HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS BETSY COOK WEBER Director
Anna Diemer Chorus Manager Scott Holshouser Accompanist Tony Sessions Librarian/Stage Manager
The Houston Symphony Chorus, the official choral unit of the Houston Symphony, consists of highly skilled and talented volunteer singers. Over the years, singers in this historic ensemble have learned and performed the world’s great choral-orchestral masterworks under the batons of Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Michael Krajewski, Hans Graf, Robert Shaw, Christoph Eschenbach, Peter Schreier, Helmut Rilling and Nicholas McGegan, among many others. The Chorus looks forward to singing the closing subscription concerts with the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic in June 2017. The Houston Symphony Chorus holds auditions by appointment and welcomes inquiries from interested singers. If you are interested in auditioning for the Houston Symphony Chorus, please contact the Chorus Manager at anna.diemer@houstonsymphony.org.
The Houston Symphony Chorus Upcoming Concerts Very Merry Pops December 2, 3, 4
Jones Hall
It’s a Wonderful Life December 9 Jones Hall
Betsy Cook Weber | director of the Houston Symphony Chorus Dr. Betsy Cook Weber is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and is also internationally active as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator and lecturer. In 2013, Betsy became the 13th person and first woman to receive the Texas Choral Director Association’s coveted Texas Choirmaster Award. She is editor of the Betsy Cook Weber choral series with Alliance Music Publishing. Choirs under Dr. Weber’s direction, including the Moores School Concert Chorale, have been featured at multiple state and national conventions. Internationally, Chorale has won prizes and received acclaim at prestigious competitions in Wales, France and Germany. Dr. Weber has prepared singers for Da Camera of Houston and for early music orchestras Ars Lyrica and Mercury Houston. She prepares singers for touring shows, including Josh Groban, NBC’s Clash of the Choirs, Telemundo’s Latin Grammy, Star Wars: In Concert and Andrea Bocelli. Before joining the University of Houston, Dr. Weber taught vocal music, K-12, in public schools. Prior to her appointment as Houston Symphony Chorus Director in 2014, she served from 1990 to 1997 as Assistant and, later, Associate Director of the Chorus. She holds degrees from the University of North Texas, Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ) and the University of Houston.
Vivaldi Gloria and Lauda Jerusalem with Mercury Houston December 10 Cullen Theater of the Wortham Center Andrea Bocelli December 11 Toyota Center Handel’s Messiah December 15
Sugar Land Baptist Church
December 16, 17, 18 Jones Hall
Visit houstonsymphony.org for more information about upcoming performances.
CHORUS ROSTER Keith Dixon Janet Menzie Rehearsal Conductors Bob Alban Claude Bitner Randy Boatright Cris Bocanegra Harvey Bongers Jonathan Bordelon Bruce Boyle Sara Brannon Mischa Brinkmeyer Rose Bue Troy Burnett James R. Carazola Susan Casper Nicole Catoire Elizabeth Chrisman Nicole Colby
Caitlin Cready Andrea Creath Kyle Damron Kevin Di Filippo Cody Dickson Anna Diemer Keith Dixon Steve Dukes Randy Eckman Deborah Edwin Raul Enriquez Brianna Fernandez Joseph Frybert Chase Gaines Jessica Gann Michael Gilbert Katura Gilmore Taylor Golden Robert Gomez Natalie Hale
Julia Hall Susan Hall Jennifer Harris Austin Hart Jen Hart Megan Henry Sean Holshouser George Howe Jillian Hughes Sylvia Hysong Sean Jackson David Jones Gillian Kruse Julie Kutac Landon LaMontagne Brian K. Lassinger Dawn Malone Katie Marcell Qwi Massingill Ben May
Melissa Medina Janet Menzie Jim Moore Shelby Murphy Robert Nash Takashi Nishimura Theresa Olin Charnele Pendarvis Kody Pisney Greg Railsback Jessica Rangel Doug Rodenberger Carolyn Rogan Alex Schaaf Tony Sessions Kevin Shultz Jeff Simmons Brian Smith Melissa Smith Howard Solis
Karla Sosa Dewell Springer Miriam Stafford Mark Standridge Meridith Steiniger Cecilia Sun Julia Swindle Elizabeth Taylor Siobhan Thompson Alisa Tobin Tommie Trinh Yen-Kuei (Peter) Tu Beth Weidler Brady Weldon Kat White Arty Whittenberg Lance Wilcox Lee Williams Vanessa Winslow
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