InTune | April 2024

21st Century Broadway

Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles

Carmina burana

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Dear Music Lovers,

Welcome to April at the Houston Symphony! Spring has definitely sprung here in Houston, and we’ve unveiled our new 2024–25 Season, which we’re delighted to share with you. Thrilling classical concerts with Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the best of POPS with Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke, Symphony Specials with superstars including Yo-Yo Ma and Daniil Trifonov—next season has it all. Turn to page 14 to find all of the exciting details.

This month, we continue our Bank of America POPS Series with 21st Century Broadway (April 5–7), featuring some of the greatest hits of the last two and a half decades on the Great White Way. Classical Mystery Tour makes a long-awaited return to Jones Hall for an unforgettable tribute to The Beatles (April 18–19). And our beloved Conductor Laureate Andrés Orozco-Estrada makes his second visit of the season to conduct the world premiere of Jimmy López Bellido’s First Contact from his Symphony No. 4, Eclipse, and that perennial favorite, Carl Orff’s Carmina burana, featuring a trio of stellar soloists, the Houston Symphony Chorus, and the Houston Children’s Chorus (April 26–28).

We also pay tribute to Houston-area teachers this month with our Salute to Educators Concert, as part of the April 7 concert. Each year, the Spec’s

Charitable Foundation and Spec’s Wines, Spirits, and Finer Foods invites teachers from across the Greater Houston area to Jones Hall for a celebration of their crucial work. We also take the opportunity to honor one of their own with the Spec's Charitable Foundation Award for Excellence in Musical Education; this year’s honoree is Andre Pleasant, Orchestra Director at Crespo Elementary School. To learn more about Mr. Pleasant and Spec’s critical support for music education in our city, please turn to page 17.

As we approach the end of our 2023–24 Season, we’ve got an incredible run of artistic projects in store over the coming months—Juraj Valčuha leading the Strauss Festival, featuring his colossal Alpine Symphony and a captivating concert staging of his opera Salome; the local premiere of John Adams’s staggering 21st-century retelling of the nativity story, El Niño; and Steven Reineke conducting John Williams’s music for every Star Wars film. You can help us finish strong by subscribing to our upcoming concerts—with our new choose-your-own options, you can pick from any concert currently on sale—and making a donation to our end-of-year campaign. Your support is critical to everything we do, making it possible to bring great music to hundreds of thousands of Houstonians each season.

Thank you so much, and enjoy the concert!

All my best,

Executive Director/CEO Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

23 24 Season

Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert

November

December

January

February

S S Andrés Returns

November 4 & 5

Valčuha Conducts Rachmaninoff

November 10, 11 & 12

Valčuha Conducts Ravel’s La valse

November 17, 18 & 19 S S

“I Will Survive”—Diva Legends

November 24, 25 & 26

March

December 1, 2 & 3

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

December 9 & 10

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker

December 12

Handel’s Messiah

December 15, 16 & 17

Very Merry POPS

December 20, 21, 22 & 23

Holly Jolly Holiday

December 23

Swingin’ Sinatra: A New Year’s Celebration

January 5, 6 & 7

Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony + Yoonshin Song

January 12, 13 & 14

Takemitsu + Brahms’s Requiem

January 19, 20 & 21

Víkingur Ólafsson Plays Bach

April

At Last! A Tribute to Etta James March 1, 2 & 3

Valčuha Conducts Mahler 6 March 15, 16 & 17

Mozart + Beethoven’s Eroica March 22, 23 & 24

Romeo and Juliet + Dvořák’s Cello Concerto March 29 & 30

21st Century Broadway April 5, 6 & 7

I’m a Superhero! April 6

Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles April 18 & 19

Disney’s Encanto™ in Concert Live to Film April 20 & 21

Carmina burana April 26, 27 & 28

Pines of Rome + Grieg’s Piano Concerto May 2, 4 & 5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert May 10 & 11

May

S

January 28

Jazz, Love & Gershwin: A Century of Rhapsody in Blue February 2, 3 & 4

Get Up and Dance!

February 3

Perlman Conducts Tchaikovsky 5 February 8, 10 & 11

Eschenbach Conducts Bruckner 8 February 24 & 25

June

Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler’s House May 12

The Music of Star Wars May 17, 18 & 19

Adams’s El Niño May 25 & 26

An Alpine Symphony June 1 & 2

Salome in Concert June 7 & 9

The Music of ABBA

June 15

Jurassic Park in Concert June 22 & 23

The Music of the Rolling Stones June 28 & 29

performance CALENDAR 2024 –25 SEASON

June 15

Jurassic Park in Concert

June 22 & 23

The Music of The Rolling Stones

June 28 & 29

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: The Music of Motown

September 28 & 29

Opening Weekend: Dvořák’s New World

October 4, 5 & 6

Trifonov in Concert

October 10

Dvořák’s Violin Concerto

October 12 & 13

S The Music of ABBA

Hansel and Gretel & Don Quixote

November 1, 2 & 3

It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics with Byron Stripling

November 8, 9 & 10

Clap your hands, say yeah!

The Great American Music Adventure

November 9

Michael Tilson Thomas

Conducts Beethoven 9

November 14

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert

November 16 & 17

Bach, Mozart & Brahms

November 23 & 24

Thanksgiving Weekend:

Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto

November 29, 30 & December 1

A Viennese Waltz Christmas

December 7 & 8

Yo-Yo Ma in Concert

December 9

Very Merry Pops

December 12, 14 & 15

Holly Jolly Holiday

December 14

S Handel's Messiah

December 20, 21 & 22

Pink Martini with China Forbes: 30th Anniversary Season

January 3, 4 & 5

An Eschenbach & Bruckner Birthday Celebration

January 11 & 12

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert

January 18 & 19

Beethoven’s Violin Concerto & Tchaikovsky

January 24, 25 & 26

Viva Italia! Opera Beyond Words

February 7 & 9

Duke Bluebeard’s Castle

February 15 & 16

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert

February 21 & 22

007: James Bond Forever

February 28, March 1 & 2

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Maestro

March 1

Hilary Hahn Plays Brahms

March 7, 8 & 9

Korngold’s Violin Concerto & Cinderella

March 14, 15 & 16

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody & The Little Mermaid

March 21, 22 & 23

Showstoppers! Celebrating Iconic Women of Broadway

April 4, 5 & 6

La Flor: The Music of Selena April 12 & 13

Sibelius 5 & Stravinsky

April 18 & 19

Cirque Rocks!

April 25, 26 & 27

Cirque For Kids

April 26

Beethoven 7 & Mozart May 1, 3 & 4

Trumpet Brilliance & Boléro

May 9, 10 & 11

Stayin’ Alive: The Bee Gees & Beyond

May 16, 17 & 18

Bruce Liu Plays Chopin

May 23, 24 & 25

Juraj Valčuha Conducts Mahler 3 May 30, 31 & June 1

John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Movie Magic

June 6, 7 & 8

JONES HALL

Since the opening of Jones Hall in 1966, millions of arts patrons have enjoyed countless musical and stage performances at the venue. Dominating an entire city block, Jones Hall features a stunning travertine marble facade, 66-foot ceilings, and a brilliantly lit grand entrance. Jones Hall is a monument to the memory of Jesse Holman Jones, a towering figure in Houston during the first half of the 20 th century.

CONCERT DISRUPTION

We strive to provide the best possible auditory experience of our world-class orchestra. Noise from phones, candy wrappers, and talking is distracting to the performers on stage and those around you. Please help us make everyone’s concert enjoyable by silencing electronic devices now and remaining quiet during the performance.

FOOD & DRINK POLICY

The Encore Café and in-hall bars are open for Symphony performances, and food and drink will be permitted in bar areas. Food is not permitted inside the auditorium. Patrons may bring drinks into the auditorium for Bank of America POPS Series concerts and Symphony Specials. Drinks are not permitted inside the auditorium for Classical concerts.

LOST & FOUND

For lost and found inquiries, please contact Patron Experience Coordinator Freddie Piegsa during the performance. He also can be reached at freddie.piegsa@houstonsymphony.org. You also may contact Houston First after the performances at 832.487.7050

ETIQUETTE

For Classical concerts, if a work has several movements it is traditional to hold applause until the end of the last movement. If you are unsure when a piece ends, check the program or wait for the conductor to face the audience. If you feel truly inspired, however, do not be afraid to applaud!

CHILDREN

Children ages six and up are welcome to all Classical, Bank of America POPS, and Symphony Special concerts. Children of all ages are welcome at PNC Family Series performances. Children must have a ticket for all ticketed events.

LATE SEATING

Each performance typically allows for late seating, which is scheduled in intervals and determined by the conductor. Our ushers and Patron Experience Coordinator will instruct you on when late seating is allowed.

TICKETS

Subscribers to six or more Classical or Bank of America POPS concerts, as well as PNC Family Subscribers, may exchange their tickets at no cost. Tickets to Symphony Specials or single ticket purchases are ineligible for exchange or refund.

If you are unable to make a performance, your ticket may be donated prior to the concert for a tax-donation receipt. Donations and exchanges may be made in person, over the phone, or online.

Houston Symphony Music Director Juraj Valčuha is recognized for his effortless expressiveness and depth of musicianship. With sharp baton technique and natural stage presence, the impressive ease of his interpretations translate even the most complex scores into immersive experiences.

Before joining the Houston Symphony in June 2022, Juraj 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.

The 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, and in Italy with Puccini's La bohème in Bologna.

He 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

Music Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Rome, Milan's Filarmonica della Scala, Montréal Symphony, and the NHK and Yomiuri orchestras in Tokyo.

He enjoys regular collaborations with the Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony. International touring with the Orchestra Sinfonica della Rai took them to the Musikverein in Vienna and Philharmonie in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Zurich, Munich, to the Enesco Festival in Bucharest, and the Abu Dhabi Classics. With the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, he visited Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn to mark the 100 th anniversary of the Baltic nations.

In Europe, he is acclaimed on the podium of the Munich Philharmonic, the NDR Hamburg and Frankfurt Radio orchestras, as well as the Vienna Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, BBC Symphony and Philharmonia London, and the Swedish Radio Orchestra.

Juraj champions the compositions of living composers and aims to program contemporary pieces in most of his concerts. He has conducted world premieres, including Christopher Rouse’s Supplica with the Pittsburgh Symphony, 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 Thorvaldsdottir, Anna Clyne, and Jessie Montgomery, among others.

Including his engagements in Houston, the 2023–24 Season takes him to the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Chicago, and Minnesota Orchestras as well as to the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra in Tokyo. On the European stage, he performs Fanciulla del West and Tristan and Isolde at the Bavarian State Opera and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Jenufa at the Opera di Roma, and Salome at the Semperoper in Dresden. He leads 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.

Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Juraj studied composition and conducting in his birth place, then at the conservatory in St. Petersburg (with Ilya Musin), and finally, at the Conservatoire Supérieur de la Musique in Paris.

Juraj Valčuha

Music Director

Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

FIRST VIOLIN

Yoonshin Song, Concertmaster

Max Levine Chair

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Ellen E. Kelley Chair

Boson Mo, Assistant Concertmaster

Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster

Fondren Foundation Chair

Marina Brubaker

Tong Yan

MiHee Chung

Sophia Silivos

Rodica Gonzalez

Ferenc Illenyi

Si-Yang Lao

Kurt Johnson*

Christopher Neal

Sergei Galperin

SECOND VIOLIN

MuChen Hsieh, Principal

Teresa Wang+, Associate Principal

Amy Semes

Annie Kuan-Yu Chen

Mihaela Frusina

Jing Zheng

Tianjie Lu

Anastasia Ehrlich

Tina Zhang*

Yankı Karataş

Tianxu Liu+

Samuel Park+

VIOLA

Joan DerHovsepian, Principal

Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal

Sheldon Person

Fay Shapiro

Keoni Bolding

Samuel Pedersen

Suzanne LeFevre+

Elizabeth Golofeev+

Meredith Harris+

Yvonne Smith+

CELLO

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal

Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair

Christopher French, Associate Principal

Anthony Kitai

Louis-Marie Fardet

Jeffrey Butler

Maki Kubota

Xiao Wong

Charles Seo

Jeremy Kreutz

COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED MUSICIANS

Lindsey Baggett, violin

David Connor, double bass

Rainel Joubert, violin

ASSISTANT LIBRARIANS

Hae-a Lee

Anna Thompson

Steven Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor Laureate

Gonzalo Farias, Assistant Conductor

DOUBLE BASS

Robin Kesselman, Principal

Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal

Eric Larson

Andrew Pedersen

Burke Shaw

Donald Howey

Ryan Avila+

Luke Rogers+

FLUTE

Aralee Dorough, Principal General Maurice Hirsch Chair

Matthew Roitstein*, Associate Principal

Judy Dines, Acting Associate Principal Mark Teplitsky+

Kathryn Ladner

PICCOLO

Kathryn Ladner

OBOE

Jonathan Fischer, Principal Lucy Binyon Stude Chair

Anne Leek, Associate Principal

Colin Gatwood

Adam Dinitz

ENGLISH HORN

Adam Dinitz

CLARINET

Mark Nuccio, Principal Bobbie Nau Chair

Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal

Christian Schubert

Alexander Potiomkin

E-FLAT CLARINET

Thomas LeGrand

BASS CLARINET

Alexander Potiomkin, Tassie and Constantine S. Nicandros Chair

BASSOON

Rian Craypo, Principal Isaac Schultz, Associate Principal

Elise Wagner

Adam Trussell

STAGE PERSONNEL

Stefan Stout, Stage Manager

José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager

Nicholas DiFonzo, Head Video Engineer

Justin Herriford, Head Audio Engineer

Connor Morrow, Head Stage Technician

Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager

CONTRABASSOON

Adam Trussell

HORN

William VerMeulen, Principal

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan

Endowed Chair

Robert Johnson, Associate Principal

Nathan Cloeter, Assistant Principal/Utility

Brian Thomas

Brian Mangrum

Ian Mayton

Barbara J. Burger Chair

TRUMPET

Mark Hughes, Principal

George P. and Cynthia Woods

Mitchell Chair

John Parker, Associate Principal

Robert Walp, Assistant Principal

Richard Harris

TROMBONE

Bradley White, Acting Principal

Ryan Rongone+

Phillip Freeman

BASS TROMBONE

Phillip Freeman

TUBA

Dave Kirk, Principal

TIMPANI

Leonardo Soto, Principal

Matthew Strauss, Associate Principal

PERCUSSION

Brian Del Signore, Principal

Mark Griffith

Matthew Strauss

HARP

Allegra Lilly, Principal

KEYBOARD

Scott Holshouser, Principal

LIBRARIAN

Luke Bryson, Principal

*on leave + contracted substitute

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2023–24 SEASON

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Barbara J. Burger President

Janet F. Clark

Chair

John Rydman

Immediate Past President

Mike S. Stude Chairman Emeritus

Paul Morico General Counsel

Barbara McCelvey Secretary

John Mangum^ Executive Director/CEO

Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

Jonathan Ayre Chair, Finance

Brad W. Corson

Chair, Governance & Leadership

Manuel Delgado Chair, Marketing & Communications

Evan B. Glick Chair, Popular Programming

Lidiya Gold Chair, Development

Sippi Khurana, M.D. Chair, Education

GOVERNING DIRECTORS

Jonathan Ayre

Gary Beauchamp

Eric Brueggeman

Bill Bullock

Barbara J. Burger

Mary Kathryn Campion, Ph.D.

John Cassidy, M.D.

Janet F. Clark

Lidiya Gold

Claudio Gutiérrez

William D. Hunt

Rick Jaramillo

David J. M. Key

Sippi Khurana, M.D.

Mary Lynn Marks Chair, Volunteers & Special Events

Robert Orr

Chair, Strategic Planning

Ed Schneider Chair, Community Partnerships

John Rydman Chair, Artistic & Orchestra Affairs

Jesse B. Tutor Chair, Audit

Steven P. Mach ^ Immediate Past Chairman

Bobby Tudor^ At-Large Member

Mary Fusillo^ President, Houston Symphony League

James H. Lee^ President, Houston Symphony Endowment

Juraj Valčuha^ Music Director, Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Rian Craypo Musician Representative

Joan DerHovsepian^ Musician Representative

Mark Hughes^ Musician Representative

Mark Nuccio^ Musician Representative

Sherry Rodriguez^ Assistant Secretary

^Ex-Officio

Carey Kirkpatrick

Kenny Kurtzman

Cindy Levit

Isabel Stude Lummis

Cora Sue Mach **

Rodney Margolis**

Jay Marks **

Mary Lynn Marks

Elissa Martin

Barbara McCelvey

Paul R. Morico

Robert Orr

Chris Powers

John Rydman**

Ed Schneider

Anthony Speier

William J. Toomey II

Bobby Tudor **

Betty Tutor **

Jesse B. Tutor **

Gretchen Watkins

Robert Weiner

Margaret Alkek Williams **

EX-OFFICIO

Brad W. Corson

Rian Craypo

Manuel Delgado

Joan DerHovsepian

Mary Fusillo

Evan B. Glick

Mark Hughes

James H. Lee

Steven P. Mach

John Mangum

Mark Nuccio

Sherry Rodriguez

Juraj Valčuha

TRUSTEES

David J. Beck

James M. Bell Jr.

Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl

Nancy Shelton Bratic

Terry Ann Brown**

Lindsay Buchanan

Ralph Burch

Dougal Cameron

John T. Cater**

Robert Chanon

Michael H. Clark

Virginia Clark

Brad W. Corson

Andrew Davis, Ph.D.

Denise Davis

Manuel Delgado

Allen Deutsch, M.D.

Tracy Dieterich

Joan Duff

Connie Dyer

PAST

Jeffrey B. Firestone

Eugene A. Fong

Aggie L. Foster

Julia Anderson Frankel

Ronald G. Franklin

Carolyn Gaidos

Evan B. Glick

Jeff Hiller

Grace Ho

Gary L. Hollingsworth

Brian James

Dawn James

I. Ray Kirk, M.D.

David Krieger

Matthew Loden

Steven P. Mach

Michael Mann, M.D.

Jack Matzer

Jackie Wolens Mazow

Alexander K. McLanahan**

PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY

Mrs. Edwin B. Parker

Miss Ima Hogg

Mrs. H. M. Garwood

Joseph A. Mullen, M.D.

Joseph S. Smith

Walter H. Walne

H. R. Cullen

Gen. Maurice Hirsch

Charles F. Jones

Fayez Sarofim

John T. Cater

Richard G. Merrill

Ellen Elizardi Kelley

John D. Platt

E.C. Vandagrift Jr.

J. Hugh Roff Jr.

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE

Miss Ima Hogg

Mrs. John F. Grant

Mrs. J. R. Parten

Mrs. Andrew E. Rutter

Mrs. Aubrey Leno Carter

Mrs. Stuart Sherar

Mrs. Julian Barrows

Ms. Hazel Ledbetter

Mrs. Albert P. Jones

Mrs. Ben A. Calhoun

Mrs. James Griffith Lawhon

Mrs. Olaf LaCour Olsen

Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn

Mrs. Leon Jaworski

Mrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr.

Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr.

Mrs. Thompson McCleary

Mrs. Theodore W. Cooper

Mrs. Allen W. Carruth

Mrs. David Hannah Jr.

Mary Louis Kister

Mrs. Edward W. Kelley Jr.

Mrs. John W. Herndon

Mrs. Charles Franzen

Mrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr.

Mrs. Edward H. Soderstrom

Mrs. Lilly Kucera Andress

Ms. Marilou Bonner

Mrs. W. Harold Sellers

Mrs. Harry H. Gendel

Mrs. Robert M. Eury

Mrs. E. C. Vandagrift Jr.

Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

Terry Ann Brown

FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL REPRESENTATIVES

Dougal A. Cameron

Janet F. Clark

Marilyn Miles

Aprill Nelson

Tammy Tran Nguyen

Leslie Nossaman

Edward Osterberg Jr.

Zeljko Pavlovic

Gloria G. Pryzant

Miwa Sakashita

Andrew Schwaitzberg

Helen Shaffer**

Robert B. Sloan, D.D., Theol.

Jim R. Smith

Miles O. Smith**

Quentin Smith

Mike S. Stude **

Ishwaria Subbiah, M.D.

Shirley W. Toomim

Margaret Waisman, M.D.

Fredric A. Weber

Vicki West

Robert M. Hermance

Gene McDavid

Janice H. Barrow

Barry C. Burkholder

Rodney H. Margolis

Jeffrey B. Early

Michael E. Shannon

Ed Wulfe

Nancy Strohmer

Mary Ann McKeithan

Ann Cavanaugh

Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Lucy H. Lewis

Catherine McNamara

Shirley McGregor Pearson

Paula Jarrett

Cora Sue Mach

Kathi Rovere

Norma Jean Brown

Barbara McCelvey

Lori Sorcic Jansen

Nancy B. Willerson

Jane Clark

Nancy Littlejohn

Donna Shen

Barbara McCelvey

Steven J. Williams

David J. Wuthrich

Ellen A. Yarrell

Robert Yekovich

EX-OFFICIO

John Steven Cisneros, Ed.D.

Juan Zane Crawford, Ph. D.

Kirby Lodholz

Frank F. Wilson IV

**Lifetime Trustee

Jesse B. Tutor

Robert B. Tudor III

Robert A. Peiser

Steven P. Mach

Janet F. Clark

John Rydman

Dr. Susan Snider Osterberg

Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein

Vicki West

Mrs. Jesse Tutor

Darlene Clark

Beth Wolff

Maureen Higdon

Fran Fawcett Peterson

Leslie Siller

Cheryl Byington

SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP

John Mangum, Executive Director/CEO, Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

Elizabeth S. Condic, Chief Financial Officer

Vicky Dominguez, Chief Operating Officer

DEVELOPMENT

Lauren Buchanan, Development Communications Manager

Alex Canales, Development Ticket Concierge

Jessie De Arman, Development Associate, Gifts and Records

Timothy Dillow, Senior Director, Development

Amanda T. Dinitz, Senior Major Gifts Officer

Vivian Gonzalez, Development Officer

Karyn Mason, Development Officer

Hadia Mawlawi, Senior Associate, Endowment and Planned Giving

Ben McAndrew, Institutional Giving Associate

Meghan Miller, Special Events Associate

Emilie Moellmer, Annual Fund Manager

Chelsea Murray, Senior Development Associate, Administration

Erika Ngo, Development Intern

Tim Richey, Director, Individual Giving

Sherry Rodriguez, Corporate Relations Manager & Board Liaison

Katie Salvatore, Development Officer

Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director, Development

Lena Streetman, Manager, Research and Development Operations

Stacey Swift, Director, Special Events

Sarah Thompson, Donor Stewardship Manager

Christina Trunzo, Director, Foundation Relations

Alexa Ustaszewski, Major Gifts Officer

EDUCATION | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Olivia Allred, Education and Community Engagement Coordinator

Allison Conlan, Director, Education and Community Engagement

FINANCE | ADMINISTRATION | IT | HR

José Arriaga, Systems Engineer

Henry Cantu, Finance Accountant

Kimberly Cegielski, Staff Accountant

Joel James, Director of Human Resources

Tanya Lovetro, Director of Budgeting and Financial Reporting

Morgana Rickard, Controller

Gabriela Rivera, Senior Accountant

Pam Romo, Office Manager/HR Coordinator

Lee Whatley, Senior Director, IT and Analytics

MARKETING | EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Marketing and Communications

Mark Bailes, Marketing Revenue Manager

Olivia Cantrell, Content Marketing Coordinator

David Early, Marketing and External Relations Assistant

Heather Fails, Manager, Ticketing Database

Kathryn Judd, Director, Marketing

Yoo-Ell Lee, Graphics and Media Designer

Fiona Legesse-Sinha, Graphic Design Manager

Ciara Macaulay, Creative Director

Mariah Martinez, Email Marketing Coordinator

Eric Skelly, Senior Director, Communications

Alex Soares, Senior Director, Marketing Patron Services

Freddie Piegsa, Patron Experience Coordinator

Ashlan Walker, Manager, Patron Services

Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services

OPERATIONS | ARTISTIC

Stephanie Alla, Associate Director of Artistic Planning

Becky Brown, Associate Director, Orchestra Personnel

Suré Eloff, Chorus Manager

Michael Gorman, Director, Orchestra Personnel

Julia Hall, Interim Director, Chorus

Nick Kemp, Artistic Operations Assistant

Hae-a Lee, Assistant Librarian

Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager

Lauren Moore, Associate Director, Concert Media and Production

José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager

Brad Sayles, Senior Recording Engineer

Claudia Schmitz, Artistic Coordinator and Assistant to the Music Director

Stefan Stout, Stage Manager

Anna Thompson, Assistant Librarian

Meredith Williams, Associate Director, Concert Operations and Production

Rebecca Zabinski, Senior Director, Artistic Planning

HOUSTON SYMPHONY SEASON PREVIEW

2024–25 CLASSICAL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Music Director Juraj Valčuha returns for his third year leading the Houston Symphony through a season of bold and adventurous music. Juraj has curated a season of exhilarating programming including three unique themed festivals, a tribute to Italian opera, appearances from world-renowned guest artists, and the world premiere of a new work commissioned by the Houston Symphony.

We kick off the season with one of the world’s most beloved masterpieces, Dvořák’s soul-stirring New World Symphony, October 4, 5, and 6, 2024. This spotlight on great Czech composers also includes Martinů’s joyful Czech Rhapsody. This opening weekend also marks the first weekend of the Bohemian Rhapsody Festival. The second weekend of the festival takes place October 12 and 13, 2024, when we welcome guest violinist and multi-Grammy Award winner James Ehnes to perform Dvořák’s Violin Concerto. Also in this concert, Juraj shares remarkable music of Vítězslava Kaprálová, who left a powerful stamp on the music world despite her tragically early death at age 25. The program closes with the triumphant fanfares of Janáček’s Sinfonietta.

The festival weekends continue in November with the Vienna Calling Festival. On November 29, 30, and December 1, 2024, Yefim Bronfman returns to Houston to perform Beethoven’s bold and uplifting Emperor Concerto. The Thanksgiving weekend

program also features Schubert’s ever-popular Unfinished Symphony. The second weekend of the Vienna Calling Festival, A Viennese Waltz Christmas, takes place December 7 and 8, 2024, with some appropriately festive musical delights by Johann Strauss Jr. and Josef Strauss. From sprightly polkas to the iconic “Blue Danube” Waltz, this concert is guaranteed to have you dancing in your seat.

The Symphony celebrates the drama of Italian opera in Viva Italia! Opera Beyond Words February 7 and 9, 2025. Music Director Juraj Valčuha and the orchestra share a treasure trove of overtures and interludes from Madame Butterfly, Macbeth, and more, capped off by Rossini’s famous William Tell Overture. On February 15 and 16, 2025, buckle up for an evening of chills, thrills, and astonishing theatrical power with Duke Bluebeard’s Castle as the story unfolds before you, with a stellar cast and stunning scenic projections to immerse you in every moment.

The Fairytales Festival brings performances of fantastical music inspired by classic fairytales and an exciting world premiere! On March 14, 15, and 16, 2025, guest violinist Simone Lamsma joins us for

Music Director Juraj Valčuha returns to lead the Houston Symphony in another exciting season.

GOLD CLASSICS

FAVORITE MASTERS

Korngold’s Violin Concerto, then the Symphony gives the world premiere of a Houston Symphony commissioned work, Al-Jazari’s Ingenious Clocks by Houston-based composer Karim Al-Zand—a piece inspired by the fantastical inventions of 12th century Islamic polymath Ismail al-Jazari. Finally, Prokofiev’s Cinderella whisks us through a world of fairytale magic. The next weekend, March 21, 22, and 23, 2025, one of today’s leading Rachmaninoff masters Kirill Gerstein takes on the diabolically difficult Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. And Juraj leads the orchestra in Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake and Zemlinsky’s lavishly romantic The Mermaid, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid” story.

On May 23, 24, and 25, 2025, international piano superstar Bruce Liu makes his Houston Symphony debut with Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1—a match

made in music heaven. Also in the program, the orchestra takes on Schumann’s Second Symphony. Composed during his darkest moments, the work’s delicate grace and unwavering hope stands as a profound testament to humankind’s strength, grit, and resilience. The 2024–25 Classical Season ends May 30, 31, and June 1, 2025, with Juraj leading the orchestra in Mahler’s cosmic, beyond-epic Symphony No. 3. The Sopranos and Altos of the Houston Symphony Chorus and mezzo-soprano Marina Prudenskaya join the Symphony for this immense masterpiece that probes the secrets, nature, and the divine. This is music that speaks to everyone and can take you anywhere—as Mahler himself wrote, “you just have to bring along ears and a heart.”

2024–25 BANK OF AMERICA POPS SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke is back for his eighth season leading the Houston Symphony’s Bank of America POPS Series. The 2024–25 Bank of America POPS Series kicks off with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough—The Music of Motown, September 28 and 29, 2024. Special guest vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw share songs guaranteed to leave you “Dancing in the Streets,” including iconic Motown hits by Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and Martha and The Vandellas.

Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Competition, joins the Houston Symphony to perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in May 2025.

Superstar pianist Yefim Bronfman takes on Beethoven's Emperor Concerto.

Steven Reineke leads the Symphony in his eighth season as Principal POPS Conductor.

Trumpeter, vocalist, and conductor Byron Stripling leads the Symphony in It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics with Byron Stripling on November 8, 9, and 10, 2024. Joined by vocalist Carmen Bradford and vocalist and tap dancer Leo Manzari, this electrifying concert will transport you back to days of the Harlem Renaissance, when Duke Ellington’s orchestra was the house band and Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters showcased the biggest jazz hits of the day.

Steven Reineke returns to the Houston Symphony to lead the orchestra, Chorus, and guest vocalist Jessica Vosk in a Houston holiday tradition, Very Merry Pops, December 12, 14, and 15, 2024. Join the Symphony as we perform festive favorites and traditional carols.

Ring in the New Year with the always fun and fabulous Pink Martini on January 3, 4, and 5, 2025. The world-famous “little orchestra,” featuring original lead singer China Forbes, celebrates their 30th Anniversary Season with a fizzy cocktail of tunes—from music of Brazilian Samba to jaunty Parisian café songs to retro jazz—they’re sure to get you in the mood to party.

On February 28, March 1, and 2, 2025, Tony Awardwinning Broadway star Lena Hall joins the orchestra for unforgettable Bond themes spanning Connery to Craig in 007: James Bond Forever. Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez returns to Houston for Showstoppers! Celebrating Iconic Women of Broadway, April 4, 5, and 6, 2025. Mandy will perform electrifying Broadway showstoppers, each with a nod to powerful female characters, and shares a song written just for her by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Next, the world’s greatest aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, and strongmen perform death-defying feats above and around the musicians in an all-new Cirque show, Cirque Rocks, April 25, 26, and 27, 2025.

Steven returns to Houston to lead the final two concerts of the season. First, Finnish a cappella sensation Rajaton bring their smooth harmonies to the Symphony in Stayin’ Alive: The Bee Gees & Beyond, on May 16, 17, and 18, 2025. They'll perform all the hits that lit up the disco era, including "Stayin' Alive" and more. Finally, the season concludes with John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Movie Magic, June 6, 7, and 8, 2025, as the Symphony pays tribute to the Hollywood duo’s 50-year partnership and the unforgettable music from their iconic films.

We look forward to seeing you in Jones Hall for these exciting shows!

For more information about next season’s programming, including the PNC Family Series, Stella Artois Summer Series, and Rémy Martin Specials Series, scan here:

Houston Symphony

Houston-favorite vocalist Capathia Jenkins returns for a new program Ain't No Mountain High Enough—The Music of Motown.

World-famous "little" orchestra Pink Martini comes to Jones Hall in January.

Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educator’s Concert

April 7, 2024

The Houston Symphony honors Houston-area educators who work tirelessly to help students grow and succeed. We are proud to support them in enhancing their students’ education through music and making an enduring impact on the lives of young people. As part of this celebration, the Spec’s Charitable Foundation Award for Excellence in Music Education is presented to an individual educator whose commitment to students and our community is truly remarkable.

Andre Pleasant is the Orchestra Director at Crespo Elementary School and has been a music educator for more than 30 years. A product of Houston Independent School District (HISD) himself, and an alum of Booker T. Washington High School, Andre’s love for teaching music has created a musical legacy that spans decades and has inspired countless HISD students. He started his career at Lewis Elementary where he taught for over 20 years. During his tenure at Lewis Elementary, Andre established a piano lab after applying to and receiving a Save the Music Foundation grant. Now, in his fifth year at Crespo Elementary, Andre developed a string curriculum for the school, exposing students to classical violin— something they otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn. His passionate leadership of the

ANDRE PLEASANT, 2024 RECIPIENT

Orchestra Director, Crespo Elementary, Houston Independent School District

SPEC’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC EDUCATION

strings program allowed the school’s orchestra to keep running during the 2020 pandemic and beyond. His hard work can be seen in the success of his students who are able to read music, play violin fluently, and regularly showcase their musicality and skills in performances around the Houston community.

Andre’s innovative teaching methods, effective curriculum design, commitment, expectations, and dedication to fostering student engagement, have created an environment where music education thrives during regular school hours and after school. Through his experience of teaching students in underresourced communities, he knows how to rise above challenges through motivation, perseverance, hard work, patience, and love to support his students musically, academically, and emotionally. Andre is and has been a musical fixture in Greater Houston for years and will continue to be one for years to come.

SPEC’S: SUPPORTING MUSIC EDUCATION

The Salute to Educators Concert is made possible by the Houston Symphony’s Principal Corporate Guarantor, Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods/Spec’s Charitable Foundation. Spec’s supports the Symphony’s education programs in numerous ways, including Symphony fundraising events like the annual Wine Dinner and Collector’s Auction and the company’s own Vintage Virtuoso fundraiser.

In total, Spec’s has contributed more than $6.5 million to the Symphony since 1996. Spec’s president, John Rydman, is the Immediate Past President of the Houston Symphony Society Board of Trustees. We thank John, his wife Lindy, and his daughter, Lisa Rydman Lindsey, for their ongoing commitment to music education.

Featured Program

Steven Reineke, conductor

*Hailey Kilgore, vocalist

*Derek Klena, vocalist

Rodney Ingram, vocalist

*Ali Stroker, vocalist

*TUTS Pre-Professional Company Members

0:03 M. BROOKS/BESTERMAN – Overture from The Producers

0:03 G. BARLOW/SHOUP – “All That Matters” from Finding Neverland

0:02 A. MENKEN/SAMPLINER – “Fabulous, Baby!” from Sister Act

0:02 L. MIRANDA/MARKOWSKI – “When the Sun Goes Down” from In the Heights

0:02 A. MENKEN/TROOB – “Proud of Your Boy” from Aladdin

0:02 S. FLAHERTY/BROHN – “Love Who You Love” from A Man of No Importance

0:02 S. FLAHERTY/BESTERMAN – “My Petersburg” from Anastasia

0:02 A. MORISSETTE-BALLARD/SHOUP –“Perfect” from Jagged Little Pill

0:04 S. BAREILLES/MARKOWSKI – “You Matter to Me” from Waitress

0:04 J.R. BROWN/BARTON – “A Summer in Ohio” from The Last Five Years

0:04 B. PASEK-J. PAUL/SHOUP – “Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen

INTERMISSION

0:02 J. KANDER/MORRIS – Overture from Curtains

0:03 SHEIK/RASSEN – “The Song of Purple Summer” from Spring Awakening

0:02 L. MIRANDA/A. PODD – “Hurricane” from Hamilton

0:03 L. MIRANDA/M. PODD – “Dear Theodosia” from Hamilton

0:03 M. SHAIMAN/STAROBIN – “Goodbye” from Catch Me If You Can

0:04 DU PREZ-IDLE/FIRTH – “The Diva's Lament” from Spamalot

0:04 S. SCHWARTZ/ZITO – “For Good” from Wicked

0:04 B. RUSSELL-WILLIS-S. BRAY/J. JOUBERT – “I'm Here” from The Color Purple

0:05 B. PASEK-J. PAUL/S. REINEKE – “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen

*Houston Symphony debut

Friday, April 5

Jones Hall 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 6 Jones Hall & Livestream 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 7 Jones Hall 2:30 p.m.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

About the Music Program Insight

Underwriter

Connie Dyer Partner

Thank you to our Houston Symphony Livestream Consortium Donors: Guarantor

Barbara J. Burger

The Elkins Foundation

Underwriter

Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun

Sponsor

John & Dorothy McDonald

Video enhancement of Houston Symphony concerts is made possible by the Albert & Ethel Herzstein Foundation through a special gift celebrating the Foundation’s 50 th anniversary in 2015

• Within this new age of musicals, there has been a push for diversity and inclusivity in casting, with productions like The Color Purple, In the Heights, and Aladdin featuring ethnically diverse casts, reflecting the multicultural landscape of contemporary society.

• While Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton came close to breaking the record for most Tony Awards in a single year (11 in 2016), The Producers holds this distinction with 12 Tonys in 2001.

• Musicals like Waitress, Jagged Little Pill, and Finding Neverland have empowered audiences with their uplifting messages of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love and friendship.

• Disney’s influence on Broadway has been profound, with successful adaptions of beloved films like Aladdin bringing magic and nostalgia to the stage while appealing to audiences of all ages.

Program Bios

Steven Reineke, conductor

Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke is one of North America's leading conductors of popular music. He is in his second decade as Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he is Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Toronto Symphony Orchestras.

Steven is a frequent guest conductor and can be seen on the podium with the Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.

On stage, Steven creates and collaborates with a range of leading artists from the worlds of hip-hop, R & B, Broadway, television, and rock, including Maxwell, Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Ne-Yo, Barry Manilow, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Sutton Foster, Amos Lee, Dispatch, Jason Mraz, and Ben Folds, among others. In 2017, he was featured on National Public Radio's All Things Considered leading the National Symphony Orchestra— in a first for the show's 45-year history—performing live music excerpts between news segments. In 2018, Steven led the National Symphony Orchestra with hip-hop legend Nas performing his seminal album Illmatic on PBS's Great

Performances.

As the creator of hundreds of orchestral arrangements, Steven’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 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.

A native of Ohio, Steven 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. 

Hailey Kilgore is an American singer, dancer, and actress. Best known for her Tony- and Grammynominated turn as Ti Moune in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island, Hailey has since starred in multiple films, including the critically acclaimed Respect opposite Jennifer Hudson. The feature Cinnamon, in which Hailey stars in the lead role, debuted to rave reviews at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.

On the TV front, Hailey currently stars as Jukebox in Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan and has had multiple memorable arcs on Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories on Apple and NBC’s The Village. Her first EP, Desire and Devotion, was released in 2023. Her debut album, Heartbreak and Healing, drops May 3, 2024. Hailey is represented by Circle of Confusion. 

Derek Klena, vocalist

Derek Klena starred on Broadway in Alanis Morissette’s critically acclaimed musical Jagged Little Pill, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He recently concluded his run as Christian in the Tony Awardwinning Best Musical Moulin Rouge, directed by Alex Timbers; his performance earned him

Hailey Kilgore, vocalist

Program Bios

a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Replacement. Earlier this year, Derek also starred as Joe Gillis opposite Stephanie J. Block in the Kennedy Center’s limited run of Sunset Boulevard, which was part of their Broadway Center Stage program.

Derek first broke onto the NYC theatre scene in the 2012 OffBroadway revival of Carrie, where he quickly garnered attention from Oscar, Grammy, and Tony winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul to originate the lead role of Eddie Birdlace in Dogfight. He received a Clive Barnes Award nomination for his performance. Derek made his Broadway debut as Fiyero in the 10 th anniversary company of Wicked. On Broadway, he also originated the roles of Michael Johnson in Jason Robert Brown’s The Bridges of Madison County and Dmitry in Ahrens/Flaherty/ McNally’s Anastasia Other notable theatre credits include Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Unknown Soldier, directed by Trip Cullman; Signature Theatre’s Diner, written by Sheryl Crow and Barry Levinson; and the Hollywood Bowl’s star-studded production of Hairspray, directed by Jerry Mitchell.

On television, Derek can be seen in the pivotal role of Wes in the MAX series, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, and he will soon reprise his role in season 2. Derek is known for his memorable arc as DJ Fingablast on Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s Netflix hit Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Other TV credits: City on a Hill, The Code, and A Holiday Spectacular. 

Rodney Ingram, vocalist

Rodney Ingram is thrilled to return to sing with the incredible Houston Symphony! Rodney recently starred as Disney’s Aladdin in Mexico City, a role he also played on Broadway. He appeared as Raoul in the 30 th anniversary Broadway cast of The Phantom of the Opera Other favorite credits include Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (WPPAC), Laurie in Little Women (Theatre Aspen), and Adam in Children of Eden. On TV, he has a recurring role in Jane the Virgin on the CW. Rodney is a graduate of CAP21 Conservatory in New York City. 

Ali Stroker, vocalist

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 2015 revival of Spring Awakening. She is a series regular in the Netflix series, Echoes, and starred in the Lifetime holiday film, Christmas Ever After. Ali performed in the final season of Netflix's Ozark and is recurring in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

Ali 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 played Lady Anne in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III. She’s performed her one woman show all over the country, some of her favorites being the Kennedy Center, Town Hall, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations Into Your Opportunities.” 

TUTS Pre-Professional Company Members

This elite training and performance company of students ages 15-20 represents Theatre Under The

Program Bios

Stars throughout the community, as well as at the state and national level. These pre-professional artists experience a highly disciplined level of musical theatre technique, repertoire, and overall training in voice, acting, and dance through weekly rehearsals, industry professional masterclasses and engagements, competitions, and performance opportunities. 

TUTS Pre-Professional Company

Members:

Evelyn Burt

Jackson Chavis

Anna Kocavik

Julian Lammey

Samuel Morales

Laiza Rivera

Jayden Strawn

Makenzie Woolridge

JOIN THE

SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE:

INTERESTED? CONTACT

LESLIE NOSSAMAN

MEMBERSHIP@HOUSTONSYMPHONYLEAGUE.COM

DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER?

Formed in 1937, the Houston Symphony League is an organization dedicated to supporting the Houston Symphony and its educational enrichment of our city. For more than 80 years, members of the League have devoted their time to raising funds for the orchestra, volunteering at Symphony Education and Community Engagement programs, organizing and serving on committees for Symphony special events, and planning social events and other activities for members.

Julia Hall Interim Director

Suré Eloff Chorus Manager

Scott Holshouser Pianist

Tony Sessions Librarian/Stage Manager

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.

In 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.

JULIA HALL

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, Treble Choir, Chorale, and HSPVA Madrigal Singers. Before returning to HSPVA, her high school alma mater, Julia taught at Lamar High School, Episcopal High School, and Memorial Middle School. Currently, Julia maintains a private voice studio and teaches private voice at Tomball Memorial High School. She is an active clinician and adjudicator.

In 1986, Julia joined the Houston Symphony Chorus. She has also sung in the Houston Chamber Choir and Houston Masterworks Chorus with Dr. Craig Hella Johnson. She returned to the HSC in 2015 and was named a rehearsal conductor for Dr. Betsy Cook Weber in 2016. She prepared the Chorus for the 2019 Andrea Bocelli concert and assisted in the preparations of Messiah, John Williams POPS concert, and Verdi Requiem, among others. In August 2023, she was appointed HSC Assistant Director and prepared the Chorus for the 2023 Holiday POPS.

Julia has conducted two invited choirs at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention: in 2011, with the Memorial Advanced Treble Choir, and in 2017 with the HSPVA Treble Chorus. In 2022, the HSPVA Chorale placed as first runner-up in American Classics Celebration of Excellence, and in 2023, they won first place in this prestigious competition.

A life-long Episcopalian, Julia has been an active Episcopal church musician in several Diocese of Texas churches, as a staff singer, director of music, and children’s choir director. Additionally, she served on the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Music Commission for many years. She had the honor of co-conducting the Diocese of Texas Diocesan choir in a tour to the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and in 2023, she conducted the Diocesan Choral Festival.

Julia 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 Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.

Houston Symphony

CHORUS ROSTER

Steve Abercia

Ayden Adler

Kelsie Andrews

Mark Anstrom

Keith Anthis

Farrah Au-Yeung

Kendall Aleksandra Banasiak

Joshua Barber

Ellis Bardin

Mansi Baxi

Justin Becker

Madison Blanco

David Blassingame

Sarah Blumhardt

Randy Boatright

Criselda Bocanegra*

Jonathan Bordelon*

Nancy Shelton Bratic

Jennifer Breneman

Persephanie Cano

Danielle Charvoz

Tatiana Chavanelle

William Cheadle

Nicole Colby-Bordelon

Violaine Cornu

Adrian Covarrubias

Bill Cowan

Matthew Cramerus

Sylvia Genevieve Dee

Kevin Do

Michael Dorn

Steve Dukes

Randy Eckman

Georgia Elgohary

Chris Fair

Brianna Fernandez

Amanda Fetter-Matthys

Julia FitzGerald

Dylan Fornshell

Jim Friedhofer

Joseph S. Frybert

Rachel Gehman

Rachel Giedraitis

Michael Gilbert

Rex Gillit

Robert Lee Gomez

Gabriela Gonzalez

David Gorelick

Melisa Gultan

Susan Hall

DJ Hampton

Beth Ann Hibbs

Marlea Hoover Hodgin

Kathleen Holder

MaryKate Hotaling

Catherine Howard

George Howe

Jillian Hughes*

Stephen James

Stephen Jensen

Denise Johnson

Chris Kersten

Gretchen Kersten

Nobuhide Kobori

David Kolacny

Kat Kunz

Yoka Larasati

Brian Lassinger

Lauren Lawson

Nathan Lazenberry

Dean Leake

Rachel Lootens

Tanya Lovetro

Benjamin K. Luss*

Brendan Lutes

Lisa Marut-Shriver

Ken Mathews

Ana Isabel Mendoza

Scott Mermelstein

Melissa Miles

Travis N. Mohle

Jim Moore

Robert Nash

Benedict Nguyen

Kenny Oh

Theresa Olin

David Opheim

Janwin Overstreet-Goode

Bill Parker

Jennifer S. Paulson

Lauren Price

Greg Railsback

Karen Ramirez Cabrera

Maria Ramos

Linda Renner

Jonatan Reyes

Dylan Rivera

Douglas Rodenberger

Lyndsay Rodriguez

Carolyn Rogan

James Romig

Missy Roth

Emily Elizabeth Sanders

Tiffany Sau

Angela Bongat Seaman

Tony Sessions

Claire Sewell

Joshua Snedeker

Dewell Springer

Mark Standridge

Carol Strawn

Caitlyn Surkein

Suzanne Thacker

Andrea Trabanino

Lisa Trewin

Paul Van Dorn

Abby Veliz

S.V. Villano

Sarai Villatoro

Mary Voigt

Heidi Walton

Beth Anne Weidler

David Weiser

David Wellborn

Andersen White

Crystal Lynn White

Lance Wilcox

John Williams

Lee Williams

Grace Zeinieh

Abigail Zuniga

*Section Leader

“Our highest rated collection and first ever 100-point tequila.”

- tasting panel magazine

Featured Program

Classical Mystery Tour

Martin Herman, conductor

Jim Owen, rhythm guitar, piano, vocals

Tony Kishman, electric bass, piano, vocals

Robbie Berg, lead guitar, vocals

Chris McBurney, drums, vocals

Program to be announced from stage

About the Music

Thursday, April 18 Jones Hall 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 19 Jones Hall 7:30 p.m.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Video enhancement of Houston Symphony concerts is made possible by the Albert & Ethel Herzstein Foundation through a special gift celebrating the Foundation’s 50 th anniversary in 2015

Program Insight

• Liverpool, England's local government opted to paint the names of streets directly on buildings instead of replacing stolen “Penny Lane” signs due to relentless thefts by The Beatles fans.

• The Beatles hold the record for spending the most weeks (132) at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, surpassing any other artist. Garth Brooks follows with 52 weeks at the top spot.

• Renowned crooner Frank Sinatra hailed The Beatles’s song “Something” as “the greatest love song of the past 50 years.” He further demonstrated his admiration by recording his own renditions of the track in both 1970 and 1980.

• While not their first performance in the United States, The Beatles’s debut on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, pioneered the musical movement called The British Invasion.

• 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of The Beatles's first United States tour.

Program Bio

Classical Mystery Tour

Since its initial performance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center (now renamed Segerstrom Center for the Arts) in 1996, Classical Mystery Tour has become the number one symphony pops attraction over the last decade. The group has performed consistently for almost 25 years with more than 100 orchestras in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It has played to packed houses at the Sydney Opera House, and, including the Houston Symphony, has performed with America’s most prestigious

Corporate Spotlight

orchestras: The Cleveland Orchestra, The Boston Pops, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The San Francisco Symphony, among many others.

The four musicians in Classical Mystery Tour look and sound just like The Beatles, but Classical Mystery Tour is more than just a rock concert. The show presents more than two dozen Beatles tunes transcribed note-for-note and performed exactly as they were originally recorded.

Hear "Penny Lane" with a live trumpet section; experience the beauty of "Yesterday" with an acoustic guitar and string quartet; enjoy the classical/rock blend on "I Am the Walrus;” and relish the cascading orchestral crescendo on “A Day in the Life.” Classical Mystery Tour is the best of The Beatles–from early Beatles music on through the solo years–like you've never heard before. Many have called it “the best show The Beatles never did!”

The Los Angeles Times called Classical Mystery Tour "more than just an incredible simulation... the swelling strings and soaring French horn lines gave the live performance a high goose-bump quotient...the crowd stood and bellowed for more."

Classical Mystery Tour CDs and T-shirts are available for purchase at: classicalmysterytour.com. 

Truist, a top 10 U.S. commercial bank headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a purpose-driven financial services company, formed by the historic merger of equals of BT&T and SunTrust. With more than 2,700 branches and more than 54,000 employees, the bank serves clients in a number of high-growth markets in the country, offering a wide range of financial services.

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Featured Program

Andrés Orozco-Estrada , conductor

*Joélle Harvey, soprano

*Reginald Mobley, countertenor

*Will Liverman, bass-baritone

Houston Symphony Chorus, Julia Hall, interim director

Houston Children's Chorus, Stephen Roddy, founder and director

0:15 J. LÓPEZ BELLIDO – Symphony No. 4 (Eclipse)

I. First Contact (Houston Symphony commission, World Premiere)

INTERMISSION

1:05 ORFF – Carmina burana

Fortuna imperatrix mundi (Fortune, Empress of the World)

1. O Fortuna—

2. Fortune plango vulnera

I. Primo vere (In Springtime)

3. Veris leta facies—

4. Omnia Sol temperat—

5. Ecce gratum

Uf dem Anger (On the Green)

6. Tanz—

7. Floret silva—

8. Chramer, gip die varwe mir—

9. Reie— Swaz hie gat umbe— Chume, chum geselle min—

10. Were diu werlt alle min

II. In taberna (In the Tavern)

11. Estuans interius—

12. Olim lacus colueram—

13. Ego sum abbas—

14. In taberna quando sumus

III. Cour d'amours (The Court of Love)

15. Amor volat undique—

16. Dies, nox et omnia—

17. Stetit puella—

18. Circa mea pectora—

19. Si puer cum puellula—

20. Veni, veni, venias—

21. In trutina—

22. Tempus est iocundum—

23. Dulcissime— Blanziflor et Helena (Blanziflor and Helena)

24. Ave formosissima— Fortuna imperatrix mundi (Fortune, Empress of the World)

25. O Fortuna

*Houston Symphony debut

**The performance at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 features only Carmina burana performed with no intermission

GOLD CLASSICS

Friday, April 26

Saturday, April 27

Saturday, April 27

Sunday, April 28

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Jones Hall 2:30 p.m.

If you have ever wondered what it might have been like to attend the world premiere of one of your favorite classical masterpieces, this weekend Conductor Laureate Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the orchestra offer you a chance to find out. The Houston Symphony is thrilled to continue its relationship with Peruvian-American composer Jimmy López Bellido by giving the world premiere of First Contact, the first movement of López Bellido’s Fourth Symphony. Inspired by the recent total solar eclipse, which passed over the United States, this work continues to explore the cosmic themes of López Bellido’s Second Symphony, Ad Astra, and his Aurora Violin Concerto—both of which Andrés and the Houston Symphony premiered to enthusiastic receptions. Andrés also leads the orchestra in Orff’s Carmina burana, a work which marked another highlight of his tenure as the Houston Symphony’s music director. No one who was present will ever forget the side-by-side performance of this piece given by the Houston Symphony and the Colombian Youth Philharmonic during the summer of 2015, the culmination of a fruitful partnership between the two orchestras. Together, this program and these artists promise another electric weekend of music making. —Calvin Dotsey

Program Notes

J. LÓPEZ BELLIDO

Symphony No. 4 (Eclipse) (2023)

Total solar eclipses have been taking place on Earth for millions of years, and they will continue to occur for at least 1.2 billion years into the future. Witnessing a solar eclipse is therefore a way of connecting with our planet’s remote past, our present, and the distant future. It also makes us keenly aware of the scale of the cosmos and the celestial dance Earth flawlessly executes together with the Sun and Moon.

First Contact draws us into the crucial first moments of the eclipse, when the Moon takes its first nibble out of the solar disk. Little by little—as the Moon takes over, increasingly blocking the Sun’s light—our pupils dilate, and the color of the sky and landscape begin to change. As we get closer to totality, solar rays are only allowed through an ever-thinner sliver of the sun. As a result, objects around us become sharper, and animals start to behave strangely, as if settling into the night. Diurnal insects like bees and cicadas get louder, only to quiet down once totality ensues, while nocturnal creatures like bats and owls come to life. Temperatures begin to drop while the wind changes directions, sometimes blowing noticeably stronger. At last, the shadow cone comes at you at mighty speeds above 1,000 MPH (1,600 KMH), whooshing over you and blanketing everything in darkness.

Witnessing a total solar eclipse can be an exhilarating, cathartic, and lifechanging experience. They have the power to stir our deepest emotions, bring us to tears, and awaken feelings of kinship and interconnectedness with the cosmos. In this piece, I have strived not only to paint in music the different stages of an eclipse, but also the emotions elicited by it.

During my research, I dug extensively into Johannes Kepler’s Harmonices Mundi, a 17th-century treatise where he studies and explains the motion of the planets with the use of musical harmonies. In it, he announces the discovery of his third law of planetary motion. Although the concept of “music of the spheres” was not new at the time, Kepler’s way of describing the motion of celestial bodies with the use of mathematics and musical harmonies is incredibly elegant, and had a lasting and revolutionary impact. Throughout this work, I reference the intervallic motions he attributes to the Earth and Moon and complement it with some of the ideas Swiss mathematician Hans Cousto outlines in his 2000 book The Cosmic Octave

First Contact is part of a larger, three-part symphony, in which each movement focuses on a specific total solar eclipse taking place at a different date and corner of the world. This first movement chronicles the Great North American Eclipse that took place on April 8, 2024, and which was visible across several large urban centers throughout Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It was inspired by the awe-inducing emotions the 2017 total solar eclipse awoke in me, and which led me to gain an even greater appreciation for the wondrous universe we live in.

First Contact was commissioned by the Houston Symphony and Music Director Juraj Valčuha. The Houston Symphony and Conductor Laureate Andrés Orozco-Estrada premiere the Symphony in April 2024.

—Jimmy López Bellido

Program Notes

ORFF

Carmina burana (1936)

On March 29, 1934, Carl Orff received a much-anticipated parcel in his mail. It contained an obscure book that had happened to catch his eye in a catalogue some weeks before. He later recalled, “On opening it I immediately found, on the front page, the long famous picture of ‘Fortune with her wheel,’ and under it the lines: ‘O Fortuna velut luna statu variabilis…’ Picture and words seized hold of me. […] On the very same day I had outlined a sketch in short score of the first chorus ‘O Fortuna.’” The book was a copy of the Carmina burana, an anthology of medieval poetry in Latin and vernacular languages compiled in Austria circa 1230. According to legend, the poems were the work of the goliards, bands of irreverent students who indulged in womanizing, drinking, gambling, and satirical verse as they wandered from university to university. Though scholars have since questioned this attribution, the worldly themes of many poems from Carmina burana certainly fit the goliard legend. Of the many poems included in Carmina burana, Orff selected 24 and organized them into several sections: “In Springtime,” “On the Green,” “In the Tavern,” “The Court of Love,” and “Blanziflor et Helena.” Framing these is “O Fortuna,” a fatalistic hymn to Fortune, the cruel goddess who brings both pleasure and suffering.

Although Orff’s early compositions show influences from Debussy and Stravinsky, beginning in 1919, he became fascinated by music from the baroque and renaissance. He had particular success in reviving vocal works and applied their lessons to his own music. Taking the early 17th-century dictum “prima le parole, poi la musica” (“first the words, then the music”) to heart, he sought to create a new kind of music that would place the expression of a text above all else. While other composers were creating increasingly complex, dissonant, and often recondite styles in their pursuit of musical modernism, Orff went in the opposite direction, opting for a radical simplification of musical style that would communicate directly and powerfully with listeners. With its simple modal harmonies, driving ostinatos (repeated rhythmic figures), and formal patterns constructed of sectional blocks of music, Carmina burana would be the most successful realization of his ideals.

After the opening chorus, spring gradually awakens the earth and stirs humanity’s desire for love throughout “In Springtime.” By “On the Green,” young men and women are engaged in whirling dances and playful flirtation. The joyful atmosphere acquires an edge for “In the Tavern,” in which the baritone soloist declares, “dead in soul, I care only for my body.” After the tenor impersonates a swan roasting, we hear from the wily “bishop of Cockaigne,” a gambling shark who sings a parody of liturgical plainchant. A humorous drinking song for men’s chorus concludes the adventure.

In “The Court of Love,” the soprano and baritone soloists assume the roles of young lovers who begin apart, but are drawn together with each song. In addition to the chorus of men and women, a cupid-like children’s chorus provides encouragement. At last, the soprano accepts the baritone’s entreaties with a climactic, high B-natural. The chorus celebrates with “Blanzifor et Helena,” a hymn in praise of Venus; the rejoicing ends, however, with a reprise of “O Fortuna,” reminding us of the fleetingness of life’s pleasures. —Calvin Dotsey

Program Bios

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor

Houston Symphony Conductor

Laureate 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.

In 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.

Debuts 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.

He 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.

He 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 Born 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. 

Joélle Harvey, soprano

A native of Bolivar, New York, soprano Joélle Harvey received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She began her career training at Glimmerglass Opera (now The Glimmerglass Festival) and the Merola Opera Program.

The soprano begins the 2023–24 Season with an appearance at London’s Wigmore Hall, singing the role of Tirsi in Handel’s Clori, Tirsi e Fileno, with Harry Bicket leading The English Concert. She sings Handel’s Messiah with the San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, and Handel and Haydn Society; Faure’s Requiem with the National Symphony Orchestra; and a program of Haydn and Mozart with H+H. Season debuts include the Houston Symphony for Orff’s Carmina burana, and the New World Symphony for Beethoven’s 9 th Symphony. Notably, Joélle joins two longtenured music directors for their farewell seasons: Louis Langrée, leading the Cincinnati Symphony in Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem, and the Kansas City Symphony’s

Program Bios

Michael Stern, who conducts performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.

Last season, Joélle appeared with a host of internationally-acclaimed organizations. She joined the New York Philharmonic in a gala performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, celebrating the opening of David Geffen Hall and conducted by Jaap van Zweden. She debuted with the Bamberg Symphoniker (Mahler’s 4th & Alma Mahler songs, conducted by Jakub Hrůša), Deutsches SymphonieOrchester Berlin (Handel’s Solomon with Robin Ticciati), and the Minnesota Orchestra (Haydn’s The Creation with Paul McCreesh). The season also held returns to the Cleveland Orchestra in Cleveland and at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera.

Notable chamber performances included a recital with baritone John Moore and pianist Allen Perriello for Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and appearances with the Chamber Music Societies of Lincoln Center and Palm Beach. She also made her Jacksonville Symphony debut and debuted with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in an all-Handel program conducted by Bernard Labadie at Carnegie Hall. During the summer of 2023, she returned to the Glyndebourne Festival as the title role in Adele Thomas’s new production of Handel’s Semele 

Reginald Mobley, countertenor

Noted for his “shimmering voice” (BachTrack), Grammy-nominated American countertenor Reginald Mobley is globally renowned for his interpretation of baroque, classical, and modern repertoire and leads a prolific career on both sides of the Atlantic.

An advocate for diversity in music and its programming, Reginald became the first programming consultant for the Handel and Haydn Society following several years of leading H+H in its community-engaging Every Voice concerts. He holds the position of visiting artist for diversity outreach with the Baroque ensemble Apollo’s Fire, and he is also leading a research project in the United Kingdom funded by the AHRC to uncover music by composers from diverse backgrounds.

This year, his American concert schedule includes solo recitals in New York and Chicago; concerts performing Handel’s Messiah with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia, and Minnesota orchestras; and Carmina burana with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; as well as regular appearances with baroque

ensembles Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver, Collegium San Diego, and Seraphic Fire, to name but a few. Recent and future highlights include his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood Festival, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Orchestre Métropolitain de Montreal.

In Europe, Reginald has been invited to perform with a number of leading orchestras. He has also engaged in projects with the Academy of Ancient Music in Cambridge, singing the role of Disinganno in Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno and devising a new program, Sons of England, supported by UKAHRC, which reflects his research under that umbrella, and will be touring this month. Reginald gave a Purcell, Handel, and Sancho program for his solo debut recital in Paris, which he repeated as part of the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival in September 2023. His first solo album with ALPHA Classics was released to great acclaim in June 2023 to coincide with a major series of concerts with pianist Baptiste Trotignon in Paris, York, and Liverpool as well as part of both the Aix-en-Provence and BBC Proms festivals. In addition, Reginald features on several albums with the Monteverdi Choir, Agave Baroque, and Stuttgart Bach Society. 

Program Bios

Will Liverman, bassbaritone

Called “a voice for this historic moment” (Washington Post), Grammy Award-winning baritone Will Liverman is the recipient of the 2022 Beverly Sills Artist Award by The Metropolitan Opera and the co-creator of The Factotum–called “mic-drop fabulous good” (Opera News).

This season, Will returns to the Metropolitan Opera in the title role of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X . He was previously seen at the Met opening its 2021–22 Season in a celebrated “breakout performance” (New York Times) as Charles in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.

Will’s 2023–24 Season includes productions with Opera Philadelphia for the world premiere of Rene Orth’s 10 Days in a Madhouse and with the Met Opera as Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette. In addition to these concerts, he joins the Lexington Philharmonic for the orchestrated world premiere of Shawn E. Okpebholo’s Two Black Churches, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for Brahms’s A German Requiem, and The Washington Chorus’s Elijah Reimagined, plus

Dayton Opera, Caramoor, and Cincinnati Song Initiative for vocal recitals. He serves as artistic advisor for Renée Fleming’s SongStudio at Carnegie Hall. Last season, the Lyric Opera of Chicago presented the world premiere of Will’s opera, composed with DJ King Rico, The Factotum, in which he starred. Inspired by Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Will and Rico place the story in a present-day Black barbershop on Chicago’s South Side, and celebrate the strength of community and power of the human spirit.

Cedille Records released Will’s Dreams of a New Day: Songs by Black Composers with pianist Paul Sanchez in 2021; it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award. His 2020 album, Whither Must I Wander, with pianist Jonathan King, released by Odradek Records, was named one of the Chicago Tribune’s “best classical recordings of 2020.”

Will is an alumnus of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and was a Glimmerglass Festival Young Artist. He holds degrees from The Juilliard School and Wheaton College. 

Houston Children's Chorus

The Houston Children’s Chorus was founded in 1989 by Director Stephen Roddy. More than 325 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.

The 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, and most recently, the world premiere of the opera, Can We Know the Sound

Program Bios

of Forgiveness by internationally recognized composer Gabriela Ortiz. 

Founder and director of the Houston Children’s Chorus, Stephen Roddy holds a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Auburn University and a master of music degree in organ performance from Fort Worth’s

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Southwestern Seminary. He has conducted six concerts in Carnegie Hall and has conducted the Houston Children’s Chorus in many of the major concert halls of the world, including Beijing, Shanghai, Auckland, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ireland, Taipei, Canada, and Great Britain.

A Ucross Fellow with the Ucross Foundation, Stephen has served in church music leadership positions in some of Houston’s largest congregations. He has conducted state honor choir festivals and children’s choir festivals in 36 states and is in demand for recordings featuring children’s voices for music publishing companies, celebrities, and radio and television commercials. 

Sewell Automotive Companies is a family-owned business that has built a strong reputation for providing exceptional customer service and high-quality vehicles to Texans for more than a century. Founded in 1911 by Carl Sewell Sr. as a single car dealership in Crane, Texas, the company has expanded to 18 dealerships across nine Texas cities and employs more than 3,500 associates. Sewell represents various luxury and premium automobile brands, including Lexus, Cadillac, Audi, and BMW. At Sewell, building relationships is the main priority—both with manufacturing partners and customers. They aim to create “customers for life” and strive for constant improvement and innovation in everything they do.

Sewell is committed to giving back and improving the communities they serve. They are proud to support and sponsor hundreds of local arts and education organizations, including the Houston Symphony. Visit sewell.com to learn more.

Stephen Roddy, founder and director

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Mr. and Mrs. David Vannauker

David and Robin Walstad

Ms. Joann E. Welton

Dr. Robert Wilkins and Dr. Mary Ann ReynoldsWilkins

Nancy B. Willerson**

Ms. Barbara E. Williams

Doug Williams and Janice Robertson

Ms. Tara Wilson

Woodell Family Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright, Jr.

Mrs. Lorraine Wulfe

Trish and Steve Yatauro

Erla & Harry Zuber

Anonymous (8)

Our Donors

$2,500+

Mr. James S. Adams II

Dr. Julia Andrieni and Dr. Rob Phillips**

Rick Ankrom

Candida Aversenti

Ms. Jacqueline Baly

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Banks

Consurgo Sunshine

Tatyana and Edward Baumgartner

Drs. Henry & Louise Bethea

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Bickel

Mr. Gerald Bodzy and Mrs. Lesley Bodzy

George Boerger

Mr. Russell Boone

Margery Anderson and Farhad Bozorgmehr

Mr. Sonny Brandtner

Joe Brazzatti

Jane and Ron Brownlee

Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Burns

Justice Brett and Erin Busby

David Bush

Cheryl & Sam* Byington

Margot & John Cater

Drs. David A. Cech and Mary R. Schwartz

Mr. Per Staunstrup Christiansen

Lynn Coe

Mr. and Mrs. J. Carlton Cook

Ms. Sandra Cooper

Mr. and Mrs. John Dabbar

Mrs. Myriam Degreve

Joseph and Rebecca Demeter

Dr. and Mrs. Allen Deutsch

Colleen DiFonzo-Lewis

Mrs. Edward N. Earle

Mr. John Egbert and Ms. Kathy Beck

Mr. William P. Elbel and Ms. Mary J. Schroeder

Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Faust

Mr. and Mrs. David French

Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. Fusillo

Ms. Leslie Gassner

Wm. David George Ph.D.

Jill Gildroy

Dr. Michael Gillin and Ms. Pamela Newberry

Kathy & Albrecht Goethe

Ms. Lidiya Gold

Julianne & David Gorte

Rebecca and Andrew Gould

Cortney Guebara

Ms. Lilac Guzman

Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Hall

Dr. & Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr.

Barbara and Christopher Hekel

Richard and Arianda Hicks

Mr. Stanley Hoffberger

Mr. and Mrs. John Homier

Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Hunton

C. Birk Hutchens

Mr. and Mrs. Rick C. Jaramillo

Mrs. Blanca Jolly

Mady & Ken Kades

Ms. Mandy Kao

Anna Kaplan

Kathryn L. Ketelsen

Yvette and David J. M. Key

Hoole & Kramr CPAs -

Samantha and Chris Kramr

Jane & Kevin Kremer

Kirk Kveton

Stephanie and Richard Langenstein

Ms. Deborah Laws

Dr. Hilary Beaver & Dr. Andrew Lee

Evelyn Leightman

Mr. William W. Lindley

Matthew and Kristen Loden

Kirby and David Lodholz

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Lubanko

Music Director Fund

Ms. Tama Lundquist

Mr. & Mrs. Peter MacGregor

Ms. Mary Marquardsen

David and Heidi Massin

William D. & Karinne McCullough

Mary Ann & David McKeithan

Stephen & Marilyn Miles

Larry and Lyn Miller

David and Jamie Ming

Ginni and Richard Mithoff

David R. Moore

Amanda Morgan

Richard & Juliet Moynihan

Stephanie Weber and Paul Muri

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Murphy

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey B. Newton

Ms. Barbara Nussmann

Macky Osorio

Dr. Michael A. Ozer and Ms. Patricia A. Kalmans

Nancy Parra

George & Elizabeth Passela

Mrs. Fran Fawcett Peterson

Linda Tarpley Peterson

Roland and Linda Pringle

Mrs. Dana Puddy

Mr. & Mrs. Florante Quiocho

Mr. Juan Carlos Quiroga

Clinton and Leigh Rappole

Dr. Michael and Janet Rasmussen

Dr. and Mrs. William H. Reading MD

Mr. and Mrs. David Reeves

Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Reimer

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Rockecharlie

Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Rose

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Ruez

Mr. & Mrs. John Ryder

Mr. Robert T. Sakowitz

Harold H. Sandstead, M.D.

Lawrence P. Schanzmeyer

Mr. Tony W. Schlicht

Dr. Mark A. Schusterman

Ms. Becky V. Shaw

Mr. Carlos Sierra

Leslie Siller

Hinda Simon

Georgiana Stanley

Jeaneen and Tim Stastny

Christine Ann Stevens & Richard Crishock

Mr. & Mrs. Hans Strohmer

Mr. Bill Stubbs

Dr. and Mrs. Van W. Teeters

Emily H. & David K. Terry

Juliana and Stephen Tew

Musicians of the Houston Symphony Inc.

Jean and Doug Thomas

Courtney & Bill Toomey

Sal and Denise Torrisi

Patricia Van Allan

H. Richard Walton

Nancy Ames and Danny Ward

Alton and Carolyn Warren

Dr. and Mrs. Richard T. Weiss

Ms. Dena Winkler

Scott and Lori Wulfe

Mrs. Linda Yelin

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zabriskie

Anonymous (4)

The Houston Symphony has entered a new era with the introduction of internationally acclaimed conductor, Juraj Valčuha, as our Music Director. The purpose of the Music Director Fund is to provide leadership support to allow Maestro Valčuha to realize his artistic vision.

To join the Music Director Fund, supporters make a leadership gift of $100,000 above and beyond their annual giving. To participate, please contact Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director, Development at christine.stevens@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8521.

Margaret Alkek Williams

Robin Angly & Miles Smith

Janice Barrow*

Barbara J. Burger

Albert & Anne Chao

Jane and Robert* Cizik

Janet F. Clark

Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

Gardenia Foundation

Cindy Levit

Barbara & Pat McCelvey

John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Mike Stude

Young Associates Council

The Houston Symphony’s Young Associates Council (YAC) is a philanthropic membership group for young professionals, music aficionados, and performing arts supporters interested in exploring symphonic music within Houston’s flourishing artistic landscape. YAC members are afforded exclusive opportunities to participate in musically focused events that take place not only in Jones Hall, but also in the city’s most sought-after venues, private homes, and friendly neighborhood hangouts. From behind-the-scenes interactions with the musicians of the Houston Symphony to jaw-dropping private performances by world-class virtuosos, the Houston Symphony’s Young Associates Council offers incomparable insight and accessibility to the music and musicians that are shaping the next era of orchestral music.

YOUNG ASSOCIATE LEADERSHIP

Kirby Lodholz, Chair

Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Vice Chair

YAC - CONDUCTOR'S CIRCLE ($5,000+)

Carrie and Sverre BrandsbergDahl#

Eric Brueggeman

Lindsay Buchanan#

Heaven Chee

Vicky Dominguez

Carolyn and Patrick Gaidos

Claudio Gutiérrez

Lori Harrington and Parashar Saikia

Elaine and Jeff Hiller#

Carey Kirkpatrick

YAC - VIRTUOSO CIRCLE ($2,500-$4,999)

Christopher P. Armstrong and Laura Schaffer

Lauren and Mark Bahorich

Tim Ong and Michael Baugh

Emily Bivona and Ryan Manser

Haydée del Calvo and Esteban Montero

Xandro Canales

YAC ($1,500-$2,499)

Kendrick Alridge

Amber Ali

Fiona Anklesaria

Luisa Banos and Vladi Gorelik

Mandy Beatriz

Adair and Kevin Brueggeman

David Chaluh

Lincoln Chen

Megan and John Degenstein

Aurelia and Jeffrey Detwiler

Chante Westmoreland Dillard and Joseph Dillard

Evin Ashley Erdoğdu

Ryan Cantrell

Denise and Brandon Davis

Andria N. Elkins

Laurel Flores#

Veronica Juarez

Allegra Lilly and Robin Kesselman#

Kirby and David Lodholz#

Laurel Flores, Communications Chair

Jeff Hiller, Membership Chair

Elissa and Jarrod Martin

Joshua McDonald

Aprill Nelson#

Liana and Andrew Schwaitzberg#

Aerin and Quentin Smith#

Justin Stenberg#

Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah

Kelser McMiller#

Gwen and Jay McMurrey

David R. Moore

Sergio Morales

Emily and Joseph MorrelPorter Hedges LLP

Stephanie Weber and Paul Muri

Maxine Olefsky and Justin Kenney

Kusum and K. Cody Patel#

Carlos Sierra

Kristin and Leonard Wood

Owen Zhang

Adam Ewald

Florence Francis

Kallie Gallagher

Patrick B. Garvey

Amy Goodpasture

Rebecca and Andrew Gould

Nicholas Gruy

Kendall and Chris Hanno

Ashley and John Horstman

C. Birk Hutchens

Mariya Idenova

Jonathan T. Jan

Anna Kaplan

For more information, please contact Katie Salvatore, Development Officer, at katie.salvatore@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8544.

Lina Liu

Marisa and Tandy Lofland

Joel Luks

Miriam Meriwani

Shane A. Miller

Zoe Miller

David Moyer

Trevor Myers

Lee Bar-Eli and Cliff Nash

Lauren Paine

Blake Plaster

Anna Robshaw

Clarice Jacobson and Brian Rosenzweig

Chicovia Scott

Tim Sesby

Leonardo Soto

Bryce Swinford

Elise Wagner#

Alexander Webb

Kathy Zhang-Rutledge and Mack Wilson

Marquis Wincher

# Steering Committee

Corporate, Foundation & Government Partners

The Houston Symphony is proud to recognize the leadership support of our corporate, foundation, and government partners that allows the orchestra to reach new heights in musical performance, education, and community engagement, for Greater Houston and the Gulf Coast Region.

CORPORATE PARTNERS (as of March 30, 2024)

Principal Corporate Guarantor ($250,000 and above)

Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods / Spec’s Charitable Foundation**

Grand Guarantor ($150,000 and above)

ConocoPhillips**

Guarantor ($100,000 and above)

Bank of America

Boston Consulting Group* Frost Bank

Underwriter ($50,000 and above)

Amerapex

Baker Botts L.L.P.*

Cameron Management*

Chevron**

CKP*

Houston Christian University

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo**

Sponsor ($25,000 and above)

EOG Resources

The Events Company*

ExxonMobil

H-E-B/H-E-B Tournament of Champions**

Partner ($15,000 and above)

Beam Suntory City Kitchen* Faberge

Supporter ($10,000 and above)

American Tank and Vessel, Inc.

Accordant Advisors*

Houston First Corporation*

Marine Foods Express, Ltd.**

Mark Kamin & Associates

Benefactor ($5,000 and above)

Beck Redden LLP

Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc.

Patron (Gifts below $5,000)

Amazon

Avatar Innovations

Baker Hughes

Christian Dior

KPMG US Foundation, Inc.

Houston Methodist* KTRK ABC-13*

Kalsi Engineering Oliver Wyman* PaperCity*

Kinder Morgan Foundation** Kirkland & Ellis

The Lancaster Hotel* Nexus Health Systems

Oxy**

PNC**

Rémy Martin Sewell

Neiman Marcus*

One Market Square Garage* Rand Group, LLC* Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, LLC

Gorman’s Uniform Service Jackson & Company*

New Timmy Chan Corporation Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, L.L.P.

University of St. Thomas* Volume Social Club*

Mercantil ONEOK, Inc.

Nippon Steel North America, Inc.

Quantum Bass Center*

SEI, Global Institutional Group

For information on becoming a corporate partner, please contact Timothy Dillow, Senior Director, Development, at timothy.dillow@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8538.

Shell USA, Inc.**

Silver Eagle Beverages Truist

Univision Houston & Amor 106.5FM Vinson & Elkins LLP

Lockton Companies of Houston USI Southwest

Quantum Energy Partners

Sire Spirits

Beth Wolff Realtors

Vivaldi Music Academy

Zenfilm*

Wortham Insurance & Risk Management

SERCA Wines*

Smith, Graham & Company

Soren Pedersen Catering & Events*

Stewart Title Company

TAM International, Inc.

* Includes in-kind support

**Education and Community Engagement Support

Corporate, Foundation & Government Partners

FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (as of March 30, 2024)

Diamond Guarantor ($1,000,000 and above)

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

Houston Symphony Endowment**

Premier Guarantor ($500,000 and above)

The Alkek and Williams Foundation

Grand Guarantor ($150,000 and above)

City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board**

The Cullen Foundation

Guarantor ($100,000 and above)

The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation

Underwriter ($50,000 and above)

Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Beauchamp Foundation

The Elkins Foundation

Sponsor ($25,000 and above)

The Melbern G. & Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation**

Partner ($15,000 and above)

Ruth & Ted Bauer Family Foundation**

William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Foundation**

The Hood-Barrow Foundation

Supporter ($10,000 and above)

Edward H. Andrews

The Carleen & Alde Fridge Foundation

George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation

Benefactor ($5,000 and above)

Leon Jaworski Foundation

Patron (Gifts below $5,000)

The Lubrizol Foundation

The Scurlock Foundation

Houston Symphony League

The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

The Hearst Foundation**

The Humphreys Foundation

MD Anderson Foundation

The Houston Arts Combined Endowment Fund

The Fondren Foundation

Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment

LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation

William S. & Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation

The Vivian L. Smith Foundation**

The Schissler Foundation

Sterling-Turner Foundation

The Vaughn Foundation

The C. Howard Pieper Foundation

Texas Commission on the Arts**

John P. McGovern Foundation** The Powell Foundation**

The William Stamps Farish Fund

Petrello Family Foundation

The Pierce Runnells Foundation

Strake Foundation**

The Radoff Family Foundation

Keith & Mattie Stevenson Foundation

For information about becoming a foundation or government partner, please contact Christina Trunzo, Director, Foundation Relations, at christina.trunzo@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8530. **Education and Community Engagement Support

Houston Symphony Endowment

The Houston Symphony Endowment is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of the Houston Symphony Society. Your contributions to the Endowment ensure the financial sustainability of your orchestra now and for generations to come.

A named endowed fund is a wonderful way to honor a loved one or to celebrate you and your family’s passion for the Houston Symphony. Named funds may be permanently established within the Houston Symphony Endowment with a minimum contribution of $250,000. Your fund can be designated for general purposes or specific interests.

One of the most impactful funds you can create is an Endowed Orchestra Chair. Opportunities to endow an Orchestral Chair begin at $1,000,000. Endowing a chair provides the Houston Symphony with funds to attract, retain, and support musicians of the highest caliber.

For more information about how you may support the Houston Symphony Endowment through a bequest or with a gift during your lifetime, please contact Hadia Mawlawi, Senior Associate, Endowment and Planned Giving, at hadia.mawlawi@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8532.

TRUSTEES

James H. Lee, President

David Krieger

ENDOWMENT FUNDS $250,000+

Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello

Barbara J. Burger Chair

Ian Mayton, Horn

The Brown Foundation Guest Pianist Fund

The Brown Foundation Miller Outdoor Theatre Fund in memory of Hanni and Stewart Orton, Legacy Society Co-Founders

Margarett and Alice Brown Fund for Education

Janet F. Clark Fund

Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Juraj Valčuha, Music Director

The Cullen Foundation Maestro’s Fund

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Fund for Creative Initiatives

The Margaret and James Elkins Foundation Fund

The Virginia Lee Elverson Trust Fund

Fondren Foundation Chair

Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs

William Dee Hunt

Ajay Khurana

The General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Memorial Concert Fund in memory of Theresa Meyer and Jules Hirsch, beloved parents of General Maurice Hirsch, and Rosetta Hirsch Weil and Josie Hirsch Bloch, beloved sisters of General Maurice Hirsch

General Maurice Hirsch Chair

Aralee Dorough, Principal Flute

Houston Symphony Chorus Fund

Joan and Marvin Kaplan Fund

Ellen E. Kelley Chair

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Max Levine Chair

Yoonshin Song, Concertmaster

Mary R. Lewis Fund for Piano Performance

M.D. Anderson Foundation Fund

Mary Lynn and Steve Marks Fund

Barbara and Pat McCelvey Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Endowed Chair

William VerMeulen, Principal Horn

Monroe L. Mendelsohn Jr. Fund

Lynn Mathre Scott Wise

George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Summer Concerts Fund

Bobbie Nau Chair

Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinet

C. Howard Pieper Foundation Fund

Walter W. Sapp Fund, Legacy Society Co-Founder

Fayez Sarofim Guest Violinist Fund through the Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

The Schissler Foundation Fund

Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Fund

The Micijah S. Stude Special Production Fund

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Endowed Fund

Margaret Alkek Williams Chair John Mangum, Executive Director/CEO

The Wortham Foundation Classical Series Fund in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham

Houston Symphony

Legacy Society

The Legacy Society honors those who have included the Houston Symphony Endowment in their long-term estate plans through a bequest in a will, life-income gifts, or other deferred-giving arrangements.

For more information, please contact Hadia Mawlawi, Senior Associate, Endowment and Planned Giving, at hadia.mawlawi@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8532.

CRESCENDO CIRCLE $100,000+ (as of March 30, 2024)

Dr. and Mrs. George J. Abdo

Priscilla R. Angly

Jonathan and Ann Ayre

Myra W. Barber

Janice Barrow*

Jim Barton

James Bell

Joe Anne Berwick*

Joan H. Bitar, MD

Zarine Meherwan Boyce

James* and S. Dale Brannon

Walter and Nancy Bratic

Joe Brazzatti

Terry Ann Brown

Mary Kathryn Campion and Stephen Liston

Drs. Dennis and Susan Carlyle

Janet F. Clark

Virginia A. Clark

Mr. William E. Colburn

Elizabeth DeWitts

Andria N. Elkins

Jean and Jack* Ellis

Farida Abjani

Dr. Antonio Arana*

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey B. Aron

George* and Betty Bashen

Ann Baker Beaudette*

Dorothy B. Black*

Kerry Levine Bollmann

Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield

Zu Broadwater

Dr. Joan K. Bruchas* and Mr. H. Philip Cowdin*

Mr. Christopher and Mrs. Erin Brunner

Eugene R. Bruns

David Neal Bush

Cheryl and Sam* Byington

Sylvia J. Carroll

Dr. Robert N. Chanon

William J. Clayton and Margaret A. Hughes

Mr. and Mrs. Byron Cooley

The Honorable* and Mrs. William Crassas

Karl A. Dahm

Dr. Lida S. Dahm

Leslie Barry Davidson

Susan Feickert

Ginny Garrett

Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Gendel

Christine E.* and Michael B. George

The Aubrey* and Sylvia Farb Family

Helen Hudspeth Flores*

Eugene Fong

Mrs. Aggie L. Foster

Stephen and Mariglyn Glenn

Evan B. Glick

Jo A. and Billie Jo Graves

Mario Gudmundsson

Claudio J. Gutiérrez

Deborah Happ and Richard Rost

Marilyn and Bob Hermance

Dr. Charles and Tammie Johnson

Dr. Rita Justice

Dr. James E. and Betty W. Key

Calvin and Helen Leeke

Mr.* and Mrs. U. J. LeGrange

Joella and Steven P. Mach

Martha and. Alexander Matiuk

Michelle and Jack Matzer

Mauro H. Gimenez and Connie A. Coulomb

Bill Grieves*

Mr. Robert M. Griswold

Randolph Lee Groninger

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Hamaker

Gloria L. Herman*

Timothy Hogan and Elaine Anthony

Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth

Dr. Edward J. and Mrs. Patti* Hurwitz

Dr. Kenneth Hyde

Brian and Catherine James

Barbara and Raymond Kalmans

Dr. and Mrs. I. Ray Kirk

Mrs. Frances E. Leland

Samuel J. Levine

Mrs. Lucy Lewis

Sandra Magers

David Ray Malone and David J. Sloat

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis

Jay and Shirley* Marks

James G. Matthews

Mary Ann and David McKeithan

Dr. Tracey Samuels and Mr. Robert McNamara

Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow

Bill and Karinne McCullough

Muffy and Mike McLanahan

Dr. Georgette M. Michko

Dr. Robert M. Mihalo*

Alfred Cameron Mitchell*

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Mueller

Drs. John and Dorothy Oehler

Gloria G. Pryzant

Liz Kierum Regenscheid

Constance E. Roy

Donna Scott

Charles and Andrea Seay

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Michael J. Shawiak

Jule* and Albert* Smith

Louis* and Mary Kay Snyder

Ronald Mikita* & Rex Spikes

David and Helen Stacy

Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams

Catherine Jane Merchant*

Marilyn Ross Miles and Stephen Warren Miles Foundation

Sidney and Ione Moran

Janet Moynihan*

Richard and Juliet Moynihan

Gretchen Ann Myers

Patience Myers

John N. Neighbors* in memory of Jean Marie Neighbors

Mr.* and Mrs. Richard C. Nelson

Bobbie Newman

John and Leslie Niemand

Leslie Nossaman

Dave G. Nussmann*

John Onstott

Macky Osorio

Susan and Edward Osterberg

Mr. and Mrs. Edmund and Megan Pantuliano

Christine and Red Pastorek

Peter* and Nina Peropoulos

Linda Tarpley Peterson

Sara M. Peterson

Mrs. Jenny Popatia in memory of Dr. Tajdin R. Popatia

Frank Shroeder Stanford in memory of Dr. Walter O. Stanford

Mike and Anita* Stude

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Elba L. Villarreal

Margaret Waisman, M.D. and Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Fredric A. Weber

Robert G. Weiner & Toni Blankmann

Vicki West in honor of Hans Graf

Susan Gail Wood

Jo Dee Wright

Ellen A. Yarrell Anonymous (3)

Geraldine Smith Priest*

Dana Puddy

Patrick T. Quinn

Lila Rauch*

Ed and Janet Rinehart

Mr. Floyd W. Robinson

Walter Ross*

Dr. and Mrs. Kazuo Shimada

Lisa and Jerry Simon

Jean Stinson*

Tad and Suzanne Smith

Sherry Snyder

Marie Speziale

Emily H. and David K. Terry

Douglas Thomas

Stephen G. Tipps

Ann K. Tornyos

Steve Tostengard*, in memory of Ardyce Tostengard

Jana Vander Lee

Bill and Agnete Vaughan

Dean B. Walker

Stephen and Kristine Wallace

Geoffrey Westergaard

Nancy B. Willerson

Jennifer R. Wittman

Lorraine and Ed* Wulfe

David and Tara Wuthrich

Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre

Anonymous (8)

Musician Sponsorships

Donors at the Sponsorship Circle level and above are provided the opportunity to be recognized as sponsoring a Houston Symphony Musician.

For more information, please contact Alexa Ustaszewski, Major Gifts Officer, at alexa.ustaszewski@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8534.

(As of March 30, 2024)

Dr. Angela Apollo

Scott Holshouser, Principal Keyboard

Dr. Saúl and Ursula Balagura Charles Seo, Cello

Gary and Marian Beauchamp/ The Beauchamp Foundation

Eric Larson, Double Bass

Nancy and Walter Bratic

Christopher Neal, First Violin

Mr. Gordon J. Brodfuehrer

Maki Kubota, Cello

Mr. Robert Bunch and Ms. Lilia Khakimova

Alexander Potiomkin, Bass Clarinet and Clarinet

Ralph Burch

Robin Kesselman, Principal Double Bass

Barbara J. Burger

Andrew Pedersen, Double Bass

Mary Kathryn Campion, PhD

Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Drs. Dennis and Susan Carlyle

Louis-Marie Fardet, Cello

Jane Cizik

Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster

Janet F. Clark

MuChen Hsieh, Principal Second Violin

Michael H. Clark and Sallie Morian

Colin Gatwood, Oboe

Virginia A. Clark

Lindsey Baggett, ViolinCommunity-Embedded Musician

Roger and Debby Cutler

Tong Yan, First Violin

Mike and Debra Dishberger

Phillip Freeman, Bass Trombone

Joan and Bob Duff

Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Horn

Andria N. Elkins

Colin Gatwood, Oboe

Aggie L. Foster & Steve Simon

Mihaela Frusina, Second Violin

Steve and Mary Gangelhoff

Judy Dines, Flute

Stephen and Mariglyn Glenn

Christian Schubert, Clarinet

Evan B. Glick

Fay Shapiro, Viola

Suzan and Julius Glickman

Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal Clarinet and E-flat Clarinet

Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Gorman

Christopher French, Associate Principal Cello

Mark and Ragna Henrichs

Donald Howey, Double Bass

Carol and Charlie Herder

Nathan Cloeter, Assistant Principal/Utility Horn

Gary L. Hollingsworth and Kenneth J. Hyde

Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Trumpet

Mrs. James E. Hooks

Burke Shaw, Double Bass

Drs. M.S. and Marie-Luise

Kalsi

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Joan & Marvin Kaplan

Foundation/The Kaplan, Brooks, and Bruch Families

Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinet

Dr. Sippi and Mr. Ajay Khurana

David Connor, Double Bass –Community-Embedded Musician

Dr. and Mrs. I. Ray Kirk

John C. Parker, Associate Principal Trumpet

Cindy E. Levit

Adam Trussell, Bassoon and Contrabassoon

Cora Sue and Harry* Mach

Joan DerHovsepian, Principal Viola

Joella and Steven P. Mach

Eric Larson, Double Bass

Mrs. Carolyn and Dr. Michael Mann

Ian Mayton, Horn

Cindy Mao and Michael Ma

Si-Yang Lao, First Violin

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney H.

Margolis

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Mr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

Brian Del Signore, Principal Percussion

Mr. Jay Marks

Sergei Galperin, First Violin

Michelle and Jack Matzer

Kurt Johnson, First Violin

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

Adam Dinitz, English Horn

Muffy and Mike McLanahan

William VerMeulen, Principal Horn

Dr. Eric McLaughlin and Mr. Eliodoro Castillo

Jonathan Fischer, Principal Oboe

Martha and Marvin McMurrey

Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Dr. Miguel & Mrs. Valerie MiroQuesada

Leonardo Soto, Principal Timpani

Rita and Paul Morico

Elise Wagner, Bassoon

Scott and Judy Nyquist

Sheldon Person, Viola

Dr. Susan Osterberg and Mr. Edward C. Osterberg Jr.

MiHee Chung, First Violin

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker

Jeffrey Butler, Cello

Mr. David Peavy and Dr. Stephen McCauley

Jeremy Kreutz, Cello

Gloria and Joe Pryzant

Matthew Strauss, Percussion

Allan and Jean Quiat

Richard Harris, Trumpet

Laurie A. Rachford

Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal Double Bass

Ron and Demi Rand

Annie Chen, Second Violin

Ed & Janet Rinehart

Amy Semes, Associate Principal Violin

Mrs. Sybil F. Roos

Mark Hughes, Principal Trumpet

Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum

Aralee Dorough, Principal Flute

John and Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Anthony Kitai, Cello

Kathy and Ed Segner

Kathryn Ladner, Flute & Piccolo

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Margaret and Joel Shannon

Rainel Joubert, Violin–Community-Embedded Musician

Tad and Suzanne Smith

Marina Brubaker, First Violin

Alana R. Spiwak and Sam L. Stolbun

Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal Viola

Mike Stude

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor

Bradley White, Acting Principal Trombone

Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Joan DerHovsepian, Principal Viola

Margaret Waisman, M.D. and Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. Mark Griffith, Percussion

Stephen and Kristine Wallace

Rian Craypo, Principal Bassoon

Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber

Allegra Lilly, Harp

Robert G. Weiner and Toni Blankman

Anastasia Ehrlich, Second Violin

Vicki West

Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Larry & Lori Williams

Samuel Pedersen, Viola

Steven and Nancy Williams

MiHee Chung, First Violin

Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wallace S. Wilson

Xiao Wong, Cello

Nina and Michael Zilkha

Kurt Johnson, First Violin

Jesse H. Jones Hall Renovation Donors

Thank you to our Donors. We are grateful to the generous donors who have contributed $43,650,000 to date toward our $60 million goal.

(As of March 30, 2024)

$10 MILLION+

Nancy and Charles Davidson

$5 MILLION+

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

The City of Houston / Houston First Corporation

$1 MILLION+

Janice H. Barrow

The Robert and Jane Cizik Family

Janet F. Clark

ConocoPhillips

The Cullen Foundation

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

The Elkins Foundation

Houston Endowment

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

The Shirley and David Toomim Family

The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

FRIENDS OF JONES HALL

M.D. Anderson Foundation

Anne and Albert Chao

Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

Beverly and James Postl

Vivian L. Smith Foundation

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

For more information, please contact Tim Dillow, Senior Director of Development, at timothy.dillow@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8538 or Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director of Development, christine.stevens@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8521

STRINGS OF SUPPORT

THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY RELIES ON GIFTS FROM DONORS LIKE YOU FOR MORE THAN 2/3 OF OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.

As we complete another season of world-class music making and prepare to embark on another, this is a time for all members of the Houston Symphony community to come together in support of our city’s orchestra! As we near the end of our fiscal year, please consider making a gift to the Annual Fund before May 31st.

This season the Houston Symphony has provided hundreds of concerts at Jones Hall through our Classical Series, Bank of America POPS Series, PNC Family Series, Student and Community Concerts, and many more. Your support is instrumental to our ability to:

• Ensure artistic excellence with world-class music and artists in our city.

• Provide opportunities for students to attend live performances and learn about music in their classrooms.

• Enable the Symphony to engage even more members of our community (and beyond!) through livestreams of performances, free performances at venues around Houston, industry-leading educational programs for children, and so much more!

Because of you, the Symphony is able to serve our community with world-class programming thoughtfully designed to reflect the diversity of our population and to create an enduring impact in our community and make extraordinary musical experiences available for all.

Give the gift of music by donating to the Annual Fund today!

Get to Know the Houston Symphony Musicians

In my free time, I use my private pilot's license to volunteer with Angel Flight South Central. We provide free air transportation to distant patients who seek specialized treatment in Houston's amazing Medical Center.

My favorite part about being in the Houston Symphony is the chance to play and to share some of the greatest art that mankind has produced. The greatest works don't get old, but only show you more depth, emotion, and beauty every time you return to them.

My favorite part about Houston is the vast diversity of everything it has to offer, along with a population that is humble and enthusiastic about their passions.

I am finishing a new book called ‘Audition Method for Horn’ and am about to release my recording of the Broughton Horn Concerto, which I recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.

My favorite part about being in the Houston Symphony is that right now this is an incredibly exciting moment in this orchestra's history. We’re experiencing first-hand the many benefits of outstanding leadership both on and off stage and the positive energy within the orchestra is palpable.

Houston is so culturally rich: the art, food, music, theater, dance. It seems like there is always something new to experience. I love all the new downtown murals.

Rian Craypo, Principal Bassoon

Allegra Lilly, Principal Harp

William VerMeulen, Principal Horn

Boson Mo, Assistant Concertmaster

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello

Mark Griffith, Percussion

This exciting new concerto was commissioned and premiered by the Houston Symphony for William VerMeulen and funded by the Dan and Martine Drackett Family Foundation.

Juraj Valčuha, Music Director