InTune — The Houston Symphony Magazine — November 2017

THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2017

BROADWAY TODAY 20

November 10, 11, 12

RACHMANINOFF’S RHAPSODY 24

A SCHEHERAZADE THANKSGIVING 28

November 17, 18, 19

November 24, 25, 26

This Thanksgiving weekend, hear Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, a piece of music inspired by the Arabian Nights.

InTUNE | N O V E M B E R

2017

Programs

Broadway Today

November 10, 11, 12 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������20 Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody

November 17, 18, 19 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������24 A Scheherazade Thanksgiving

November 24, 25, 26 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������28

Features

Letter to Patrons ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2 Giving Thanks �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8 The Music Man: Steven Reineke ��������������������������������������������������������� 10 Inspiring Song: Local Student Choirs ������������������������������������������������ 12 Q & A with Megan Hilty ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 14 Backstage Pass with Phillip Freeman ����������������������������������������������� 40

Events

2017-18 Special Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Upcoming Broadcasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Your Houston Symphony

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Music Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Orchestra Roster ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5 Staff Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Our Supporters

Society Board of Trustees ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 New Century Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Leadership Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Vision 2025 Implementation Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Houston Symphony Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Young Associates Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Corporate, Foundation and Government Partners ���������������������35 Capital Investments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sustainability Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Houston Symphony Endowment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Education and Community Engagement Donors . . . . . . . . . 38 Musician Sponsorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

See what some of our Houston Symphony musicians and staff are thankful for this holiday season.

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InTUNE — November 2017 | 1

InTUNE is published by the Houston Symphony.

615 Louisiana, Suite 102, Houston, TX 77002 713.224.4240 | houstonsymphony.org All rights reserved.

InTune is produced by the Houston Symphony’s Marketing and Communications department.

Trazanna Moreno. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Astros. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Director, Communications Calvin Dotsey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Publications Editor Melanie O'Neill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Publications Designer Editorial Contributors Allison Conlan, Director, Education Elaine Reeder Mayo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editorial Consultant Shweiki Media .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing Ventures Marketing Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising The activities and projects of the Houston Symphony are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

The Houston Symphony currently records under its own label, Houston Symphony Media Productions, and for Pentatone and Naxos.

Houston Symphony recordings also are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Koch International Classics labels.

CAMERAS, RECORDERS, CELL PHONES & PAGERS Cameras and recorders are not permitted in the hall. Patrons may not use any device to record or photograph performances. Please silence cell phones, pagers and alarm watches and refrain from texting during performances.

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LETTER TO PATRONS NOVEMBER 2017

November is one of my favorite months. The weather has cooled off, the leaves are changing and with the holidays approaching, we begin to reflect on what we are most thankful for. At the Houston Symphony, we are so thankful to be back in Jones Hall after Hurricane Harvey, and are especially grateful for your patience, love and support as Houston First Corporation has diligently worked on repairs to our home. You can read about what some of our musicians and staff are thankful for—from new puppies to new homes—on page 8.

Needless to say, we’re also thankful for music, and we have lots of it to share this month. Steven Reineke’s inaugural concert as Principal POPS Conductor, which is also the 2017-18 BBVA Compass POPS Series opener, features two of Broadway’s brightest stars: Betsy Wolfe (Waitress, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Supergirl). Hook’d: Pirates in Concert gets our Family Series off to a swashbuckling start, and our Classical Series continues with Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody and A Scheherazade Thanksgiving, the perfect chaser to a delicious holiday dinner.

You can also preview our exciting December line-up in a fun Q&A with Megan Hilty, the star of this year’s Very Merry Pops concerts (page 14).

Plus get to know our new Principal POPS Conductor, Steven Reineke on page 10. We also have one more treat before New Year’s: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert. We hope these concerts add a little magic to your holiday season.

MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2016

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TRIFONOV PLUS RACHMANINOFF November 3, 5, 6

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November 11, 12, 13 27

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A MOZART THANKSGIVING November 25, 26,

To place your advertising in InTune, please contact :

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ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA

M U S I C D I R E C T O R ROY AND LILLIE CULLEN CHAIR

Houston Symphony Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada began his tenure in the 2014–15 season. He immediately established a dynamic presence on the podium and a deep bond with the musicians of the orchestra.

Andrés carefully curates his programs to feature engaging combinations of classical masterworks paired with the music of today, significant artistic collaborations with composers and guest artists, and innovative use of multimedia and visual effects, all in order to make meaningful connections with the audience.

In the 2017–18 season, Andrés continues to engage with audiences both with casual commentary from the stage and discussions with guests in “Behind the Scenes with Andrés” videos. On the recording front, he and the orchestra will soon release a Music of the Americas disc, featuring Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Revueltas’ Sensemayá, Piazzolla’s Tangazo and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, recorded in early 2017. Additional projects with Pentatone include Haydn’s The Creation. In the 2016–17 season, Andrés and the Symphony released the third disc in their critically acclaimed series featuring Dvořák’s last four symphonies, his first commercial recording project with the orchestra.

Born in Medellín, Colombia, Andrés began his musical studies on the violin and started conducting at age 15.

At 19, he entered the renowned Vienna Music Academy, where he studied with Uroš Lajovic (pupil of the legendary Hans Swarowsky), and completed his degree with distinction conducting the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Musikverein. Andrés burst onto the international scene with two substitutions with the Vienna Philharmonic: the first, his debut in 2010, standing in for Esa-Pekka Salonen, and then in 2012, substituting for Riccardo Muti at the Musikverein. Andrés now regularly appears with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, the Orchestre National de France, the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

He recently debuted with the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras; Chicago and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras; and the San Francisco Symphony as well as the Berlin Philharmonic. Following a thrilling debut the previous year, summer 2016 marked his return to the Salzburg Festival with Nicolai's opera Il templario and—in place of Nikolaus Harnoncourt—Beethoven's Ninth with the Concentus Musicus Wien.

In addition to his post in Houston, Andrés is chief conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2016, Andrés and the Frankfurt Symphony Radio Orchestra released two recordings on Pentatone to great acclaim: Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben.

4 | Houston Symphony

ROSTER

ORCHESTRA Andrés Orozco-Estrada Music Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair FIRST VIOLIN Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster Ellen E. Kelley Chair 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 Anastasia Sukhopara*

DOUBLE BASS Robin Kesselman, Principal David Malone, Associate Principal Mark Shapiro Eric Larson Andrew Pedersen Burke Shaw Donald Howey Michael McMurray FLUTE Aralee Dorough, Principal General Maurice Hirsch Chair Matthew Roitstein, Associate Principal Judy Dines Kathryn Ladner PICCOLO Kathryn Ladner

SECOND VIOLIN MuChen Hsieh, Principal Hitai Lee Mihaela Frusina Annie Kuan-Yu Chen Jing Zheng Martha Chapman Tianjie Lu Tina Zhang Jenna Barghouti* Jordan Koransky* Katrina Bobbs Savitski* Lindsey Baggett*

OBOE Jonathan Fischer, Principal Lucy Binyon Stude Chair Anne Leek, Associate Principal Colin Gatwood Adam Dinitz

Community-Embedded Musicians David Connor, double bass Rainel Joubert, violin Anthony Parce, viola Hellen Weberpal, cello

HORN William VerMeulen, Principal Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Jesse Clevenger*, Assistant Principal Brian Thomas Nancy Goodearl Ian Mayton TRUMPET Mark Hughes, Principal George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair John Parker, Associate Principal Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Caroline Schafer TROMBONE Allen Barnhill, Principal Bradley White, Associate Principal Phillip Freeman BASS TROMBONE Phillip Freeman TUBA Dave Kirk, Principal TIMPANI Ronald Holdman, Principal Brian Del Signore, Associate Principal

ENGLISH HORN Adam Dinitz

VIOLA Wayne Brooks, Principal Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Legacy Society Chair Joan DerHovsepian, Associate Principal George Pascal, Assistant Principal Wei Jiang Linda Goldstein Sheldon Person Fay Shapiro Daniel Strba Jarita Ng Phyllis Herdliska CELLO Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Janice and Thomas Barrow Chair Christopher French, Associate Principal Anthony Kitai Louis-Marie Fardet Jeffrey Butler Kevin Dvorak Xiao Wong Myung Soon Lee James R. Denton** Yewon Ahn*

Steven Reineke Principal POPS Conductor Robert Franz Associate Conductor, Sponsor, Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Betsy Cook Weber Director, Houston Symphony Chorus

CLARINET Mark Nuccio, Principal 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 Eric Arbiter, Associate Principal Elise Wagner

PERCUSSION Brian Del Signore, Principal Mark Griffith Matthew Strauss HARP Megan Conley, Principal KEYBOARD Scott Holshouser, Principal *Contracted Substitute ** On Leave

CONTRABASSOON Position Vacant

Orchestra Personnel Manager Michael Gorman

Librarian Thomas Takaro

Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager Shana Bey

Assistant Librarians Hae-a Lee Michael McMurray

Stage Manager Kelly Morgan

Stage Technicians Ritaban Ghosh Jose Rios Ryan Samuelsen David Stennis

InTUNE — November 2017 | 5

STAFF

ADMINISTRATIVE

The Houston Symphony Administrative Staff is made up of 70 full-time professionals who work diligently behind-the-scenes to ensure all operations within the organization are run effectively and efficiently. This inspiring team is dedicated to bringing the great music of the Houston Symphony to our community.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP

FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION/IT/HR

Pam Blaine, Chief of Education and Community Programming Amanda T. Dinitz, Interim Executive Director/

Chief of Strategic Initiatives Vicky Dominguez, Chief Operating Officer Trazanna Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer Mary Beth Mosley, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer/

Director, Institutional Giving and Stewardship Molly Simpson, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer/ Director, Individual Giving and Major Gifts

Lucy Alejandro, Accountant I Caitlin Boake, IT Associate Brittany Eckert, Support Engineer Heather Fails, Manager, Ticketing Database Joel James, Senior HR Manager Janis Pease LaRocque, Manager, Patron Database Mateo Lopez, Finance/HR Associate Anthony Stringer, IT Associate Christian Swearingen, Accounts Payable Analyst Justine Townsend, Director of Finance Ariela Ventura, Office Manager/HR Coordinator

Gregg Gleasner, Senior Artistic Advisor David Hyslop, Senior Advisor Christine Kelly-Weaver, Executive Assistant/Board Liaison DEVELOPMENT Michael Arlen, Associate Director,

Individual Giving and Major Gifts Liam Bonner, Manager, Annual Giving Groups Tiffany Bourgeois, Development Associate, Annual Fund Julie Busch, Development Associate, Special Projects &

Liaison to the Chief Development Officer Irma M. Carrillo, Development Manager, Gifts and Records Timothy Dillow, Director, Special Events Noureen Faizullah, Development Director,

Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects Denise Furlough, Manager, Special Events Vickie Hamley, Director, Volunteer Services Sydnee E. Houlette, Development Associate, Institutional Giving Rachel Klaassen, Special Events Associate Leticia Konigsberg, Director, Corporate Relations Michelle Montabana, Development Assistant,

Gifts, Records and Planned Giving Patrick Quinn, Director, Planned Giving Martin Schleuse, Development Communications Manager Sarah Slemmons, Patron Donor Relations Manager Christina Trunzo, Associate Director,

Foundation & Government Grants EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING Keisha Cassel, Manager, Education Allison Conlan, Director, Education Emily Nelson, Associate Director,

Education and Community Programming Ragan Rhodes, Manager of Education and

Community Programming

6 | Houston Symphony

MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS Vanessa Astros-Young, Senior Director, Communications Calvin Dotsey, Communications Specialist Elizabeth Faulkinberry, Front of House Manager Brian Glass, Marketing Coordinator James Grant, Graphic Designer Kathryn Judd, Director, Marketing Jason Landry, Senior Manager, Patron Services Melanie O'Neill, Publications Designer Sarah Rendón, Assistant Manager, Patron Services Mireya Reyna, Public Relations Coordinator Vanessa Rivera, Digital Marketing Manager Katie Sejba, Senior Director, Marketing & Sales Marylu Treviño, Digital Communications Manager Linsey Whitehead, Director, Creative Services Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services OPERATIONS/ARTISTIC Shana Bey, Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager Carlos Andrés Botero, Musical Ambassador Becky Brown, Director, Operations Anna Diemer, Chorus Manager/Artistic Coordinator Michael Gorman, Orchestra Personnel Manager Hae-A Lee, Assistant Librarian Michael McMurray, Assistant Librarian Lauren Moore, Operations Manager Kelly Morgan, Stage Manager Lesley Sabol, Director, Popular Programming Brad Sayles, Recording Engineer Thomas Takaro, Librarian Meredith Williams, Associate Director, Operations Rebecca Zabinski, Artistic Administrator

Our neuroscience program is led by the brightest, most forward-thinking minds in medicine.

Led by the most esteemed physicians in the field of neuroscience, Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute at the Texas Medical Center was the first of its kind in Texas and one of only a few institutions in the country to fully integrate neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neurorehabilitation for the benefit of our patients. The collective expertise of Memorial Hermann and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth continues to bring the forefront of neuroscience to you.

Learn more at neuro.memorialhermann.org

What is the Houston Symphony thankful for this year? We surveyed our musicians and staff to find out! From being back in Jones Hall after Hurricane Harvey to playing great music for you, our wonderful audience, we have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us onstage and behind-the-scenes.

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR? So much—for getting through the hurricane without problems when so many others were devastated; for working with marvelous colleagues in the orchestra; for my work with the Houston Brass Band.

—Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Trumpet Sponsored by Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Kenneth J. Hyde

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS? At Thanksgiving, we always let our two dogs eat at the table. Since they aren't good at waiting their turn, they eat first!

—Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello, Janice and Thomas Barrow Chair  Sponsored by Cornelia & Meredith Long

First year as a wife, homeowner and manager! —Ragan Rhodes, Manager of

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THANKSGIVING FOOD? 35% — turkey and dressing 13% — cranberry anything 12% — mashed potatoes 11% — stuffing

Education and Community Programming 

10% — sweet potatoes/candied yams 10% — pumpkin pie 9% — corn pudding/casserole

I am most thankful for the love of my family and friends and the privilege of sharing my musical life with my students, colleagues and the wonderful public who supports us.

—William VerMeulen, Principal Horn Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan

My new baby boy, Osian Conley!

—Megan Conley, Principal Harp

Every Thanksgiving morning, my family wakes up early to tune-in and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from NYC. We cook, drink coffee and watch until the very end of the Parade when Santa Claus comes out to usher in the Christmas holidays! —Irma M. Carrillo, Development Manager, Gifts and Records

I'm not sure if this is appropriate, but honestly, we do a ceremonial shot of tequila at all family events. —Sarah Rendón, Assistant

Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber

Manager of Patron Services

An awesome dog that I adopted post Harvey—the shelters really needed help with fostering and adopting animals.

Cooking and eating with friends and loved ones. Oh, and recently—the Turkey Trot!

—Jarita Ng, Viola 

35%

10%

—Robin Kesselman, Principal Double Bass Sponsored by Ralph Burch

I'm from Canada, so I go out with friends for turkey dinner on the second Monday of October. There aren't a lot of places in Houston where you can find turkey on a weekday in October. This is also part of the charm. Happy Thanksgiving, indeed. —Sheldon Person, Viola 8 | Houston Symphony

9%

Sponsored by Scott & Judy Nyquist

10% 11%

13% 12%

HOUSTON SYMPHONY at the

HANDEL’S MESSIAH DECEMBER 14*, 15, 16 & 17 Paul Agnew, conductor Yulia Van Doren, soprano Daniel Taylor, countertenor Samuel Levine, tenor Alex Rosen, bass Houston Symphony Chorus, Betsy Cook Weber, director

A Scheherazade THANKSGIVING

Rejoice with Handel’s ever-glorious and timeless classic, featuring the rousing “Hallelujah” chorus.

NOVEMBER 24, 25 & 26

*Concert held at Sugar Land Baptist Church.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts © All Rights Reserved

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor James Ehnes, violin SHOSTAKOVICH Violin Concerto No. 1 RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

VERY MERRY POPS WITH MEGAN HILTY DECEMBER 1, 2 & 3 Steven Reineke, conductor Megan Hilty, vocalist Houston Symphony Chorus Betsy Cook Weber, director

A GRINCH CHRISTMAS

Not to be missed! The star of Broadway’s Wicked and NBC’s Smash lights up the holiday season with festive favorites from “Jingle Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to “Santa Baby” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

DECEMBER 2 Robert Franz, conductor

Although the Grinch is in town, this Christmas will surely not be stolen! Relive Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of the grouchy green creature with a heart two sizes too small. Plus, a holiday singalong and the hit “Believe” from the movie Polar Express.

DISNEY FANTASIA– LIVE IN CONCERT

JANUARY 5, 6 & 7 Steven Reineke, conductor

Ring in the New Year with selections from Disney Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, shown on the big screen with live score.

General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Memorial Concert Fund, Guarantor Margaret Alkek Williams, Underwriter Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts © All Rights Reserved

Tickets from $23 houstonsymphony.org | (713) 224-7575 BANKING INVESTMENTS INSURANCE Principal Corporate Guarantor Principal Corporate Guarantor

Official Television Partner

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Shell Favorite Masters

Frost Bank Gold Classics

Rand Group Great Performers

“THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I WANT US ALL TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN” — Steven Reineke

the

MUSIC MAN INTRODUCING OUR NEW PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR, STEVEN REINEKE

This season, the Houston Symphony welcomes its dynamic new Principal POPS Conductor, Steven Reineke.

In addition to his new post in Houston, this in-demand conductor is also the music director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and principal pops conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Get to know the charming new maestro and emcee of our BBVA Compass POPS Series in this exclusive InTune interview.

10 | Houston Symphony

Houston Symphony: What inspired you to become a pops conductor? When did you know this was what you wanted to do?

HS: As our new Principal POPS Conductor, what do you hope to bring to the Houston Symphony’s BBVA Compass POPS Series?

Steven Reineke: I didn’t consider being a pops conductor (or any conductor for that matter) until my mid-20s. I started out wanting to be a professional trumpet player, but then my love of composition took over, and I focused on becoming a film music composer in Los Angeles for a few years. My path started to become clearer for me when I became Erich Kunzel’s assistant at the Cincinnati Pops in 1995. Although I was serving as the principal composer and arranger for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, I began conducting lessons with Maestro Kunzel within my first few years of working with him. I guess you could say that is when I caught a serious bug to become a conductor and to focus on popular music. I love the wide array of musical styles Pops offers, and I certainly love the showmanship and entertainment aspect of the job. By age 27 or so, I knew I had found my true calling in life.

SR: I’m looking forward to some incredibly entertaining and interesting programming and guest artists. I hope to reach out to the greater Houston community and expand our audience with a diverse mix of fun music. It’s also very important to me to continually raise the bar of excellence for the orchestra. The bottom line is that I want us all to have a lot of fun at each show and to be amazed at how incredible our magnificent Houston Symphony is.

HS: So far, what have been some of your most memorable concerts as a conductor?

SR: One of my favorite concerts of all time was a family concert we created for The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, The Musical World of Jim Henson. I shared the stage with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppets, all while being heckled incessantly by the curmudgeonly Waldorf and Statler from their box seats.

Another concert I’m very proud of was a recreation of Marvin Gaye’s iconic album What’s Going On that featured John Legend. In between songs, we incorporated commentary and poetry by teenagers of all backgrounds from around the country, juxtaposing their views on “what’s going on” now with Marvin Gaye’s brilliant lyrics and music of the ’60s and early ’70s.

I helped create that show for performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with our National Symphony Orchestra, and we subsequently performed it at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with the LA Philharmonic.

HS: While this will be your first season as Principal POPS Conductor, you have already appeared with the Houston Symphony many times. What have been your impressions of Houston so far?

SR: My biggest draw to accept the position was the incredible talent and musicianship of the orchestra, plus the fact that the players are such nice people and very easy to work with. I’ve also made some friends outside the orchestra that I always enjoy seeing when I’m in town.

HS: This month you begin our 2017-18 BBVA Compass POPS Series with a program called Broadway Today. What inspired this program?

SR: I always love performing music from the Broadway stages. I try to see as much theater as I can when I'm home in New York City, which always inspires me to think of songs and shows that I might want to represent in my concerts. There's such a variety these days in the styles of music, themes and subject matter that appear in musicals, and I wanted to showcase that.

I’ve done this program at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to rave reviews, so I’m very excited to bring it to Houston.

It will feature a dear friend of mine named Betsy Wolfe, who is currently starring in the hit musical Waitress on Broadway, plus Jeremy Jordan of Newsies and the CW’s Supergirl. It contains some of the biggest Broadway songs of the past 30 years, including music from the top four longestrunning Broadway musicals of all time: Les Miserables, Cats, The Lion King, and in the number one slot, The Phantom of the Opera. There will also be a few surprises—but you’ll have to be there to witness them.

HS: What are some of the other BBVA Compass POPS concerts Houston audiences can look forward to this season?

SR: I must say that the entire series is terrific—you won’t want to miss anything! To take one example, I’m really looking forward to our Very Merry Pops concerts this year, as I’m creating a new show with the brilliant Megan Hilty based on her incredible holiday album. Another highlight will be a show called One Hit Wonders with the inimitable Storm Large as guest vocalist. I’ve been wanting to create this show for years, and I’m so happy to finally debut it in Houston.

— Calvin Dotsey The POPS series is proudly sponsored by:

InTUNE — November 2017 | 11

INSPIRING SONG LOC A L STU D E N T S S H I N E IN O UR FA M I LY S E R I E S

Every Houston Symphony Family Concert begins with a special air of anticipation as the audience prepares for a surprise: will the orchestra be led today by a court jester, a superhero, a snowman or maybe even Aladdin on his magic carpet? Not even the musicians know what guise our conductor Robert Franz will assume next. There is another source of excitement in the hall as the concert begins—whether huddled backstage or on risers behind the orchestra, a group of talented local students are about to make their Houston Symphony debuts.

Involving school and community groups as a central part of our concerts is an important element of the Family Series. From highlighting local dance, choir and musical theatre programs to featuring student art work or poetry, involving young people brings these concerts to life. For instance, every year we look forward to featuring a high school choir on at least one of our four Family Concerts. The 2017-18 Family Series features two choirs: North Shore Senior High School for A Grinch Christmas and Conroe High School for Be Our Guest. Over the course of Robert’s 10 seasons conducting the Houston Symphony’s Family Concerts, he has worked with more than 1,200 high school choir students.

The choirs’ experience goes far beyond what the audience sees. Robert visits the schools in advance of the orchestra rehearsal and spends hours working with the students. With the help of our artistic department, we select choirs that are at the top of their game, so whenever Robert begins the first rehearsal, the students are already in great shape. The passion, energy and expertise of this extraordinary conductor and pedagogue inspire students to surpass themselves. The students focus on Robert's one major goal: “I want every kid in the audience, from the front row all the way to the back of the balcony, sitting on the edge of his or her seat enjoying music and what you are singing. I want them to see and hear how much you love what you are doing and aspire to be you.”

Robert enables students to achieve new heights, and they are treated as professionals during the rehearsals and performances at Jones Hall. The growth in the students’ level of musicianship, passion and confidence between Robert’s first school visit and the final performance is remarkable.

“I never dreamed I would be the person to say that I’ve sung with the Houston Symphony, so to have that opportunity was just amazing. I will never forget how I was able to work with the conductor and be a significant part of the performance,” reflected an 11th grade choir student from Langham Creek High School who performed the Suite from Aladdin at our Magic Carpet Ride concert last October.

While this is an unforgettable musical experience for the students, the audience also appreciates their talent. We often hear from parents and grandparents who bring their kids to Family Concerts that seeing young musicians perform helped inspire their own children to want to make music.

With the amazing journey that performing music can provide, we hope for nothing less! —Allison Conlan Learn more about this season's Family Series at www.houstonsymphony.org.

Top: Spring Branch ISD High School Choirs Bottom: HSPVA Chorale soloists

12 | Houston Symphony

Robert Franz appearances are generously supported in part by Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge.

The Houston Symphony Family Series is supported in part by: Dr. Sippi & Ajay Khurana, Underwriter Vivian L. Smith Foundation, Supporter

InTUNE — November 2017 | 13

On December 1, 2 and 3, Megan Hilty returns to Houston with Christmas cheer as part of our 2017 Very Merry Pops concerts.

Get to know this television and Broadway star with these fun and revealing questions.

Q: What is your favorite Christmas song?

A: Traditional: “The Christmas Song.” Contemporary: “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (and no, I will not be singing this one...I firmly believe no one but Mariah should touch it!)

Q: What’s the best Christmas gift you ever received?

A: My husband got me a necklace from Tiffany’s that has two little keys on it—one for each of our kids. I wear it every day.

Q: What is your favorite Christmas movie?

A: The Muppet Christmas Carol—no question.

Q: What’s one thing most people don’t realize about singing and acting professionally?

A: That we have to treat ourselves like athletes—it's extremely physically demanding.

Q: If you could go back in time and meet one person, who would it be?

A: Ella Fitzgerald.

Q: What is your spirit animal?

A: Linda Belcher from Bob's Burgers.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: My family. Except sometimes when we go out to dinner (I have a 3-year-old).

Q: Name one person who inspires you.

A: Bernadette Peters—not only is she the best, professionally, but she's also the kindest woman you'll ever meet.

Q: If you had a job in a different field, what would it be?

A: A chef. I love feeding people!

Q: If you were a musical key, what key would you be?

A: E major or E ( major.

Q: What is the natural tempo marking of your life?

A: Vivace—lively and brisk.

Q: What’s one quality you look for in all your friends?

A: A great sense of humor.

Q: If you could play an orchestral instrument, what instrument would you pick?

A: I'd definitely play the cello. Its sound is hauntingly beautiful, and I'd get a great workout carrying one around!

14 | Houston Symphony

LIFE IS BETTER IN COLOR MAGAZINES | CATALOGS | POSTCARDS | CALENDARS | BROCHURES

4954 Space Center Dr. San Antonio, T X 78218 210.804.0390 | w w w.shweiki.com

InTUNE — November 2017 | 15

EVENTS

SPECIAL VINTAGE VIRTUOSO

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 • Royal Sonesta Houston Chairs: Lindy & John Rydman and Lisa Rydman This wintry night is sure to warm you up with a tasting of wine and spirits, hosted by industry-extraordinaires Lindy and John Rydman, with daughter, Lisa, and Spec’s Charitable Foundation. Vintage Virtuoso is a spirited event that raises significant funds in support of the Houston Symphony’s industry-leading education and community programs.



Lindy & John Rydman

Tables for 8: $15,000, $10,000 and $6,000 Reserved Single Seating: $400 Open Single Seating: $300 For further information or to purchase tables or tickets, contact: Kylie Boaz, Marketing Assistant/Social Media • 832-660-0250 or kylieb@specsonline.com or, Rachel Klaassen, Associate, Special Events • 713-337-8520 or rachel.klaassen@houstonsymphony.org

MAGICAL MUSICAL MORNING: ENCHANTED HOLIDAY Sunday, December 10, 2017 • The Briar Club Chairs: Ting & John Bresnahan and Erin & James Stewart The whole family is invited to join us for a fun-filled morning of magical activities. 

Magical Musical Morning

League

Tables for 10: $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500 Tickets (non-reserved seating): $150 for adults and $75 for children For further information or to purchase tables or tickets, contact: Julie Busch, Development Associate, Special Projects • 713-337-8542 or julie.busch@houstonsymphony.org

WINE DINNER & COLLECTOR’S AUCTION: A LEGENDARY "SYMPHONY OF WINES" Friday, January 26, 2018 • Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts Chairs: Elizabeth & Alan Stein Honorary Chair: Beth Madison Collector’s Auction Chair: Bob Weiner 

Elizabeth & Alan Stein

Let the good times pour at this exclusive annual event on the stage of Jones Hall! We invite you to join us to celebrate a Legendary “Symphony of Wines" to support the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Programming.

Tables for 12: $75,000 and $50,000 Tables for 10: $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 Underwriter Tickets: $5,000 and $2,500 Individual Ticket: $1,250 Young Associates Council and Symphony League Ticket: $625 (limited availability) Musician Sponsor: $1,250 For further information or to purchase tables or tickets, contact: Rachel Klaassen, Associate, Special Events • 713-337-8520 or rachel.klaassen@houstonsymphony.org



Beth Madison 16 | Houston Symphony

Society Board of TRUSTEES

(2017-18 SEASON)

Executive Committee Janet F. Clark President Steven P. Mach Immediate Past President

Bobby Tudor Chairman Paul R. Morico General Counsel

Mike S. Stude Chairman Emeritus Barbara McCelvey Secretary

Danielle Batchelor Chair, Popular Programming Barbara J. Burger Chair, Finance Justice Brett Busby Chair, Artistic & Orchestra Affairs Mary Kathryn Campion, Ph.D. Chair, Pension Brad W. Corson Chair, Governance & Leadership Viviana Denechaud Chair, Development Tracy Dieterich Chair, Community Partnerships Mary Lynn Marks Chair, Volunteers & Special Events

Billy McCartney Chair, Education Alexandra Pruner^ President, Houston Symphony Endowment David Pruner Chair, Strategic Planning Manolo Sánchez Chair, Marketing & Communications Jesse B. Tutor Immediate Past Chair, Chair, Audit Beth Wolff^ President, Houston Symphony League

Andrés Orozco-Estrada^ Music Director Amanda T. Dinitz^ Interim Executive Director Sergei Galperin^ Musician Representative Mark Hughes^ Musician Representative Mark Nuccio^ Musician Representative Christine Kelly-Weaver^ Assistant Secretary ^Ex-Officio

GOVERNING DIRECTORS Farida Abjani Marcia Backus Janice Barrow** Danielle Batchelor Gary Beauchamp Marie Taylor Bosarge Ralph Burch Barbara J. Burger Justice Brett Busby Andrew Calder Michael H. Clark Janet F. Clark Brad W. Corson Viviana Denechaud Michael Doherty David Frankfort

Ronald G. Franklin Stephen Glenn Joan Kaplan Sippi Khurana, M.D. Rochelle Levit, Ph.D. Cora Sue Mach ** Steven P. Mach Paul M. Mann, M.D. Jay Marks ** Mary Lynn Marks David Massin Rodney Margolis** Billy McCartney Barbara McCelvey Alexander K. McLanahan ** Paul R. Morico

Kevin O’Gorman Robert Orr Cully Platt David Pruner Ron Rand John Rydman** Manolo Sánchez Helen Shaffer ** Jerry Simon Jim R. Smith Miles O. Smith Mike S. Stude ** William J. Toomey II Bobby Tudor ** Betty Tutor ** Jesse B. Tutor **

Judith Vincent Margaret Alkek Williams ** Scott Wulfe David Wuthrich Ex-Officio Mary Kathryn Campion, Ph.D. Tracy Dieterich Sergei Galperin Mark Hughes Martha McWilliams Mark Nuccio Robert A. Peiser** Gloria Pryzant Donna Shen **Lifetime Trustee

TRUSTEES Philip Bahr Devinder Bhatia, M.D. James M. Bell Anthony Bohnert Nancy Shelton Bratic Terry Ann Brown** Cheryl Byington Dougal Cameron Mary Kathryn Campion, Ph.D. John T. Cater ** Evan Collins, M.D., MBA Andrew Davis, Ph.D. Gene Dewhurst Tracy Dieterich Terry Elizabeth Everett Kelli Cohen Fein, M.D. Jeffrey B. Firestone Eugene Fong Craig Fox

Julia Anderson Frankel Betsy Garlinger Evan B. Glick Susan Hansen Eric Haufrect, M.D. Gary L. Hollingsworth, M.D. Brian James Rita Justice I. Ray Kirk, M.D. Ulyesse LeGrange ** Carlos J. Lopez Michael Mann, M.D. Jack Matzer Jackie Wolens Mazow Gene McDavid ** Gary Mercer Marilyn Miles Janet Moore Jud Morrison Bobbie Newman

Scott Nyquist Edward Osterberg Jr. Robert A. Peiser** Gloria G. Pryzant Richard A. Rabinow Roman Reed Gabriel Rio Richard Robbins, M.D. J. Hugh Roff Jr. ** Miwa Sakashita Ed Schneider Michael E. Shannon ** Donna Shen Robert Sloan, Ph.D. Tad Smith David Stanard Ishwaria Subbiah, M.D. L. Proctor (Terry) Thomas Shirley W. Toomim Andrew Truscott

Margaret Waisman, M.D. Fredric Weber Mrs. S. Conrad Weil Robert Weiner Vicki West Steven J. Williams Beth Wolff Ed Wulfe ** Ellen A. Yarrell Robert Yekovich Frank Yonish Ex-Officio Alexandra Gottschalk Alexandra Pruner Art Vivar Jessie Woods

PAST PRESIDENTS OF HOUSTON SYMPHONY 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

THE SOCIETY E.C. Vandagrift Jr. J. Hugh Roff Jr. Robert M. Hermance Gene McDavid Janice H. Barrow Barry C. Burkholder Rodney H. Margolis Jeffrey B. Early Michael E. Shannon Ed Wulfe Jesse B. Tutor Robert B. Tudor III Robert A. Peiser Steven P. Mach

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE Miss Ima Hogg Mrs. W. Harold Sellers Mrs. John F. Grant Mrs. Harry H. Gendel Mrs. J. R. Parten Mrs. Robert M. Eury Mrs. Andrew E. Rutter Mrs. E. C. Vandagrift Jr. Mrs. Aubrey Leno Carter Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Mrs. Stuart Sherar Terry Ann Brown Mrs. Julian Barrows Nancy Strohmer Ms. Hazel Ledbetter Mary Ann McKeithan Mrs. Albert P. Jones Ann Cavanaugh Mrs. Ben A. Calhoun Mrs. James A. Shaffer Mrs. James Griffith Lawhon Lucy H. Lewis Mrs. Olaf LaCour Olsen Catherine McNamara Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn Shirley McGregor Pearson Mrs. Leon Jaworski Paula Jarrett Mrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr. Cora Sue Mach Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr. Kathi Rovere Mrs. Thompson McCleary Norma Jean Brown Mrs. Theodore W. Cooper Barbara McCelvey Mrs. Allen W. Carruth Lori Sorcic Jansen Mrs. David Hannah Jr. Nancy B. Willerson Mary Louis Kister Jane Clark Mrs. Edward W. Kelley Jr. Nancy Littlejohn Mrs. John W. Herndon Donna Shen Mrs. Charles Franzen Dr. Susan Snider Osterberg Mrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr. Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein Mrs. Edward H. Soderstrom Vicki West Mrs. Lilly Kucera Andress Mrs. Jesse Tutor Ms. Marilou Bonner Darlene Clark PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE BAY AREA Fran Strong Sue Smith Selma Neumann Shirley Wettling Julia Wells Jo Anne Mills Dagmar Meeh Phyllis Molnar Priscilla Heidbreder Pat Bertelli Harriett Small Emyre B. Robinson Nina Spencer Dana Puddy Elizabeth Glenn Angela Buell Ebby Creden Pat Brackett Charlotte Gaunt Joan Wade Norma Brady Yvonne Herring Cindy Kuenneke Deanna Lamoreux Helen Powell Glenda Toole Sharon Dillard Carole Murphy Diane McLaughlin Patience Myers Roberta Liston James Moore Suzanne Hicks Mary Voigt

**Lifetime Trustee

FRIENDS OF JONES HALL REPRESENTATIVES Justice Brett Busby

Ronald G. Franklin

Steven P. Mach

Barbara McCelvey

InTUNE — November 2017 | 17

New Century Society FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION The New Century Society for Artistic Excellence and Innovation recognizes the Houston Symphony’s most committed and loyal supporters who have pledged their leadership support over a three-year period to help secure the orchestra’s financial future.

For more information or to pledge your support for New Century Society, please contact: Mary Beth Mosley, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Institutional Giving and Stewardship, 713.337.8521 Molly Simpson, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Individual Giving and Major Gifts, 713.337.8526 Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Margaret Alkek Williams Janice Barrow Rochelle & Max Levit Cora Sue & Harry Mach John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods/ Spec’s Charitable Foundation Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Clare Attwell Glassell Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Mike Stude Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Robin Angly & Miles Smith Gary & Marian Beauchamp Barbara J. Burger The Hearst Foundation, Inc. The Joan and Marvin Kaplan Foundation Joella & Steven P. Mach Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Barbara & Pat McCelvey Houston Methodist Ron Franklin & Janet Gurwitch Carol & Michael Linn & The Michael C. Linn Family Foundation Rand Group Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr. / The Robbins Foundation Steven & Nancy Williams

Baker Botts L.L.P. Beauchamp Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr. Viviana & David Denechaud/ Sidley Austin LLP Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Dignity Memorial Funeral Homes and Cemetaries of the Greater Houston Area Dave & Alie Pruner Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Wells Fargo

Leadership COUNCIL Leadership Council donors have committed $45,000 or more in support of the Annual Fund, special projects and fundraising events over a three-year period ($15,000+ annually).

Danielle & Josh Batchelor Mr. & Mrs. Walter V. Boyle Justice Brett & Erin Busby Billy & Christie McCartney Mr. Richard Danforth Gene & Linda Dewhurst The Elkins Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman Christina & Mark C. Hanson Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis The Melbern G. and Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation Rita & Paul Morico

Mr. John N. Neighbors Susan & Edward Osterberg Gloria & Joe Pryzant Ken* & Carol Lee Robertson Michael J. Shawiak Lisa & Jerry Simon Stephen & Kristine Wallace

For more information or to pledge your support for the Leadership Council, please contact:

Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber Robert G. Weiner & Toni Blankmann Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright Jr. *deceased

Mary Beth Mosley, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Institutional Giving and Stewardship, 713.337.8521 Molly Simpson, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Individual Giving and Major Gifts, 713.337.8526

18 | Houston Symphony

EARLY ADOPTERS Vision 2025 Implementation Fund Vision 2025, the Houston Symphony’s ten-year Strategic Plan, will allow the Houston Symphony to be America’s most relevant and accessible top-ten orchestra by 2025.

Vision 2025 was kick-started by early adopters in 2015. The Houston Symphony recognizes and thanks the following Early Adopters for their initial investments in support of our ambitious vision.

Vision 2025 Implementation Fund The Vision 2025 Implementation Fund will catalyze the transformative growth outlined within Vision 2025. The Houston Symphony recognizes and thanks the following supporters of the Vision 2025 Implementation Fund.

OPERATING SUPPORT Rochelle & Max Levit Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Barbara J. Burger John & Lindy Rydman/ Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods/ Spec’s Charitable Foundation Anonymous C. Howard Pieper Foundation Clare Attwell Glassell Janet F. Clark The Brown Foundation, Inc. The Joan & Marvin Kaplan Foundation Mr. John N. Neighbors Barbara & Pat McCelvey Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Joella & Steven P. Mach Clive Runnells in memory of Nancy Morgan Runnells Beauchamp Foundation Lisa & Jerry Simon League of American Orchestras' Futures Fund BBVA Compass Robin Angly & Miles Smith Drs. Dennis & Susan Carlyle LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation Jay & Shirley Marks Nancy & Robert Peiser Dave & Alie Pruner Mr. Jay Steinfield & Mrs. Barbara Winthrop

Michael J. Shawiak Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan The Boeing Company Justice Brett & Erin Busby Ron Franklin & Janet Gurwitch Carol & Michael Linn and The Michael C. Linn Family Foundation Beth Madison Rita & Paul Morico Ms. Ellen A. Yarrell, in memory of Virginia S. Anderson and in honor of Cora Sue Mach Robert G. Weiner & Toni Blankmann Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Evan B. Glick Viviana & David Denechaud Christina & Mark C. Hanson Debbie & Frank G. Jones Dr. Stewart Morris Donna & Tim Shen Tad & Suzanne Smith Judith Vincent Vicki West & Mrs. Liv Estrada BB&T / Courtney & Bill Toomey Marzena & Jacek Jaminski Cora Sue & Harry Mach Catherine & Bob Orr Mrs. Sybil F. Roos Shirley Wolff Toomim Daisy S. Wong / JCorp Brad & Joan Corson Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Estate of Freddie L. Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Marvy A. Finger Eugene Fong Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Kenneth J. Hyde Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange Gary Mercer Mike Stude Stephen & Kristine Wallace Texas Commission on the Arts

PLANNED AND ENDOWMENT GIFTS Dr. & Mrs. George J. Abdo Robin Angly James Barton Paul M. Basinski Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Michael J. Shawiak C. Howard Pieper Foundation Dr. James E. & Betty W. Key The Hon. Stella G. & Richard C. Nelson Tad & Suzanne Smith Susan Gail Wood The Estate of Dorothy H. Grieves The Estate of David L. Hyde

Cora Sue & Harry Mach Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Joella & Steven P. Mach Rochelle & Max Levit Steven & Nancy Williams Robin Angly & Miles Smith Carol & Michael Linn & The Michael C. Linn Family Foundation The Hearst Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Baker Botts L.L.P. Nancy & Robert Peiser Barbara & Pat McCelvey The Robert & Janice McNair Foundation / Palmetto Partners, Ltd. John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods/ Spec’s Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Billy & Christie McCartney Mr. & Mrs. Jim R. Smith Danielle & Josh Batchelor BBVA Compass Dave & Alie Pruner

EARLY ADOPTERS Margaret Alkek Williams Janice Barrow The Brown Foundation, Inc.

For more information or to pledge your support for Vision 2025, please contact: Amanda T. Dinitz, Interim Executive Director/Chief of Strategic Initiatives, 713.337.8541 Mary Beth Mosley, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Institutional Giving and Stewardship, 713.337.8521 Molly Simpson, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Individual Giving and Major Gifts, 713.337.8526

InTUNE — November 2017 | 19

FEATURED PROGRAM

BROADWAY TODAY Friday Saturday Sunday

November 10, 2017 November 11, 2017 November 12, 2017

8:00pm 8:00pm 7:30pm

Jones Hall

Steven Reineke, conductor *Betsy Wolfe, vocalist *Jeremy Jordan, vocalist *Houston Symphony debut

Lloyd Webber/C. Custer A. Menken/Reineke J. Tesori/D. BestermanB. Elliott G. Hansard-M. Irglová J. Kander/M. Gibson S. Schwartz/M. BuysK. Purcell F. Wildhorn/J. SteinbergReineke J.R. Brown/F. Barton R. Lopez-T. ParkerM. Stone/S. Shoup Brown

Selections from The Phantom of the Opera Santa Fe from Newsies

Did you know?

lyrics by Jack Feldman

• Andrew Lloyd Webber is the only person to equal Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1953 record of having four Broadway shows running concurrently.

Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie lyrics by Dick Scanlan

Falling Slowly from Once Suite from Chicago Meadowlark from The Baker’s Wife Sarah from The Civil War lyrics by Jack Murphy

A Summer in Ohio from The Last Five Years You and Me (But Mostly Me) from The Book of Mormon Before and After You/One Second and a Million Miles from The Bridges of Madison County I N T E R M I S S I O N

M. Mancina-J. RifkinLebo M. /Reineke Lloyd Webber/D. Cullen S. Bareilles/Reineke C.-M. Schönberg/ W.D. Brohn Schönberg/Reineke B. Pasek-J. Paul/Shoup Kander/B. Krogstad Menken/Shoup

He Lives In You from The Lion King Jellicle Ball from Cats** She Used to Be Mine from Waitress Why, God, Why? from Miss Saigon

lyrics by Alain Boublil-Richard Maltby Jr.

lyrics by Howard Ashman

At the End of the Day/Do You Hear the People Sing? from Les Misérables Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen Maybe This Time from Cabaret Suddenly, Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors

**based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” by T. S. Eliot 20 | Houston Symphony

• Before he got famous, Jeremy Jordan took the traditional route to Broadway stardom: waiting tables in New York City.

• Betsy Wolfe took a more entrepreneurial approach, selling cinnamon Bundt cakes (made according to her grandma’s recipe) and reclaimed furniture. “You have no idea what people will pay for already-puttogether Ikea furniture,” she told the New York Times in a recent profile.

Broadway Today | Program Biographies

Program BIOGRAPHIES These performances are generously supported in part by:

Steven Reineke | conductor

Underwriter Mr. John N. Neighbors Margaret Alkek Williams Supporter Evan B. Glick Goldman, Sachs & Company

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

Steven Reineke has established himself as one of North America's leading conductors of popular music.

In addition to being Principal POPS Conductor at the Houston Symphony, Steven is the music director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and principal pops conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He previously held the posts of principal pops conductor of the Long Beach and Modesto Symphony Orchestras and associate conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Steven is a frequent guest conductor with The Philadelphia Orchestra and has been on the podium with the Boston Pops Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia. His extensive North American conducting appearances include San Francisco, Seattle, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Ottawa (National Arts Centre), Detroit, Milwaukee and Calgary.

On stage, Steven has created programs and collaborated with a range of leading artists from the worlds of hip hop, Broadway, television and rock, including Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Sutton Foster, Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Wayne Brady, Peter Frampton 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.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of Houston’s signature institutions and a member of the Houston Symphony’s donor family for more than 20 years. The Show is a leading Underwriter of the Symphony’s student concerts, in keeping with its longstanding commitment to education.

TM

Since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $400 million to the youth of Texas. The Show has presented more than 16,000 scholarships since the first was awarded in 1957, and more than 2,200 students are currently on Show scholarships, attending more than 80 different colleges and universities. The Show’s commitment to education extends to grants, Junior Market Show and School Art Auction Exhibitors, and participants in the famous Calf Scramble.

As the creator of more than 100 orchestral arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Steven’s work has been performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings on the Telarc label. His symphonic works Celebration Fanfare, The 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 worldwide.

A native of Ohio, Steven is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, 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.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a wonderful supporter of the Houston Symphony and arts education throughout the city.

InTUNE — November 2017 | 21

Program BIOGRAPHIES , continued

Betsy Wolfe | vocalist Betsy Wolfe is currently starring in the hit Broadway musical Waitress. She was last seen on Broadway starring in Falsettos as Cordelia, one of the lovable “lesbians from next door,” directed by James Lapine.

Her other Broadway credits include Woody Allen’s musical adaptation of Bullets Over Broadway where she played opposite Zach Braff, under the direction of Susan Stroman. Previously, she starred in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years at Second Stage Theatre and the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood as Rosa Bud. Prior to that, Betsy played Beth in Merrily We Roll Along at Encores! and created the role of Mary Ann Singleton in ACT's world premiere of Tales of the City, a musical based on the Armistead Maupin novels. Other Broadway credits include Everyday Rapture with Sherie Rene Scott (a show she also performed Off-Broadway), 110 in the Shade and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She starred in the La Jolla Playhouse world premiere production of Bobby Lopez’ and Kristen Anderson-Lopez’ new musical Up Here, under the direction of Alex Timbers. She starred in the San Francisco and Boston companies’ The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Betsy made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Douglas Carter Beane’s adaptation of Die Fledermaus; she recently returned for an encore engagement. She has been a guest artist for more than 40 U.S. and international orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Last season, she performed with Maestro Steven Reineke and Darren Criss to soldout crowds at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in “Broadway Today.” She debuted at Carnegie Hall with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under Maestro Erich Kunzel. She was a guest soloist for the New York City Ballet where she performed at Lincoln Center and at the London Coliseum.

Her recordings include Falsettos, Bullets Over Broadway, The Last Five Years, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stage Door Canteen, 35MM and Merrily We Roll Along, and she can be seen in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years.

Betsy Wolfe holds a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.

22 | Houston Symphony

Jeremy Jordan | vocalist Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Jeremy Jordan studied drama at Ithaca College and moved to New York City after graduating in 2007. In early 2009, he landed his first Broadway show, Rock of Ages, as a swing, understudying several roles, including the lead. In December 2009, he left Rock of Ages to play Tony in Broadway's West Side Story, then traveled to Sarasota, Florida, to play Clyde Barrow opposite Laura Osnes in Bonnie & Clyde. In Atlanta, he performed in his first feature film, Joyful Noise, opposite Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah.

In fall 2011, Jeremy was cast as Jack Kelly in Disney's world premiere production of Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. Bonnie & Clyde opened on Broadway in November 2011, and Jeremy earned the Theatre World Award for his performance.

Shortly after, he returned to Newsies to star in its new run on Broadway. Newsies opened to sold-out houses and critical raves for Jeremy, who received a Tony nomination as Best Actor in a Musical and earned a Grammy nomination for the cast album.

Jeremy would also film a series regular role on NBC's hit series Smash while still starring in Newsies.

Jeremy starred in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years, opposite Oscar- and Tony-nominee Anna Kendrick, directed by Richard LaGravenese. He also starred as J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland, directed by Tony-winner Diane Paulus at Boston’s legendary A.R.T. theatre.

Jeremy Jordan has performed his solo cabaret show, Breaking Character, for sold-out venues in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Island, Indianapolis and London. Joined by his wife, Broadway actress Ashley Spencer, he recounts iconic moments from his budding career and performs songs that defined his swift rise to stardom. This year, Jeremy reprised his role as Jack Kelly in Disney’s live filmed stage production of Newsies. He also provided the voice of Varian in the Disney Channel’s new animated series, Tangled, based on the 2010 hit movie. Currently, Jeremy stars in The CW drama Supergirl opposite Melissa Benoist.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE FILM WITH A LIVE ORCHESTRA

D ecember 29 • 7:30 Pm D ecember 30 • 2:30 Pm D ecember 30 • 7:30 Pm J ones H all • H ouston , tX H ouston s ymPHony . org H arry P otter I n c oncert . com Part of the harry PottertM filM ConCert SerieS Brought to you By CineConCertS HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. J.K. ROWLING`S WIZARDING WORLD™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s17)

InTUNE — November 2017 | 23

FEATURED PROGRAM

RACHMANINOFF’S RHAPSODY Friday Saturday Sunday

November 17, 2017 November 18, 2017 November 19, 2017

8:00pm 8:00pm 2:30pm

Jones Hall

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Denis Kozhukhin, piano

Ives

Symphony No. 3 (The Camp Meeting) I Old Folks Gatherin’: Andante maestoso II Children’s Day: Allegro moderato III Communion: Largo

ca. 22

I N T E R M I S S I O N

Lutosławski Rachmaninoff Blacher

Paganini Variations for Solo Piano and Orchestra

ca. 9

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Opus 43

ca. 23

Orchestral Variations on a Theme of Niccolò Paganini, Opus 26 ca. 13

24 | Houston Symphony

Did you know?

• Rachmaninoff composed his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini at his family’s then-recently completed home on the shores of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. They named the house Senar, based on a combination of the names of Rachmaninoff and his wife: SErgei and NAtalia Rachmaninoff.

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody | Program Biographies

GREAT PERFORMERS SERIES

Program BIOGRAPHIES

These performances are generously supported in part by: Guarantor C. Howard Pieper Foundation Sponsor John Barlow The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.

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

This concert is being recorded for future broadcasts on Houston Public Media News 88.7 airing on Sundays at 8pm and streaming online at houstonpublicmedia.org.

Andrés Orozco-Estrada | conductor

Please see Andrés Orozco-Estrada's biography on page 4.

Denis Kozhukhin | piano First Prize winner of the 2010 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels at age 23, Denis Kozhukhin combines the brilliance and power of his playing with a masterful sense of form, maturity and sensitivity. Critics have praised his performances as “spellbinding,” “imperious” and “mesmerizing.”

Highlights of his 2016-17 season included engagements with the Staatskapelle Berlin and Daniel Barenboim, the London Symphony Orchestra and Simon Rattle, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Japp van Zweden, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Emmanuel Krivine, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Yuri Temirkanov, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Stéphane Denève, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Rafael Payare, and the San Francisco Symphony and Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

This season, Denis debuts with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchestra and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. He returns to the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Hamburg Symphony, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and others. Recitals include appearances at the Concertgebouw’s Master Pianists series, the Auditorium du Louvre, Wigmore Hall and Vienna’s Konzerthaus, among others.

An avid chamber musician, Denis has collaborated with Leonidas Kavakos, Michael Barenboim, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Janine Jansen, Vadim Repin, the Jerusalem Quartet, the Pavel Haas Quartet and Alisa Weilerstein.

Rand Group is the proud sponsor of the Houston Symphony’s Classical Series, “Rand Group Great Performers.”

As a professional services firm committed to helping clients improve overall business success, Rand Group delivers software solutions to companies seeking to transform their operations through the use of technology. Headquartered in Houston, Rand Group serves the needs of mid-sized businesses in Texas and across North America providing Cloud, ERP, CRM, Digital Marketing and e-commerce software, solutions and services.

From unbiased software selection and technology implementations to full-scale infrastructure and managed support, Rand Group is a multi-platform systems integrator dedicated to delivering complete end-to-end business management solutions to streamline processes, reduce risk and grow revenue.

His debut recording for Pentatone, featuring Grieg and Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Vassily Sinaisky, was received with rave reviews, including Gramophone Editor’s Choice and Disc of the Month in Fono Forum and Stereophone. His second album, including solo works by Brahms, was released in January 2017.

Born into a family of musicians in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, in 1986, Denis Kozhukhin began his piano studies with his mother at age 5. As a boy, he studied under Natalia Fish at the Balakirev School of Music. From 2000 to 2007, he studied at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid with Dimitri Bashkirov and Claudio Martínez Mehner. Denis completed his studies at the International Piano Academy Lake Como where he received advice from Fou Ts’ong, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Peter Frankl, Boris Berman, Charles Rosen and Andreas Staier, and with Kirill Gerstein in Stuttgart. In recent years, he has been mentored by Maestro Daniel Barenboim.

InTUNE — November 2017 | 25

PAGANINI'S

Program NOTES

T H E M E

Niccolò Paganini was perhaps the most influential violinist in the history of music. His tours across Europe from 1829-1834 astonished audiences; many of his compositions were so difficult that initially only he could play them. He not only revolutionized violin playing, but also inspired composers who followed him to make virtuoso technique a central part of the classical music tradition. A contemporary history of the violin described him thus: “Audacious in his experiments on the capacity of his instrument, yet refined to the extreme of subtlety; scientific, yet wild to the verge of extravagance… his tall, gaunt figure, his long fleshless fingers, his wild, eager and wan visage, his thin grey locks falling over his shoulders, and his singular smile sometimes bitter and convulsive, always strange, made up an aspect which approached nearly to the spectral.”

Even during his life, a legend that he had sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his preternatural abilities was widespread. Paganini himself claimed his talent came from a guardian angel, but his uncanny mien and infamous womanizing somewhat undercut his position. In any case, the legend likely sold more tickets.

Perhaps Paganini’s most celebrated original works were his 24 Caprices for solo violin, the last of which was a theme and variations. The simple tune that began it became a symbol of virtuoso technique, inspiring many composers (including Liszt, Schumann and Brahms) to use it as the basis of their own fiendishly difficult variations. —Calvin Dotsey

26 | Houston Symphony

Symphony No. 3, (The Camp Meeting) Charles Ives (1874-1954)

During the decade between his graduation from Yale and his marriage, Ives simultaneously pursued two careers: one as a church organist and another as a marketing strategist for a life insurance company. As part of his church duties, toward the end of 1901, Ives composed three organ pieces for use during services: a prelude, a postlude and a piece for communion. Now lost, they survive in a reworked form as the movements of Ives’ Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting.

Camp meetings were relics of the early 19th-century American religious movement known as “The Great Awakening.” Rural farmers would gather together at a central location to sing, pray and hear preachers sermonize at outdoor camps. As a 4-year-old boy, Charles Ives witnessed one of the last great camp meetings at Redding, Connecticut, in 1878. He later recalled: “…all the farmers, their families and field hands, for miles around, would come afoot or in their farm wagons. I remember how the great waves of sound used to come through the trees...Father, who led the singing…would always encourage the people to sing their own way.”

The three movements of Ives’ Third Symphony (“Old Folks Gatherin’,” “Children’s Day” and “Communion”) depict scenes from the meeting with a small chamber orchestra in which the strings prevail, often assuming the role of a singing congregation. Nearly all of the symphony’s melodic material comes from traditional hymns, but these melodies are rarely presented straight; they are instead fragmented, sepia-toned memories.

Many of the symphony’s unusual qualities may have been inspired by the sounds Ives heard at the camp meeting. Of particular interest are Ives’ “shadow passages,” usually short phrases played by a flute, oboe or violin that clash with the rest of the orchestra.

These shadow passages may reflect lone voices in the congregation that “sing their own way.” One extended shadow passage occurs at the end of the first movement, played by a solo violin. Perhaps the most magical moment in the score is the ending, in which church bells sound off-stage in a distant key.

While Ives’ contemporaries would have regarded many of these sounds as mistakes, for Ives the sound of the untrained voices at the camp meeting possessed an authenticity and spiritual expression that could not be matched by more “correct” music.

Describing the singers, Ives said, “Most of them knew the words and music (theirs) by heart, and sang it that way. If they threw the poet or composer around a bit, so much the better for the poetry and the music. There was power and exaltation in these great conclaves of sound from humanity.”

The Instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns, trombone, bells and strings

Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody | Program Notes

Paganini Variations for Solo Piano and Orchestra Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994)

Polish composer Witold Lutosławski was no stranger to the vagaries of 20th-century history. As a young man, he served in the Polish military during the Nazi invasion of 1939. After being captured and imprisoned for eight days, he escaped and managed to eke out an existence playing piano in Warsaw’s cabarets during the war. The original version of Lutosławski’s Paganini Variations for two pianos dates from this period.

In composing his variations, Lutosławski followed Paganini’s set quite closely, using Paganini’s melodic figurations while radically changing harmonies and textures, revealing hidden possibilities unrealized in the original. When Lutosławski reworked the variations for piano and orchestra, he cleverly extended the fiveminute-long piece by repeating some of the variations: the second time around, the piano and orchestra switch parts. Throughout, the orchestration is luminous and resonant, and true to the spirit of Paganini, virtuoso technique is on full display.

One variation offers the musicians some respite about halfway through; the tempo slows, and the piano and orchestra engage in an exquisite duet. Careful listeners will notice the orchestra plays the mirror image of the piano’s melody—it is the same line, but inverted and offset by a beat. The remaining variations bring the work to an exhilarating conclusion.

The Instruments: 2 flutes (one doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Opus 43 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

After fleeing the Russian revolution in 1917, Rachmaninoff would compose only six pieces. Having lost nearly everything, he instead pursued a career as a piano virtuoso in order to better provide for his family. Fortunately, he found some time for composition during the summer of 1934. The 61-year-old composer worked “literally from morn to night” on his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a masterpiece that would achieve immediate success. A few years later, Rachmaninoff provided the celebrated choreographer Michel Fokine with a scenario for a ballet based on the Rhapsody, explaining how it could tell the story of the Paganini’s legendary deal with the devil and love for a woman.

Consisting of 24 variations on Paganini’s theme, the Rhapsody begins with a short introduction that leads not to the theme, but to the first variation: a bare outline of Paganini’s melody. When the violins and piano then play theme, Rachmaninoff tells us, “Paganini himself makes his first appearance…” The following variations reflect Paganini’s legendary skill with the soloist's virtuoso display.

The music then slows, and we hear the piano play the Dies Irae, a medieval chant describing the apocalypse. Rachmaninoff ingeniously worked it into the variations, saying “All variations on the Dies Irae would be for the evil spirit…there can be a dialogue with Paganini during his theme as it merges with the Dies Irae.” One of the ensuing demonic variations features the strings playing col legno (with the wood of the bow), an especially creepy effect.

“Variation 11," which begins softly with tremolo strings, "is the transition to the realm of love,” he continues. “Variation 12," a slow, graceful minuet with delicate pizzicato accompaniment, "is the first appearance of the woman…from the 11th variation to the 18th— these are the love episodes.” These variations have many different characters, from the heroism of the 14th variation to the tenderness of the 18th, the most famous variation. Emerging as a piano solo after a dark and mysterious passage, this love theme is in fact closely derived from an inversion of Paganini’s original melody.

“Variation 19 is the triumph of Paganini’s art, his diabolic pizzicato,” Rachmaninoff continues. The tension increases as the soloist executes ever more astonishing feats, until Paganini “appears for the last time at the 23rd variation—the first 12 bars," when the orchestra abruptly takes over Paganini's theme from the soloist. The Rhapsody ends with "the triumph of his conquerors," a grotesque parody of the Dies Irae. While Paganini might have met his downfall, the piano soloist gets the last laugh, concluding the work with a wink and a smile.

The Instruments: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings

Orchestral Variations on a Theme of Niccolò Paganini, Opus 26 Boris Blacher (1903-1975)

Born in Manchuria, Boris Blacher moved to Berlin in 1922 where he soon began a career as a composer. With an emphasis on color and extended tonal harmonies, his works show influence from contemporary France. Although his career was interrupted when the Nazis declared his music “degenerate” in 1939, he became an influential teacher of composition in post-war West Germany.

The Orchestral Variations of 1947 begins with Paganini’s theme played by a solo violin. The music then launches into 16 virtuoso variations that traverse a wide range of moods, from quiet rumination to bombastic frenzy. The influence of jazz and popular dance forms can be frequently heard in walking basslines, hazy harmonies and propulsive rhythms, especially in the wild crescendo of the final variation.

The Instruments: 3 flutes (one doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets (one doubling bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and strings —Calvin Dotsey InTUNE — November 2017 | 27

FEATURED PROGRAM

A SCHEHERAZADE THANKSGIVING Friday Saturday Sunday

November 24, 2017 November 25, 2017 November 26, 2017

8:00pm 8:00pm 2:30pm

Jones Hall

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor James Ehnes, violin

Did you know?

Shostakovich

Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Opus 99 I Nocturne: Moderato II Scherzo: Allegro III Passacaglia: Andante— IV Burlesca: Allegro con brio—Presto

ca. 39

I N T E R M I S S I O N

Rimsky-Korsakov

Scheherazade, Opus 35 I Largo e maestoso—Allegro non troppo II Recitative: Lento—Andantino—Allegro molto III Andantino quasi Allegretto IV Allegro molto—Recitative, Lento—Vivo

ca. 47

• The Houston Symphony’s Opening Night concerts for 1914, 1915 and 1916 (its second, third and fourth seasons) were held in the Majestic Theatre on Thanksgiving evening.

• Rimsky-Korsakov was a synesthete: he associated particular musical keys with colors. This likely inspired him to put the first movement of Scheherazade, “The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship,” in E major, which for him was the blue of the ocean.

Image: "He arrived within sight of a palace of shining marble" from Edmund Dulac's illustrations for One Thousand and One Nights.

28 | Houston Symphony

A Scheherazade Thanksgiving | Program Biographies

Program BIOGRAPHIES GREAT PERFORMERS SERIES

Andrés Orozco-Estrada | conductor The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham.

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

This concert is being recorded for future broadcasts on Houston Public Media News 88.7 airing on Sundays at 8pm and streaming online at houstonpublicmedia.org.

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally.

Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,600 employees committed to safety and operating excellence.

Please see Andrés Orozco-Estrada's biography on page 4.

James Ehnes | violin Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, James Ehnes is a favorite guest of many of the world’s most respected conductors. In addition to the Houston Symphony, he has appeared with leading orchestras in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New York, London, Prague, Berlin and Tokyo.

Recent and future highlights include appearances with the MET Orchestra; Gewandhausorchester Leipzig; Vienna Symphony; New York Philharmonic; Orchestre National de France; the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras; and the London, Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras. In 2017, James premiered the Aaron Jay Kernis Violin Concerto with the Toronto and Dallas Symphony Orchestras and the Seattle Symphony; he was awarded the 2017 Royal Philharmonic Society Award in the instrumentalist category.

Alongside his concerto work, James regularly gives recitals at Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, the Concertgebouw and the Salzburg Festival. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with Leif Ove Andsnes, Louis Lortie, Jan Vogler and Yo-Yo Ma. In summer 2017, he debuted at the Verbier Festival, performing with Antonio Pappano, Yuja Wang, Nikolai Lugansky and Mischa Maisky. In 2010, he established the Ehnes Quartet, with whom he has performed at Wigmore Hall, the Auditorium du Louvre and the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume in Aix-en-Provence. He is the artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

James has won many awards for his numerous recordings, including a Gramophone Award for his live Elgar Concerto with Sir Andrew Davis and the Philharmonia Orchestra. His recording of the Korngold, Barber and Walton violin concertos won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance and a JUNO award for Best Classical Album of the Year. Diapason wrote of his recording of the Paganini Caprices, “Ehnes confirms the predictions of Erick Friedman, eminent student of Heifetz: ‘there is only one like him born every hundred years.’”

After beginning violin studies at age 4, James became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin and made his orchestral debut with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal at 13. He graduated from The Juilliard School in 1997, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and, in 2010, was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. James Ehnes plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715.

InTUNE — November 2017 | 29

Program NOTES Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Opus 99 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Dmitri Shostakovich began composing his First Violin Concerto in 1947 during a period of relative calm, but by the time he completed it, his situation had changed completely. Having defeated the Nazis, the Soviet government soon resumed its incessant witch-hunts for enemies within. In 1948, Shostakovich and other leading Soviet composers suddenly found that many of their works were banned.

Shostakovich’s concerto would thus not be premiered until 1955, after Stalin’s death. Written in four movements, the concerto begins with a somber, meditative nocturne. After this introspective night music, the ensuing scherzo is a wild, frenetic dance. In this movement, Shostakovich introduces for the first time a variant of his musical signature: the notes D-E(-C-B (in German, these notes are called D-S-C-H, a cypher for D. SCHostokowitsch, the German transliteration of Shostakovich’s name).

T H E TA L E O F T H E

Arabian Nights One Thousand and One Nights (or, more colloquially, The Arabian Nights) has a history as storied as the tales themselves. Indian, Persian and Arabic sources have been suggested for individual stories, and the first references to collections of “One Thousand Nights” are found in documents from the 10th century. The earliest surviving manuscript comes from 14th century Syria. Antoine Galland, an 18th century man of letters, freely adapted this Syrian manuscript to create a French version, introducing the Nights to Europe for the first time. It was likely a translation of Galland’s version that inspired Rimsky-Korsakov.

The individual stories of the Nights are famously unified by a frame story. After discovering his first wife’s infidelity, the cruel Sultan Shahryar becomes convinced of the faithlessness of all women. He thus takes a new bride every night only to have her executed at dawn to ensure that she is never unfaithful.

To save the remaining women of the kingdom, Scheherazade, the book-loving daughter of a vizier, volunteers to become Shahryar’s next wife. She saves herself and wins his heart by telling stories, being sure to end each night with a cliffhanger, obliging the sultan to let her live so that he might learn the ending. Over the course of 1,001 nights, he falls in love with her, and the two live happily ever after.

Image: "Scheherazade" from Edmund Dulac's illustrations for One Thousand and One Nights.

30 | Houston Symphony

The inclusion of this motif suggests some hidden autobiographical intent. Soon after, the music arrives at a boisterous, klezmerinspired central episode. Though not Jewish himself, the revelations of the atrocities of the holocaust combined with intensifying anti-Semitic campaigns in the USSR fueled Shostakovich’s interest in Jewish music. His inclusion of klezmerinspired passages in this concerto and other works can be interpreted as a veiled protest against the regime.

The third movement is a passacaglia, a type of theme and variations in which a bass line is repeated as new melodies are introduced above it. The bass line in this case is an oppressive figure introduced by the cellos and basses. After the soloist enters with an expressive melody, the variations become more intense until the solo violin takes up the bass line itself. The movement ends with mournful, chant-like repeated notes that fade seamlessly into the cadenza, an extended passage for the soloist unaccompanied by the orchestra.

In past concertos, cadenzas were normally placed within the first movement. Instead, Shostakovich places his cadenza between movements, as if we have passed into some netherworld where the soloist is completely isolated. The cadenza becomes faster and more intense as it progresses, recalling the DSCH motif. Climaxing with the return of the klezmer theme in the violin’s highest register, the cadenza then accelerates into the finale. Shostakovich marked the last movement “burlesca,” an indication that fits the music’s darkly comic atmosphere. Its mad, virtuoso fiddle music brings the concerto to an unsettling, but thrilling conclusion.

The Instruments: 3 flutes (one doubling piccolo), 3 oboes (one doubling English horn), 3 clarinets (one doubling bass clarinet), 3 bassoons, one doubling contrabassoon, 4 horns, tuba, timpani, percussion, 2 harps, celesta and strings

A Scheherazade Thanksgiving | Program Notes

Scheherazade, Opus 35

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) The idea for Scheherazade first came to Rimsky-Korsakov while he was completing Borodin's unfinished opera Prince Igor in the winter of 1887. Likely influenced by Prince Igor's exoticism, RimskyKorsakov took the Arabian classic One Thousand and One Nights as inspiration. Except for the frame story about Scheherazade, Rimsky-Korsakov did not literally depict individual tales from the Nights. Instead, Rimsky-Korsakov sought to evoke the atmosphere of “an Oriental narrative of some numerous and varied fairy-tale wonders” with his characteristically vivid orchestral colors.

The first movement, “The Sea and Sindbad's Ship,” begins with a growl representing the cruel Sultan Shahryar, followed by a violin solo representing Scheherazade as she begins to tell her tales. As the strings enter, we hear the ocean churning. The movement is structured in waves like the sea itself: swelling passages for full orchestra alternate with softer episodes featuring solo instruments.

The second movement, “The Narrative of the Prince Kalandar,” (a Kalandar is a kind of Sufi mystic) begins with a reappearance of the Scheherazade violin solo, followed by a new melody intoned by the bassoon. After several variations, the attack of tremolo strings and ominous brass fanfares signals the beginning of a fantastical new section. Several striking passages lead to the return of the opening bassoon theme in the strings over a swirling chromatic accompaniment, culminating in a powerful statement for full orchestra. After a bewitching flute solo, the whirlwind resumes and the movement ends with a dramatic cymbal crash.

The third movement, entitled “The Young Prince and the Young Princess,” is a tender love scene: the violins present the lovely opening melody and are soon answered by the cellos. Toward the middle of the movement, a playful, dancing theme appears in the flute accompanied by the snare drum. This theme leads to the reappearance of Scheherazade’s violin solo, at first alone, but then accompanied by the opening melody in the woodwinds. The full orchestra finishes the theme, bringing the movement to an expressive climax.

The raucous finale is titled “Festival at Baghdad. The Sea. The Ship Breaks against a Cliff Surmounted by a Bronze Horseman.”

The wild music of the festival accelerates until, with the logic of a dream, the ocean and Sinbad's ship burst forth, and we hear the shipwreck with a tam-tam crash. The vision dissolves, leaving Scheherazade's violin solo holding sustained tones as slumbering basses play the sultan's theme below. As the violin ascends to its highest note, Rimsky-Korsakov's masterpiece and all of Scheherazade's fabulous tales vanish into nothingness.

Give Thanks for Music on HPM! Enjoy recent and archival recordings of Houston Symphony concerts on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM! This month's selections include orchestral favorites such as Holst's The Planets, Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, Italian and Ravel's Bolero. Plus, music from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker will get you into the holiday spirit Thanksgiving weekend.

NOVEMBER 2017 BROADCAST SCHEDULE ALL BROADCASTS AIR AT 8PM

November 5 News 88.7 November 8 Classical RECORDED:

April 8-10, 2016

November 12 News 88.7 November 15 Classical RECORDED:

April 28, 30 & May 1, 2016

November 19 News 88.7 November 21 Classical RECORDED:

May 5-7, 2006

November 26 News 88.7 November 29 Classical RECORDED:

Fabien Gabel, conductor Caroline Goulding, violin Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Opus 26 Poulenc: Suite from Les animaux modèles Ravel: Bolero

David Zinman, conductor Kiera Duffy, soprano Stephen Powell, baritone Houston Symphony Chorus— Betsy Cook Weber, director Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, Italian Fauré: Requiem

Hans Graf, conductor Timothy Pitts, double bass Women of the Houston Symphony Chorus Charles Hausmann, director Estacio: Solaris Harbison: Concerto for Bass Viol & Orchestra Holst: The Planets

Hans Graf, conductor Stravinsky: Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss Prokofiev: Suite from Cinderella Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Opus 71

September 10, 2004

The Instruments: 2 flutes (one doubling piccolo), piccolo, 2 oboes (one doubling English horn), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp and strings —Calvin Dotsey InTUNE — November 2017 | 31

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Conductor’s Circle

$15,000-$24,999

Erika & S. David Frankfort Allen & Almira Gelwick Lockton Companies Lila-Gene George Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman Rebecca & Bobby Jee Debbie & Frank Jones Mrs. Gloria Pepper & Dr. Bernard Katz Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Michelle & Jack Matzer

Frances & Ira Anderson Edward H. Andrews III Dr. Angela R. Apollo Sr. Judge Mary Bacon Mr. & Dr. Karl-Heinz Becker Mr. & Mrs. Astley Blair Anne & George Boss Dr. & Mrs. Meherwan P. Boyce Nancy & Walter Bratic Terry Ann Brown Cheryl & Sam Byington Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Calder Mr. & Mrs. Bernard F. Clark Jr. Dr. Evan D. Collins Dr. Scott Cutler Leslie Barry Davidson & W. Robins Brice

Conductor’s Circle



Margaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. Stephen & Kristine Wallace Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber Jeanie Kilroy Wilson & Wallace S. Wilson Ms. Vivian Wise Ms. Beth Wolff Daisy S. Wong / JCorp Scott & Lori Wulfe

Mr.* & Mrs. Gordon Leighton Marilyn G. Lummis Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow Martha & Marvin McMurrey Mr. Gary Mercer Sami & Jud Morrison Bobbie Newman Scott & Judy Nyquist Toni Oplt & Ed Schneider Maestro & Mrs. Andrés Orozco-Estrada John & Kathy Orton Susan & Edward Osterberg Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker Radoff Family Lila Rauch Brooke & Nathaniel Richards

Carol & Kamal Sandarusi Mr. & Mrs. Walter Scherr Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Tad & Suzanne Smith Carol & Michael Stamatedes Dr. John R. Stroehlein & Miwa Sakashita Courtney & Bill Toomey Susan & Andrew Truscott Ms. Hallie A. Vanderhider Shirley & Joel Wahlberg Cyvia & Melvyn* Wolff Lorraine & Ed Wulfe Mr. & Mrs. Frank Yonish Mr. & Mrs. Edward R. Ziegler Nina & Michael Zilkha Anonymous (1)

Mr. & Mrs. William B. McNamara Dr. Robert M. Mihalo Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Nelson Tim Ong & Michael Baugh Michael P. & Shirley Pearson Jean & Allan Quiat Kathryn & Richard Rabinow Douglas & Alicia Rodenberger Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum Linda & Jerry Rubenstein

Mr. & Mrs. Rufus S. Scott Drs. Ishwaria & Vivek Subbiah Mrs. Jennifer Chang & Mr. Aaron J. Thomas Candace & Brian Thomas Dr. Robert Wilkins & Dr. Mary Ann Reynolds Wilkins Nancy B. Willerson Anonymous (1)

Mr. & Mrs. John P. Kotts Willy Kuehn* Jim & Amy Lee Sue Ann Lurcott Barbara J. Manering Mr. William McDugald Alice R. McPherson, M.D. Mr. Ronald A. Mikita & Mr. Rex Spikes Dr. Cameron Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Harvin Moore IV Ione & Sidney Moran Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Moynier Richard & Juliet Moynihan Ms. Leslie Nossaman Rochelle & Sheldon Oster Mr. & Mrs. C. Robert Palmer Christine & Robert Pastorek Mr. David Peavy & Mr. Stephen McCauley Mr. Robert J. Pilegge Mr. & Mrs. King Pouw Tim & Katherine Pownell Ms. Emily Reaser Mr. & Mrs. T.R. Reckling III Vicky & Michael Richker Mr. & Mrs. Claud D. Riddles Ed & Janet Rinehart Allyn & Jill Risley

Mr. & Mrs. George A. Rizzo Jr. Mr. Robert T. Sakowitz Carole & Barry Samuels Susan D. & Fayez Sarofim Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mr. Wolfgang Schmidt & Ms. Angelika Schmidt-Lange Mr. & Ms. Steven Sherman Mr. & Mrs. William T. Slick Jr. Mr. David Stanard & Ms. Beth Freeman Kimberly & David Sterling Pamalah & Stephen Tipps Mr. Brooks Tutor Saula & Paolo Valente Dr. & Mrs. Carl V. Vartian Mr. & Ms. Luciano Vasconcellos Mrs. Ibolya E. Weyler & Mr. Philip Limon Mrs. Nelda Wilkomirski Ms. Barbara Williams Woodell Family Foundation Sally & Denney Wright Robert & Michele Yekovich Edith & Robert Zinn Erla & Harry Zuber Anonymous (3) *Deceased

$7,500-$9,999



Hon. & Mrs. John D. Ellis Scott Ensell & Family Angel & Craig Fox Ms. Darlene Clark & Mr. Edwin C. Friedrichs Ms. Emily Keeton Ms. Nancey G. Lobb David & Heidi Massin Gene & Betty McDavid Terry & Kandee McGill

Bronze Baton

Stephen & Marilyn Miles/ Steven Warren Miles & Marilyn Ross Miles Foundation The Estate of Terence Murphree Gloria & Joe Pryzant Ron & Demi Rand Ken* & Carol Lee Robertson Hugh & Ann Roff Mr. & Mrs. Manolo Sánchez Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun Drs. Carol & Michael Stelling Mr. & Mrs. Paul S. Thomas



$5,000-$7,499

Vicky Dominguez Bob & Mary Doyle Connie & Byron Dyer Mr. William P. Elbel & Ms. Mary J. Schroeder Mr. Parrish N. Erwin Jr. Mrs. William Estrada Aubrey & Sylvia Farb Ms. Carolyn Faulk Jerry E.* & Nanette B. Finger Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fluor Mrs. Elizabeth B. Frost Mr. & Mrs. James E. Furr Wm. David George, Ph.D. Mr. & Mrs. Melbern G. Glasscock Dorothy & Bill Grieves Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Haas Dr. & Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr. Marilyn & Bob Hermance Mr. & Mrs. Frank Herzog Mr. Jackson Hicks Stephen Jeu & Susanna Calvo Beverly Johnson Mr. & Mrs. John F. Joity Gwen & Dan Kellogg Mary Louis Kister William & Cynthia Koch Mr. William L. Kopp

InTUNE — November 2017 | 33

Our DONORS continued

Young Associates COUNCIL The Houston Symphony’s Young Associates Council is a philanthropic membership group for young professionals, music aficionados and performing arts supporters interested in exploring symphonic music within the confines of 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 Premium Farida Abjani Ann & Jonathan Ayre James M. Bell Ganesh Betanabhatla Eric Brueggeman David Chambers & Alex Steffler Darrin Davis & Mario Gudmundsson

Young Associate





$2,500 or more

Valerie Palmquist Dieterich & Tracy Dieterich Amanda & Adam Dinitz Vicky Dominguez Terry Everett & Eric Cheyney Jennifer & Joshua Gravenor Mandi Hunsicker-Sallee Kiri & Jeffrey Katterhenry

Brian McCulloch & Jeremy Garcia Sami & Jud Morrison Melissa L. Nance Tim Ong & Michael Baugh Toni Oplt & Ed Schneider Kusum & K. Cody Patel Dr. Paulina Sergot & Dr. Theo Shybut

Tony Shih – Norton Rose Fulbright Molly Simpson Rebeca & Chad Spencer Drs. Ishwaria & Vivek Subbiah Georgeta Teodorescu Candace & Brian Thomas

$1,500 - $2,499

Dr. Genevera Allen & Michael Weylandt Michael Arlen Drs. Laura & William Black Drs. Tiffany & Desmond Bourgeois Sverre & Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl Divya & Chris Brown Sara Cain Helen Chen Jacquelyn & Kevin Coronado Crystal & Mike Cox Nina Delano & Wirt Blaffer Jennifer & Steve Dolman Emily Duncan

Christine Falgout – Island Operating Co., Inc. Kimberly Falgout – Island Operating Co., Inc. Mark Folkes & Christopher Johnston Alexandra & Daniel Gottschalk Rebecca & Andrew Gould Jeff Graham Nicholas Gruy Claudio Gutierrez Jarod Hogan Monica & Burdette Huffman Kurt Johnson & Colleen Matheu

Shamika Johnson – Van Cleef & Arpels Stacy & Jason Johnson Sara Kelly Connie Kwan-Wong Dr. Nashat Latib & Dr. Vinodh Kumar Joshua Lee & Julie Van Gerrit Leeftink Catherine & Matt Matthews Charyn McGinnis Ashley McPhail Shane Miller Cliff Nash & Dr. Lee Bar-Eli

Courtney & Jose Obregon Girija & Anant Patel Rosemin Premji Brooke & Nathaniel Richards Ahmed Saleh Liana & Andrew Schwaitzberg Becky Shaw Justin & Caroline Simons Michelle Stair Carol Tai Joel Towner Dr. Shilpa Trivedi Jovon Tyler Elise Wagner

The Young Associates Council is supported in part by BB&T. For more information, please contact: Liam Bonner, Manager, Annual Giving Groups, 713.337.8536.

The Houston Symphony thanks the 4,450 donors who gave up to $5,000 over the past year. To note any errors or omissions, please contact Tiffany Bourgeois, Development Associate, Annual Fund at 713.337.8559.

34 | Houston Symphony

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

For more information on becoming a foundation or government partner, please contact Mary Beth Mosley, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer /Director, Institutional Giving and Stewardship, at 713.337.8521 or marybeth.mosley@houstonsymphony.org.

For more information on becoming a Houston Symphony corporate donor, please contact Leticia Konigsberg, Director, Corporate Relations, at 713.337.8522 or leticia.konigsberg@houstonsymphony.org.

CORPORATE PARTNERS Principal Corporate Guarantor  $250,000 and above *Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods / Spec’s Charitable Foundation Grand Guarantor  $150,000 and above BBVA Compass ConocoPhillips *Houston Public Media— News 88.7 FM; Channel 8 PBS *KTRK ABC-13 Phillips 66 *Oliver Wyman Guarantor  $100,000 and above Bank of America Chevron *Houston Methodist Medistar Corporation PaperCity *Rand Group, LLC *Telemundo *United Airlines Underwriter  $50,000 and above *Baker Botts L.L.P. *BB&T Cameron International Corporation *Cameron Management *Dignity Memorial Funeral Homes and Cemetaries ENGIE *The Events Company Exxon Mobil Corporation Frost Bank Houston Baptist University

(as of October 1, 2017)

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo *Jackson and Company Kirkland & Ellis LLP *The Lancaster Hotel Mann Eye Institute Occidental Petroleum Corporation Palmetto Partners Ltd./The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Shell Oil Company Vinson & Elkins LLP Sponsor  $25,000 and above Bank of Texas The Boeing Company *Bright Star *Bulgari Enterprise Product Partners L.P. *Gittings Goldman, Sachs & Co. *Houston Chronicle *Houston First Corporation JPMorgan Chase Kalsi Engineering KPMG LLP Marine Foods Express, Ltd. McGuireWoods, LLP *Neiman Marcus Northern Trust Norton Rose Fulbright Sidley Austin LLP *Silver Circle Audio SPIR STAR, Ltd. The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Wells Fargo WoodRock & Co.

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS Aetna Aon Apache Corporation Bank of America BBVA Compass BHP Billiton The Boeing Company BP Foundation Caterpillar

Partner  $15,000 and above Accenture Anadarko Petroleum Corporation *City Kitchen *Glazier’s Distributors Gorman’s Uniform Service Halliburton H-E-B Tournament of Champions Heart of Fashion Independent Bank Laredo Construction, Inc. Locke Lord LLP Lockton Companies of Houston The Newfield Foundation Republic National Distributing Company, LLP USI Southwest Supporter  $10,000 and above *Abraham’s Oriental Rugs *Agua Hispanic Marketing CenterPoint Energy Emerson Enbridge Energy Company EOG Resources *Silver Eagle Distributors Star Furniture *Zenfilm

Plains All American *Randalls Food Markets Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. Spectra Energy *University of St. Thomas Wortham Insurance and Risk Management Patron  Gifts below $5,000 Adolph Locklar, Intellectual Property Law Firm Amazon Baker Hughes Bering's Beth Wolff Realtors Burberry Dolce & Gabbana USA, Inc. Intertek Kinder Morgan Foundation Quantum Bass Center* SEI, Global Institutional Group Smith, Graham & Company Stewart Title Company TAM International, Inc. The Webster * Includes in-kind support

Benefactor  $5,000 and above Barclay’s Wealth and Investment Management Beck Redden LLP Louis Vuitton Macy's Nordstrom Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, L.L.P.

(as of October 1, 2017)

Chevron Chubb Group Coca-Cola ConocoPhillips Eli Lilly and Company EOG Resources Exxon Mobil Corporation Freeport – McMoRan Oil & Gas General Electric

General Mills Goldman, Sachs & Company Halliburton Hewlett-Packard Houston Endowment IBM ING Financial Services Corporation KBR Merrill Lynch

NAACO Industries, Inc. Neiman Marcus Northern Trust Occidental Petroleum Corporation Phillips 66 Shell Oil Company Union Pacific Williams Companies, Inc. InTUNE — November 2017 | 35

FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Diamond Guarantor  $1,000,000 and above Houston Symphony Endowment Houston Symphony League The Wortham Foundation, Inc. Premier Guarantor  $500,000 and above The Brown Foundation, Inc. City of Houston and Theater District Improvement, Inc. Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation The C. Howard Pieper Foundation Grand Guarantor  $150,000 and above City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Guarantor  $100,000 and above Houston Endowment MD Anderson Foundation

Underwriter  $50,000 and above The Elkins Foundation The Fondren Foundation The Hearst Foundations Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment The Humphreys Foundation League of American Orchestras' Futures Fund LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation John P. McGovern Foundation The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation / Palmetto Partners Ltd. The Robbins Foundation Sponsor  $25,000 and above Beauchamp Foundation Ray C. Fish Foundation Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation The Powell Foundation Sterling-Turner Foundation Texas Commission on the Arts

Capital INVESTMENTS Beauchamp Foundation Miller Outdoor Theatre

Sound Shell ceiling and Portativ organ Berlioz bells Orchestra synthesizer Adam's vibraphone Small percussion and other instruments The Fondren Foundation Miller Outdoor Theatre Sound Shell Ceiling Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Enhancements to Jones Hall Video System

(as of October 1, 2017) Partner  $15,000 and above Ruth & Ted Bauer Family Foundation The Melbern G. & Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation The Hood-Barrow Foundation Houston Symphony League Bay Area William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation National Endowment for the Arts The Vaughn Foundation Supporter  $10,000 and above The Carleen & Alde Fridge Foundation Petrello Family Foundation Radoff Family Foundation The Schissler Foundation The Vivian L. Smith Foundation Anonymous

Benefactor  $5,000 and above William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Foundation The Scurlock Foundation Keith & Mattie Stevenson Foundation Strake Foundation Patron  Gifts below $5,000 The Cockrell Foundation Diamond Family Foundation First Junior Woman’s Club of Houston The Helmle-Shaw Foundation Huffington Foundation Leon Jaworski Foundation Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation Robert W. & Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation The Lubrizol Foundation State Employee Charitable Campaign

The Houston Symphony thanks the generous donors who, since 2012, have made possible infrastructure additions to further enhance the sound and quality of our orchestral performances.

Houston Symphony League Steinway Concert Grand Piano and Instrument Petting Zoo Ms. Nancey G. Lobb Piccolo Timpano LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation Lyons & Healy Harp Vicky & Michael Richker Family Adolfo Sayago, Orquestas

Sybil F. Roos Rotary Trumpets Silver Circle Audio Enhancements to Jones Hall Recording Suite Beverly Johnson, Ralph Wyman and Jim Foti, and Thane & Nicole Wyman in memory of Winthrop Wyman Basset Horns and Rotary Trumpets Mr. & Mrs. Charles Zabriskie Conductor’s Podium

Sustainability FUND The Houston Symphony pays special tribute to the 137 donors who made transformational gifts to complete the Sustainability Fund.

On December 31, 2015, the Houston Symphony celebrated an extraordinary achievement: the completion of a five-year, $15 million Sustainability Fund, which has transformed the orchestra’s financial position. The Symphony was able to close out the campaign thanks to challenge grant funds totaling $1,050,000 provided by Bobby & Phoebe Tudor, Cora Sue & Harry Mach, Janice Barrow, Steve & Joella Mach and Robert & Jane Cizik.

The Ciziks provided the final $500,000 to allow the Symphony to reach its $15 million Sustainability Fund goal.

Houston Endowment Estate of Jean R. Sides Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge Janice Barrow Margaret Alkek Williams Jane & Robert Cizik

Clare Attwell Glassell Mrs. Kitty King Powell* The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Brown Foundation, Inc. Cora Sue & Harry Mach The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

John & Lindy Rydman / Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods / Spec’s Charitable Foundation MD Anderson Foundation Joella & Steven P. Mach Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Barbara J. Burger Ron Franklin & Janet Gurwitch The Joan & Marvin Kaplan Foundation Carol & Michael Linn & The Michael C. Linn Family Foundation Barbara & Pat McCelvey Estate of Mary Ann Holloway Phillips Sybil F. Roos Steven & Nancy Williams

Robin Angly & Miles Smith Gary & Marian Beauchamp Laura & Michael Shannon Mr. & Mrs. Philip A. Bahr Nancy & Walter Bratic Janet F. Clark Linda & Gene Dewhurst Bert & Joan Golding Mr. & Mrs.* Robert M. Griswold

Marilyn & Robert Hermance C. Howard Pieper Foundation Tad & Suzanne Smith Alice & Terry Thomas Shirley W. Toomim Janet & Tom Walker

36 | Houston Symphony

*Deceased

Houston Symphony ENDOWMENT The Houston Symphony Endowment is a separate nonprofit organization that invests contributions to earn income for the benefit of the Houston Symphony Society.

TRUSTEES Alexandra Pruner, President Gene Dewhurst

James Lee Jerry Simon

William J. Toomey II Fredric A. Weber

An endowed fund can be permanently established within the Houston Symphony Society through a direct contribution or via a planned gift such as a bequest. The fund can be designated for general purposes or specific interests.

For more information, please contact: Patrick T. Quinn, Director, Planned Giving, 713.337.8532, patrick.quinn@houstonsymphony.org GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUNDS



to support operational and annual activities

Accenture (Andersen Consulting) Fund AIG American General Fund M.D. Anderson Foundation Fund Mr. & Mrs. Philip Bahr Fund Janice H. & Thomas D. Barrow Fund Mrs. Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield Fund Jane & Robert Cizik Fund Mr. Lee A. Clark Fund Cooper Industries, Inc. Fund Gene & Linda Dewhurst Fund DuPont Corporation Fund Elkins Charitable Trust Agency Fund The Margaret & James A. Elkins Foundation Fund Virginia Lee Elverson Trust Fund Charles Engelhard Foundation Fund William Stamps Farish Fund Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein & Martin J. Fein Fund Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Fund Jo A. & Billie Jo Graves Fund

DESIGNATED FUNDS



George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Fund Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Ken Hyde Fund Houston Arts Combined Endowment Fund Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi Fund Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Fund Ann Kennedy & Geoffrey Walker Fund Martha Kleymeyer Fund Rochelle & Max Levit Fund Mr. E. W. Long Jr. Fund Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Fund Jay & Shirley Marks Fund Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Fund/ The Marks Charitable Foundation Marian & Speros Martel Foundation Fund Barbara & Pat McCelvey Fund The Menil Foundation Fund Monroe Mendelsohn Jr. Estate Sue A. Morrison & Children Fund National Endowment for the Arts Fund

to support annual performance activity

The Brown Foundation Guest Pianist Fund The Cullen Foundation Maestro’s Fund General & 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 The Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment Fund

ENDOWED CHAIRS

to attract, retain and support world-class conductors, musicians, guest artists and executive leadership 

Janice & Thomas Barrow Chair Brinton Averil Smith, principal cello Roy & Lillie Cullen Chair Andrés Orozco-Estrada, music director Fondren Foundation Chair Qi Ming, assistant concertmaster General Maurice Hirsch Chair Aralee Dorough, principal flute Ellen E. Kelley Chair Eric Halen, co-concertmaster Max Levine Chair George P. & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair Mark Hughes, principal trumpet Tassie & Constantine S. Nicandros Chair Alexander Potiomkin, bass clarinet Lucy Binyon Stude Chair Jonathan Fischer, principal oboe Winnie Safford Wallace Chair

ENDOWED FUNDS

to attract, retain and support world-class conductors and guest artists American General Fund Speros P. Martel Fund Stewart Orton Fund Dan Feigal Prosser Fund 

Stewart Orton Fund Papadopoulos Fund Nancy & Robert Peiser Fund Rockwell Fund, Inc. Fund Mr. & Mrs. Clive Runnells Fund Estate of Mr. Walter W. Sapp Fund Mr. & Mrs. Matt K. Schatzman Fund The Schissler Foundation Fund Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Fund Mr. & Mrs. William T. Slick Jr. Fund Texas Eastern Fund Dorothy Barton Thomas Fund Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Fund Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Fund Dede & Connie Weil Fund The Wortham Foundation Fund Anonymous (5)

Fayez Sarofim Guest Violinist Fund through The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts The Wortham Foundation Classical Series Fund endowed in memory of Gus S. & Lyndall F. Wortham

to support annual education and community engagement activities Margarett & Alice Brown Endowment Fund for Education Ronald C. Borschow Fund Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Endowment Fund for Youth Programs Richard P. Garmany Fund for the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs Selma S. Neumann Fund Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Fund 

to support new commissions and innovative artistic projects The Micajah S. Stude Special Production Fund 

to support access and expand geographic reach The Alice & David C. Bintliff Messiah Concert fund for performances at First Methodist Church The Brown Foundation’s Miller Outdoor Theatre Fund in memory of Hanni and Stewart Orton Mach Family Audience Development Fund George P. & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Summer Concerts Fund 

to support electronic media initiatives The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Fund for Creative Initiatives 

to support the Ima Hogg Competition Nancy B. Willerson Mr. & Mrs. C. Clifford Wright Jr. 

to support piano performance Mary R. Lewis Fund for Piano Performance C. Howard Pieper Foundation 

LEGACY COMMITMENTS

through The Brown Foundation Challenge to support artistic excellence Janet F. Clark Gloria Goldblatt Pryzant Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Legacy Society Chair Wayne Brooks, principal viola Ms. Vicki West in honor of Hans Graf Anonymous (1) 

LEADERSHIP GIFTS OF WORKING CAPITAL

provided as part of the Campaign for the 20th Century, Campaign for Houston Symphony and My Houston, My Symphony—Campaign for a Sound Future Hewlett Packard Company Fund The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Neva Watkins West Fund Gift in memory of Winifred Safford Wallace for the commission of new works 

Symphony ENDOWMENT continued  InTUNE — November 2017 | 37

Symphony ENDOWMENT continued

Chorus ENDOWMENT A. Ann Alexander Janice Barrow Eldo Bergman, Family Literacy Network, Inc. Nancy & Walter Bratic Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Chavanelle Roger & Debby Cutler Steve Dukes

DONORS



$500 or more

Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Robert Lee Gomez Terry L. & Karen G. Henderson Beth Weidler & Stephen James Nobuhide Kobori Natalia Rawle Gabriel & Mona Rio Douglas & Alicia Rodenberger

Ms. Carolyn Rogan Michael J. Shawiak Susan L. Thompson Mr. & Mrs. Frederic A. Weber Beth Weidler & Stephen James Anonymous (2)

Education & Community Engagement DONORS The Houston Symphony acknowledges those individuals, corporations and foundations that support our education and community engagement initiatives. Each year, these activities impact the lives of more than 97,000 children and students and provide access to our world-class orchestra for more than 150,000 Houstonians free of charge.

Principal Guarantor $250,000+



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

Guarantor

$100,000+



BBVA Compass Ms. Marie Taylor Bosarge City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board Houston Endowment Houston Symphony Endowment Mr. John N. Neighbors

Underwriter $50,000+



Cameron International Corporation Chevron The Elkins Foundation ENGIE Exxon Mobil Corporation The Hearst Foundations, Inc. League of American Orchestras' Futures Fund Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo The John P. McGovern Foundation The Robert & Janice McNair Foundation Occidental Petroleum Corporation Mr. & Mrs. William K. Robbins Jr./ The Robbins Foundation Shell Oil Company

Sponsor



$25,000+

The Boeing Company Mr. & Mrs. John P. Dennis III/ WoodRock & Co. The Powell Foundation Sterling-Turner Foundation Wells Fargo

38 | Houston Symphony

Partner



$15,000+

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation The Melbern G. and Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation H-E-B Tournament of Champions The Newfield Foundation Mr. Jay Steinfeld & Mrs. Barbara Winthrop Texas Commission on the Arts Ellen A. Yarrell in memory of Virginia S. Anderson and in honor of Cora Sue Mach

Supporter



$10,000+

CenterPoint Energy George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Houston Symphony League Nancy & Robert Peiser Vivian L. Smith Foundation TPG Capital

Benefactor



$5,000+

Houston Symphony League Bay Area LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation Macy’s Marathon Oil Corporation Nordstrom Randalls Food Markets Strake Foundation

Donor



$1,000+

Lilly & Thurmon Andress Diane & Harry Gendel Kinder Morgan Foundation Robert W. & Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation Cora Sue & Harry Mach Karinne & Bill McCullough Tricia & Mark Rauch Hazel French Robertson Education & Community Residency

Support by Endowed Funds Education and Community programs are also supported by the following endowed funds, which are a part of the Houston Symphony Endowment: Margarett & Alice Brown Endowment Fund for Education Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Fund The Brown Foundation's Miller Outdoor Theatre Fund in honor of Hanni & Stewart Orton The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Endowment Fund for Youth Programs Richard P. Garmany Fund for Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition Endowed Fund Selma S. Neumann Fund

Support for Symphony Scouts Cora Sue & Harry Mach in honor of Roger Daily’s 13 years of service as Director of the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Programs

Support for the Community-Embedded Musician Initiative The Community-Embedded Musicians Initiative is supported in part by a generous grant from the American Orchestras' Future Fund, a program of the League of American Orchestras made possible by funding from the Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation.

The Houston Symphony residency at Crespo Elementary is presented

by BBVA Compass and the BBVA Compass Foundation. We are also thankful to HISD and these lead supporters of the CommunityEmbedded Musician program: Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Medistar National Endowment for the Arts Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods / Spec’s Charitable Foundation Nancy & Robert Peiser Mr. Jay Steinfeld & Mrs. Barbara Winthrop H-E-B Tournament of Champions LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation

MUSICIAN SPONSORSHIPS Donors at the Conductor’s Circle Silver Baton level and above are provided the opportunity to be recognized as sponsoring a Houston Symphony Musician. For more information, please contact Liam Bonner, Manager, Annual Giving Groups, at 713.337.8536 or liam.bonner@houstonsymphony.org.

Janice Barrow Sophia Silivos, First Violin

Mr. & Mrs. Russell M. Frankel Aralee Dorough, Principal Flute

Martha & Marvin McMurrey Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Mrs. Bonnie Bauer Fay Shapiro, Viola

Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn Christian Schubert, Clarinet

Dr. Robert M. Mihalo Brian Thomas, Horn

Gary & Marian Beauchamp Martha Chapman, Second Violin

Evan B. Glick Tong Yan, First Violin

Rita & Paul Morico Elise Wagner, Bassoon

Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Blackburne Jr. Sergei Galperin, First Violin

Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman Christopher French, Associate Principal Cello

Nancy Morrison Wayne Brooks, Principal Viola

Dr. & Mrs. Meherwan P. Boyce Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello Nancy & Walter Bratic Christopher Neal, First Violin Terry Ann Brown James R. Denton, Cello Ralph Burch Robin Kesselman, Principal Double Bass Barbara J. Burger Andrew Pedersen, Double Bass Dougal & Cathy Cameron Brian Thomas, Horn Dr. M.K. Campion Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin Drs. Dennis & Susan Carlyle Louis-Marie Fardet, Cello Jane & Robert Cizik Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster Janet F. Clark Kevin Dvorak, Cello Mr. Michael H. Clark & Ms. Sallie Morian George Pascal, Assistant Principal Viola Roger & Debby Cutler Tong Yan, First Violin Dr. Scott Cutler Scott Holshouser, Principal Keyboard Mr. Richard Danforth Jeffrey Butler, Cello Leslie Barry Davidson & W. Robins Brice Colin Gatwood, Oboe Linda & Gene Dewhurst Phillip Freeman, Trombone Scott Ensell & Family Donald Howey, Double Bass Kelli Cohen Fein & Martin Fein Ferenc Illenyi, First Violin Angel & Craig Fox David Malone, Associate Principal Double Bass

Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth & Dr. Kenneth J. Hyde Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Trumpet Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster The Joan & Marvin Kaplan Foundation Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinet Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk Linda Goldstein, Viola Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal Clarinet Rochelle & Max Levit Sergei Galperin, First Violin Cornelia & Meredith Long Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello

Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Nelson Mihaela Frusina, Second Violin Bobbie Newman Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin Scott & Judy Nyquist Sheldon Person, Viola Susan & Edward Osterberg MiHee Chung, First Violin Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker Nancy Goodearl, Horn

Ron & Demi Rand Myung Soon Lee, Cello

Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Linda & Jerry Rubenstein Brian Del Signore, Principal Percussion

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan William VerMeulen, Principal Horn

Susan L. Thompson George Pascal, Assistant Principal Viola

Ms. Judith Vincent Matthew Roitstein, Associate Principal Flute

Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum Aralee Dorough, Principal Flute

Betty & Gene McDavid Linda A. Goldstein, Viola

Linda & Paul Thomas Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Horn

Gloria & Joe Pryzant Matthew Strauss, Percussion

Mrs. Carolyn & Dr. Michael Mann Ian Mayton, Horn

Barbara & Pat McCelvey Adam Dinitz, English Horn

Carol & Michael Stamatedes Eric Larson, Double Bass

Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Daniel Strba, Viola

Sybil F. Roos Mark Hughes, Principal Trumpet

Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Springob, Laredo Construction, Inc. Mihaela Frusina, Second Violin

Dave & Alie Pruner Matthew Strauss, Percussion

Joella & Steven P. Mach Eric Larson, Double Bass

Michelle & Jack Matzer Kurt Johnson, First Violin

Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun Wei Jiang, Viola

Bobby & Phoebe Tudor Bradley White, Associate Principal Trombone

Lila Rauch Christopher French, Associate Principal Cello

Jay & Shirley Marks Sergei Galperin, First Violin

Tad & Suzanne Smith Marina Brubaker, First Violin

Nancy & Robert Peiser Jonathan Fischer, Principal Oboe

Cora Sue & Harry Mach Joan DerHovsepian, Associate Principal Viola

Mr. & Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Brian Del Signore, Principal Percussion

The Julia and Albert Smith Foundation Eric Arbiter, Associate Principal Bassoon

John & Lindy Rydman / Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods Anthony Kitai, Cello Mr. & Mrs. Walter Scherr Phyllis Herdliska, Viola Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster Laura & Michael Shannon Rian Craypo, Principal Bassoon Donna & Tim Shen Tina Zhang, Second Violin

Shirley & Joel Wahlberg Alexander Potiomkin, Clarinet Margaret Waisman, M.D. & Steven S. Callahan, Ph.D. Mark Griffith, Percussion Stephen & Kristine Wallace Ronald Holdman, Principal Timpani Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber Megan Conley, Principal Harp Vicki West Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin Dr. Jim T. Willerson Anne Leek, Associate Principal Oboe Steven & Nancy Williams MiHee Chung, First Violin Jeanie Kilroy Wilson & Wallace S. Wilson Xiao Wong, Cello Lorraine & Ed Wulfe Dave Kirk, Principal Tuba Nina & Michael Zilkha Kurt Johnson, First Violin

InTUNE — November 2017 | 39

Meet Phillip Freeman, bass trombone Phillip Freeman began his musical studies on euphonium before switching to bass trombone during his senior year at the University of Houston. After completing a degree in composition, he continued his study of trombone at the Manhattan School of Music. He was awarded fellowships to the Tanglewood Music Center and Spoleto Festival USA. Before his appointment to the Houston Symphony, he played six seasons with the Sarasota Opera. He has performed with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony and the Houston Ballet on tenor and bass trombone, euphonium and bass trumpet.

A former faculty member of the Shepherd School of Music, the Moores School of Music and the American Festival for the Arts, he now sees a limited number of students privately and teaches at the Texas Music Festival in the summer.

Is there a concert you are particularly excited about this season? If so, which one and why?

The concert I look forward to most this season is the Bernstein/Stravinsky program in March.

I think I was 16 when I first heard Bernstein’s Second Symphony, and have listened to it hundreds of times since. In college, I chose the piece as my final analysis project for an upper level music theory course. I’ve never heard it performed live, and this will be my first time to play it.

Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms was my first piece to play with the orchestra after winning my audition, at the end of a 13-hour day at Jones Hall. Semifinals started early that morning, finals were later that afternoon and I was offered the position around 6PM, which left just enough time to run home to quickly eat, shower and change before a 7:30 rehearsal. Apart from my sentimental attachment to the work, I’m excited to perform it again because it’s brilliant.

What inspired you to become a musician?

I can’t point to a single event: having a singer/songwriter for a dad meant we were surrounded by music from infancy, though none of it was orchestral. It probably began when I moved from a bedroom I shared with my brother into one that stored dad’s hundreds of rock and R&B LPs, near the same time my grandmother bought me a turntable. After that, every new record or performance I heard pushed me closer to it.

What would you be if you weren’t a professional musician?

Despite knowing how difficult and rare it is for someone to make a living in art, I still think I’d be an artist in some other medium if not music; but the precision, the almost fanatical attention to minutia and the tolerance of slow progress that one’s daily practice of orchestral performance demands would, I think, be useful in any number of professions. I imagine I’d be happy as an engineer or a carpenter.

What are you up to when not performing?

I read a lot, compose a little, watch movies and stay very busy with my duties as chauffeur to my kids, whose dog I walk twice a day.

Phillip Freeman is sponsored by Linda & Gene Dewhurst 40 | Houston Symphony

Top: My Houston Symphony portrait Middle: Me and my kids during a trip this June to Rocky Mountain National Park Bottom: The little hobby time I have is spent on photography and stereo gear: this shot of a tube amp I built was taken with a homemade pinhole camera.

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