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photos by Monica Kressman Photography
The Houston Symphony’s Sugar Land Series Celebrates its Fourth Season Fort Bend County, just southwest of Harris County, is one of the fastest-growing areas of the nation, with a population of more than 650,000. The Houston Symphony is proud to serve this community through the Sugar Land Series, with three concert programs every year. The 2015-16 season marks the fourth year of the Sugar Land Series, and it began on Wednesday, October 14 with a special kick-off event. The funfilled evening at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land included performances by Houston Symphony Principal Clarinet Mark Nuccio and Principal Bass Robin Kesselman. The first Sugar Land concert of the season took place on November Principal Clarinet Mark Nuccio, Principal Bass Robin Kesselman 13 and featured Houston Symphony Concertmaster and proud Sugar Land native Frank Huang leading the orchestra in Dvorˇák’s gorgeous Serenade for Strings. The series will continue on December 17 with Handel’s Messiah, which has become a Sugar Land tradition over the last several holiday seasons. The final concert of this year’s series will again be led by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. On March 11, 2016, the Sugar Land audience will hear Andrés and the orchestra perform two Beethoven symphonies: Symphony No. 2, in which the composer breaks free of the earlier Classical style, and the famous Symphony No. 3, Eroica, his first full Romantic symphony. Andrés has a special connection to Sugar Land. It is where he conducted his first concert with the Houston Symphony in 2012—prior to being appointed Music Director Designate in January 2013. In the fall of 2013, Andrés led a Sue Springob, Ryan Colburn, Robert Springob program with renowned violinist Midori, and last fall he conducted Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in Sugar Land. The Sugar Land Series is supported Other programmatic highlights of past Sugar Land concerts include a performance by in part by: noted violinist Hilary Hahn, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings led by Frank Huang, and Michael Krajewski conducting Blockbuster Film Scores. From the start, Regions Bank has supported the Sugar Land Series with both generous financial support and public advocacy. Other supporters who make the series possible include Bob and Frances Griswold, Sue and Bob Springob/Laredo Construction, and John Partner and Candace Caley. Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Griswold A special Advisory Committee ensures the Symphony’s Sugar Land concerts are wonMr. and Mrs. Robert R. Springob, derful experiences for everyone. This committee includes Scot Cameron, Lindsay Davis, Laredo Construction, Inc. Bob Griswold, Pat Pollicof, Sue Springob, Carolyn Warren and Frank Yonish. You can help ensure that the Houston Symphony serves the entire Houston area by Supporter joining the brand-new Sugar Land Patron Program. Through this program, Symphony donors who give $1,500 and above receive special benefits, including Patron Donor Lounge John and Candace Caley access and complimentary valet parking at Sugar Land performances, an invitation to a private salon performance in the Sugar Land area and season access to the Patron Donor Lounge at Jones Hall. To join this group of donors, please contact Darryl DeMello, Director, Annual Fund, at (713) 337-8529 or darryl.demello@houstonsyphony.org. For information on subscribing to the Houston Symphony’s Sugar Land Series, please call (713) 224-7575 or visit houstonsymphony.org.
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