InTUNE
The Houston Symphony Magazine
ORCHESTRA ROSTER
Juraj Valčuha
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
James Gikas+
Tianxu Liu+
Samuel Park+
Timothy Peters+
Arutyun Piloyan+
Teresa Wang+
SECOND VIOLIN
Vacant, Principal
Vacant, Associate Principal
Amy Semes
Annie Kuan-Yu Chen
Mihaela Frusina
Jing Zheng
Anastasia Iglesias
Tina Zhang*
Yankı Karataş
Hannah Duncan
Alexandros Sakarellos
Zubaida Azezi+
Hanna Hrybkova+
VIOLA
Joan DerHovsepian, Principal
Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal
Samuel Pedersen, Assistant Principal
Paul Aguilar
Sheldon Person
Fay Shapiro
Keoni Bolding
Jimmy Cunningham
Meredith Harris+
Yvonne Smith+
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
Je rey Butler
Maki Kubota
Xiao Wong
Charles Seo
Jeremy Kreutz
COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED MUSICIAN
Lindsey Baggett, Violin
LIBRARIANS
Ali Verderber, Associate Librarian
Megan Fisher, Assistant Librarian
DOUBLE BASS
Robin Kesselman, Principal
Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal
Steven Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor Laureate
Anthony J. Maglione, Director, Houston Symphony Chorus
Gonzalo Farias, Associate Conductor
Andrew Pedersen, Assistant Principal
Eric Larson
Logan May
Burke Shaw
Donald Howey
Avery Weeks
FLUTE
Vacant, Principal
General Maurice Hirsch Chair
Matthew Roitstein, Acting Principal
Judy Dines
Kathryn Ladner
Douglas DeVries+
PICCOLO
Kathryn Ladner
OBOE
Jonathan Fischer, Principal
Lucy Binyon Stude Chair
Anne Leek, Associate Principal
Vacant
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
Vacant
Ben Freimuth+
BASS CLARINET
Alexander Potiomkin
BASSOON
Rian Craypo, Principal
Isaac Schultz, Associate Principal
Elise Wagner
Adam Trussell
CONTRABASSOON
Adam Trussell
STAGE PERSONNEL
Vacant, Stage Manager
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
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
Vacant
Spencer Bay+
TRUMPET
Mark Hughes, Principal
George P. and Cynthia Woods
Mitchell Chair
John Parker, Associate Principal
Robert Walp, Assistant Principal
Richard Harris
TROMBONE
Nick Plato , Principal
Bradley White, Associate Principal
Phillip Freeman
BASS TROMBONE
Phillip Freeman
TUBA
Dave Kirk, Principal
TIMPANI
Leonardo Soto, Principal
Matthew Strauss, Associate Principal
PERCUSSION
Brian Del Signore, Principal
Mark Gri th
Matthew Strauss
HARP
Allegra Lilly, Principal
KEYBOARD
Vacant, Principal
LIBRARIAN
Luke Bryson, Principal
*on leave + contracted substitute
S
PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
2026-27 se a son
Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY
June 6 & 7
The Music of Queen
S
S
June 19 & 20
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert
June 26 & 27
S
S
A. R. Rahman with the Houston Symphony
July 24 & 25
Opening Night: Celebrating
America at 250 with Isabel Leonard
September 19
Simply the Best: A Tribute to Tina Turner
September 25, 26* & 27
Rachmanino Festival: Rachmanino ’s Second Symphony
October 2, 3* & 4
Rachmanino Festival: Rachmanino ’s Piano
Concerto No. 3
October 9, 10* & 11
Mozart’s Jupiter & JIJI
October 16 , 17 * & 18
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony
October 30, November 1
Haunted Halloween
October 31
Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony & Yoonshin Song
November 6, 7* & 8
La Vida Loca
November 21 & 22*
Thanksgiving Weekend: Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7 & Shéhérazade
November 2 7, 28* & 29
See our full year calendar for even more concerts!
SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
Barbara McCelvey President
John Rydman** Board Chair Chair, Artistic & Orchestra A airs
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Brad W. Corson Chair, Governance & Leadership
Carey Kirkpatrick Chair, Marketing & Communications
Evan B. Glick Chair, Popular Programming
Sippi Khurana, M.D. Chair, Education & Community Engagement
Mary Lynn Marks Chair, Volunteers & Special Events
GOVERNING DIRECTORS
Gary Beauchamp
Eric Brueggeman
MK Campion
John Cassidy, M.D.
Khoa Dao
Lidiya Gold
TRUSTEES
Christopher Armstrong
David Balderston
David J. Beck
Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl
Nancy Shelton Bratic
Terry Ann Brown**
Ralph Burch
John T. Cater**
Robert Chanon
Heaven Chee
Michael H. Clark
Virginia Clark
Andrew Davis, Ph.D.
Denise Davis
Tracy Dieterich
Kelli Cohen Fein
Je rey B. Firestone
Eugene A. Fong
Aggie L. Foster
Barbara J. Burger Immediate Past President
Mike S. Stude** Chair Emeritus
Paul Morico General Counsel
Jonathan Ayre Secretary Chair, Finance
Janet F. Clark^ Immediate Past Chair
Ed Schneider Chair, Development
Robert Orr Chair, Strategic Planning
Jesse B. Tutor** Chair, Audit
Jerre Williams 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
Jeremy Kreutz^ Musician Representative
Mark Nuccio^ Musician Representative
Gary Ginstling^ Executive Director/CEO
Margaret Alkek Williams Chair
Claudio Gutiérrez
David J. M. Key
David Krieger
Cindy Levit
Isabel Stude Lummis
Cora Sue Mach**
Kate Dearing Fowler
Aoife French
Carolyn Gaidos
Andrew Gould
Lori Harrington
Pablo Hernandez SchmidtTopho
Je Hiller
Grace Ho
Gary L. Hollingsworth
John W. Hutchinson
Brian James
Matthew Kades
I. Ray Kirk, M.D.
Matthew Loden
Kirby Lodholz
Michael Mann, M.D.
Nancy Martin
Jack Matzer
FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL REPRESENTATIVES
Janet F. Clark
Brad W. Corson
Rodney Margolis**
Meredith Marshall
Leslie Nossaman
Chris Powers
Brittany Sakowitz
Ed Schneider
Jackie Wolens Mazow
Diane Morales
Tim Ong
Edward Osterberg Jr.
Gloria G. Pryzant
Miwa Sakashita
Ted Sarosdy
Andrew Schwaitzberg
Helen Sha er**
Becky Shaw
Robert B. Sloan, D.D., Theol.
Jim R. Smith
Miles O. Smith**
Quentin Smith
Tad Smith
Anthony Speier
Tina Raham Stewart
Nanako Tingleaf
Terry Thomas
Barbara McCelvey
Steven P. Mach^ At-Large Member
Bobby Tudor^** At-Large Member
Gretchen Watkins^ At-Large Member
Justin Stenberg
William J. Toomey II
Betty Tutor**
Robert Weiner
Margaret Alkek Williams**
Margaret Waisman, M.D.
Fredric A. Weber
Vicki West
Steven J. Williams
David J. Wuthrich
Ellen A. Yarrell
Robert Yekovich
EX-OFFICIO
Alejandro Gallardo
Reverend Ray Mackey, III
Frank F. Wilson IV
Fredric Weber
LEADERSHIP GROUP
Gary Ginstling, Executive Director/CEO
Margaret Alkek Williams Chair
Elizabeth S. Condic, Chief Financial O cer
Vicky Dominguez, Chief Operating O cer
Rolanda Gregory, Chief Marketing O cer
Jennifer Renner, Chief Development O cer
Mayenne Minuit, Executive Assistant
DEVELOPMENT
Leanna Aldis, Manager, Foundation Relations
Sarah Bhalla, Board Relations Associate
Lauren Buchanan, Development Communications Manager
Alex Canales, Manager, Donor Services
Jessie De Arman, Development Associate, Gifts, Records, & Research
Timothy Dillow, Senior Director, Individual Giving
Amanda T. Dinitz, Director, Principal Gifts & Endowment
Kamra Kilmer, Manager, Corporate Relations
Karyn Mason, Institutional Giving O cer
Hadia Mawlawi, Endowment & Planned Giving O cer
Meghan Miller, Development Associate, Special Events
Emilie Moellmer, Membership Manager
Gavin Reed, Major Gifts O cer
Tim Richey, Major Gifts O cer
Katie Salvatore, Director, Annual Giving & Membership
Phillip Smith, Special Events and League Liaison O cer
Lena Streetman, Director, Development Operations
Sarah Thompson, Donor Events Manager
Christina Trunzo, Director, Institutional Giving
EDUCATION | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Olivia Allred, Education Manager
Allison Conlan, Senior Director, Education & Community Engagement
Austin Hinkle, Education & Community Engagement Coordinator
Jazmine Olwalia, Community Engagement Manager
Sheridan Richard, DeLUXE K!ds In Harmony Site Manager
Community-Embedded Musicians (CEM):
Lindsey Baggett, Lead CEM
Lucinda Chiu, CEM Teaching Artist
David Connor, Senior CEM Teaching Artist
Rainel Joubert, Senior CEM Teaching Artist
Bensen Kwan, CEM Education Specialist
Brittany Leavitt, CEM Teaching Artist
Bianca Lozano, CEM Teaching Artist
Alexis Mitrushi, CEM Teaching Artist
Adrian Ponce, CEM Teaching Artist
Lauren Ross, CEM Teaching Artist
Jaya Varma, CEM Teaching Artist
FINANCE | ADMINISTRATION | IT | HR
José Arriaga, Systems Engineer
Henry Cantu, Finance Accountant
Kimberly Cegielski, Sta Accountant
Heather Fails, Database Administrator
Ronin Jackson, IT Intern
Joel James, Director of Human Resources
Tanya Lovetro, Director of Budgeting & Financial Reporting
Freddie Piegsa, Help Desk Technician
Morgana Rickard, Controller
Gabriela Rivera, Senior Accountant
Pam Romo, O ce Manager/HR Coordinator
Lee Whatley, Senior Director, IT & Analytics
MARKETING | COMMUNICATIONS
Bryan Ayllon, UX & Conversion Specialist
Rachel Cheng, Marketing & External Relations Assistant
Bella Cutaia, Manager, Patron Services
Kathryn Judd, Director, Marketing
Priya Kurup, Senior Associate, Group Sales
Caroline Lawson, Patron Services Representative
Lien Le, Patron Experience Coordinator
Yoo-Ell Lee, Graphics & Media Designer
Milow Lozano, Ticketing Systems & Marketing Operations Specialist
Ciara Macaulay, Creative Director
Ashley Martinez, Patron Services Coordinator
Mariah Martinez, Email Marketing Coordinator
Casey Pearce, Graphic Design Manager
Aracely Quevedo, Patron Services Representative
Eric Skelly, Senior Director, Communications
Christian Sosa, Web Experience Director
Lily Townsend, Patron Services Representative
Alexa Ustaszewski, Manager, Revenue and Audience Insights
Sophie Volpe, Digital Content Specialist
Leecia Whatley, Patron Services Representative
Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services
OPERATIONS | ARTISTIC
Stephanie Alla, Associate Director of Artistic Planning
Becky Brown, Associate Director of Orchestra Personnel
Juan Pablo Brand, Artistic Assistant
Ryan Diefenderfer, Concert Operations Assistant
Megan Fisher, Assistant Librarian
Michael Gorman, Director of Orchestra Personnel
Julia Hall, Assistant Director, Houston Symphony Chorus
Parker Hart, Concert Operations Manager
Adrian Hernandez, Concert Media Production Manager
Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager
José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager
Brad Sayles, Senior Recording Engineer
Nathan Trinkl, Artistic Assistant & Assistant to the Music Director
Ali Verderber, Associate Librarian
Meredith Williams, Director of Concert Operations
Rebecca Zabinski, Senior Director of Artistic Planning
June 6, 2026
June 7, 2026
Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY
Arnie Roth, conductor
*Amanda Achen, vocalist
Houston Symphony Chorus, Anthony J. Maglione, director
Program will be announced from the stage. There will be an intermission.
*Houston Symphony Debut
About the Music
Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7
Program Bios
Arnie Roth, conductor
A classically trained violinist, conductor, composer, producer, and Grammy Award-winning artist, Arnie Roth performs across a wide array of musical genres. Roth has performed with a host of artists, including Il Divo, Diana Ross, Jewel, The Three Tenors, The Irish Tenors, Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Patrick Stewart, Branford Marsalis, Peter Cetera, and Andrea Bocelli. He is also a long-time member of the Grammy award-winning group Mannheim Steamroller. Orchestras that Roth has conducted include the London Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, BBC Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Winnipeg
Jones Hall
Jones Hall
Symphony, Joffrey Ballet, Ravinia Festival, Tokyo Philharmonic, the Colorado Symphony, the WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln, and the Sydney Symphony. Arnie Roth brought critical acclaim to the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra as music director and principal conductor showcasing artists including Michael Feinstein, Linda Eder, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, Wynonna Judd, Judy Collins, the Beach Boys, and Johnny Mathis. Under his direction the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra appeared in a nationally broadcast PBS Special featuring The Irish Tenors.
Roth was the music director and conductor of the national concert tour Dear Friends: music from FINAL FANTASY. In 2006, Roth conducted the new VOICES: music from FINAL FANTASY concert in Tokyo with the Tokyo Philharmonic. He then became the principal conductor and music director of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony featuring music from blockbuster video games such as FINAL FANTASY, World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Halo, and Battlefield 1942. As both producer and music director, Arnie Roth premiered Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY in December 2007 with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic in Sweden. The release of Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY, recorded by Roth and
7:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, coincided with the start of the Distant Worlds international tour. Distant Worlds continues to thrill audiences around the globe with upcoming performances in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, and has released four additional albums of FINAL FANTASY music, as well as several DVD concert experiences.
As music director, conductor, and arranger, Roth was involved in a number of PBS specials including: Charlotte Church: Enchantment - From Cardiff, Wales for Sony, The Irish Tenors: Heritage, the WTTW Soundstage shows featuring: Jewel, Peter Cetera and Symphony, An Evening with Dennis DeYoung, Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers, and WTTW’s Four Seasons in Chicago In 2006, he was the music director and conductor for a 10-part television series for RTE featuring the Irish Tenors. He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show many times, conducting Il Divo, and appeared on the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, and many more international television and radio broadcasts.
Roth’s talents extend into the area of film production and composition as well. He was commissioned by Gerald Arpino, founder and a choreographer of the Joffrey Ballet, to write an original
Program Bios
composition for a new Arpino ballet premiered in Chicago that he conducted. He produced and conducted music for the Robert Altman film The Company, and was the producer, composer, conductor, and arranger for the CGI animated films from Mattel Entertainment: Barbie in The Nutcracker, Barbie as Rapunzel, Barbie of Swan Lake, Barbie in The Princess and the Pauper Movie, Barbie in The Magic of Pegasus, Barbie Sings! Princess Movie Collection CD, Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Island Princess Barbie, Barbie and the Diamond Castle, and Barbie in A Christmas Carol. Roth won the Best Score Award at the 2003 DVD Premier Awards for his score for the film Barbie as Rapunzel, and was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for his original song “ Shine” from the movie Barbie in The Twelve Dancing Princesses. 2007 also marked the premiere of Roth’s first live concert creation with Mattel. Barbie at the Symphony is a special film with orchestra presentation of the best-selling Barbie Princess movies. This was followed by a second live concert production under license with Mattel, Barbie in the Nutcracker.
Roth has produced and conducted music for many films, and has produced dozens of best-selling albums, released on American Gramaphone, JVC, Mattel, Warner Bros., Sony, Koch, and Razor & Tie.
For more information visit: awrmusic.com.
Amanda Achen, vocalist
A harmonious blend of tradition and innovation defines Amanda Achen’s musical journey. She is a versatile soprano renowned for her “crystalline quality” and emotive performances, gracing stages worldwide in concert halls, jazz clubs, and iconic venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Tokyo Dome, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Recognized for her stylistic diversity, Amanda has risen to prominence in the gaming community thanks to her collaborations with Masayoshi Soken on FINAL FANTASY XIV and FINAL FANTASY XVI. She has also been featured in Studio Ghibli Symphony Concerts with Joe Hisaishi and has worked with author Neil Gaiman on humorous PR events for the Amazon Prime TV show Good Omens. Her voice has resonated in blockbuster films like Frozen II, Mulan, and Birds of Prey.
As a Twitch partner, Amanda has connected with her audience in real-time through FINAL FANTASY XIV gameplay, chats, and live musical performances, showcasing her dynamic talents. She has also composed original music as both a solo artist and with her jazz ensemble, Citizen Kitten. For more information, please visit amandasingsthings.com.
houston symphony chorus
Anthony J. Maglione Director
Julia C. Hall Assistant Director
The Houston Symphony Chorus is the official choral unit of the Houston Symphony and consists of highly skilled and talented volunteer singers. Over the years, members of this historic ensemble have learned and performed the world’s great choral-orchestral masterworks under the batons of Juraj Valčuha, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, Robert Shaw, and Helmuth Rilling, among many others.
In addition, the Chorus enjoys participating in the Houston Symphony’s popular programming under the batons of conductors such as Steven Reineke and Michael Krajewski. In 2017, the ensemble sang the closing subscription concerts with the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic.
Singers are selected for specific programs for which they have indicated interest. A singer might choose to perform in all 45 concerts, as was the case in a recent season, or might elect to participate in a single series. The Houston Symphony Chorus holds auditions by appointment and welcomes inquiries from interested singers.
ANTHONY J. MAGLIONE
Conductor, Composer, and Producer Anthony J. Maglione is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston and Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus. He joined the Moores School of Music faculty from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where he was the Director of Choral Studies and held the Robert H. McKee Chair of Music. Choirs under his direction have appeared at state, regional, and national conventions; released internationally distributed commercial recordings; and have twice been named Runner-Up for the American Prize in Choral Performance, College/University Division. A frequent collaborator, he has prepared choirs for performances with the American Spiritual Ensemble, Boston Camerata, The Canadian Brass, Joyce DiDonato, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, The King’s Singers, Kings Return, and the Mark Morris Dance Group.
Maglione is an often-performed and commissioned composer with a growing national reputation and his music has appeared at state, regional, and national-level conventions; on TV; and in video games; and has been recorded on Albany Records, Centaur Records, GIA Choral Works, and Gothic Records. Several of his choral works are published on James Jordan’s “Evoking Sound” choral series through GIA Publications as well as “The Amanda Quist Signature Choral Series” on Gentry Publications.
In 2018, Maglione’s cantata for soloists, choir, and orchestra, The Wedding of Solomon, premiered at the American Guild of Organists National Convention. The Miami University Men’s Glee Club premiered Maglione’s On Life at the 2019 National ACDA Conference. In early 2020, Verdigris Ensemble premiered his extended dramatic work Dust Bowl as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Elevator Project in Dallas, Texas. Dust Bowl was recently revised and performed again in 2024 at the Wyly Theatre in Dallas through funding in-part from the National Endowment of the Arts. From 2023 to 2025, Maglione served as Composer-InResidence with Te Deum, a professional choir based in Kansas City.
As a producer, Maglione lends his ears to recording projects around the country and recently received national attention through his production work with Sam Brukhman and Verdigris Ensemble on Betty’s Notebook by composer Nicholas Reeves. This ground-breaking, programmable art music is the first of its kind and the first to be sold using blockchain technology.
As a tenor, Maglione has appeared with renowned organizations such as Artefact Ensemble, Cappella Romana, Kansas City Baroque Consortium, Kantorei KC, The Same Stream, The St. Tikhon Choir, Sunflower Baroque, and Spire Chamber Ensemble.
A sought-after clinician and frequent guest conductor, Maglione teaches workshops and has conducted All-State and honor choirs in California, Kansas,
CHORUS ROSTER
Mary Ann Addis
Bob Alban
Keith Anthis
Allison Arnold
Farrah Au-Yeung
Kendall Aleksandra Banasiak
Sarah Blumhardt
Criselda Bocanegra
Jonathan Bordelon
Jennifer Breneman
Kimberly Burton
Brody Cecil
Adria Clark
Michael P. Dorn
Randy Eckman
Nicole Elliott
John Glaser
Vsevolod Gontsov
David Kolacny Jr.
Kat Kunz
Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Nathan Lazenberry
Dean Leake
Rachel Lootens
Theresa Olin
Paul Parkinson
Lauren Price
Greg Railsback
Karen Ramirez Cabrera
Dylan Rivera
Douglas Rodenberger
Angela Bongat Seaman
Joshua Snedeker
Carol Strawn
Paul Van Dorn
Lance Wilcox
Hollis Wilkins
Vanessa Winslow
Abigail Zuniga
*Section Leader
