InTune | October 2023

InTUNE

Seong-Jin Cho Plays Ravel

Barber’s Violin Concerto + Duke Ellington

GO NOW! A Tribute to The Moody Blues

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welcome to the houston symphony

Dear Music Lovers,

Welcome to October at the Houston Symphony. We’re glad you’re here, and have we ever got a month of great music for you.

We start October with Music Director Juraj Valčuha in the second of two French programs that open our Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Classical Season. He’s joined by the spectacular pianist Seong-Jin Cho, winner of the 2015 Chopin International Piano Competition, one of classical music’s most prestigious. I’m excited for his Houston Symphony debut, playing music by Ravel. The distinguished American conductor Thomas Wilkins joins the orchestra the next week for a mostly American and Latin-American program of works by Barber, Ginastera, and Duke Ellington. The opening piece, a waltz by Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, is played in honor of our soloist, the magnificent violinist Valeriy Sokolov, and his country.

The following week we’re at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for our annual student concerts there and our Halloween Hocus Pocus Pops for families, part of our extensive program of educational and community performances around Greater Houston. Then we’re back at Jones Hall for the second concert in our Bank of America POPS Series, GO NOW!, a tribute to English rock hitmakers The Moody Blues. I’m looking forward to welcoming back our former

Principal POPS Conductor Michael Krajewski, who’s joined by a terrific band, including legendary Moody Blues drummer Gordy Marshall.

If you’re with us for the first time this season, you’ll notice that we’ve made some changes to Jones Hall as part of our multi-summer renovation project. Improved acoustics and patron amenities await— including new seats and aisles, and expanded restroom facilities on the Louisiana Street side of the Hall on the courtyard level. Our lobby project—an expanded terrace that will give us a flexible space for performances, lectures, and events—and our expanded and updated green room—also with its own private restrooms—will both be ready in the coming months. Thanks for your patience as we work to give you the best experience at Jones Hall, your Houston Symphony’s beloved home since it opened in 1966. And thank you to all of the generous supporters, public and private, who’ve made this possible.

Most of all, thank you for being with us, and enjoy the performance!

Executive Director/CEO

Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

Blockbuster Broadway with Norm Lewis

September 22 & 23

Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe

September 29 & 30

Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe

October 1

Lang Lang

October 6

Seong-Jin Cho Plays Ravel

October 7 & 8

Barber’s Violin Concerto + Duke Ellington

October 14 & 15

GO NOW!

A Tribute to The Moody Blues

October 27, 28 & 29

Halloween Spooktacular for Kids

October 28

Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert

November 4 & 5

Valčuha Conducts Rachmaninoff

November 10, 11 & 12

Valčuha Conducts Ravel’s La valse

November 17, 18 & 19

“I Will Survive”—Diva Legends

November 24, 25 & 26

Andrés Returns

December 1, 2 & 3

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

December 9 & 10

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker

December 12

Handel’s Messiah

December 15, 16 & 17

Very Merry POPS

December 20, 21, 22 & 23

Holly Jolly Holiday

December 23

Swingin’ Sinatra: A New Year’s Celebration

January 5, 6 & 7

Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony + Yoonshin Song

January 12, 13 & 14

Takemitsu + Brahms’s Requiem

January 19, 20 & 21

Víkingur Ólafsson Plays Bach

January 28

Jazz, Love & Gershwin: A Century of Rhapsody in Blue

February 2, 3 & 4

Get Up and Dance!

February 3

Perlman Conducts Tchaikovsky 5

February 8, 10 & 11

Eschenbach Conducts Bruckner 8

February 24 & 25

At Last! A Tribute to Etta James

March 1, 2 & 3

Valčuha Conducts Mahler 6 March 15, 16 & 17

Mozart + Beethoven’s Eroica

March 22, 23 & 24

Romeo and Juliet +

Dvořák’s Cello Concerto

March 29 & 30

21st Century Broadway

April 5, 6 & 7

I’m a Superhero!

April 6

Carmina burana

S S

Pines of Rome +

Grieg’s Piano Concerto

May 2, 4 & 5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert

May 10 & 11

Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler’s House

May 12

The Music of Star Wars

May 17, 18 & 19

Adams’s El Niño

May 25 & 26

An Alpine Symphony

June 1 & 2

Salome in Concert

June 7 & 9

Classical Series

Bank of America POPS Series

houstonsymphony.org

713.224.7575

your symphony experience

JONES HALL

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

CONCERT DISRUPTION

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

FOOD & DRINK POLICY

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

LOST & FOUND

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

ETIQUETTE

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

CHILDREN

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

LATE SEATING

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

TICKETS

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

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

THANK YOU to our sponsors

Juraj valČuha

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

Before joining the Houston Symphony in June 2022, Juraj was Music Director of the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, from 2016 to 2022 and first guest conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. He was Chief Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai from 2009 to 2016.

The 2005–06 Season marked the start of his international career on the podium of the Orchestre National de France followed by remarkable debuts in the United Kingdom with the Philharmonia London, in Germany with the Munich Philharmonic, in the United States with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and in Italy with Puccini's La Boheme in Bologna.

He has since led the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Munich Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Maggio Musicale in Florence, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

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

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

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

Juraj champions the compositions of living composers and aims to program contemporary pieces in most of his concerts. He has conducted world premieres, including Christopher Rouse’s Supplica with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Steven Mackey’s violin concerto with Leila Josefowicz and the BBC

Music Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Symphony in Manchester, and Nico Muhly’s Bright Idea with the Houston Symphony. In 2005, he conducted, in the presence of the composer, Steve Reich’s Four Seasons at the Melos-Ethos Festival in Bratislava. Other composers he has supported and continues to follow with interest are Bryce Dessner, Steven Stucky, Andrew Norman, James MacMillan, Luca Francesconi, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Anna Clyne, and Jessie Montgomery, among others

Including his engagements in Houston, the 2023–24 Season takes him to the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Chicago, and Minnesota Orchestras as well as to the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra in Tokyo. On the European stage, he performs Fanciulla del West and Tristan and Isolde at the Bavarian State Opera and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Jenufa at the Opera di Roma, and Salome at the Semperoper in Dresden. He leads concerts with the RAI Orchestra, the Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Orchestre National de France, the NDR, SWR, and the Bamberg Symphony, among others.

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

ORCHESTRA ROSTER

Music Director

and

FIRST VIOLIN

Yoonshin Song, Concertmaster

Max Levine Chair

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

SECOND VIOLIN

MuChen Hsieh, Principal

Teresa Wang+, Associate Principal

Amy Semes

Annie Kuan-Yu Chen

Mihaela Frusina

Jing Zheng

Martha Chapman*

Tianjie Lu

Anastasia Ehrlich

Tina Zhang

Boson Mo

Tianxu Liu+

Samuel Park+

VIOLA

Joan DerHovsepian, Principal

Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal

Sheldon Person

Fay Shapiro

Keoni Bolding

Samuel Pedersen

Suzanne LeFevre+

Elizabeth Golofeev+

Meredith Harris+

Yvonne Smith+

CELLO

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal

Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair

Christopher French, Associate Principal

Anthony Kitai

Louis-Marie Fardet

Jeffrey Butler

Maki Kubota

Xiao Wong

Charles Seo

Jeremy Kreutz

COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED

MUSICIANS

David Connor, double bass

Rainel Joubert, violin

ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN

Hae-a Lee

Anna Thompson

DOUBLE BASS

Robin Kesselman, Principal

Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal

Mark Shapiro*

Eric Larson

Andrew Pedersen

Burke Shaw

Donald Howey

Ryan Avila+

FLUTE

Aralee Dorough, Principal General Maurice Hirsch Chair

Matthew Roitstein*,

Associate Principal

Judy Dines, Acting Associate Principal

Mark Teplitsky+

Kathryn Ladner

PICCOLO

Kathryn Ladner

OBOE

Jonathan Fischer, Principal Lucy Binyon Stude Chair

Anne Leek, Associate Principal

Colin Gatwood

Adam Dinitz

ENGLISH HORN

Adam Dinitz

CLARINET

Mark Nuccio, Principal

Bobbie Nau Chair

Steven Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor Laureate

Allen Hightower, Director

Houston Symphony Chorus

Gonzalo Farias, Assistant Conductor

CONTRABASSOON

Adam Trussell

HORN

William VerMeulen, Principal

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan

Endowed Chair

Robert Johnson, Associate Principal

Nathan Cloeter, Assistant Principal/Utility

Brian Thomas

Brian Mangrum

Ian Mayton

Barbara J. Burger Chair

TRUMPET

Mark Hughes, Principal

George P. and Cynthia Woods

Mitchell Chair

John Parker, Associate Principal

Robert Walp, Assistant Principal

Richard Harris

TROMBONE

Bradley White, Acting Principal

Ryan Rongone+

Phillip Freeman

BASS TROMBONE

Phillip Freeman

TUBA

Dave Kirk, Principal

TIMPANI

Leonardo Soto, Principal

Matthew Strauss, Associate Principal

Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal

Christian Schubert

Alexander Potiomkin

E-FLAT CLARINET

Thomas LeGrand

BASS CLARINET

Alexander Potiomkin, Tassie and Constantine S. Nicandros Chair

BASSOON

Rian Craypo, Principal

Isaac Schultz, Associate Principal

Elise Wagner

Adam Trussell

PERCUSSION

Brian Del Signore, Principal

Mark Griffith

Matthew Strauss

HARP

Allegra Lilly, Principal

KEYBOARD

Scott Holshouser, Principal

LIBRARIAN

Luke Bryson, Principal

*on leave + contracted substitute

STAGE PERSONNEL

Stefan Stout, Stage Manager

José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager

Nicholas DiFonzo, Justin Herriford, and Connor Morrow, Stage Technicians

Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager

Juraj Valčuha

Roy

Lillie Cullen Chair

SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Barbara J. Burger President

Janet F. Clark Chair

John Rydman Immediate Past President

Mike S. Stude Chairman Emeritus

Paul Morico General Counsel

Barbara McCelvey Secretary

John Mangum^ Executive Director/CEO

Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

Jonathan Ayre Chair, Finance

Brad W. Corson Chair, Governance & Leadership

Manuel Delgado Chair, Marketing & Communications

Evan B. Glick Chair, Popular Programming

Lidiya Gold Chair, Development

Sippi Khurana, M.D. Chair, Education

Mary Lynn Marks Chair, Volunteers & Special Events

Robert Orr Chair, Strategic Planning

Ed Schneider Chair, Community Partnerships

John Rydman Chair, Artistic & Orchestra Affairs

Jesse B. Tutor Chair, Audit

Steven P. Mach ^ Immediate Past Chairman

Bobby Tudor^ At-Large Member

Mary Fusillo^ President, Houston Symphony League

James H. Lee^ President, Houston Symphony Endowment

Juraj Valčuha^ Music Director, Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Joan DerHovsepian^ Musician Representative

Mark Hughes^ Musician Representative

Adam Trussell^ Musician Representative

Mark Nuccio^ Musician Representative

Sherry Rodriguez^ Assistant Secretary

^Ex-Officio

GOVERNING DIRECTORS

Jonathan Ayre

Gary Beauchamp

Eric Brueggeman

Bill Bullock

Barbara J. Burger

Janet F. Clark

Lidiya Gold

Claudio Gutiérrez

William D. Hunt

Rick Jaramillo

Sippi Khurana, M.D.

Carey Kirkpatrick

Kenny Kurtzman

Cindy Levit

Isabel Stude Lummis

Cora Sue Mach **

Rodney Margolis**

Jay Marks **

Mary Lynn Marks

Elissa Martin

Barbara McCelvey

Paul R. Morico

Robert Orr

Chris Powers

John Rydman**

Anthony Speier

William J. Toomey II

Bobby Tudor **

Betty Tutor **

Jesse B. Tutor **

Gretchen Watkins

Robert Weiner

Margaret Alkek Williams **

EX-OFFICIO

Brad W. Corson

Manuel Delgado

Joan DerHovsepian

Mary Fusillo

Evan B. Glick

Mark Hughes

James H. Lee

Steven P. Mach

John Mangum

Mark Nuccio

Sherry Rodriguez

Ed Schneider

Adam Trussell

Juraj Valčuha

TRUSTEES

David J. Beck

James M. Bell Jr.

Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl

Nancy Shelton Bratic

Terry Ann Brown**

Lindsay Buchanan

Ralph Burch

Dougal Cameron

John T. Cater**

Robert Chanon

Michael H. Clark

Virginia Clark

Brad W. Corson

Andrew Davis, Ph.D.

Denise Davis

Manuel Delgado

Tracy Dieterich

Joan Duff

Connie Dyer

Jeffrey B. Firestone

Eugene A. Fong

Aggie L. Foster

Julia Anderson Frankel

Ronald G. Franklin

Carolyn Gaidos

Evan B. Glick

Gary L. Hollingsworth

Brian James

I. Ray Kirk, M.D.

David Krieger

Matthew Loden

Steven P. Mach

Michael Mann, M.D.

Jack Matzer

Jackie Wolens Mazow

Alexander K. McLanahan**

Marilyn Miles

Aprill Nelson

Tammy Tran Nguyen

Leslie Nossaman

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY

Mrs. Edwin B. Parker

Miss Ima Hogg

Mrs. H. M. Garwood

Joseph A. Mullen, M.D.

Joseph S. Smith

Walter H. Walne

H. R. Cullen

Gen. Maurice Hirsch

Charles F. Jones

Fayez Sarofim

John T. Cater

Richard G. Merrill

Ellen Elizardi Kelley

John D. Platt

E.C. Vandagrift Jr.

J. Hugh Roff Jr.

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE

Miss Ima Hogg

Mrs. John F. Grant

Mrs. J. R. Parten

Mrs. Andrew E. Rutter

Mrs. Aubrey Leno Carter

Mrs. Stuart Sherar

Mrs. Julian Barrows

Ms. Hazel Ledbetter

Mrs. Albert P. Jones

Mrs. Ben A. Calhoun

Mrs. James Griffith Lawhon

Mrs. Olaf LaCour Olsen

Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn

Mrs. Leon Jaworski

Mrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr.

Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr.

Mrs. Thompson McCleary

Mrs. Theodore W. Cooper

Mrs. Allen W. Carruth

Mrs. David Hannah Jr.

Mary Louis Kister

Mrs. Edward W. Kelley Jr.

Mrs. John W. Herndon

Mrs. Charles Franzen

Mrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr.

Mrs. Edward H. Soderstrom

Mrs. Lilly Kucera Andress

Ms. Marilou Bonner

Mrs. W. Harold Sellers

Mrs. Harry H. Gendel

Mrs. Robert M. Eury

Mrs. E. C. Vandagrift Jr.

Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

Terry Ann Brown

FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL REPRESENTATIVES

Dougal A. Cameron Janet F. Clark

Edward Osterberg Jr.

Zeljko Pavlovic

Gloria G. Pryzant

Miwa Sakashita

Ed Schneider

Andrew Schwaitzberg

Helen Shaffer**

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

Jim R. Smith

Miles O. Smith**

Quentin Smith

Mike S. Stude **

Ishwaria Subbiah, M.D.

Shirley W. Toomim

Margaret Waisman, M.D.

Fredric A. Weber

Vicki West

Steven J. Williams

David J. Wuthrich

Ellen A. Yarrell

Robert Yekovich

EX-OFFICIO

John Steven Cisneros, Ed.D.

Juan Zane Crawford, Ph. D.

Kirby Lodholz

Frank F. Wilson IV

**Lifetime Trustee

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

Janet F. Clark

John Rydman

Nancy Strohmer

Mary Ann McKeithan

Ann Cavanaugh

Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Lucy H. Lewis

Catherine McNamara

Shirley McGregor Pearson

Paula Jarrett

Cora Sue Mach

Kathi Rovere

Norma Jean Brown

Barbara McCelvey

Lori Sorcic Jansen

Nancy B. Willerson

Jane Clark

Nancy Littlejohn

Donna Shen

Barbara McCelvey

Dr. Susan Snider Osterberg

Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein

Vicki West

Mrs. Jesse Tutor

Darlene Clark

Beth Wolff

Maureen Higdon

Fran Fawcett Peterson

Leslie Siller

Cheryl Byington

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP

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

Elizabeth S. Condic, Chief Financial Officer

Vicky Dominguez, Chief Operating Officer

Nancy Giles, Chief Development Officer

Gwen Watkins, Chief Marketing and External Relations Officer

DEVELOPMENT

Lauren Buchanan, Development Communications Manager

Alex Canales, Development Ticket Concierge

Jessica De Arman, Development Associate, Gifts and Records

Timothy Dillow, Senior Director, Development

Amanda T. Dinitz, Senior Major Gifts Officer

Vivian Gonzalez, Development Officer

Karyn Mason, Development Officer

Hadia Mawlawi, Senior Associate, Endowment and Planned Giving

Ben McAndrew, Institutional Giving Associate

Meghan Miller, Special Events Associate

Emilie Moellmer, Annual Fund Manager

Chelsea Murray, Senior Development Associate, Administration

Tim Richey, Director, Individual Giving

Sherry Rodriguez, Corporate Relations Manager & Board Liaison

Katie Salvatore, Development Officer

Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director, Development

Lena Streetman, Manager, Research and Development Operations

Stacey Swift, Director, Special Events

Sarah Thompson, Donor Stewardship Manager

Christina Trunzo, Director, Foundation Relations

Alexa Ustaszewski, Major Gifts Officer

FINANCE | ADMINISTRATION | IT | HR

Henry Cantu, Finance Accountant

Kimberly Cegielski, Staff Accountant

Richard Jackson, Database Administrator

Joel James, Director of Human Resources

Tanya Lovetro, Director of Budgeting and Financial Reporting

Morgana Rickard, Controller

Gabriela Rivera, Senior Accountant

Pam Romo, Office Manager/HR Coordinator

Lee Whatley, Senior Director, IT and Analytics

MARKETING | EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Education and Community Engagement

Olivia Allred, Education and Community Engagement Coordinator

Jarrett Bastow, Education Manager

Pam Blaine, Chief of Education and Community Engagement

Allison Conlan, Director, Community Engagement

Marketing and Communications

Mark Bailes, Marketing Revenue Manager

Olivia Cantrell, Content Marketing Coordinator

David Early, Marketing and External Relations Assistant

Heather Fails, Manager, Ticketing Database

Kathryn Judd, Director, Marketing

Yoo-Ell Lee, Junior Graphic Designer

Fiona Legesse-Sinha, Graphic Design Manager

Ciara Macaulay, Creative Director

Mariah Martinez, Email Marketing Coordinator

Eric Skelly, Senior Director, Communications

Alex Soares, Senior Director, Marketing Patron Services

Freddie Piegsa, Patron Experience Coordinator

Ashlan Walker, Manager, Patron Services

Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services

OPERATIONS | ARTISTIC

Stephanie Alla, Associate Director of Artistic Planning

Becky Brown, Associate Director, Orchestra Personnel

Suré Eloff, Chorus Manager

Michael Gorman, Director, Orchestra Personnel

Julia Hall, Assistant Director, Chorus

Nick Kemp, Artistic Operations Assistant

Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager

Lauren Moore, Associate Director, Concert Media and Production

José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager

Brad Sayles, Senior Recording Engineer

Claudia Schmitz, Artist Liaison and Assistant to the Music Director

Stefan Stout, Stage Manager

Meredith Williams, Associate Director, Concert Operations and Production

Rebecca Zabinski, Director, Artistic Planning

This October, an annual Houston tradition returns to Jones Hall—the Houston Symphony Fiesta Sinfónica concert. Dating back to 1992, Fiesta Sinfónica is a free concert that celebrates the significant contributions of great Hispanic and Latin American composers during Hispanic Heritage Month. This vibrant concert is sponsored by Chevron and is hosted in partnership with the Houston Symphony Hispanic Leadership Council. Additional support for Fiesta Sinfónica is provided by Univision Houston and Amor 106.5FM, our Hispanic media partners.

This year, Fiesta Sinfónica returns with an exciting program under the direction of guest conductor Donato Cabrera, Music Director of the California Symphony and the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Donato is committed to diversity and education through the arts and focuses on programming that reflects the communities he serves. Joining Donato and the Houston Symphony is guest pianist Gabriela Martinez. The Venezuelan pianist is best known for her compelling interpretations and lyrical style, and has been described as “…versatile, daring, and insightful” by The New York Times. Gabriela has performed with more than 100 orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, among others. For Fiesta Sinfónica, Gabriela will perform a piano solo in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Donato and the orchestra will also perform Arturo Márquez’s celebratory and bright Conga del Fuego Nuevo, and Mexican composer Juventino Rosas’s waltz, Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)–often regarded as the “one of the most

famous Latin American pieces worldwide” (The Oxford Companion to Music). They round out the concert with performances of Juan Pablo Contreras’s MeChicano, a contemporary piece honoring MexicanAmerican communities, and Tres versiones sinfónicas, No. 3: Xylophone (Congo) by Spanish composer Julián Orbón. Finally, the orchestra performs the Symphonic Dances from Leornard Bernstein’s popular musical, West Side Story.

Tickets to Fiesta Sinfónica are free to the public, and seating is available on a first come, first served basis. The concert takes place on October 13 at 7:30 p.m. Visit houstonsymphony.org/fiestasinfonica to learn more and reserve your tickets!

Gabriela Martinez, Guest Pianist

Tenor Rafael Moras performing with the Houston Symphony during last year's Fiesta Sinfónica concert.

Donato Cabrera, Guest Conductor

Seong-Jin Cho Plays Ravel

Juraj Valčuha, conductor

*Seong-Jin Cho, piano

0:10 B. JOLAS – A Little Summer Suite

1. Strolling away—

2. Knocks and clocks—

3. Strolling about—

4. Shakes and quakes—

5. Strolling under—

6. Chants and cheers—

7. Strolling home

0:19 RAVEL – Piano Concerto for the Left Hand

INTERMISSION

0:49 BERLIOZ – Symphonie fantastique, Opus 14

I. Rêveries, Passions (Daydreams, Passions)

II. Un bal (A Ball)

III. Scène aux champs (In the Country)

IV. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold)

V. Songe d'une nuit du sabbat (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath)

*Houston Symphony debut

About the Music

Saturday, October 7

Sunday, October 8

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Jones Hall

Jones Hall & Livestream

Program Insight

8:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

The 2023–24 Classical Season is in thanksgiving for Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow

Thank you to our Houston Symphony Livestream Consortium Donors: Barbara J. Burger

Guarantor

Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun

Underwriter

John & Dorothy McDonald Supporter

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

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc ., in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham

Cecilia and Luciano

Vasconcellos

This weekend, Music Director Juraj Valčuha invites Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho to Jones Hall for a program that explores the diversity of French music throughout the ages. The First Prize winner of the 2015 Chopin International Piano Competition, Seong-Jin makes his Houston Symphony debut with Ravel’s unconventional and mysterious Concerto for the Left Hand. This one-handed concerto was one of many such works composed for pianist Paul Wittgenstein (brother of the famous philosopher Ludwig), who lost his right arm in World War I. Ravel, who served as an ambulance driver during the war, employs his unparalleled ear for orchestral sonorities in this dark-hued work, which some speculate may be a meditation on the losses inflicted by the conflict. In contrast with the enigmatic Concerto, Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique wears its heart on its sleeve. Inspired by the composer’s obsessive infatuation with a Shakespearean actress, this psychedelic symphony broke the norms of its time by telling an explicit tale of love, murder, madness, and opium. Franco-American composer Betsy Jolas is more down-to-earth in her evocative A Little Summer Suite, a 2016 composition inspired by a leisurely stroll.

—Calvin Dotsey

Program Notes

Partner B. JOLAS

A Little Summer Suite (2016)

I've been toying lately, in much of my work, with the notion of "wandering music;" in other words, music that seems aimless and could land anywhere at any time. This concept, obviously inherited from Moussorgsky's justly famous Pictures at an Exhibition, is at the root of the seven-movement structure of my little Summer suite: a walking stroll in four sections, designated « away, about, under, and home », leading to

Program Notes

B. JOLAS

A Little Summer Suite (2016)

three clearly identified, and fairly stable moments, labeled: « knocks and clocks, shakes and quakes, chants and cheers ».

Commissioned by Stiftung Berlin Philharmoniker, A Little Summer Suite is dedicated to Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra who premiered it on June 16, 2016. —B. Jolas

Less than a month after the start of World War I, the pianist Paul Wittgenstein, a junior officer in the Austro-Hungarian army, was assigned to a reconnaissance mission that went terribly wrong. He was shot in his right elbow, and most of his arm had to be amputated. Thanks to his remarkable perseverance, he nevertheless went on to have an influential career as a pianist; he commissioned many leading composers to write new works for him. At his behest, Richard Strauss, Sergei Prokofiev, and Benjamin Britten would all contribute to the left-hand piano literature, but perhaps the greatest work Wittgenstein commissioned is Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand.

Ravel met Wittgenstein in March 1929 and completed the concerto by September 1930. At 55, Ravel was at the height of his fame and powers, and he was intrigued by the challenge of composing a piano concerto that used only one hand. “A severe limitation of this sort poses a rather arduous problem for the composer. The attempts at resolving this problem, moreover, are extremely rare,” he explained. “The fear of difficulty, however, is never as keen as the pleasure of contending with it, and, if possible, of overcoming it. That is why I acceded to Wittgenstein’s request to compose a concerto for him. I carried out my task with enthusiasm […]”

Indeed, he did overcome the challenge he set himself; early critics praised the work as miraculous, responding to the illusion of two-handed playing that Ravel created with rich, full sonorities for the one-handed soloist. In addition to its sensuous appeal, this concerto is also one of Ravel’s most profoundly moving compositions, a testament to the power of human creativity to overcome even seemingly insurmountable challenges. The concerto is structured as one movement with two clear parts. The first has a slower tempo and alternates grand passages for orchestra with moving piano solos. The faster second part takes the form of a march and features dancing melodies for the soloist. From the murky beginning to the brilliant conclusion, Ravel creates astonishing orchestral effects with unusual combinations of instruments; perhaps better than any other composer, Ravel knew how to make the orchestra ring. In this piece, the waves of crescendos and decrescendos are especially masterful. —Calvin Dotsey

Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique resulted from the composer’s fateful attraction to the Irish actress, Harriet Smithson, who portrayed Ophelia and Juliet in the first Parisian performances of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

RAVEL Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (1929–1930)

BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique, Opus 14 (1830)

Program Notes

BERLIOZ

Symphonie fantastique, Opus 14 (1830)

and Romeo and Juliet in 1827. Ideas apparently fermented in his mind over the next two and one-half years, until the symphony was completed in 1830. Berlioz also devised a famous “program” describing (1) the “reveries and passions” he held for this woman, represented musically as an “idée fixe” (a musical theme that recurs throughout the symphony), (2) meeting her at a ball, (3) seeing and calling to her in a meadow, but receiving no reply, (4) dreaming he is being led to the scaffold, and (5) imagining he has been cast into hell amid demons and witches. Although Berlioz’s narrative pamphlet was later withdrawn, the symphony joined Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony in fostering a resurgence of descriptive program music throughout the 19th century. Musically, the symphony blends its wild tale with very progressive orchestral tendencies and very French concepts of melody and tone color. The long, lyrical melodic lines in the introduction and the main themes of the first three movements typify the song-like character of French melody. Bright, shimmering colors prevail in the orchestration— again a French trait—but the use of two harps in the second movement and orchestral chimes in the chilling fifth-movement “Witches’ Sabbath” is nearly unprecedented in a symphony, as is the use of snare drums in the fatalistic “March to the Scaffold.” Berlioz also made special coloristic use of other unusual instruments: the English horn in the pastoral thirdmovement “In the Country,” and the shrill E-flat clarinet in a mocking, distorted statement of the “idée fixe” toward the beginning of the “Witches’ Sabbath.”

Along with its lavish orchestral dress and its wild emotional tendencies, the Symphonie fantastique makes novel use of traditional, well-knit Viennese symphonic forms. Following the introduction, the first movement is a tightly composed sonata movement, obsessed so single-mindedly on the “idée fixe” theme of the elusive woman that other thematic ideas are mainly variants of it. The theme returns tantalizingly at the very end of the first-movement coda and forms the entire Trio section of the billowing second-movement Waltz. The “idée fixe” floats in and out of the idyllic music of the third-movement “In the Country,” whose pastoral setting is flavored with a Swiss cowherd’s song, echoing between the English horn and oboe at the beginning, plus some rumbling-thunder timpani rolls as the only answer when the English horn sounds the call at the end. The fourth-movement “March to the Scaffold” seems to be constantly repeating its ominous theme, but Berlioz achieved variety by bringing each of its statements to a different conclusion. Again, the “idée fixe” appears in the clarinet just before the blade of the guillotine is loosed upon the artist’s neck. The closing diabolical “Witches’ Sabbath” is the most remarkable of the five movements, blending a parody of the “idée fixe,” a witches’ round dance, and the doom-laden “Dies Irae” plainchant from the Latin Mass of the Dead, replete with tolling chimes. All of this is fused into a wellorganized sonata movement involving some fairly rigorous contrapuntal procedures, but one that expresses a wild, emotionally willful character consistent with the scene described in Berlioz’s program.

—Carl R. Cunningham

Program Bios

Juraj Valčuha, conductor

See p. 6 for bio

Seong-Jin Cho, piano

Seong-Jin Cho, with his innate musicality and overwhelming talent, is a renowned pianist, admired globally as one of his generation's leading artists. His thoughtful and poetic, assertive and tender, virtuosic and colorful playing is driven by an impressive natural sense of balance.

In 2015, Seong-Jin gained the world’s attention when he won First Prize at the Chopin International Competition in Warsaw. His career has since been on a rapid ascent. In January 2016, he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. He frequently works with prestigious orchestras, including Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, and London Symphony Orchestra, among others, and regularly collaborates with conductors Myung-Whun Chung, Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Simon Rattle, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Lahav Shani.

Seong-Jin's 2023–24 Season

highlights include his highly anticipated debut at the Salzburger Festspiele, performing with Mozarteumorchester and Ivor Bolton. He will return to London’s BBC Proms with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Santtu-Matias Rouvali. His touring includes performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko in Korea and with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Andris Nelsons in Korea and Japan. He will perform with the National Symphony Orchestra and Gianandrea Noseda throughout Europe; return to the Concertgebouworkest, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Boston Symphony Orchestra, giving performances in Boston and Carnegie Hall; and make anticipated debuts with The Cleveland, San Francisco, and Chicago Symphony Orchestras.

In recital, Seong-Jin graces prestigious concert halls worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Berliner Philharmonie. He has released several albums, including The Handel Project in 2023, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Scherzi in 2021, and The Wanderer in 2020—all released on the Yellow Label to critical acclaim.

Born in 1994 in Seoul, Seong-Jin Cho began learning the piano at age six, and by 11, he gave his first public recital. He was the youngest winner of Japan’s Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in 2009; and at 17, he won Third Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. From 2012 to 2015, he studied with Michel Béroff at the

Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. Currently based in Berlin, he continues to enthrall audiences worldwide.

Seong-Jin records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon. More information on Seong-Jin Cho can be found at www.seongjin-cho.com.

Management for Seong-Jin Cho: Primo Artists, New York, NY www.primoartists.com

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Featured Program

Barber's violin Concerto + duke ellington

Thomas Wilkins, conductor

*Valeriy Sokolov, violin

0:05 LYSENKO/O. BAZHENOV – Farewell Waltz

0:25 BARBER – Violin Concerto, Opus 14

I. Allegro mederato

II. Andante

III. Presto in moto perpetuo

INTERMISSION

0:13 GINASTERA – Danzas del Ballet Estancia, Opus 8a

I. Los trabajadores agrícolas (The Land Workers)

II. Danza del trigo (Wheat Dance)

III. Los peones de hacienda (The Cattlemen)

IV. Danza final (Malambo—Final Dance)

0:03 ELLINGTON – Solitude

0:18 ELLINGTON/HENDERSON/PERESS – Harlem

Saturday, October 14

Sunday, October 15

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

About the Music Program Insight

The 2023–24 Classical Season is in thanksgiving for Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow

Thank you to our Houston Symphony Livestream Consortium Donors: Barbara J. Burger Guarantor

Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun Underwriter

John & Dorothy McDonald Supporter

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

The Classical Season is endowed by The Wortham Foundation, Inc ., in memory of Gus S. and Lyndall F. Wortham

This weekend, the Houston Symphony welcomes guest conductor Thomas Wilkins back to Jones Hall for a program of works hailing from the Americas. The one exception, of course, is the concert opener: Lysenko’s Farewell Waltz. A Ukrainian patriot during the twilight of the Russian Empire, Mykola Lysenko reminds us of the age-old beauty, distinctiveness, and endurance of Ukrainian culture during this critical time for Ukrainian democracy. Award-winning Ukrainian violinist Valeriy Sokolov then takes center stage in a great American work also touched by conflict: Barber’s Violin Concerto. Composed during the summer and autumn of 1939, this deeply moving masterpiece features an explosive finale that some commentators have linked to the outbreak of World War II. The second half of the program takes us first to Argentina with footstomping excerpts from Ginastera’s gaucho-inspired ballet, Estancia, and then to Harlem with two classics by Duke Ellington. Solitude is one of Ellington’s most perfect songs without words, and Harlem is a powerful meditation on joy, loss, and resilience inspired by one of America’s most culturally significant neighborhoods. Fans of Ellington’s concert-hall works can enjoy his jazzy take on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite this December when the Houston Symphony joins forces with Jazz Houston.

—Calvin Dotsey

Program Notes

LYSENKO/O. BAZHENOV

Farewell Waltz (1875)

Born two years after Tchaikovsky and two before Rimsky-Korsakov, Mykola Lysenko was—like his Russian contemporaries—among the first professionally trained classical composers native to lands within the Russian Empire; unlike Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, however, he was not Russian, but most decidedly Ukrainian.

Born in the small village of Hrynky a few miles from the Dnipro River, Lysenko showed musical talent from an early age and was sent to study first in Kiev, then in Kharkiv and Leipzig. Ultimately, he would settle back in Kiev, and together with other luminaries of the time, would play a central role in Ukraine’s emerging intelligentsia and the creation of a Ukrainian national identity. In Lysenko’s youth, Polish was spoken in Kiev, Russian in Kharkiv, and Ukrainian in the fields and villages. His lifetime coincided with the transformation of Ukrainian from a language spoken mainly by peasants to a literary tongue; Ukrainian authors began translating such classics as Shakespeare and Virgil into Ukrainian for the first time, and the first Ukrainian dictionaries were compiled (a project to which Lysenko himself contributed).

The Russian authorities did not look kindly on these developments, fearing the emergence of a bourgeois Ukrainian culture would lead to Ukrainian separatism. Tsar Alexander II issued decrees in 1863 and 1876 banning Ukrainian-language publications within the empire (Ukrainian authors had to publish in neighboring Austria-Hungary instead and smuggle in the contraband novels, poems, and plays). Ironically, Ukrainian plays of this period often enjoyed great success in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where they were seen as quaint expressions of local color, even though the same plays were practically forbidden in Ukraine itself. The Governor General of Kiev explained why: “Because there it is only theater and here it is politics.”

As a Ukrainian patriot and anti-Tsarist, Lysenko resisted this peculiar form of ghettoization. He dedicated his life to collecting Ukrainian folk songs and inventing Ukrainian-language opera; when Tchaikovsky, an admirer of Lysenko’s music, offered to help secure a performance of the Ukrainian composer’s masterpiece, Taras Bulba, in Moscow, Lysenko refused, because he would not allow his opera to be translated into Russian. The opera would remain unperformed in Lysenko’s lifetime.

In addition to his operas and folk song compendia, Lysenko also wrote many lighter, salon-style works for domestic enjoyment. The Farewell Waltz is one of Lysenko’s most appealing contributions to this genre. Published in the summer of 1901 as part of a set of three such pieces, the waltz was originally a solo piano work; this version was orchestrated in 2017 by Ukrainian conductor Oleksiy Bazhenov. After an arresting introduction, a solo clarinet introduces the waltz’s beguiling main theme, which encircles an equally tuneful but contrasting middle section.

—Calvin Dotsey

Program Notes

BARBER

Violin Concerto, Opus 14 (1939)

A turning point in Samuel Barber’s meteoric rise to fame came in 1938 when Arturo Toscanini led the NBC Symphony Orchestra in the premiere of his Adagio for Strings, which instantly became Barber’s most famous work. It is thus no surprise that Barber received a commission to write for violin and orchestra the next year from Samuel Fels, a wealthy soap manufacturer who wanted a new work for his adopted son, the violinist Iso Briselli.

Barber would compose much of the concerto over the eventful summer of 1939. Together with his life partner and fellow composer Gian Carlo Menotti, Barber left their home in New York for Europe. After visiting England, Scotland, and Belgium, the pair settled in Switzerland and Barber got to work. This idyll ended abruptly, however; after the signing of the non-aggression pact between Germany and Russia on August 23, war became imminent. Barber and Menotti left Switzerland for France, ultimately crowding onboard a ship days before Hitler’s invasion of Poland. The vessel was packed with refugees and others fleeing the impending violence—among them John Barbirolli, who would later serve as the Houston Symphony’s music director from 1961 to 1967.

Barber would thus complete his work on the concerto back in the United States. Unfortunately, Briselli rejected the work, particularly the finale, which he felt did not fit with the other two movements; he asked Barber to rewrite it, but the composer refused. The concerto would instead receive its premiere at the hands of the acclaimed violinist Albert Spalding on February 7, 1941. Audiences greeted the concerto with rapturous applause; critics, however, were divided. Some felt the concerto’s Romantic lyricism was insufficiently modern, but with time the piece has unquestionably emerged as both the greatest of all American violin concertos and a deeply personal work, which only Barber could have written.

This is evident from the first measure, in which the violinist introduces the first movement’s main theme, a melody that combines pastoral beauty with emotional subtlety. This soon leads to a second, motto-like theme; played by the clarinet, it is characterized by its dotted, short-long rhythms and ambivalent harmonies. Curiously, the soloist does not play this melody, but instead comments on it with violinistic passagework. Only at the end of the movement, after many searching developments, does the soloist at last take up this theme, as if finally accepting it. The slow second movement is the heart of the work. Like the corresponding movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto, it begins with an oboe solo. The orchestra develops this nocturne-like theme, until at last the soloist appears. Playing softly at first, the violin crescendos to an unexpectedly dark climax. Intense, developmental music ensues, until the music finds its way back to the opening nocturne theme, now played by the soloist. This builds to a soaring version of the theme for full orchestra, but the music turns again to darker tonalities, only finding peace in the last note.

As Briselli pointed out, the last movement has a markedly different

Program Notes

BARBER

Violin Concerto, Opus 14 (1939)

character from that of the first two. A relentless perpetual motion piece for the soloist, this finale releases the tension that has built up throughout the concerto with virtuoso passagework and percussive rhythms. The breathless opening theme alternates with contrasting episodes, leading to a riveting conclusion. —Calvin

Dotsey

GINASTERA

Danzas del Ballet Estancia, Opus 8a, (1941)

Alberto Ginastera grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as it was blossoming into one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. Yet the neighboring prairie—the pampa—cast a spell over him. “Whenever I have crossed the pampa or have lived in it for a time, my spirit felt itself inundated by changing impressions, now joyful, now melancholy … produced by its limitless immensity and by the transformation that the countryside undergoes in the course of a day,” he explained. Those visions helped inspire his ballet Estancia. Depicting a day of toil and romance on a ranch—estancia in Spanish—the ballet celebrates the gaucho, the iconic ranch hand of the pampas. Folk-dance dynamism drives the music, and Ginastera enhances the homegrown flavor with narration drawn from a cornerstone of Argentine literature: José Hernández’s Martín Fierro, an epic depiction of the gaucho’s life. The orchestral suite, which Ginastera assembled when World War II delayed the ballet’s premiere, features four colorful sections. Estancia begins at dawn, and “The Land Workers” describes the ranch bursting to life. “Scarcely had the horizon begun to take color, the birds to sing and the hens to cluck, when it was time to get moving, everyone off to work,” the narration says. The music crackles with bold rhythms, staccato themes, and vivid colors; and Ginastera plays off the flashy opening against a light, chattering woodwind motif. Stillness reigns in “Wheat Dance,” which precedes “The Land Workers” in the ballet. A lilting flute melody sets the scene, with plucked strings suggesting the gentle strumming of a guitar; soaring violins take over, gleaming like dawn’s first light. Pounding drums and lusty French horns conjure up the vigor of “The Cattlemen.” And the “Final Dance” is the most riveting sequence of all. It grows from the malambo, a folk dance traditionally performed by men to show off their agility. Sparkling woodwinds and buoyant rhythms animate the opening, and the excitement ratchets up when the full orchestra cuts loose with a bounding dance that could be the Latin American cousin of an Irish jig. Accented by French horn whoops and piccolo shrieks, the music drives headlong to its close. —Steven Brown

Born Edward Kennedy Ellington, Duke Ellington acquired his more familiar moniker no later than his adolescence; from his earliest days his natural suavité and sense of style had caught the attention of friends and family alike. He inherited his charm and elegant manners from his father, who made a career as a butler for the family of a wealthy doctor in

ELLINGTON Solitude (1934)

Program Notes

ELLINGTON

Solitude (1934)

Washington, D.C. and worked occasionally at the White House; his doting mother imbued him with a belief that he was destined for greatness.

Although he received some piano lessons during what he described as an idyllic childhood, he was initially more interested in sports than in music. It was only as a young man that he found his true calling as a composer, pianist, and band leader. Ellington formed his first ensemble at age 18, and after achieving local success in Washington, the group relocated to New York City in 1923. Known as the Washingtonians, Ellington’s band became a fixture of the jazz age, serving as the resident ensemble of Harlem’s Cotton Club (a venue that catered to an affluent White clientele) from 1927 to 1931. In the 1930s, Ellington and his ensemble began touring both nationally and internationally (during tours to the South, the group stayed in private Pullman train cars to avoid segregated accommodations). A European tour in 1933 proved a watershed moment, inspiring increased esteem for not only Ellington and jazz music, but also American culture in general among Europeans.

Solitude dates from a burst of creative activity during the following winter of 1933–34. Ellington himself tells the story best:

“We had arrived in a Chicago recording studio...with three numbers ready and a fourth needed. The band ahead of us went into overtime, which gave me an opportunity to do my fourth number. So, standing up, leaning against the studio's glass enclosure, I wrote the score of Solitude in twenty minutes. After we played and recorded it the first time, I noticed that everybody in the studio was moved emotionally. Even the engineer had a tear in his eye.

“‘What's the title?’ somebody asked.

“'Solitude', answered Artie [Arthur Whetsel, trumpet], who had played so soulfully on it.”

Ellington was a masterful composer of songs without words; like most songs of the period, Solitude follows a 32-bar AABA plan. Sensing a hit, Ellington’s publisher, Irving Mills, commissioned one of his employees, Eddie DeLange, to put lyrics to it, creating the standard “In My Solitude.” Although DeLange skillfully matched verse to music, Ellington himself always denied any poetic source of inspiration: “Arthur Whetsel made that title [...] it really didn't have any emotional foundation [...] I never gave it any more thought. It just stayed that.” This orchestral arrangement invites listeners to enjoy this haunting melody as absolute music, just as Ellington originally intended. —Calvin Dotsey

ELLINGTON/HENDERSON/ PERESS

Harlem (1950)

In the 1940s, Duke Ellington increasingly experimented with more extended forms intended for the concert hall, composing pieces that expand well beyond the bounds of the traditional three-minute song. Although he had written longer works earlier in his career, an additional spur in this direction came from a series of commissions from Carnegie Hall, most famously leading Ellington to produce Black, Brown,

Program Notes

ELLINGTON/HENDERSON/ PERESS

Harlem (1950)

and Beige, a 1943 suite for jazz band adapted from his unfinished opera Boola.

Among Ellington’s concert-hall experiments are nearly a dozen original works that combine a jazz band with a symphony orchestra. Although Ellington was a great innovator in terms of instrumentation and scoring for jazz band, he was never as interested in strings. Reflecting the collaborative nature of jazz, he frequently turned to Luther Henderson to complete the orchestrations of his symphonic works. This is the case with Harlem, which exists in both jazz band and orchestral versions.

Harlem, also known as the Harlem Suite or A Tone Parallel to Harlem, was commissioned by Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra and composed during the winter of 1950–51, but was premiered by a different ensemble on January 21 at a benefit concert for the NAACP at the old Metropolitan Opera House. Although Toscanini would never conduct it, many critics regard Harlem as the greatest of Ellington’s symphonic experiments, and it remains among his most often performed concert-hall works.

Harlem is usually interpreted as a musical portrait of New York City’s celebrated center of Black culture and community; indeed, the two-note trumpet motif that opens the work perfectly fits the neighborhood’s twosyllable name. Ellington develops this motif into a broad, singing melody, which is frequently interrupted by colorful digressions, as if various sights catch our eyes as we walk down Harlem’s streets. A pizzicato riff for strings introduces a further development of this melody as a solo for the baritone sax. The music soon breaks into a fast, percussive rhumba— perhaps an allusion to Harlem’s vibrant nightlife. Featuring virtuoso writing for the jazz band, the dance becomes faster and faster until collapsing with stratospheric high notes for the trumpet.

Marked “Ad lib,” a clarinet solo leads into a slower, more somber passage, which has been likened to a funeral procession. A powerful crescendo leads to a trombone solo reminiscent of a traditional AfricanAmerican spiritual. One by one, more instruments enter, like singers joining a chorus, building to a heart-rending climax. The spiritual theme is gradually developed into an uplifting passage for full orchestra, but breaks off into a percussion solo. The following rafter-shaking coda was not written by Ellington, but by his most important and frequent collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, a legendary composer in his own right. There are many works in which it is difficult to tell where Ellington ends and Strayhorn begins; the two composers’ collaborative approach challenges the conventional classical notion of the individualistic genius and offers an alternative vision of music making. —Calvin Dotsey

Program Bios

the New York Philharmonic; Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras; the National, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, and Cincinnati Symphonies, to name a very few.

Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Devoted to promoting a life-long enthusiasm for music, Thomas Wilkins brings energy and commitment to audiences of all ages. He is hailed as a master at communicating and connecting with audiences. He is principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; the Boston Symphony’s artistic advisor, education and community engagement; Principal Guest Conductor of the Virginia Symphony; and he holds Indiana University’s Henry A. Upper Chair of Orchestral Conducting established by the late Barbara and David Jacobs. At the end of the 2020–21 Season, he completed his long and successful tenure as Music Director of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra.

Other past positions have included resident conductor of the Detroit Symphony and The Florida Orchestra (Tampa Bay), and Associate Conductor of the Richmond (VA) Symphony. He also has served on the music faculties of North Park University (Chicago), the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Thomas has guest conducted throughout the United States with orchestras that include

In 2014, Thomas received the prestigious Outstanding Artist award at the Nebraska Governor’s Arts Awards for his significant contribution to music in the state, while in 2018, he received the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society conferred by Boston’s Longy School of Music. In 2019, the Virginia Symphony bestowed Thomas with its annual Dreamer Award. And in 2022, the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Music, the Boston Conservatory awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Arts, and he was the recipient of the League of American Orchestras’ Gold Baton Award.

A native of Norfolk, VA, Thomas Wilkins is a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He and his wife, Sheri-Lee, are the proud parents of twin daughters, Erica and Nicole.

Valeriy Sokolov, violin

The Ukrainian violinist, winner of the George Enescu International Violin Competition, Valeriy Sokolov is one of the most outstanding artists of his generation. Working regularly with the world's leading orchestras, he has enjoyed collaborations with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Berlin Konzerthausorchester, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Orchestre de Paris, Cleveland Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Rotterdam Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

In the 2023–24 Season, Valeriy makes his U.S. debuts performing Barber’s Violin Concerto here with the Houston Symphony and with the Minnesota Orchestra. He returns to Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo. His will also perform with NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, among

Program Bios

others. Recent highlights include a European tour with the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, performing Stankovych’s Second Violin Concerto, conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson.

Born in 1986 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Valeriy is one of the leading violinists to come out of Ukraine in the past 20 years. He left his native country at age 13 and completed his studies with Natalia Boyarskaya, Felix Andrivesky, Marc Lubotsky, Ana Chumachenko, Boris Kuschnir, and Gidon Kremer in London, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Vienna.

Valeriy has developed a strong and varied catalogue of recordings with Erato Records (formerly EMI

Classics), releasing Enescu’s Sonata No. 3 in 2009. His first concerto DVD was the Sibelius Violin Concerto under Vladimir Ashkenazy with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe; and Bruno Monsaingeon’s film un violon dans l’âme / Natural Born Fiddler, a record of Valeriy’s recital in Toulouse in 2004, received much praise from the critics and continues to be frequently broadcast on ARTE TV. In 2010, Valeriy recorded violin concertos of Bartók and Tchaikovsky under the direction of David Zinman with Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. Valeriy Sokolov is a 2005 winner of the George Enescu International Violin Competition in Bucharest. 

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Featured Program

GO NOW!

A tribute to the moody blues

Michael Krajewski, conductor GO NOW!

*Mick Wilson, vocalist

*Nick Kendall, guitar and vocalist

*Patrick Duffin, bass and vocalist

*Gordy Marshall, drums

Program to be announced from the stage

*Houston Symphony debut

About the Music

Friday, October 27

Saturday, October 28

Sunday, October 29

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Thank you to our Houston Symphony Livestream Consortium Donors:

Barbara J. Burger Guarantor

Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun

Underwriter

John & Dorothy McDonald Supporter

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

Program Insight

• In addition to touring with The Moody Blues for 25 years, Gordy Marshall is a published author. His book Postcards from a Rock & Roll Tour details his tours with the band. He also created a podcast as a follow-up to the book.

• Vocalist and percussionist Mick Wilson has performed with artists, such as Lionel Richie, Cher, Ellie Goulding, Smokey Robinson, and Jessie J; he was also a part of the band for Jeff Lynne's ELO concert in London’s Hyde Park.

• Outside of touring, Nick Kendall has appeared in the West End, holding two lead guitar chairs in Rock of Ages and Jersey Boys in addition to being a deputy on others, including We Will Rock You and Sunny Afternoon.

• In addition to being a sensational guitarist and vocalist, Patrick Duffin composed the themes for Come Dine with Me, Loose Women, and Money for Nothing on television. He has also written production music for music albums for Universal, De Wolfe, and Westar.

• The electronic piano-like instrument called a mellotron was pioneered by The Moody Blues’s keyboardist Mike Pinder. This instrument added unique ethereal sound to the band’s music, distinguishing it from other bands of the time.

Program Bios

styles of music. He has worked with classical luminaries, such as vocalist Marilyn Horne, flutist James Galway, pianist Alicia de Larrocha, and guitarists Pepe and Angel Romero.

Michael Krajewski, conductor

Known for his entertaining programs and engaging personality, Michael Krajewski is a much sought-after pops conductor in the United States, Canada, and abroad.

His 20-year relationship with the Houston Symphony includes 17 years as Principal POPS Conductor. He also served as Principal Pops Conductor of the Long Beach Symphony for 11 years, Principal Pops Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony for eight years, Music Director of the Philly Pops for six years, and Principal Pops Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony for 25 years.

Michael’s busy schedule as a guest conductor includes concerts with major and regional orchestras across the United States. In Canada, he has appeared with the orchestras of Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, and KitchenerWaterloo. Overseas, he has performed in Ireland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Malaysia, and China.

Michael has conducted concerts featuring notable musicians and entertainers from many diverse

In the field of popular music, he has performed with Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainright, Jason Alexander, Patti Austin, Sandi Patty, Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Doc Severinsen, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Chieftains, Chicago, Pink Martini, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Born in Detroit, Michael studied music education at Wayne State University and conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of music. He was an Antal Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and subsequently served as the DSO’s Assistant Conductor for four years. Michael now lives in Florida with his wife, Darcy. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and solving crossword puzzles.

GO NOW!

The music of The Moody Blues is the brainchild of drummer Gordy Marshall, who toured with The Moody Blues for 25 years. Along with Mick Wilson (known as lead singer of 10cc), the two musicians have brought together some of the very best singers and instrumentalists in the country to create the ultimate tribute to the greatest classic rock band of a generation.

Hit songs such as “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Go Now,” and “Isn’t Life Strange” are beautifully recreated live, and sound as close to the initial recordings as you will ever hear.

What’s your why?

I WANT TO ENJOY THE RETIREMENT I WORKED SO HARD FOR.

Everyone’s “why” is different. And we want to hear all about yours, because the answer gets to the heart of everything that’s important in life. Asking why can lead you to your ultimate purpose, the reason for working so hard, for protecting what’s valuable, and for passing on what you’ve achieved. We’ll work with you on the how. You just tell us, what’s your why?

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) uses the marketing name PNC Private Bank® to provide investment consulting and wealth management, fiduciary services, FDIC-insured banking products and services, and lending of funds to individual clients through PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”), which is a Member FDIC, and to provide specific fiduciary and agency services through PNC Delaware Trust Company or PNC Ohio Trust Company. PNC does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice unless, with respect to tax advice, PNC Bank has entered into a written tax services agreement. PNC Bank is not registered as a municipal advisor under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Bank deposit products and services are provided by PNC Bank, National Association, Member FDIC. “PNC Private Bank” is a registered mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

Corporate Spotlights

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies with more than 42,000 people conducting business worldwide—including a workforce of more than 7,000 right here in Houston.

Since 2014, Chevron has invested more than $1.2 billion in social investment partnerships and programs. Chevron also volunteers its employees’ time—its human energy—to directly serve the needs of the communities where it operates. Chevron has a long legacy of philanthropy in the Bayou City—including more than 30 years supporting the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives.

Chevron is proud to be part of the Houston community and is committed to giving Houstonians the boost they need to reach their full potential.

Visit chevron.com/houston to learn more.

October 28, 10 & 11:30 a.m.

Trick or TreaTing, cosTume parade, insTrumenT petting zoo all ages · Wiggles Welcome

Founded in 1905, H-E-B is a supermarket chain based in San Antonio, with more than 350 stores throughout Texas and northeast Mexico. The chain includes H-E-B, H-E-B plus!, Mi Tienda, Joe V’s Smart Shop, and Central Market locations. H-E-B believes in the value of hard work and the importance of taking care of people, through a culture defined by the values of service, heart, drive, innovation, commitment, and community. The company gives back to its community as its way of saying thanks—making it a priority to get involved and make a difference in the lives of its friends and neighbors.

Consider supporting the Houston Symphony’s Annual Fund! When you give a one-time donation or commit to a monthly donation, you become a Friend of the Houston Symphony and get access to donor benefits that make your night out at Jones Hall even more incredible. And for the first time, the Symphony is offering Classical and Bank of America POPS specific benefits for the 2023–24 Season!

Immerse yourself in the world of classical music as a Classical donor! Enjoy exclusive access to private rehearsals with pre-rehearsal lectures and invitations to “Meet the Orchestra” events where you can chat with the talented musicians of our orchestra. Donors also receive early bird ticket email notifications, up to six Theater District Parking passes, and more.

Embrace the vibrant energy of the Bank of America POPS Series as a POPS donor. Get access to exclusive opportunities like postconcert meet and greets with POPS guest artists, and enjoy other fun perks like complimentary drink coupons, passes to access donor lounges before concerts and during intermission, and POPS posters signed by Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke!

You can enjoy all these benefits and more when you become an annual donor!

To see a full list of donor benefits, visit houstonsymphony.org/annual-support. To donate to the Houston Symphony Annual Fund, visit houstonsymphony.org/donate or scan the QR code.

Are you passionate about music and want to get more out of your Houston Symphony experience?

2023–24 CLASSICAL DONOR BENEFITS

2023–24 POPS DONOR BENEFITS

Bank of America

POPS Artist Sponsorship

We’re excited to unveil a brand-new sponsorship opportunity for the 2023–24 Season—the Bank of America POPS Artist Sponsorship! When you sponsor a 2023–24 guest artist you are offered the following perks:

• A meet and greet for you and your guests with the artist you sponsor

• Up to 8 complimentary tickets to a concert on the weekend your artist is performing with your Houston Symphony

• Invitation to bring your friends and family to a private rehearsal of your concert weekend

• A signed keepsake from your concert weekend

• Invitation to the 2024–25 Bank of America POPS Season announcement event and reception

• Recognition in digital and printed materials online, in InTune magazine, and at the concert of your sponsored guest artist

The 2023–24 Bank of America POPS Series features superstar guest artists such as Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez, crooner Tony DeSare, former Moody Blues drummer Gordy Marshall, and jazz piano sensation Marcus Roberts. Don’t take too long in deciding which artist you will sponsor this season!

Bank of America POPS Artist Sponsorships start at $25,000. To learn more about how you can become a Bank of America POPS Artist Sponsor, contact Tim Richey, Director, Individual Giving at Tim.Richey@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8531.

The Symphony has such a large and passionate POPS fanbase and [this sponsorship gives] supporters the chance to connect and engage with the music and the POPS community on an even deeper level.

B. Glick

–Evan

Houston Symphony Trustee and Chair of Popular Programming

Tony DeSare

Mandy Gonzalez

Marcus Roberts

Steven Reineke Principal POPS Conductor

Our Donors

Annual Support

The Houston Symphony gratefully acknowledges those who support our artistic, educational, and community engagement programs through their generosity to our Annual Fund and Special Events. For more information, please contact Tim Richey, Director, Individual Giving, at tim.richey@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8531.

As of September 30, 2023

$150,000+

Gary and Marian Beauchamp/ The Beauchamp Foundation

Barbara J. Burger

Janet F. Clark

Dr. Sippi and Mr. Ajay Khurana**

Rochelle* & Max Levit

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

$50,000+ $100,000+

Drs. Dennis & Susan Carlyle

Jane and Robert* Cizik

Virginia A. Clark**

Joan and Bob Duff

Drs. M.S. and Marie-Luise Kalsi

Max Levit

Cora Sue and Harry* Mach**

Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Edith & Robert Zinn

$25,000+

Farida Abjani

Dr. Angela R. Apollo

Ann & Jonathan Ayre

Dr. Gudrun H. Becker

Eric D. Brueggeman

Michael H. Clark & Sallie Morian

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Elsenbrook

Ms. Carolyn Faulk

The Marvy Finger Family Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey B. Firestone

Mr. & Mrs. Russell M. Frankel

Evan B. Glick

$15,000+

Nina K. Andrews

Dr. Saúl and Ursula Balagura

Anne Morgan Barrett

Nancy and Walter Bratic

Mr. Gordon J. Brodfuehrer

Terry Ann Brown

Mr. Bill Bullock

Mr. Robert Bunch and Ms. Lilia Khakimova

Roger and Debby Cutler

Valerie Palmquist Dieterich and Tracy Dieterich

Mike and Debra Dishberger

Connie Dyer

Sidney Faust

Catherine and Brian James

Joan & Marvin Kaplan Foundation/The Kaplan, Brooks, and Bruch Families

Mr. and Mrs. Parker Johnson

Cheryl Boblitt and Bill King

Mr. and Mrs. David B. Krieger

Mr. & Mrs. U. J. LeGrange

Cindy E. Levit

Joella & Steven P. Mach

Beth Madison

Mrs. Carolyn and Dr. Michael Mann

Barry and Rosalyn Margolis Family

Edward and Janette Blackburne**

Mr. Robert Boblitt Jr.

Anne & Albert Chao

Aggie L. Foster & Steve Simon

Stephen & Mariglyn Glenn

Gary L. Hollingsworth & Kenneth J. Hyde

Mr. and Mrs. Bashar Kalai

Mr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

John L. Nau III

Bobbie Nau

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

Mike Stude

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor

Margaret Alkek Williams

Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis

Muffy and Mike McLanahan

Dr. Miguel & Mrs. Valerie Miro-Quesada

Katie and Bob Orr / Oliver Wyman

Mr. David Peavy and Mr. Stephen McCauley

Revati Puranik

Laurie A. Rachford

Donna Scott and Mitch Glassman

Margaret & Joel Shannon**

Mr. Jay Steinfeld and Mrs. Barbara Winthrop

Ms. Leslie Nossaman

Robin Angly & Miles Smith

Alana R. Spiwak & Sam L. Stolbun

Terry Thomas

Shirley W. Toomim

Hallie A. Vanderhider

Stephen and Kristine Wallace

Robert G. Weiner & Toni Blankmann

Dr. John R. Stroehlein and Miwa Sakashita

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tsuru

Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber

Steven & Nancy Williams

Jeanie Kilroy Wilson & Wallace S. Wilson

Ellen A. Yarrell** Anonymous

Eugene Fong

Steve and Mary Gangelhoff

Clare Attwell Glassell

Suzan & Julius Glickman

Mr. & Mrs. Fred L. Gorman

Claudio J. Gutiérrez

Claudia & David Hatcher

Mark & Ragna Henrichs

Mrs. James E. Hooks

Rebecca & Bobby Jee

Gwen & Dan Kellogg

Dr. & Mrs. I. Ray Kirk

Ms. Nancey G. Lobb

Cindy Mao and Michael Ma

John & Regina Mangum

** Education and Community Engagement Donor

* Deceased

Jay & Shirley* Marks

Mr. and Mrs. Jarrod Martin

Michelle & Jack Matzer

Dr. Eric McLaughlin and Mr. Eliodoro Castillo

Marvin and Martha McMurrey

Tammy and Wayne Nguyen

Scott and Judy Nyquist

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

Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker

Gloria & Joe Pryzant

Jean and Allan Quiat

Ron and Demi Rand

Ed & Janet Rinehart

Mr. Floyd W. Robinson

Mrs. Sybil F. Roos

Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum

Kathy & Ed Segner

Tad & Suzanne Smith

Drs. Carol & Michael Stelling

Cecilia and Luciano Vasconcellos

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

Jay & Gretchen Watkins

Dede Weil

Vicki West

Our Donors

$10,000+

Marcie & Nick Alexos

Edward H. Andrews III

Mr. and Mrs. David J. Beck

James and Dale Brannon

Ralph Burch

Dr. Robert N. Chanon

Coneway Family Foundation

Brad and Joan Corson

Andrew Davis & Corey Tu

Dr. Alex Dell

Jeanette and John DiFilippo

Vicky Dominguez

Drs. Rosalind and Gary Dworkin

$5,000+

Dr. & Mrs. George J. Abdo

Lilly and Thurmon Andress

Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey B. Aron

Mr. Jeff Autor

Ms. Jacqueline Baly

Mrs. Bonnie Bauer

Kimberly and James Bell

Joan H. Bitar, MD

Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Bowman

Mrs. Vada Boyle

James and Judy Bozeman

Mr. and Mrs. Sverre

Brandsberg-Dahl

Mr. Chester Brooke and Dr. Nancy Poindexter

Barbara A. Brooks

Lindsay Buchanan

Ms. Deborah Butler

Kori and Chris Caddell

Marilyn Caplovitz

Tatiana and Daniel Chavanelle

Dr. Ye-Mon Chen and Mrs. Chaing-Lin Chen

Darleen & Jack Christiansen

Barbara A. Clark & Edgar A. Bering

Donna M. Collins

Evan and Carin Collins

Mr. & Mrs. Byron Cooley

Ms. Miquel A. Correll

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Cross

Ms. Elisabeth DeWitts

Kathy and Frank

Dilenschneider

Ms. Cynthia Diller

The Ensell Family

Mr. Parrish N. Erwin Jr.

Paula & Louis Faillace

Kelli Cohen Fein & Martin Fein

Ms. Ursula H. Felmet

Mrs. Mary Foster & Mr. Don DeSimone

Ron Franklin & Janet Gurwitch

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gaidos

Nancy D. Giles

Jo A. & Billie Jo Graves

Mr. and Mrs.* Jerry L. Hamaker

Ms. Katherine Hill

Dr. Rita Justice

Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Leeke

Marilyn G. Lummis

Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Mason

Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow

John & Dorothy McDonald

Terry & Kandee McGill

Ms. Leslie Nossaman

The Carl M. Padgett Family

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pastorek

Mr. Zeljko Pavlovic

Lila Rauch*

Robert K. Rogerson

Toni Oplt & Ed Schneider

Mr. & Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Dr. & Mrs. Robert B. Sloan Houston Christian University

Mr. and Mrs. Jim R. Smith

Anthony and Lori Speier

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Strobl

Drs. Ishwaria & Vivek Subbiah

Mrs. Marguerite M. Swartz

Mr. & Mrs. Tony Williford

Doug and Kay Wilson

Ms. Beth Wolff

Nina and Michael Zilkha

Anonymous

Dr. Richard Fish and Marie Hoke Fish

Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Franco

Bill & Diana Freeman

Edwin Friedrichs & Darlene Clark

Dr. Eugenia C. George

Grace Ho and Joe Goetz

Amy Goodpasture

Mr. Mark Grace and Mrs. Alex Blair

The Greentree Fund

Mr. David Grzebinski

Mary N. Hankey

Deborah Happ & Richard Rost

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Herzog

Mrs. Ann G. Hightower

Katherine and Archibald Hill

C. Birk Hutchens

Steve and Kerry Incavo

Marzena and Jacek Jaminski

Mr. Michael Jang

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Jankovic

Stephen Jeu and Susanna Calvo

Phil and Josephine John

Beverly Johnson

Dr. Charles Johnson & Tammie Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. John F. Joity

Debbie & Frank Jones

Ms. Mandy Kao

Ms. Linda R. Katz

Carey Kirkpatrick

Mr. Mark Klitzke and Dr. Angela Chen

Dr. William and Alice Kopp

Mr. Kenneth E. Kurtzman

Mr. Steve Lee

Golda Anne Leonard

Matthew and Kristen Loden

Kirby and David Lodholz

Richard Loewenstern

Ms. Tama Lundquist

Alison and Ara Malkhassian

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Matiuk

Ms. Kathy McCraigh

Ms. and Mr. Carol McDermott

Mr. & Mrs. William B. McNamara

Mr. Stephen Mendoza

Dr. and Mrs. Jack Moore

Rita and Paul Morico

Jo Ann and Marvin Mueller

Aprill Nelson

Katherine & Jonathan Palmer

Kusum and K. Cody Patel

Mr. and Mrs. Raul Pavon

Michael P. and Shirley

Pearson

Mr. Robert J. Pilegge

Dr. and Mrs. Taj* Popatia

Heather & Chris Powers

Tim and Katherine Pownell

Edlyn & David Pursell

Cris & Elisa Pye

Kathryn and Richard Rabinow

Radoff Family

Dr. and Mrs. George H. Ransford

Vicky & Michael Richker

Jill and Allyn Risley

Dr. Douglas and Alicia Rodenberger

Linda & Jerry Rubenstein

Lori Harrington and Parashar Saikia

Susan D. Sarofim

Garry and Margaret Schoonover

Susan and Ed Septimus

Laura & Mike Shannon

Donna and Tim Shen

Mr. & Mrs. Steven Sherman

Mr. and Mrs. Lance Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Quentin Smith

Sam & Linda Snyder

Richard & Mary Spies

Elizabeth and Alan Stein

Mr. & Mrs. Hans Strohmer

Susan L. Thompson

Carol and Eric Timmreck

Nanako & Dale Tingleaf

Pamalah* and Stephen Tipps

Dr. Brad and Mrs. Frances

Urquhart

Mr. and Mrs. David Vannauker

David and Robin Walstad

Nancy B. Willerson

Ms. Barbara E. Williams

Doug Williams and Janice Robertson

Loretta & Lawrence Williams

Ms. Tara Wilson

Woodell Family Foundation

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

Mrs. Lorraine Wulfe

Erla & Harry Zuber

Anonymous (8)

Our Donors

$2,500+

Pat and John Anderson

Mr. Tom Anderson

Dr. Julia Andrieni and Dr. Rob Phillips

Rick Ankrom

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Banks

Consurgo Sunshine

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Baumgartner

Drs. Henry & Louise Bethea

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Bickel

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald W. Bodzy

George Boerger

Mr. Russell Boone

Mr. Matt Brams and Mrs. Alice Mao

Joe Brazzatti

Jane and Ron Brownlee

Justice Brett and Erin Busby

David Bush

Cheryl & Sam* Byington

Greta Carlson

Mr. Steve Carroll & Ms. Rachel Dolbier

Margot & John Cater

Drs. David A. Cech and Mary R. Schwartz

Dr. and Dr. Stephen Chen

Mr. Per Staunstrup

Christiansen

Lynn Coe

Ms. Sandra Cooper

Mr. and Mrs. John Dabbar

Mrs. Myriam Degreve

Joseph and Rebecca Demeter

Mrs. Edward N. Earle

Mr. John Egbert and Ms. Kathy Beck

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

Aubrey* & Sylvia Farb

Mrs. Christina Fontenot

Mr. and Mrs. David French

$1,000+

Rolaine and Morrie Abramson

Stephen Carroll

Joan and Stanford Alexander

John Arnsparger & Susan Weingarten

Ms. Candida Aversenti

Ms. Joni Baird

Mr. & Mrs. David M. Balderston

Deborah Bautch

Janet & John Beall

Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Bean

Dr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Beaudet

Jim and Barbara Becker

Catherine Bratic & Mike

Benza

Ms. Cyndi Bohannon

Helene Booser

Patricia K. Boyd

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Bradford

Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. Fusillo

Ms. Leslie Gassner

Wm. David George Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Gillin and Ms. Pamela Newberry

Ms. Lidiya Gold

Julianne & David Gorte

Mr. William Gray and Mrs. Clare Fontenot-Gray

Cortney Guebara

Eric and Angelea Halen

Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Hall

Dr. & Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr.

Barbara and Christopher Hekel

Richard and Arianda Hicks

Maureen Y. Higdon

Mr. Stanley Hoffberger

Mr. and Mrs. John Homier

Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Hunton

Mariya Idenova

Mr. Daniel Irion

Mr. and Mrs. Rick C. Jaramillo

Mady & Ken Kades

Anna Kaplan

Kathryn L. Ketelsen

Jane & Kevin Kremer

Connie Kwan-Wong

Stephanie and Richard Langenstein

Ms. Debra Laws

Dr. Hilary Beaver & Dr. Andrew Lee

Mrs. Evelyn Leightman

Mrs. Raquel Lewis

Mr. William W. Lindley

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Lubanko

Mr. & Mrs. Peter MacGregor

Ms. Tina Maddox

Ms. Marquardsen

Mr. and Mrs. Wallis Marsh

David and Heidi Massin

William D. & Karinne McCullough

Mary Ann & David McKeithan

Ms. Kristen Meneilly

Stephen & Marilyn Miles

Larry and Lyn Miller

David and Jamie Ming

Ginni and Richard Mithoff

Richard & Juliet Moynihan

Stephanie Weber and Paul Muri

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Murphy

Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Nelson

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey B. Newton

Ms. Barbara Nussmann

Macky Osorio

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

Nancy Parra

George & Elizabeth Passela

Linda Tarpley Peterson

Dr. and Mr. Vanitha Pothuri

Roland and Linda Pringle

Mrs. Dana Puddy

Mr. & Mrs. Florante Quiocho

Clinton and Leigh Rappole

Dr. Michael and Janet Rasmussen

Mr. and Mrs. David Reeves

Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Reimer

Mrs. Diane Roederer

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Ruez

Mr. & Mrs. John Ryder

Mr. Robert T. Sakowitz

Harold H. Sandstead, M.D.

Gina & Saib Saour

Lawrence P. Schanzmeyer

Mr. Tony W. Schlicht

Dr. Mark A. Schusterman

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Schwarzbach

Ms. Becky V. Shaw

Mr. Carlos Sierra

Leslie Siller

Hinda Simon

Ms. Diana Skerl

Mr. and Mrs. David Smith

Georgiana Stanley

Jeaneen and Tim Stastny

Mr. William W. Stubbs

Dr. and Mrs. Van W. Teeters

Emily H. & David K. Terry

Juliana and Stephen Tew

Musicians of the Houston Symphony Inc.

Jean and Doug Thomas

Courtney & Bill Toomey

Sal and Denise Torrisi

Patricia Van Allan

H. Richard Walton

Nancy Ames and Danny Ward

Alton and Carolyn Warren

Dr. and Mrs. Richard T. Weiss

Dr. Robert Wilkins and Dr. Mary Ann ReynoldsWilkins

Scott and Lori Wulfe

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Yatauro

Robert and Michele Yekovich

Mrs. Linda Yelin

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zabriskie

Anonymous (4)

Ms. Helen Harding & Dr. Patrick Briggs

Claire Brooks

Craig and Dolores Brooks

Dr. Fred Buckwold

Mr. and Ms. Jordan Buss

Vicki Buxton

Marion & Bill Calvert

Mr. Joseph L. Campbell Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Terry Carius

Mr. Theodore Carpenter and Mrs. Stephanie Harrison

Ann M. Cavanaugh

Mr. F. Martin Caylor

Mr. and Mrs. David Centanni

Ms. Flora Choy

Drs. Anna Chen and John

Chung

Dr. Diana Collins

Mr. and Mrs. James Collins

Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Cook

Mr. H. Talbot Cooley

Mr. Joseph H. Cooper

Mr. Carl R. Cunningham

Mrs. Rochelle Cyprus

Dr. Tarek Dammad

Ms. Anna M. Dean

Ms. Elena Delaunay

Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Delgado

Mr. & Mrs. E. E. Deschner

Mr. and Mrs. James P. Dorn

T. Michael Dossey

Ms. Maudeen F. Eccles

Ramsay M. Elder

Mr. Stephen Elison

Strong Landscaping, LLC

Annette and Knut Eriksen

Mr. Frederick Fargo

Ms. Olivia Farrell

Dr. Jean A. Fefer

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Ference

Peter Joseph Ferenz

Larry Finger

Ms. Janet Fitzke

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey O. Fleisher

Marilyn and Theodore Flick

Jeannine and Patrick Flynn

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Frautschi

Janet & Mickey Frost

Mr. Ning Fu

Mr. and Ms. Piotr Galitzine

Mr. Alejandro E. Gallardo

Martin Gambling

Pepe Garcia

Ms. Lucy Gebhart

Thomas & Patricia Geddy

Wendy Germani

Alyson & Elliot Gershenson

Joanne Goff

Susan and Kevin Golden

Helen B. Wils & Leonard A. Goldstein

Mrs. Lena Grabowski

Timothy & Janet Graham

Our Donors

$1,000+

Catherine Green

Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Gregory

Joan DerHovsepian and Erik Gronfor

Mrs. Tami A. Grubb

Richard & Stella Guerra Nelson

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Hachigian

Susan and Dick Hansen

Mr. and Mrs. Franklin J. Harberg Jr.

Sheila Heimbinder

Dean & Beth Hennings

Jeannette and Brodrick Hill

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hollingsworth

Dr. Holly Holmes

Dr. Vicki Huff & Dr. Eric Boerwinkle

Ms. Heather Humphrey

Mr. Craig Ignacio

Ms. Qiana James

Mark A. Jensen

Arlene Johnson

Russell Kampe

Lynda and Frank Kelly

John Keville

Mr. & Mrs. William H. Knull III

Mrs. Judy Koehl

Mr. and Mrs. Nat Krishnamurthy

Mr. and Ms. Kevin Kushner

Ms. Staci Latoison

Susan Le

Dr. Kris Lehnhardt

Dr. and Mrs. Morton Leonard Jr.

Ms. Patsy Liao

Mr. Anthony Lutkus

Tony and Judy Lutkus

Dr. Calum Maccaulay

Mr. and Mrs. Alex Marchenko

Ms. Renee Margolin

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher McCarty

R. Scott and Rebecca E. McCay

Patricia McMahon and Joseph F. McCarthy

Ernie and Martha McWilliams

Laurie Messina

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold M. Miller Jr.

Mrs. Jean Mintz

Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Moen

Gerry Montalto

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Morris

Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Mukoro

Ms. Linda C. Murray

Daniel & Karol Musher

Alan & Elaine Mut

Jackie Mutschler

Jessica & Erick Navas

Phong Patrick Nguyen

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Nocella

Ms. Kathryn O'Brien

Dr. John Oehler and Dr. Dorothy Oehler

Mr. & Mrs. Judith Oliver

Mr. Roberto Orlandi

John and Kathy Orton

Rochelle & Sheldon Oster

Mr. and Mrs. Edoardo Padeletti

Mr. and Mrs. Marc C. Paige

Douglas Perley

Ms. Leila Perrin

Ms. Jo Ann Peterson

Mrs. Fran Fawcett Peterson

Grace and Carroll Phillips

Dr. and Mrs. James L. Pool

Linda Posey

Fairfax & Risher Randall

Mr. and Mrs. William B. Rawl

Patricia Richards

Mr. James Richardson

Kathryn Ritcheske

Music Director Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis D. Ritter Jr.

Linda & James Robin

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Rockecharlie

Nathalie Roff

Ms. Regina J. Rogers

Mrs. Adelina Romero

Drs. Alex & Lynn Rosas

Jill and Milt Rose

Dallas Rowden

Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Rozenfeld

Dr. Kimberly Ruona

Kent Rutter and David Baumann

Mr. Hugh Ryan

Lisa Rydman

Mr. and Dr. Ian Sack

Ramon and Chula Sanchez

Mr. and Mrs. Carl W. Sandlin

Donald and Susan Scruggs

Mr. Ellison Scudder

Mrs. Lynda G. Seaman

Charles & Andrea Seay

Mr. and Mrs. Dilanka Seimon

Ms. Heidi Seizinger

Mr. Richard Sepulveda and Ms. Angelica Garza

Victor E. Serrato

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Shack

Lawrence Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Smith

Mr. & Mrs. William A. Smith

Ms. Yoon Smith

Mr. and Mrs. George Sneed

Betty and Gerry Stacy

Ms. Claudia Standiford

Mr. Bill Stanley

Richard P. Steele and Mary J. McKerall

Kimberly & David Sterling

Christine Ann Stevens

Bill Stevens

Amy Sutton and Gary Chiles

Gaylene Taylor

Ms. Betsy Mims and Mr. Howard D. Thames

Mr. & Mrs. James G. Theus

Mr. Aaron J. Thomas & Mrs. Jennifer Chang

Suzy Till

Mr. Donald J. Tindall

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Unger

John and Mary Untereker

Mr. and Mrs. William Van Wie

Mr. Jairo Velasquez

Mr. James Walker

Larry and Connie Wallace

Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Walt

Ms. Tammi Warfield

Ms. Katherine Warren

Ms. Joann E. Welton

Dr. & Mrs. Brad Wertman

Ms. Amy E. Whitaker

Mr. and Ms. Bradley White

Douglas and Carolynne White

Mr. Brook Wiggins

Carlton Wilde

Ms. Katherine Wildman

Charline & Bill Wilkins

Bridget & Brooke Williams

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Williams

Rev. B.T. & Dr. Robin Williamson

Ms. Dodi Willingham

Dr. Alice Gates and Dr. Wayne Wilner

Ms. Donna H. Wilson

Mr. Jim Winget

Jennifer R. Wittman

Jerry & Gerlind Wolinksy

Mr. Jessie Woods

Melinda & Alan Young

Ms. Francene Young

Mr. & Mrs. Edward R. Ziegler Anonymous (11)

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

To join the Music Director Fund, supporters make a leadership gift of S100,000 above and beyond their annual giving. To participate, please contact Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director, Development at christine.stevens@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8521.

Margaret Alkek Williams

Robin Angly & Miles Smith

Janice Barrow*

Gary and Marian Beauchamp/The Beauchamp Foundation

Barbara J. Burger

Albert & Anne Chao

Jane and Robert* Cizik

Janet F. Clark

Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

Dr. Sippi and Mr. Ajay Khurana

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

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

Mike Stude

Young Associates Council

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

YOUNG ASSOCIATE LEADERSHIP

Kirby Lodholz, Chair

Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Vice Chair

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

Carrie and Sverre BrandsbergDahl#

Eric Brueggeman

Lindsay Buchanan#

Denise and Brandon Davis

Vicky Dominguez

Carolyn and Patrick Gaidos

Claudio Gutiérrez

Elaine and Jeff Hiller#

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

Christopher P. Armstrong and Laura Schaffer

Lauren and Mark Bahorich

Tim Ong and Michael Baugh

Emily Bivona and Ryan Manser

Haydée del Calvo and Esteban Montero

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

Amber Ali

Fiona Anklesaria

Luisa Banos and Vladi Gorelik

Amanda Beatriz

Adair and Kevin Brueggeman

David Chaluh

Lincoln Chen

Megan and John Degenstein

Chante Westmoreland Dillard and Joseph Dillard

Laurel Flores#

Ryan Cantrell

Andria Elkins

Allegra Lilly and Robin Kesselman#

Kelser McMiller#

Gwen and Jay McMurrey

Laurel Flores, Communications Chair

Jeff Hiller, Membership Chair

Carey Kirkpatrick

Elissa and Jarrod Martin

Aprill Nelson#

Liana and Andrew Schwaitzberg#

Aerin and Quentin Smith#

Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah

Emily and Joseph MorrelPorter Hedges LLP

Stephanie Weber and Paul Muri

Maxine Olefsky and Justin Kenney

Kusum and K. Cody Patel#

Justin Stenberg#

Kristin and Leonard Wood

Owen Zhang

Evin Ashley Erdoğdu

Florence Francis

Kallie Gallagher

Patrick B. Garvey

Amy Goodpasture

Rebecca and Andrew Gould

Nicholas Gruy

Lori Harrington and Parashar Saikia

Ashley and John Horstman

C. Birk Hutchens

Mariya Idenova

Jonathan T. Jan

Anna Kaplan

Kirby and David Lodholz#

Marisa and Tandy Lofland

Joel Luks

Miriam Meriwani

Shane A. Miller

David Moyer

Trevor Myers

Lee Bar-Eli and Cliff Nash

Lauren Paine

Blake Plaster

Clarice Jacobson and Brian Rosenzweig

Chicovia Scott

Carlos Sierra

Leonardo Soto

Bryce Swinford

Elise Wagner#

Alexander Webb

Marquis Wincher

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

Corporate, Foundation & Government Partners

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

CORPORATE PARTNERS (as of September 30, 2023)

Principal Corporate Guarantor ($250,000 and above)

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

Grand Guarantor ($150,000 and above)

ConocoPhillips**

Guarantor ($100,000 and above)

Bank of America

Boston Consulting Group*

Frost Bank

Underwriter ($50,000 and above)

Amerapex

Baker Botts L.L.P.*

Cameron Management*

Chevron**

CKP*

Houston Christian University

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo**

Sponsor ($25,000 and above)

EOG Resources

The Events Company*

ExxonMobil

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

Partner ($15,000 and above)

City Kitchen*

Faberge

Gorman’s Uniform Service

Supporter ($10,000 and above)

Accordant Advisors*

Houston First Corporation*

Marine Foods Express, Ltd.**

Mark Kamin & Associates

Benefactor ($5,000 and above)

Beck Redden LLP

Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc.

Patron (Gifts below $5,000)

Amazon Avatar Innovations

Baker Hughes

BeDESIGN*

Christian Dior

KTRK ABC-13*

Houston Methodist* Kalsi Engineering Oliver Wyman*

Kinder Morgan Foundation** Kirkland & Ellis The Lancaster Hotel* Nexus Health Systems

Oxy**

PNC**

Rémy Martin Sewell

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

Jackson & Company* Lockton Companies of Houston

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

University of St. Thomas* Wortham Insurance & Risk Management

Gulf Coast Distillers * KPMG US Foundation, Inc.

Mercantil ONEOK, Inc.

Quantum Bass Center*

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

PaperCity* Shell USA, Inc.**

Silver Eagle Beverages Truist

Univision Houston & Amor 106.5FM Vinson & Elkins LLP

USI Southwest

Sire Spirits Beth Wolff Realtors Zenfilm*

SEI, Global Institutional Group

Smith, Graham & Company

Stewart Title Company

TAM International, Inc.

* Includes in-kind support

**Education and Community Engagement Support

Houston Symphony

Corporate, Foundation & Government Partners

FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (as of September 30, 2023)

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

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

Houston Symphony Endowment**

Premier Guarantor ($500,000 and above)

The Alkek and Williams Foundation

Grand Guarantor ($150,000 and above)

City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board**

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

Guarantor ($100,000 and above)

The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation

Underwriter ($50,000 and above)

Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation

Beauchamp Foundation

The Elkins Foundation

Sponsor ($25,000 and above)

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

Partner ($15,000 and above)

Ruth & Ted Bauer Family Foundation**

William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Foundation**

The Hood-Barrow Foundation

Supporter ($10,000 and above)

Edward H. Andrews

The Carleen & Alde Fridge Foundation

George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation

Benefactor ($5,000 and above)

Leon Jaworski Foundation

Patron (Gifts below $5,000)

The Lubrizol Foundation

The Scurlock Foundation

Houston Symphony League

The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

The Cullen Foundation

The Hearst Foundation**

The Humphreys Foundation

MD Anderson Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

The Houston Arts Combined Endowment Fund

The Fondren Foundation

Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment

LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation

William S. & Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation

The Vivian L. Smith Foundation**

The Schissler Foundation

Sterling-Turner Foundation

The Vaughn Foundation

The C. Howard Pieper Foundation

Texas Commission on the Arts**

John P. McGovern Foundation**

The Powell Foundation**

The William Stamps Farish Fund

Petrello Family Foundation

The Pierce Runnells Foundation Strake Foundation**

The Radoff Family Foundation

Keith & Mattie Stevenson Foundation

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

**Education and Community Engagement Support

Houston Symphony Endowment

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

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

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

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

TRUSTEES

James H. Lee, President

David Krieger

ENDOWMENT FUNDS $250,000+

Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello

Barbara J. Burger Chair

Ian Mayton, Horn

The Brown Foundation Guest Pianist Fund

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

Margarett and Alice Brown Fund for Education

Janet F. Clark Fund

Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

Juraj Valčuha, Music Director

The Cullen Foundation Maestro’s Fund

The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Fund for Creative Initiatives

The Margaret and James Elkins Foundation Fund

The Virginia Lee Elverson Trust Fund

Fondren Foundation Chair

Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs

Ajay

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

General Maurice Hirsch Chair

Aralee Dorough, Principal Flute

Houston Symphony Chorus Fund

Joan and Marvin Kaplan Fund

Ellen E. Kelley Chair

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Max Levine Chair

Yoonshin Song, Concertmaster

Mary R. Lewis Fund for Piano Performance

M.D. Anderson Foundation Fund

Mary Lynn and Steve Marks Fund

Barbara and Pat McCelvey Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Endowed Chair

William VerMeulen, Principal Horn

Monroe L. Mendelsohn Jr. Fund

George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Summer Concerts Fund

Bobbie Nau Chair

Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinet

C. Howard Pieper Foundation Fund

Walter W. Sapp Fund, Legacy Society Co-Founder

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

The Schissler Foundation Fund

Spec’s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Fund

The Micijah S. Stude Special Production Fund

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor Endowed Fund

Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

John Mangum, Executive Director/CEO

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

William Dee Hunt

Khurana

Lynn Mathre Scott Wise

Legacy Society

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

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

CRESCENDO CIRCLE $100,000+ (as of September 30, 2023)

Dr. and Mrs. George J. Abdo

Priscilla R. Angly

Jonathan and Ann Ayre

Myra W. Barber

Janice Barrow*

Jim Barton

James Bell

Joe Anne Berwick*

Joan H. Bitar, MD

James and S. Dale Brannon

Walter and Nancy Bratic

Joe Brazzatti

Terry Ann Brown

Mary Kathryn Campion and Stephen Liston

Drs. Dennis and Susan Carlyle

Janet F. Clark

Virginia A. Clark

Mr. William E. Colburn

Elizabeth DeWitts

Andria N. Elkins

Farida Abjani

Dr. Antonio Arana*

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey B. Aron

George* and Betty Bashen

Ann Baker Beaudette*

Dorothy B. Black*

Kerry Levine Bollmann

Ermy Borlenghi Bonfield

Zu Broadwater

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

Mr. Christopher and Mrs. Erin Brunner

Eugene R. Bruns

David Neal Bush

Cheryl and Sam* Byington

Sylvia J. Carroll

Dr. Robert N. Chanon

William J. Clayton and Margaret A. Hughes

Mr. and Mrs. Byron Cooley

The Honorable* and Mrs. William Crassas

Dr. Lida S. Dahm

Leslie Barry Davidson

Susan Feickert

Ginny Garrett

Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Gendel

Christine E.* and Michael B. George

Mauro H. Gimenez and

Jean and Jack* Ellis

The Aubrey* and Sylvia Farb Family

Helen Hudspeth Flores*

Eugene Fong

Mrs. Aggie L. Foster

Stephen and Mariglyn Glenn

Evan B. Glick

Jo A. and Billie Jo Graves

Mario Gudmundsson

Claudio J. Gutiérrez

Deborah Happ and Richard Rost

Marilyn and Bob Hermance

Dr. Charles and Tammie Johnson

Dr. Rita Justice

Dr. James E. and Betty W. Key

Mr.* and Mrs. U. J. LeGrange

Joella and Steven P. Mach

Martha and. Alexander Matiuk

Connie A. Coulomb

Bill Grieves*

Mr. Robert M. Griswold

Randolph Lee Groninger

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Hamaker

Gloria L. Herman*

Timothy Hogan and Elaine Anthony

Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth

Dr. Edward J. and Mrs. Patti* Hurwitz

Dr. Kenneth Hyde

Brian and Catherine James

Barbara and Raymond Kalmans

Dr. and Mrs. I. Ray Kirk

Mrs. Frances E. Leland

Samuel J. Levine

Mrs. Lucy Lewis

Sandra Magers

David Ray Malone and David J. Sloat

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney H. Margolis

Jay and Shirley* Marks

James G. Matthews

Mary Ann and David McKeithan

Dr. Tracey Samuels and Mr. Robert McNamara

Michelle and Jack Matzer

Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm L. Mazow

Bill and Karinne McCullough

Muffy and Mike McLanahan

Dr. Georgette M. Michko

Dr. Robert M. Mihalo*

Alfred Cameron Mitchell*

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Mueller

Drs. John and Dorothy Oehler

Gloria G. Pryzant

Constance E. Roy

Donna Scott

Charles and Andrea Seay

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Michael J. Shawiak

Jule* and Albert* Smith

Louis* and Mary Kay Snyder

Ronald Mikita* & Rex Spikes

Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams

Catherine Jane Merchant*

Marilyn Ross Miles and Stephen Warren Miles Foundation

Sidney and Ione Moran

Janet Moynihan*

Richard and Juliet Moynihan

Gretchen Ann Myers

Patience Myers

John N. Neighbors* in memory of Jean Marie Neighbors

Mr.* and Mrs. Richard C. Nelson

Bobbie Newman

John and Leslie Niemand

Leslie Nossaman

Dave G. Nussmann*

John Onstott

Macky Osorio

Edward C. Osterberg Jr.

Susan and Edward Osterberg

Mr. and Mrs. Edmund and Megan Pantuliano

Christine and Red Pastorek

Peter* and Nina Peropoulos

Linda Tarpley Peterson

Sara M. Peterson

Jenny and Tadjin* Popatia

David and Helen Stacy

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

Mike and Anita* Stude

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Elba L. Villarreal

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

Mr. and Mrs. Fredric A. Weber

Robert G. Weiner & Toni Blankmann

Vicki West in honor of Hans Graf

Susan Gail Wood

Jo Dee Wright

Ellen A. Yarrell

Anonymous (2)

Geraldine Smith Priest

Dana Puddy

Patrick T. Quinn

Lila Rauch*

Ed and Janet Rinehart

Mr. Floyd W. Robinson

Walter Ross*

Dr. and Mrs. Kazuo Shimada

Lisa and Jerry Simon

Jean Stinson*

Tad and Suzanne Smith

Sherry Snyder

Marie Speziale

Emily H. and David K. Terry

Douglas Thomas

Stephen G. Tipps

Steve Tostengard*, in memory of Ardyce Tostengard

Jana Vander Lee

Bill and Agnete Vaughan

Dean B. Walker

Stephen and Kristine Wallace

Geoffrey Westergaard

Nancy B. Willerson

Jennifer R. Wittman

Lorraine and Ed* Wulfe

David and Tara Wuthrich

Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre Anonymous (8)

Musician Sponsorships

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

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

(As of September 30, 2023)

Dr. Angela Apollo

Scott Holshouser, Principal Keyboard

Dr. Saúl and Ursula Balagura Charles Seo, Cello

Gary and Marian Beauchamp/ The Beauchamp Foundation

Martha Chapman, Second Violin

Nancy and Walter Bratic

Christopher Neal, First Violin

Mr. Gordon J. Brodfuehrer Maki Kubota, Cello

Mr. Robert Bunch and Ms. Lilia Khakimova

Alexander Potiomkin, Bass Clarinet and Clarinet

Ralph Burch

Robin Kesselman, Principal Double Bass

Barbara J. Burger

Andrew Pedersen, Double Bass

Mary Kathryn Campion, PhD Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Drs. Dennis and Susan Carlyle

Louis-Marie Fardet, Cello

Jane Cizik

Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster

Janet F. Clark

MuChen Hsieh, Principal Second Violin

Michael H. Clark and Sallie Morian

Assistant Principal Viola

Virginia A. Clark

Christian Harvey, Shepherd School-Houston

Symphony Brown Foundation CommunityEmbedded Fellow

Roger and Debby Cutler

Tong Yan, First Violin

Mike and Debra Dishberger

Phillip Freeman, Bass Trombone

Joan and Bob Duff

Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Horn

Steve and Mary Gangelhoff

Judy Dines, Flute

Stephen and Mariglyn Glenn

Christian Schubert, Clarinet

Evan B. Glick

Fay Shapiro, Viola

Suzan and Julius Glickman

Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal Clarinet and E-flat Clarinet

Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Gorman

Christopher French, Associate Principal Cello

Mark and Ragna Henrichs

Donald Howey, Double Bass

Gary L. Hollingsworth and Kenneth J. Hyde

Robert Walp, Assistant Principal Trumpet

Mrs. James E. Hooks

Burke Shaw, Double Bass

Drs. M.S. and Marie-Luise

Kalsi

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Joan & Marvin Kaplan

Foundation/The Kaplan, Brooks, and Bruch Families

Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinet

Dr. Sippi and Mr. Ajay Khurana

David Connor, Double Bass –Community-Embedded Musician

Dr. and Mrs. I. Ray Kirk

John C. Parker, Associate Principal Trumpet

Cindy E. Levit

Adam Trussell, Bassoon and Contrabassoon

Rochelle* and Max Levit

Sergei Galperin, First Violin

Cora Sue and Harry* Mach

Joan DerHovsepian, Principal Viola

Joella and Steven P. Mach

Eric Larson, Double Bass

Mrs. Carolyn and Dr. Michael Mann

Ian Mayton, Horn

Cindy Mao and Michael Ma

Si-Yang Lao, First Violin

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney H.

Margolis

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Mr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Marks

Brian Del Signore, Principal Percussion

Mr. Jay Marks

Sergei Galperin, First Violin

Michelle and Jack Matzer

Kurt Johnson, First Violin

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

Adam Dinitz, English Horn

Muffy and Mike McLanahan

William VerMeulen, Principal Horn

Dr. Eric McLaughlin and Mr. Eliodoro Castillo

Jonathan Fischer, Principal Oboe

Martha and Marvin McMurrey

Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Dr. Miguel & Mrs. Valerie MiroQuesada

Leonardo Soto, Principal

Timpani

Rita and Paul Morico

Elise Wagner, Bassoon

Scott and Judy Nyquist

Sheldon Person, Viola

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

MiHee Chung, First Violin

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker

Jeffrey Butler, Cello

Mr. David Peavy and Mr. Stephen McCauley

Jeremy Kreutz, Cello

Gloria and Joe Pryzant

Matthew Strauss, Percussion

Allan and Jean Quiat

Richard Harris, Trumpet

Laurie A. Rachford

Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal Double Bass

Ron and Demi Rand

Annie Chen, Second Violin

Ed & Janet Rinehart

Amy Semes, Associate Principal Violin

Mrs. Sybil F. Roos

Mark Hughes, Principal Trumpet

Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum

Aralee Dorough, Principal Flute

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

Anthony Kitai, Cello

Kathy and Ed Segner

Kathryn Ladner, Flute & Piccolo

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Shaffer

Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster

Margaret and Joel Shannon

Rainel Joubert, Violin–Community-Embedded Musician

Tad and Suzanne Smith

Marina Brubaker, First Violin

Alana R. Spiwak and Sam L. Stolbun

Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal Viola

Mike Stude

Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cello

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor

Bradley White, Acting Principal Trombone

Mr. & Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor

Joan DerHovsepian, Principal Viola

Judith Vincent

Matthew Roitstein, Associate Principal Flute

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

Mark Griffith, Percussion

Stephen and Kristine Wallace

Rian Craypo, Principal Bassoon

Mr. & Mrs. Fredric A. Weber

Allegra Lilly, Harp

Robert G. Weiner and Toni Blankman

Anastasia Ehrlich, Second Violin

Vicki West

Rodica Gonzalez, First Violin

Steven and Nancy Williams

MiHee Chung, First Violin

Jeanie Kilroy Wilson and Wallace S. Wilson

Xiao Wong, Cello

Nina and Michael Zilkha

Music Director Fund

Last season, Juraj Valčuha became the Houston Symphony’s 16th Music Director and holder of the Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair, marking a new era for the Houston Symphony. Recognizing the significance of his appointment and knowing he would need support to achieve his vision for the orchestra, then-President of the Board of Trustees John Rydman and his wife, Lindy, established the Music Director Fund. The purpose of this fund was to welcome Maestro Valčuha during the 2022–23 Season and encourage his efforts to elevate the orchestra’s level of artistry, international reputation, and relevance to the Houston community.

Thanks to a second leadership gift from the Rydmans, what began as a demonstration of community support of Juraj during his inaugural year will now be an ongoing annual funding priority for the Symphony. Juraj artistic vision for the orchestra includes expanding the strings section for select works, spending more time in residence with the orchestra (He will conduct 10 weeks of programs, more than any other Music Director in recent history), engaging the most world-renowned guest conductors to lead the Symphony during those weeks when he is not in Houston, performing more operatic works featuring internationally acclaimed singers, and hiring the most talented and experienced musicians to fill the 10 open positions in our orchestra.

Music Director Fund Supporters

Margaret Alkek Williams

Robin Angly & Miles Smith

Janice Barrow*

Gary and Marian Beauchamp/The Beauchamp Foundation

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of John & Lindy Rydman and the Music Director Fund participants listed below, the Houston Symphony will evolve under the leadership of Maestro Valčuha and continue to grow to new heights of musical excellence!

Barbara J. Burger

Albert & Anne Chao

Jane and Robert* Cizik

Janet F. Clark

Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts

Dr. Sippi and Mr. Ajay Khurana

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

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

Mike Stude

To join the Music Director Fund, supporters make a gift of $100,000 above and beyond their renewed Annual Fund contribution. For more information or to participate in this effort, contact Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director of Development, at christine.stevens@houstonsymphony.org or 713.337.8521. *Deceased

Meet our new Assistant Conductor: GONZALO

FARIAS

Hometown: Santiago, Chile

Hi everyone!

I love music with all my heart. It has been a major path to finding diversity, commonalities, healing, and purpose in my life. I’ve devoted my life to music… but I’ve learned that beyond music, there are people. That’s the real challenge and treasure for all of us. That’s the heart of it all.

How long have you been conducting, and what do you love the most about it?

Professionally, six to seven years. What I love the most is that music gives us all a little window to know ourselves. And in that inner exploration, we also get to know each other better. That little space between who I am and what others are is music; and in that space, conducting is one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences ever.

What part of your first season with the Houston Symphony are you most looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to every single concert I'll conduct with the orchestra. It’s such a genuine miracle to be able to have the level of artistry we have in Houston. I can’t help but point out Strauss’s Alpine Symphony and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 6 this season. They are some of the most mind-blowing experiences you can ever imagine.

What is your favorite piece of music (to either conduct, perform, or listen to)?

To conduct: my bucket list dreams are to conduct Strauss's Alpine Symphony and Mahler Symphony No. 6. To perform: I played many times Schumann’s Kreisleriana and Beethoven’s Sonata Op.111. Those were my pieces. To listen to: Brahms Piano Quartet Op. 60, Third Movement. That’s pure love.

Outside of classical music, what musical artists are your favorites?

Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, Los Panchos, Mercedes Sosa, Violeta Parra, João Gilberto, The Beatles.

Jones Hall – 615 Louisiana Street houstonsymphony.org