Issuu

InTUNE How to Train Your Dragon in Concert September 5 & 6

Special Program

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 20th 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 Vitol 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 Front of House Coordinator, Nadjalie Santos, during the performance. They also can be reached at Nadjalie.Santos@HoustonSymphony.org. You may contact Houston First after the performances at 832.487.7050.

“WHEN SHOULD I CLAP?”

It’s a question we hear often! Traditionally, audiences wait to applaud until the very end of a piece, especially when it has several sections (called movements). This allows the music to flow without interruption and helps the performers stay focused. If you’re unsure, a simple cue is when the conductor lowers their arms and turns toward the audience—that’s your signal the piece has finished. That said, there’s no wrong way to show your appreciation. If the music inspires you in the moment, don’t hesitate to clap! Your enthusiasm and energy are always welcome at the Symphony.

CHILDREN

Children ages six and up are welcome to all Classical, Vitol 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 Front of House Coordinator will instruct you on when late seating is allowed.

TICKETS

Subscribers of five or more concerts 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.

ESCANEE AQUÍ PARA VER TRADUCCIÓN AL ESPAÑOL

ORCHESTRA ROSTER Juraj Valčuha

Steven Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor Laureate Gonzalo Farias, Associate Conductor

Music Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair

FIRST VIOLIN Yoonshin Song, Concertmaster Max Levine Chair Vacant, Associate Concertmaster Ellen E. Kelley Chair Boson Mo, Assistant Concertmaster Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster Fondren Foundation Chair Tong Yan Ferenc Illenyi Si-Yang Lao Christopher Neal Sergei Galperin Annie Kuan-Yu Chen Han Xie Samantha Washecka SECOND VIOLIN Vacant, Principal Vacant, Associate Principal Amy Semes Mihaela Frusina Jing Zheng Anastasia Iglesias Tina Zhang* Yankı Karata! Hannah Duncan Alexandros Sakarellos VIOLA Joan DerHovsepian, Principal Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal Samuel Pedersen, Assistant Principal Paul Aguilar Sheldon Person Fay Shapiro Keoni Bolding Jimmy Cunningham CELLO Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair Christopher French, Associate Principal Jane and Robert Cizik Chair Anthony Kitai Louis-Marie Fardet Jeffrey Butler Maki Kubota Xiao Wong Charles Seo Jeremy Kreutz DOUBLE BASS Robin Kesselman, Principal Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal Andrew Pedersen, Assistant Principal Eric Larson Logan May Burke Shaw Donald Howey Avery Weeks COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED MUSICIAN Lindsey Baggett, Violin LIBRARIANS Ali Verderber, Associate Librarian Megan Fisher, Assistant Librarian

FLUTE Kayla Burggraf, Principal General Maurice Hirsch Chair Matthew Roitstein, Associate Principal Judy Dines Kathryn Ladner* PICCOLO Kathryn Ladner* OBOE Jonathan Fischer, Principal Lucy Binyon Stude Chair Anne Leek, Associate Principal Adam Dinitz Pablo Moreno+ ENGLISH HORN Adam Dinitz Barbara and Pat McCelvey Chair CLARINET Mark Nuccio, Principal Bobbie Nau Chair Vacant, Associate Principal Christian Schubert Alexander Potiomkin Ben Freimuth+ E-FLAT CLARINET Ben Freimuth+ BASS CLARINET Alexander Potiomkin BASSOON Rian Craypo, Principal Isaac Schultz, Associate Principal Elise Wagner Adam Trussell

TRUMPET Mark Hughes, Principal George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Chair John Parker, Associate Principal Richard Harris TROMBONE Nick Platoff, Principal Bradley White, Associate Principal Phillip Freeman BASS TROMBONE Phillip Freeman TUBA Dave Kirk, Principal TIMPANI Leonardo Soto, Principal Matthew Strauss, Associate Principal PERCUSSION Vacant, Principal Mark Griffith Matthew Strauss HARP Allegra Lilly, Principal KEYBOARD Wesley Ducote, Principal LIBRARIAN Luke Bryson, Principal

CONTRABASSOON Adam Trussell HORN William VerMeulen, Principal Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Endowed Chair Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Nathan Cloeter, Assistant Principal/Utility Ian Mayton Barbara J. Burger Chair Brian Mangrum Spencer Bay+

*on leave + contracted substitute

STAGE PERSONNEL José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager Nicholas DiFonzo, Head Video Engineer Justin Herriford, Head Audio Engineer Connor Morrow, Head Stage Technician Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR 2026-27 season

How to Train Your Dragon in Concert September 5 & 6 Opening Night: Celebrating America at 250 September 19

Haunted Halloween October 31 S

Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony & Yoonshin Song November 6, 7* & 8

Simply the Best: A Tribute to Tina Turner September 25 & 26* Rachmaninoff Festival: Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony October 2, 3* & 4

La Vida Loca November 21 & 22* Thanksgiving Weekend: Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7 & Shéhérazade November 27, 28* & 29

Rachmaninoff Festival: Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 October 9, 10* & 11

Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 & Gil Shaham December 4, 5* & 6

Mozart’s Jupiter & JIJI October 16, 17* & 18

Very Merry Pops December 10, 12* & 13

Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony October 30, November 1

Classical Series

Bank of America POPS Series

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert Live-to-Film October 31

PNC Family Series

Summer & Specials

Chamber Series

*Performance livestreamed

FEATURED PROGRAM

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON IN CONCERT Saturday

September 5

7:30 p.m.

Jones Hall

Sunday

September 6

2:00 p.m.

Jones Hall

Jason Seber, conductor

J. POWELL

How to Train Your Dragon

1:34

Part 1

0:48

INTERMISSION Part 2

0:46

JASON SEBER, CONDUCTOR Jason Seber is a celebrated conductor known for his versatility leading classical, pops, film, and cross-genre programs. He is committed to making orchestral music accessible, relevant, and engaging for diverse audiences nationwide. Seber has conducted many leading American orchestras, including the National, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, San Diego, Baltimore, Kansas City, Colorado, Milwaukee, Nashville, Indianapolis, Oregon, North Carolina, Phoenix, and Fairfax Symphony; the Minnesota and Louisville Orchestra; the Buffalo Philharmonic; and the Cincinnati Pops, among others. He has conducted more than 30 full feature films and has had the pleasure of performing with a wide range of artists including Boyz II Men, Melissa Etheridge, Leslie Odom, Jr., Trisha Yearwood, Lyle Lovett, Stephen Schwartz, Indigo Girls, Ben Folds, Wynonna Judd, Lindsey Stirling, Violent Femmes, Pink Martini, Natalie Merchant, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Katharine McPhee, Brian Stokes Mitchell, My Morning Jacket, Andrew Bird, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Patti Austin, Mason Bates, Doc Severinsen, Aoife O’Donovan, Ashley Brown, Susan Egan, and DeVotchKa, among many others. To learn more, please visit jasonseber.com.

How to Train your Dragon in Concert CHRIS SANDERS DEAN DEBLOIS

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION PRESENTS “HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON” MUSIC BY JOHN POWELL BASED ON THE BOOK BY CRESSIDA COWELL WILL DAVIES DEAN DEBLOIS CHRIS SANDERS KRISTINE BELSON TIM JOHNSON BONNIE ARNOLD

How to Train your Dragon in Concert PRODUCTION CREDITS How To Train Your Dragon in Concert is produced by Film Concerts Live!, a joint venture of IMG Artists, LLC and The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Inc. PRODUCERS STEVEN A. LINDER JAMIE RICHARDSON DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: ROB STOGSDILL PRODUCTION MANAGER: SOPHIE GREAVES PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: KATHERINE MIRON WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATION: IMG ARTISTS, LLC TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: MIKE RUNICE MUSIC COMPOSED BY JOHN POWELL MUSIC PREPARATION JO ANN KANE MUSIC SERVICE FILM PREPARATION FOR CONCERT PERFORMANCE: RAMIRO BELGARDT, EPILOGUE MEDIA TECHNICAL CONSULTANT: LAURA GIBSON SOUND REMIXING FOR CONCERT PERFORMANCE: CHACE AUDIO BY DELUXE The score for How To Train Your Dragon has been adapted for live concert performance. With special thanks to: Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Bonnie Arnold, Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, John Powell, Chris DeFaria, Michael Silver, Patrick Koors, Tammy Olsen, Lawrence Liu, Chuck Nilsen, Mike Pastrano, Thomas Schroder, Tanya Perra, Chris Herzberger, Noah Bergman, Jason Jackowski, Heather Oster, Jen OckelmannWagner, Alex Levy, Mark Graham, Matt Voogt, Bethany Brinton and the musicians and staff of the Houston Symphony.

Juraj Valčuha, Music Director

Jones Hall – 615 Louisiana Street houstonsymphony.org