musician49":{"musicianID":"Musician49","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician51":{"musicianID":"Musician51","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician6":{"musicianID":"Musician6","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician67":{"musicianID":"Musician67","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician71":{"musicianID":"Musician71","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician76":{"musicianID":"Musician76","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Octet","hsTitle":"FRANÇAIX"},{"hsMovement":"Souvenir de Florence","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Waltz into the spring season with Tchaikovsky’s delightful Souvenir de Florence, a musical souvenir of Florence, Italy filled with romantic melodies in full bloom. Like a sun-drenched jaunt through the French Riviera, Jean Françaix’s Octet sparkles with joy, charm, and wit.   \\n\\nEnjoy a unique, up-close perspective of the artists—including the chance to sit onstage—in this special chamber music performance spotlighting musicians of the Houston Symphony. ","performanceID":"chamber3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_3.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Springtime in Italy: Tchaikovsky & More","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chamber-music-series-chamber-3/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber4":{"Musicians":{"Musician1":{"musicianID":"Musician1","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician3":{"musicianID":"Musician3","musicianPriority":"7"},"Musician31":{"musicianID":"Musician31","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician33":{"musicianID":"Musician33","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician42":{"musicianID":"Musician42","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician43":{"musicianID":"Musician43","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician78":{"musicianID":"Musician78","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician82":{"musicianID":"Musician82","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician83":{"musicianID":"Musician83","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician86":{"musicianID":"Musician86","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician88":{"musicianID":"Musician88","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Morning Music##","hsTitle":"D. SAMPSON"},{"hsMovement":"##Verklärte Nacht##","hsTitle":"SCHOENBERG"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, May. 17, 2026","performanceDescription":"One of the most spellbinding, powerful, and thought-provoking works in all of music, Schoenberg’s ##Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night)## tells the story of a couple’s emotional walk through a moonlit forest, exploring themes of acceptance, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love amidst a luminous musical backdrop. Plus, member of the Houston Symphony’s brass section take center stage for David Sampson’s invigorating ##Morning Music##.  \\n\\nEnjoy a unique, up-close perspective of the artists—including the chance to sit onstage—in this special chamber music performance spotlighting musicians of the Houston Symphony. This performance is part of our multi-week Transfiguration Festival.","performanceID":"chamber4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_4.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music Series: Ethereal Transformations","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chamber-music-series-chamber-4/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"chamber525":{"Musicians":{"Musician52":{"musicianID":"Musician52","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician60":{"musicianID":"Musician60","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician61":{"musicianID":"Musician61","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician62":{"musicianID":"Musician62","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician92":{"musicianID":"Musician92","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Lady of the Lake##","hsTitle":"KATHRYN LADNER"},{"hsMovement":"Percussion Concerto, Mov. II","hsTitle":"BRIAN DEL SIGNORE"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Join us for a special chamber music performance spotlighting works composed, arranged, and performed by musicians of the Houston Symphony! Enjoy works by Kathryn Ladner (Flute & Piccolo), Brian Del Signore (Principal Percussion), Nick Platoff (Principal Trombone), and more, and hear the inspiration behind the works from the musicians themselves.","performanceID":"chamber525","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Chamber-Series-Art_5.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Chamber","performanceTitle":"Chamber Music: Houston Symphony Musician Spotlight","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chamber-musician-composition-spotlight/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam1":{"Musicians":{"Conductor15":{"musicianID":"Conductor15","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":{"0":{"hsMovement":"In the Hall of the Mountain King from ##Peer Gynt##","hsTitle":"GRIEG"},"1":{"hsMovement":"Tanz der Furien (Dance of the Furies) from ##Orfeo ed Euridice##","hsTitle":"GLUCK"},"2":{"hsMovement":"Buckbeak's Theme from ##Harry Potter## Symphonic Suite","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS/G. FRY"},"3":{"hsMovement":"Disney's ##Aladdin## Orchestral Suite","hsTitle":"A. MENKEN/D. TROOB"},"4":{"hsMovement":"##La Llorona##","hsTitle":"ARR. C. THOMAS"},"5":{"hsMovement":"Theme, Fugue, and Chorale from ##Godzilla##","hsTitle":"IFUKUBE/N. HERSH"},"6":{"hsMovement":"Parade of the Ewoks from ##The Star Wars Saga##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},"7":{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"IX. La cabane sur des pattes de poules (The Hut on Fowl’s Legs)"}],"hsMovement":"##Tableaux d'une exposition (Pictures at an Exhibition)## ","hsTitle":"MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL"},"8":{"hsMovement":"##How to Train Your Dragon##","hsTitle":"J. POWELL/S. O’LOUGHLIN"},"performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive"},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025","performanceDescription":"Bring your little ghosts and goblins to Jones Hall for a morning of family fun as a haunted Symphony full of costumed musicians perform frightful delights from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Godzilla, Disney’s Aladdin, and more. Plus, enjoy free candy stations, Halloween-themed arts and crafts, and an Instrument Petting Zoo. Costumes encouraged!","performanceID":"fam1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Halloween_Symphony_JPG.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTag":"Sensory Inclusive","performanceTitle":"Frightfully Fun! A Halloween Concert for Kids","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/frightfully-fun-halloween-concert-kids/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam2":{"Musicians":{"Conductor8":{"musicianID":"Conductor8","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician144":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician144","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Hark! The Herald Trumpets Sing##","hsTitle":"J. WASSON"},{"hsMovement":"##A Christmas Overture##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Christmas à la Valse##","hsTitle":"R. WENDEL"},{"hsMovement":"“Carol of the Bells”","hsTitle":"LEONTOVICH/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"##Hanukkah Suite##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Sleigh Ride##","hsTitle":"ANDERSON"},{"hsMovement":"“You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from ##How the Grinch Stole Christmas##","hsTitle":"HAGUE/M. NAUGHTIN"},{"hsMovement":"##Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer##","hsTitle":"MARKS/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"“Joy to the World”","hsTitle":"HANDEL/S. AMUNDSON"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025","performanceDescription":"Gather the whole family and jingle all the way to Jones Hall for a sparkling concert guaranteed to put the “ho-ho-ho” in your holiday! Sing along to festive favorites, sip free hot chocolate, and meet Santa himself. With arts and crafts, an Instrument Petting Zoo, and a sprinkle of holiday magic, this concert will make spirits bright for the whole family.","performanceID":"fam2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Christmas_Symphony_JPG.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTitle":"Oh, What Fun! A Holiday Concert for Kids","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/oh-what-fun-holiday-concert-kids/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam3":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician149":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician149","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"1. ##When Instruments Roamed the Earth!## Theme"},{"hsMovement":"2. Sir Humphrey Treble Clef"},{"hsMovement":"3. Kaboom for Orchestra"},{"hsMovement":"4. String Dinosaurs"},{"hsMovement":"5. Toot Suite for Woodwinds"},{"hsMovement":"6. Horns Aplenty"},{"hsMovement":"7. Blunder Lizards"},{"hsMovement":"8. Finale Part 1"},{"hsMovement":"9. Cymbalasaurus"},{"hsMovement":"10. Finale Finish"}],"hsMovement":"##When Instruments Roamed the Earth!## \\n\\nNarration by Stephen White","hsTitle":"B. SINGLETON"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Feb. 7","performanceDescription":"RAWRR! Come ready with your best dinosaur roar, and join us on a Jurassic adventure, back to a time when Instruments roamed the Earth! Hosted by “paleo-musicologist” Sir Humphrey Treble Clef, this all-ages family concert is filled with laughs, multi-media projections, on-stage action (and, maybe even a T-Rex sighting…) A perfect introduction to the instruments of the orchestra for young audiences.","performanceID":"fam3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_30-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTitle":"When Instruments Roamed The Earth","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/when-instruments-roamed-the-earth/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"fam4":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026","performanceDescription":"Abracadabra! Grab your magic wands (or batons) for a spellbinding musical adventure—we’re conjuring up a morning of magical musical fun! Bring your little wizards and witches to Jones Hall and have your magic conducting batons at the ready for magical moments from ##Harry Potter##, ##The Sorcerer’s Apprentice##, and more that will delight little wizards and their families.","performanceID":"fam4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Magic_Symphony_JPG.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Family","performanceTitle":"Abracadabra! A Magical Musical Adventure","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/abracadabra-magical-musical-adventure/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"holidays1":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician5":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician5","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician6":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician6","musicianPriority":"2"}},"performanceDate":"Monday, Dec. 15, 2025","performanceDescription":"Back by popular demand! Join us to celebrate a Feliz Navidad with José Hernández and his world-renowned, platinum-selling Mariachi Sol de México, performing treasured holiday classics such as ##El Niño del tambor (Little drummer boy)##, ##Himno de la alegría (A song of Joy)##, the ##Nutcracker Medley## and many more holiday favorites with a surprising Mariachi twist. José Hernández, a grammy-winning world-renowned musician, composer, music educator and seven-generation mariachi, leads the way to this amazing celebration with sabor a México at Jones Hall for one night only right before Christmas Eve.\\n\\n##This performance does not include the Houston Symphony.##","performanceID":"holidays1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Holiday-Mariachi_Concept-Art_Wide-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Mariachi Sol De Mexico de José Hernández presents: José Hernández' Merry-Achi Christmas","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/mariachi-sol-de-mexico-jose-hernandez-merry-achi-christmas/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops1":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician16":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician16","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Fanfare from ##Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra)##","hsTitle":"R. STRAUSS"},{"hsMovement":"“Burning Love”","hsTitle":"LINDE/CIACCA"},{"hsMovement":"“The Wonder of You”","hsTitle":"KNIGHT/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Love Me”","hsTitle":"LEIBER-STOLLER"},{"hsMovement":"“Always on My Mind\"","hsTitle":"CHRISTOPHER-THOMPSON-JAMES/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Great Balls of Fire\"","hsTitle":"HAMMER-BLACKWELL/HAAK"},{"hsMovement":"“Little Egypt”","hsTitle":"LEIBER-STOLLER/MORENO-RONDOR"},{"hsMovement":"“I Just Can’t Help Believing”","hsTitle":"MANN-WEIL"},{"hsMovement":"“Mystery Train”","hsTitle":"PARKER-CHARLES"},{"hsMovement":"“Can't Help Falling in Love”","hsTitle":"WEISS-PERETTI-CREATORE/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“A Big Hunk 'o Love”","hsTitle":"SCHROEDER-WYCHE/A. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Surrender”","hsTitle":"POMUS-SCHUMAN/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Moonlight Matinée”","hsTitle":"MORENO-MORENO/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“You Gave Me a Mountain”","hsTitle":"ROBBINS/JONOKUCHI"},{"hsMovement":"“Good Ol' Days”","hsTitle":"MORENO-MORENO/M. PODD-KONDOR"},{"hsMovement":"“If I Can Dream”","hsTitle":"BROWN/M. PODD"},{"hsMovement":"“Bridge Over Troubled Water”","hsTitle":"SIMON/MORENO"},{"hsMovement":"“Suspicious Minds”","hsTitle":"JAMES/NORRIS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 - Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","performanceDescription":"Get ready to rock—we’re celebrating the King! Known for his dynamic vocal range and high-octane performances, electrifying 5x Las Vegas Headliner of the Year Frankie Moreno brings Elvis’s signature swagger to hit after iconic hit: “Burning Love,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Always on My Mind,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and so many more.","performanceID":"pops1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/POPS1_Concept-Art-Wide-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"King for a Day: The Music of Elvis","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/king-for-a-day-elvis-music-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops2":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician19":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician19","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician20":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician20","musicianPriority":"3"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Overture to ##Overture to West Side Story##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN/PERESS"},{"hsMovement":"“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from ##Gentlemen Prefer Blondes##","hsTitle":"STYNE/BARTON"},{"hsMovement":"“Children Will Listen” from ##Into the Woods##","hsTitle":"SONDHEIM/TUNICK-S. REINEKE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Impossible Dream” from ##Man of La Mancha##","hsTitle":"LEIGH/HALL"},{"hsMovement":"“Out There” from ##The Hunchback of Notre Dame##","hsTitle":"A. MENKEN/STAROBIN"},{"hsMovement":"Excerpts from ##Fiddler On the Roof##","hsTitle":"BOCK/WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"“Unusual Way” from ##Nine##","hsTitle":"M. YESTON"},{"hsMovement":"“Bring Him Home” from ##Les Misérables##","hsTitle":"C. M. SCHÖNBERG/CAMERON"},{"hsMovement":"“One Second and a Million Miles” from ##The Bridges of Madison County##","hsTitle":"J. R. BROWN"},{"hsMovement":"Overture and “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from ##Oklahoma!##","hsTitle":"RODGERS/BENNETT"},{"hsMovement":"“Johanna” from ##Sweeney Todd##","hsTitle":"SONDHEIM/J. TUNICK"},{"hsMovement":"Prologue and “The Sound of Music” from ##The Sound of Music##","hsTitle":"RODGERS/KOSTAL"},{"hsMovement":"“Don’t Rain On My Parade” from ##Funny Girl##","hsTitle":"STYNE/MOORE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Jellicle Ball” from ##Cats##","hsTitle":"A. LLOYD WEBBER/CULLEN"},{"hsMovement":"“Back to Before” from ##Ragtime##","hsTitle":"FLAHERTY/BROHN"},{"hsMovement":"“The Music of the Night” from ##The Phantom of the Opera##","hsTitle":"A. LLOYD WEBBER"},{"hsMovement":"“Being Alive” from ##Company##","hsTitle":"SONDHEIM/J. TUNICK"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 - Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025","performanceDescription":"Broadway stars Hugh Panaro and Elizabeth Stanley join Steven Reineke and the Houston Symphony for an extravaganza of showstoppers from your favorite stage and movie musicals, including selections from West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, and more.","performanceID":"pops2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/POPS2-updated.png","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"From Stage to Screen: Broadway Meets Hollywood","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/stage-to-screen-broadway-hollywood/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops3":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"4"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"3"},"Conductor8":{"musicianID":"Conductor8","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician123":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician123","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Hark! The Herald Trumpets Sing##","hsTitle":"J. WASSON"},{"hsMovement":"“O Come, All Ye Faithful”","hsTitle":"ARR. M. WILBERG"},{"hsMovement":"“Somewhere in My Memory” from ##Home Alone##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”","hsTitle":"MARKS/HARDY"},{"hsMovement":"“White Christmas”","hsTitle":"BERLIN/BENNETT"},{"hsMovement":"“Carol of the Bells”","hsTitle":"LEONTOVICH/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”","hsTitle":"MARTIN-BLANE/D. MCKENZIE"},{"hsMovement":"##Christmas à la Valse##","hsTitle":"R. WENDEL"},{"hsMovement":"“In the Bleak Midwinter”","hsTitle":"HOLST/R. W. SMITH"},{"hsMovement":"“O Tannenbaum”","hsTitle":"ARR. HARRIS"},{"hsMovement":"##A Christmas Overture##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Hanukkah Suite##","hsTitle":"J. TYZIK"},{"hsMovement":"##Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer##","hsTitle":"MARKS/HAYMAN"},{"hsMovement":"“Christmas Time Is Here” from ##A Charlie Brown Christmas##","hsTitle":"GUARALDI/M. NAUGHTIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Jingle Bells?”","hsTitle":"PIERPONT/P. HEMMER"},{"hsMovement":"“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”","hsTitle":"TORMÉ-WELLS/RIDDLE"},{"hsMovement":"“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”","hsTitle":"COOTS/HOLCOMBE"},{"hsMovement":"“Away in a Manger”","hsTitle":"MURRAY/S. AMUNDSON"},{"hsMovement":"“Joy to the World”","hsTitle":"HANDEL/S. AMUNDSON"}],"performanceDate":"Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025","performanceDescription":"Houston’s biggest holiday spectacle returns! Cozy up with friends and family and celebrate the best time of the year with Ali Stroker, the Houston Symphony, and a merry chorus. Featuring sparkling decorations, your favorite carols, and a special visit from Santa, this concert delivers instant holiday cheer.","performanceID":"pops3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/POPS3-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Very Merry POPS","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/very-merry-pops-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops4":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician124":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician124","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician151":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician151","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician152":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician152","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician2":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"AHLERT*","hsTitle":"“I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”"},{"hsMovement":"YOUMANS","hsTitle":"“I Want to Be Happy”"},{"hsMovement":"ELLINGTON-TIZOL","hsTitle":"“Caravan”"},{"hsMovement":"TROUP","hsTitle":"“(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66”"},{"hsMovement":"ARLEN","hsTitle":"“It’s Only a Paper Moon”"},{"hsMovement":"AHLERT","hsTitle":"“Walkin’ My Baby Back Home”"},{"hsMovement":"GARNER","hsTitle":"“Misty”"},{"hsMovement":"AHBEZ","hsTitle":"“Nature Boy”"},{"hsMovement":"COLE-MILLS","hsTitle":"“Straighten Up and Fly Right”"},{"hsMovement":"DELUGG-STEIN","hsTitle":"“Orange Colored Sky”"},{"hsMovement":"PORTER","hsTitle":"“Just One of Those Things”"},{"hsMovement":"BURWELL","hsTitle":"“Sweet Lorraine”"},{"hsMovement":"HANDY","hsTitle":"“Saint Louis Blues”"},{"hsMovement":"WARFIELD-WILLIAMS","hsTitle":"“Baby Won’t You Please Come Home”"},{"hsMovement":"BLOOM","hsTitle":"“Day In, Day Out”"},{"hsMovement":"YOUNG","hsTitle":"“When I Fall in Love”"},{"hsMovement":"CHAPLIN","hsTitle":"“Smile”"},{"hsMovement":"LIVINGSTON","hsTitle":"“Mona Lisa”"},{"hsMovement":"KAEMPFERT","hsTitle":"“L-O-V-E”"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026","performanceDescription":"Enjoy an “Unforgettable” start to 2026 as Byron Stripling, Denzal Sinclaire, and the Houston Symphony Big Band perform the timeless hits of Nat King Cole, along with well-known songs by other jazz legends. Hear the songs you know and L-O-V-E, including “Mona Lisa,” “Nature Boy,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Just One of Those Things,” and more.  \\n\\n##Performance does not include the Houston Symphony.##","performanceID":"pops4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NatKingColeArt_Wide.png","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"A Nat King Cole New Year","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/nat-king-cole-new-year-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops5":{"Musicians":{"Conductor22":{"musicianID":"Conductor22","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician125":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician125","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Performances":{"Pops5A25":{"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026","performanceID":"Pops5A25","performanceTime":"7:30 P.M."},"Pops5B25":{"performanceDate":"Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026","performanceID":"Pops5B25","performanceTime":"2:00 P.M."}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026","performanceDescription":"Legendary jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval joins the Houston Symphony for a must-see evening of music and storytelling. Garnering countless accolades and honors, including 10 Grammys and the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors, Sandoval’s dynamic stage presence and passionate playing has captivated audiences the world over. He’ll share a diverse and exhilarating program including traditional Son Cubano, Brazilian Samba, and Jazz, along with fascinating personal stories from his life and career. \\n\\n##Program curated and produced by conductor Thiago Tiberio and Arturo Sandoval. Concept created by Thiago Tiberio.##","performanceID":"pops5","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/POPS5_Concept-Art.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Arturo Sandoval: Journey To Freedom","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/arturo-sandoval-journey-to-freedom/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops6":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician126":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician126","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"“Billy the Kid Prelude”","hsTitle":"B. JOEL/ T. DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“My Life”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Vienna”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Root Beer Rag”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“She’s Always a Woman”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Miami 2017”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“East to the Sea (The Hampton Jitney Song)”","hsTitle":"DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Nocturne”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Only the Good Die Young”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Stranger”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Don’t Ask Me Why”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“The Best You Can Give”","hsTitle":"DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Big Shot”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Still Rock and Roll”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“You May Be Right”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"},{"hsMovement":"“Piano Man”","hsTitle":"JOEL/DESARE"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 - Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026","performanceDescription":"Join us for the ultimate celebration of music’s one-and-only “Piano Man.” With his silky-smooth voice and amazing piano skills, Tony DeSare will have you in a “New York State of Mind” with pitch-perfect recreations of signature Billy Joel hits like “Just the Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out,” “Vienna,” and “Piano Man.”","performanceID":"pops6","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ConceptArt_POPS6-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Piano Man: The Music of Billy Joel","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/piano-man-billy-joel-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops7":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 5 in C minor","hsTitle":"BEETHOVEN"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"III. Merry assembly of country folk: Allegro—"},{"hsMovement":"IV. Thunderstorm: Allegro—"},{"hsMovement":"V. Shepherd’s song; Happy, grateful feelings after the storm: Allegretto"}],"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 6 in F major","hsTitle":"BEETHOVEN"},{"hsMovement":"Suite from ##The Nutcracker##","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"},{"hsMovement":"Clair de lune from ##Suite bergamasque##","hsTitle":"DEBUSSY/STOKOWSKI"},{"hsMovement":"Suite from L’oiseau de feu (The Firebird)","hsTitle":"STRAVINSKY"},{"hsMovement":"##Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda##","hsTitle":"PONCHIELLI"},{"hsMovement":"##L’apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice)##","hsTitle":"DUKAS"},{"hsMovement":"Pomp and Circumstance March in D major","hsTitle":"ELGAR/SCHICKELE"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"I. I pini di Villa Borghese (The Pines of the Villa Borghese)"},{"hsMovement":"III. I pini del Gianicolo (The Pines of the Janiculum)"},{"hsMovement":"IV. I pini della via Appia (The Pines of the Appian Way)"}],"hsMovement":"Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome)","hsTitle":"RESPIGHI"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Apr. 3, 2026 - Saturday, Apr. 4, 2026","performanceDescription":"This Easter weekend, treat the entire family to the classic that’s captivated generations—Disney’s ##Fantasia##. Stunning animation fills the giant screen at Jones Hall while the Symphony brings the soundtrack to life, including favorites like Beethoven’s ##Fifth Symphony, Pomp and Circumstance, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite##, and, of course, ##The Sorcerer’s Apprentice##.","performanceID":"pops7","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_25-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Disney’s ##Fantasia## In Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/disneys-fantasia-in-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops8":{"Musicians":{"Conductor23":{"musicianID":"Conductor23","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician127":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician127","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician128":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician128","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician153":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician153","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician154":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician154","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##ICON## Overture","hsTitle":"ARR. L. WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”","hsTitle":"MERRILL-RUBICAM/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”","hsTitle":"B. JOEL/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“I Got You Babe”","hsTitle":"BONO/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Hey Jude\"","hsTitle":"P. MCCARTNEY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Your Song”","hsTitle":"E. JOHN-TAUPIN/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Lady Marmalade”","hsTitle":"CREWE-NOLAN/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Man in the Mirror”","hsTitle":"BALLARD-GARRETT/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Respect”","hsTitle":"REDDING/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“I’m Coming Out”","hsTitle":"EDWARDS-RODGERS/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“You’re All I Need To Get By”","hsTitle":"ASHFORD-SIMPSON/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“This Will Be”","hsTitle":"JACKSON-YANCY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“All Shook Up”","hsTitle":"BLACKWELL-PRESLEY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”","hsTitle":"WEATHERLY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”","hsTitle":"WONDER-HARDAWAY-GARRETT-WRIGHT/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"“New York, New York” from ##New York, New York##","hsTitle":"KANDER/HALL"},{"hsMovement":"“I’ll Never Love This Way Again”—","hsTitle":"JACKSON-YANCY/WALDIN"},{"hsMovement":"River Deep - Mountain High","hsTitle":"BARRY-GREENWICH-SPECTOR/WALDIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Apr. 24, 2026 - Sunday, Apr. 26, 2026","performanceDescription":"Elvis. Prince. Michael Jackson. Diana Ross. Whitney Houston. Stevie Wonder. Celebrate the greatest voices of all time in this powerhouse concert. Houston favorites Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw join forces with the Symphony for the biggest hits by the most iconic artists of all time, including beloved songs like “Purple Rain,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “Lady Marmalade,” and “Hey Jude.”","performanceID":"pops8","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_26-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Icon: The Voices that Changed Music","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/icon-voices-that-changed-music/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"pops9":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"2"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"3"},"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Friday, May. 29, 2026 - Sunday, May. 31, 2026","performanceDescription":"We’re rolling out the red carpet for the most famous movie-soundtrack moments in Hollywood history, from classic themes like ##King Kong## and ##The Godfather## to modern favorites like ##Pirates of the Caribbean## and ##Gladiator##. Join the Symphony and Chorus as we journey through Hollywood history in chronological order and relive the power of movie magic.","performanceID":"pops9","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_27-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"POPS","performanceTitle":"Lights! Camera! Music! 100 Years of Epic Film Scores","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/lights-camera-music-epic-film-scores/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec1":{"performanceDate":"Friday, Sep. 12, 2025","performanceDescription":"Celebrate Hispanic heritage month with a FREE performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Led by Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the orchestra performs dance-inspired pieces by Revueltas and Ginastera. Bernstein’s beloved West Side Story is brought to life in all its rhythmic flair, and Ravel’s sultry Bólero caps off this celebration of music and community. ##This concert is sponsored in part by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.##","performanceID":"spec1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MR2_8767-copy-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Valčuha Conducts ##West Side Story##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/valcuha-conducts-west-side-story/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec17":{"performanceDate":"Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025","performanceDescription":"Never gonna bring us down…  Broadway music performs a gravity defying act every single time it leaps from the stage, in through our ears and eyes, straight into the depths of the heart. It makes us feel like we can fly, like we can finally be free, like we can be something new for the first time. The music magnifies the emotions of the story, amplifying our memories until the joy is hardly containable.  What we’re really saying is - Broadway music is special. That’s why we’re so excited that the Houston Symphony and a talented vocalist or two are taking on the best of New York’s legendary street. What is brilliant in NYC will be even more majestic as a full symphony orchestra illuminates these iconic scores under a Pavilion sky.  So - are you ready to fly? Everyone deserves the chance to.","performanceID":"spec17","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/web_background_hso_broadway_1743085906.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Bravo Broadway!","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/bravo-broadway/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec18":{"Program":[{"hsMovement":"March from ##Superman##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"Shark Theme from ##Jaws##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##Hexenritt (Witches' Ride) from Hansel und Gretel##","hsTitle":"HUMPERDINCK"},{"hsMovement":"##L'apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer's Apprentice)##","hsTitle":"DUKAS"},{"hsMovement":"##Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)##","hsTitle":"ROSAS"},{"hsMovement":"Fawkes the Phoenix from ##Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"},{"hsMovement":"Overture from ##Beauty and the Beast##","hsTitle":"A. MENKEN/KOSARIN-BESTERMAN"},{"hsMovement":"Menuet de Cendrillon from ##Cendrillon##","hsTitle":"MASSENET"},{"hsMovement":"Suite from ##Back to the Future##","hsTitle":"A. SILVESTRI"},{"hsMovement":"Theme from ##Jurassic Park##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Oct. 24, 2025","performanceDescription":"All treat, no trick!  Get ready to kick the Halloween season off in style! You’re invited to enjoy a haunting evening of plaza trick-or-treating, ghoulish games, spooky songs and a cacophony of costumes! It’s all the fun you’ve come to expect from a Pavilion performing arts show, with a creepy twist that’s just the right amount of scary for any family.  Everyone is encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costume for a chance to walk on stage during the concert. The first 100 boys and girls to check in at Hocus Pocus Central in the North Plaza, fully costumed, get the chance to march in the Goblin Parade. Wristbands are required to participate in the Goblin Parade.  Costumes that include accessories that resemble weapons are not permitted.","performanceID":"spec18","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/web_background_hso_hocus_pocus_pops_1743086378.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Hocus Pocus Pops","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/hocus-pocus-pops/","performanceVenue":"The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion"},"spec2":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"6"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"6"},"Conductor24":{"musicianID":"Conductor24","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician132":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician132","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician133":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician133","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician134":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician134","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician135":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician135","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Messiah##","hsTitle":"HANDEL/TOBIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","performanceDescription":"Hallelujah! Jones Hall will be filled with exultant arias and joyous refrains—including the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus—in this powerful presentation of the greatest story ever told.","performanceID":"spec2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_33-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Handel’s ##Messiah##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/handels-messiah-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec21":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician9":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician9","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026","performanceDescription":"Acclaimed a cappella ensemble Chanticleer celebrates America’s 250th year of independence with a program showcasing the diverse voices, songs, harmonies, and rhythms of our shared musical heritage. Audiences will enjoy settings of traditional American Bluegrass tunes, beloved folk songs like “Shenandoah,” and contemporary American classics like Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” and “Home” from ##The Wiz##. The program also features a new commission by composer Trevor Weston, demonstrating the link between traditional American hymnody and African American Spirituals.  \\n\\n##This is a presentation, and will not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec21","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FormalGroupShot_by_Stephen_K_Mac-2023-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Chanticleer: Our American Journey","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/chanticleer-our-american-journey/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec22":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician11":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician11","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025","performanceDescription":"We’re turning back the clock on the 2024 hit remake, to the remarkable silent-era classic that started it all. Called the original vampire movie, ##Nosferatu (1922)## is one of the most chilling and influential horror movies of all time. For one performance only, experience this creepy classic on a giant screen exactly as audiences did when it was originally released, as organist Brett Miller performs a spinetingling original soundtrack, live with the movie.  \\n\\n##Performance does not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec22","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Nosferatu-Final.png","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Nosferatu:## Silent Film with Live Organ","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/nosferatu-silent-film-with-live-organ/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec24":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician12":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician12","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Monday, Dec. 8, 2025","performanceDescription":"A cappella sensation Voctave delivers a stocking full of all your favorite carols in this fun-filled, family-friendly holiday extravaganza! Acclaimed for their ability to bring a cappella music to a new dimension ##(Jazz Weekly)##, this 11-member ensemble's merry melodies and bright charm is the perfect way to kick of your Christmas season. \\n\\n##This performance is a presentation only and does not feature the Houston Symphony orchestra.##","performanceID":"spec24","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/VOC2021_Green_Square-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/voctave-it-feels-like-christmas/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec25":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician21":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician21","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025","performanceDescription":"America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization comes to Houston to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary! Enjoy an unforgettable evening with one of the most acclaimed bands in the world, featuring traditional band repertoire, John Philip Sousa’s “Daughters of Texas” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever”, music of Frank Sinatra, selections from Back to the Future, and a patriotic salute to the Armed Forces.  This concert is free, but tickets are required for admission. Please note that the performance does not include the Houston Symphony, and large handbags or backpacks will not be permitted inside the hall.","performanceID":"spec25","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Marine-Band-Official-Portrait-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/presidents-own-marine-band/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec26":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician145":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician145","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician146":{" musicianPriority":3,"musicianID":"GuestMusician146"},"GuestMusician147":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician147","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician22":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician22","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025","performanceDescription":"‘Tis the Season for a bluesy, soulful journey through your favorite Christmas songs with internationally renowned jazz vocalist Tammy McCann. Firmly rooted in the tradition of the great jazz singers of the past, but with her own modern flair, Tammy’s sensitivity and artistry are brilliantly on display as she conjures up the sparkle of the holiday season with hard-swinging takes on classics like “Let It Snow,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and “The Christmas Song.”  \\n\\n##This is a presentation, and will not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec26","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TAMMY-MCCANN-SIDE-FACING-HEAD-SHOT-2022-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Merry Christmas Baby!","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/merry-christmas-baby/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec27":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician139":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician139","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician141":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician141","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician142":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician142","musicianPriority":"3"}},"performanceDate":"Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026","performanceDescription":"In this unique theatrical production blending classical music with comedy, legendary actor John Malkovich steps into the role of the “evil music critic,” who believes the music of Beethoven, Chopin, and the like to be weary and dreary. As Malkovich delivers hilariously scathing real reviews with his trademark deadpan humor, Aleksey Igudesman, Hyung-ki Joo, and other world-renowned musicians fight back with live performances of well-known works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and more. It’s musician vs. critic as live theater, classical music, and comedy collide!  \\n\\n##Written and conceived by Aleksey Igudesman##","performanceID":"spec27","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/99d919c3_The-Music-Critic-JuliaWesely-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"John Malkovich in ##The Music Critic##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/john-malkovich-in-the-music-critic/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec28":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Sunday, May 3, 2026","performanceDescription":"Ever wonder what your toys do when you’re not around? ##Toy Story## answers that question with a fantastic, fun-filled journey, viewed through the eyes of two rival toys—Woody, the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger. When circumstances separate them from their owner, the duo learn to put aside their differences and embark on an adventure-filled mission to return home. The Houston Symphony goes to infinity and beyond as they bring Buzz and Woody’s journey to life on the big screen!  \\n\\n##Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts##","performanceID":"spec28","performanceImage":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/DIC_TS_7.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Disney & Pixar’s ##Toy Story## in Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/disney-pixars-toy-story-in-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec29":{"performanceDate":"Friday, Jun. 26, 2026 - Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026","performanceDescription":"Year Five begins! Between crushing on Cho Chang, studying for his O.W.L.s, and the ever-growing number of detentions from Professor Umbridge™, Harry Potter™ must find the time to discover the secret of his terrible nightmares! See ##Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert## presented in HD on a giant screen and accompanied by a live symphony orchestra! \\n\\n## All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.##","performanceID":"spec29","performanceImage":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HP5-Film-Stills-2-1.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec3":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician140":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician140","musicianPriority":"14"},"Musician75":{"musicianID":"Musician75","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician76":{"musicianID":"Musician76","musicianPriority":"2"},"Musician77":{"musicianID":"Musician77","musicianPriority":"3"},"Musician78":{"musicianID":"Musician78","musicianPriority":"4"},"Musician79":{"musicianID":"Musician79","musicianPriority":"5"},"Musician81":{"musicianID":"Musician81","musicianPriority":"6"},"Musician82":{"musicianID":"Musician82","musicianPriority":"7"},"Musician83":{"musicianID":"Musician83","musicianPriority":"8"},"Musician84":{"musicianID":"Musician84","musicianPriority":"9"},"Musician85":{"musicianID":"Musician85","musicianPriority":"10"},"Musician86":{"musicianID":"Musician86","musicianPriority":"11"},"Musician87":{"musicianID":"Musician87","musicianPriority":"12"},"Musician88":{"musicianID":"Musician88","musicianPriority":"13"},"Musician89":{"musicianID":"Musician89","musicianPriority":"15"},"Musician90":{"musicianID":"Musician90","musicianPriority":"16"},"Musician91":{"musicianID":"Musician91","musicianPriority":"17"},"Musician92":{"musicianID":"Musician92","musicianPriority":"18"},"Musician93":{"musicianID":"Musician93","musicianPriority":"19"}},"Program":[null,{"hsMovement":"La Mourisque from ##Susato Suite##","hsTitle":"SUSATO/IVESON"},{"hsMovement":"##Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming)##","hsTitle":"PRAETORIUS/T. HIGGINS"},{"hsMovement":"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from ##Cantata No. 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147##","hsTitle":"BACH/MILLS"},{"hsMovement":"##Hark! The Herald Angels Sing##","hsTitle":"MENDELSSOHN/P. SNEDECOR"},{"hsMovement":"Evening Prayer from ##Hänsel & Gretel##","hsTitle":"HUMPERDINCK/J. SHEPPARD"},{"hsMovement":"##Santa and Isolde##: A Holiday Opera Fantasy for Brass","hsTitle":"B. ADOLPHE"},{"hsMovement":"##Carol of the Bells/O Sanctissima##","hsTitle":"ARR. R. MEYER"},{"Extended":[{"hsMovement":"I. Sevivon: Leggiero"},{"hsMovement":"II. Maoz Tzur: Andante"},{"hsMovement":"III. Dreydel: Theme and Variations: Slow, rubato"}],"hsMovement":"##The Hanukkah Rhapsody##","hsTitle":"ARR. S. BULLA"},{"hsMovement":"##Greensleeves##","hsTitle":"ARR. N. PLATOFF"},{"hsMovement":"##A Joyous Christmas##","hsTitle":"D. RICHARD"}],"performanceDate":"Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025","performanceDescription":"Sound the trumpets—the Houston Symphony brass section welcomes you for a concert brimming with holiday cheer! Featuring exquisite classical works, treasured carols, and festive favorites, this concert is the perfect way to kick off the holidays.","performanceID":"spec3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_32-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Joyful Fanfares: Holiday Brass Spectacular!","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/joyful-fanfares-holiday-brass-spectacular/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec4":{"Musicians":{"Conductor12":{"musicianID":"Conductor12","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Elf##","hsTitle":"J. DEBNEY"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025","performanceDescription":"Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season, relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in:  ##Elf ™## in Concert!  \\n\\nELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.","performanceID":"spec4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_34-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Elf## In Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/elf-in-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec5":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician130":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician130","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Pavane in F-sharp minor, Op. 50","hsTitle":"FAURE"},{"hsMovement":"##Kreisleriana##, Op. 16","hsTitle":"SCHUMANN"},{"Extended":[null,{"hsMovement":"Op. 17 No. 1, 2, 4"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 24 No. 2, 4"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 30 No. 3, 4"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 33 No. 3, 4, 2"},{"hsMovement":"Op. 59 No. 3"}],"hsMovement":"##Mazurkas##","hsTitle":"CHOPIN"},{"hsMovement":"Polonaise in F# minor, Op. 44","hsTitle":"CHOPIN"}],"performanceDate":"Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026","performanceDescription":"“The hottest artist on the classical music planet” ##(The New York Times)##. Superstar pianist Lang Lang performs a one-night-only recital at Jones Hall, featuring works by Chopin, Schumann, and more.  \\n\\n##Performances does not include the Houston Symphony
##","performanceID":"spec5","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_36-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Lang Lang in Recital","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/lang-lang-recital/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec6":{"Musicians":{"Conductor2":{"musicianID":"Conductor2","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi##","hsTitle":"J. WILLIAMS"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 10, 2026","performanceDescription":"“I am a Jedi, like my father before me.” Watch the thrilling final chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy on the big screen, and feel the full splendor and Force of John Williams' soaring score, performed live by the Symphony!  ##Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts##","performanceID":"spec6","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_35-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"##Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi## In Concert","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-concert/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"spec8":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician131":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician131","musicianPriority":"1"}},"performanceDate":"Friday, Apr. 17, 2026","performanceDescription":"One of the most astounding pianists in the world meets one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time as the “breathtakingly brilliant” ##(Gramophone)## Víkingur Ólafsson shares an evening of Beethoven’s legendary final piano sonatas.  ##Performance does not include the Houston Symphony##","performanceID":"spec8","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_37-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Víkingur Ólafsson In Recital","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/vikingur-olafsson-recital/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents1":{"performanceDate":"Friday, Sep. 19, 2025","performanceID":"specialEvents1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ONG-FY26-Banner_Clean.png","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"2025 Opening Night Concert & Gala","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents2":{"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026","performanceDescription":"Join us on January 31, 2026, for an unforgettable evening of elegance and fine wine as we celebrate the extraordinary artistry of the Houston Symphony. This glamorous event, a highlight of Houston’s social calendar, will be chaired by John and Lindy Rydman of Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods.  Set in the luxurious Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, the evening will feature spectacular entertainment, a gourmet multi-course dinner crafted by Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere, and exquisite French wine pairings thoughtfully curated by the Rydmans. Guests will enjoy dancing to Q the Band and a luxury silent auction - all in support of the Symphony's vital mission.  This gala supports the Houston Symphony’s world-class artistic programming and industry-leading Education and Community Engagement initiatives, at Jones Hall and in schools, hospitals, and other venues throughout the city. These activities include education programs that serve students in 26 area school districts and a Health and Wellness initiative for patients, their families, and caregivers at three Texas Medical Center hospitals.","performanceID":"specialEvents2","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20_SymphonyBall25_JPP-scaled-1.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"2026 Houston Symphony Ball","performanceVenue":"The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston"},"specialEvents3":{"performanceDate":"Friday, May 8, 2026","performanceDescription":"Chaired this year by Janet F. Clark, the Houston Symphony’s Wine Dinner and Collectors’ Auction is one of Houston’s premier social events. Set on the stage of Jones Hall, with a gourmet dinner by Chef Felipe Botero of Michelin-starred ##Le Jardinier##, and expert pairings by John and Lindy Rydman of Spec’s, it is sure to be a night to remember!  The evening also features a highly anticipated auction—led by Jack Matzer—offering rare wines, spirits, exclusive experiences, and other unique items.  With a goal of raising $1 million, all proceeds will support the Symphony’s artistic programming and its far-reaching Education and Community Engagement initiatives that serve over 200,000 people each year.  \\n\\nThis event will sell out quickly, so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early! Individual tickets start at $2,000 with table sponsorships available. ","performanceID":"specialEvents3","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Houston-Symphony-716-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"Wine Dinner & Collectors’ Auction","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents4":{"Musicians":{"GuestMusician143":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician143"}},"performanceDate":"Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026","performanceDescription":"Juilliard-trained concert pianist and Harvard-educated psychiatrist Dr. Richard Kogan returns to Jones Hall with a can’t-miss deep dive into the mind and music of Leonard Bernstein. Drawing on his dual background in psychiatry and music, Dr. Kogan offers unique insights into the inner world and creative genius of one of classical music’s most celebrated conductors and composers.  \\n\\nThis year’s appearance by Dr. Kogan is part of Houston Methodist’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) 30th Anniversary celebration and marks the beginning of the Houston Symphony’s USA 250th Anniversary programming.","performanceID":"specialEvents4","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pexels-nikita-khandelwal-178978-685458-scaled.jpg","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTime":"4:00 P.M.","performanceTitle":"The Music and Mind of Leonard Bernstein","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/special-events/the-music-and-mind-of-leonard-bernstein/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"specialEvents5":{"performanceDate":"Thursday, Apr. 2, 2026","performanceDescription":"Please check back later when more information has been announced.","performanceID":"specialEvents5","performanceImage":"https://dev-houston-symphony.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/168-Houston-Symphony-YAC-Tasting-Notes-20241028-JT-scaled.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Special Events","performanceTitle":"2026 Young Associates Council Tasting Notes","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/special-events/2026-yac-tasting-notes","performanceVenue":"Late August"},"specials1":{"Musicians":{"Conductor4":{"musicianID":"Conductor4"},"GuestMusician23":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician23"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##El Cumbanchero##","hsTitle":"HERNÁNDEZ/GONZALES"},{"hsMovement":"“I Feel Pretty” from ##West Side Story##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN"},{"hsMovement":"“Somewhere” from ##West Side Story##","hsTitle":"BERNSTEIN"},{"hsMovement":"##Kalamary##","hsTitle":"TOBAR"},{"hsMovement":"##Tres Aires Chilenos##","hsTitle":"SORO"},{"hsMovement":"##Neruda Songs##","hsTitle":"LIEBERSON"},{"hsMovement":"##Bailongo, o Danzas de Pasión y Desdén##","hsTitle":"SOTO"},{"hsMovement":"##El cóndor pasa##","hsTitle":"ROBLES/GONZALES"},{"hsMovement":"“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)” from ##Carmen##","hsTitle":"BIZET"},{"hsMovement":"##Mariachitlán##","hsTitle":"J.P. CONTRERAS"}],"Sponsors":{"Sponsors1":{"sponsorsID":"Sponsors1"}},"performanceDate":"Friday, Sep. 26, 2025","performanceDescription":"The Houston Symphony’s annual Fiesta Sinfónica concert returns! Join us for this free performance celebrating the musical contributions of Latin American and Hispanic composers, sponsored by Chevron. This year’s program welcomes mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado who brings music to poetry in Neruda Songs, based on the works of poet Pablo Neruda. Also featured is Tres Aires Chilenos and music from Carmen, West Side Story, and more.  This concert is hosted in partnership with the Hispanic Leadership Council.  This concert will not have an intermission.","performanceID":"specials1","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/webheader_FiestaSinfonica_1920x1080.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Specials","performanceTitle":"Fiesta Sinfónica","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/fiesta-sinfonica/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub10":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician107":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician107","musicianPriority":"1"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"\"La Nuit et l’Amour\" from ##Ludus pro Patria##","hsTitle":"HOLMÈS"},{"hsMovement":"##In Tempus Praesens##","hsTitle":"S. GUBAIDULINA"},{"hsMovement":"##Romeo and Juliet## Overture-Fantasy","hsTitle":"TCHAIKOVSKY"},{"hsMovement":"##Le Poème de l'extase (The Poem of Ecstasy)##","hsTitle":"SCRIABIN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 - Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026","performanceDescription":"Instantly recognizable thanks to its use throughout pop culture, Tchaikovsky’s ##Romeo and Juliet## soars with tender poetry and heart-on-sleeve passion. Blazing with originality and raw intensity, Sofia Gubaidulina’s ##In Tempus Praesens## (“For the Present Time”) is one of those works that must be witnessed live, and a spectacular experience awaits you with rising-star violinist Alexi Kenney. And, get swept away on a sea of glorious sound in Scriabin’s earth-shattering ##Poem of Ecstasy##.","performanceID":"sub10","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_10-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Tchaikovsky’s ##Romeo and Juliet##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/tchaikovsky-romeo-and-juliet/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub11":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"0"},"GuestMusician108":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician108","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician109":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician109","musicianPriority":"2"},"GuestMusician110":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician110","musicianPriority":"3"},"GuestMusician111":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician111","musicianPriority":"4"},"GuestMusician112":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician112","musicianPriority":"5"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Tristan and Isolde##, Act II","hsTitle":"WAGNER"}],"performanceDate":"Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026","performanceDescription":"In Wagner’s groundbreaking opera ##Tristan and Isolde##, a romance for the ages plays out through some of the most revelatory and transcendent music ever written. Act II of this masterpiece has it all—searing passion, spellbinding drama, and staggering vocal feats. Experience the complete second act live in concert, performed by an all-star cast of singers and the Symphony, and hear why ##Tristan and Isolde## is considered one of the greatest works of art ever created.","performanceID":"sub11","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB11.jpg","performanceLivestream":"","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Wagner’s ##Tristan and Isolde##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/wagners-tristan-and-isolde/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub12":{"Musicians":{"Conductor18":{"musicianID":"Conductor18","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician113":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician113","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Wuthering Heights Suite##","hsTitle":"NEWMAN"},{"hsMovement":"Piano Concerto No. 9, K. 271, ##Jenamy##","hsTitle":"W.A. MOZART"},{"hsMovement":"##Enigma Variations##","hsTitle":"ELGAR"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026","performanceDescription":"Mozart’s genius is on full display in his elegant and high-spirited Piano Concerto No. 9, and in the hands of Jan Lisiecki—recognized as one of today’s most astounding young talents—it promises pure magic. In his famous ##Enigma Variations##, Elgar lovingly renders those nearest and dearest to him, creating a musical photo album filled with heartfelt warmth and profound emotional depth. The concerts open with romantic music from the 1939 film adaptation of ##Wuthering Heights##.","performanceID":"sub12","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_12-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Mozart + Elgar’s ##Enigma Variations##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/mozart-elgar-enigma-variations/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub13":{"Musicians":{"Conductor1":{"musicianID":"Conductor1","musicianPriority":"1"},"Musician90":{"musicianID":"Musician90","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"Overture No. 2","hsTitle":"FARRENC"},{"hsMovement":"Timpani Concerto, Houston Symphony Commission, World Premiere","hsTitle":"A. AKIHO"},{"hsMovement":"Symphony No. 5","hsTitle":"BEETHOVEN"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Mar. 20, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 22, 2026","performanceDescription":"The most famous four notes in history launch a towering masterpiece for the ages in Beethoven’s legendary Fifth Symphony. Award-winning composer Andy Akiho is known for bold, immersive music that shatters preconceptions, and you do not want to miss the world premiere of his Timpani Concerto, written especially for Houston Symphony Principal Timpanist Leonardo Soto.","performanceID":"sub13","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WebHeaders_2526_2048x2048_13-HS.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/beethoven-fifth-symphony-timpani-premiere/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub14":{"Musicians":{"Chorus1":{"musicianID":"Chorus1","musicianPriority":"2"},"Chorus3":{"musicianID":"Chorus3","musicianPriority":"3"},"Conductor19":{"musicianID":"Conductor19","musicianPriority":"0"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##Pohjola's Daughter##","hsTitle":"SIBELIUS"},{"hsMovement":"##Threnody: In Memory of Jean Sibelius##","hsTitle":"STILL"},{"hsMovement":"##The Captive Queen##","hsTitle":"SIBELIUS"},{"hsMovement":"Selections from ##Peer Gynt##","hsTitle":"GRIEG"}],"performanceDate":"Friday, Mar. 27, 2026 - Sunday, Mar. 29, 2026","performanceDescription":"Featuring the ethereal “Morning Mood” and the hair-raising “In the Hall of the Mountain King”—both pop-culture staples you’ll recognize instantly—Grieg’s ##Peer Gynt## is one of classical music’s most enduringly popular works. Prepare for a magical theatrical experience bringing the Peer Gynt story to vivid life. Bewitching works by Sibelius and William Grant Still round out a concert steeped in legend and enchantment.","performanceID":"sub14","performanceImage":"https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SUB14.jpg","performanceLivestream":"Yes","performanceSeason":"25-26","performanceSeries":"Classical","performanceTitle":"Grieg’s ##Peer Gynt##","performanceURL":"https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/griegs-peer-gynt/","performanceVenue":"Jones Hall"},"sub15":{"Musicians":{"Conductor20":{"musicianID":"Conductor20","musicianPriority":"1"},"GuestMusician131":{"musicianID":"GuestMusician131","musicianPriority":"2"}},"Program":[{"hsMovement":"##The Unanswered Question##","hsTitle":"IVES"},{"hsMovement":"##Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?##","hsTitle":"J. ADAMS"},{"hsMovement":"##The Rock You Stand On##","hsTitle":"J. 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