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Special Program | Queen

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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

SECOND VIOLIN

Vacant, Principal

Vacant, Associate Principal

Amy Semes

Annie Kuan-Yu Chen

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

Je rey 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

Steven Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor Laureate

Anthony J. Maglione, Director, Houston Symphony Chorus

Gonzalo Farias, Associate Conductor

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

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+

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

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

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

2026-27 se a son

S The Music of Queen

June 19 & 20

S

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert

June 26 & 27

S A. R. Rahman with the Houston Symphony

July 24 & 25

S Opening Night: Celebrating America at 250

September 19

S Idina Menzel

August 30

S How to Train Your Dragon in Concert

September 5 & 6

Simply the Best:

A Tribute to Tina Turner

September 25 & 26*

Rachmanino f Festival: Rachmanino f ’s Second Symphony

October 2, 3* & 4

S

Rachmanino f Festival: Rachmanino f ’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

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

October 31

Haunted Halloween

October 31

Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony & Yoonshin Song

November 6, 7* & 8

La Vida Loca

November 21 & 22*

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

David J. M. Key

David Krieger

Cindy Levit

Isabel Stude Lummis

Cora Sue Mach**

Rodney Margolis**

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

Meredith Marshall

Leslie Nossaman

Chris Powers

Brittany Sakowitz

Ed Schneider

Justin Stenberg

Jackie Wolens Mazow

Diane K. 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

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

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

Bensen Kwan, CEM Education Specialist

Brittany Leavitt, CEM Teaching Artist

Bianca Lozano, 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

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 19 & 20, 2026

The Music of Queen

Brent Havens, conductor

MiG Ayesa, vocalist

George Cintron, guitar

Daniel Clemens, electric bass

Powell Randolph, drum set

Adam Michaelson, keyboard

Program will be announced from the stage.

There will be an intermission.

About the Music

Friday, June 19

Saturday, June 20

Program Bios

Brent Havens, conductor

Berklee-trained arranger/ conductor Brent Havens has written music for orchestras, feature films, and virtually every kind of television. His TV work includes movies for networks such as ABC, CBS, and ABC Family Channel Network; commercials; sports music for networks such as ESPN; and even cartoons. Havens has also worked with the Doobie Brothers and the Milwaukee Symphony, arranging and conducting the combined group for Harley Davidson’s 100 th Anniversary Birthday Party Finale attended by more than 150,000 fans.

He has worked with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic and the BBC Concert Orchestra in London; the CBSO in Birmingham, England; the

Jones Hall 7:30 p.m.

Jones Hall 7:30 p.m.

Malaysian Philharmonic; the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; the Minnesota Orchestra; the Pittsburgh Symphony; the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; the Houston Symphony; the Atlanta Symphony; the Baltimore Symphony; the Dallas Symphony; the Fort Worth Symphony; the Nashville Symphony; Orchestra of Opera North in Leeds, England; and countless others.

Havens recently completed the score for the film Quo Vadis, a Premier Pictures remake of the 1956 gladiator film. In 2013, he worked with the Baltimore Symphony and the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens to arrange and produce the music for the Thanksgiving Day halftime show between the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, adapting both classical music and rock songs into a single four-minute show. Havens is Arranger/Guest Conductor for all of the symphonic rock programs for Windborne Music. 

MiG Ayesa, vocalist

MiG started his career in Australia in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. He was then chosen to join the London cast including a Royal Variety Performance for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. MiG’s other West End credits include We Will Rock You, Rent, Thriller Live, and Seasons of Larson.

His Broadway credits include Burn The Floor and Rock of Ages, which he also joined on the first US National Tour and in the Philippines. Back in Australia, his credits include G rease, Cinderella, Aladdin, West Side Story, Rent, Fame, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and a UK and Australian Tour of The Music of Q ueen: Rock and Symphonic Spectacular. He reprised the role of Galileo for the 10 th Anniversary World Arena Tour of We Will Rock You and as one of the Tenors of Rock at their resident

Program Bios

headline show in Las Vegas and on the high seas. MiG also sailed with Rock Rhapsody, as well as headlining his own one man show MiG Rocks the Boat

In the Philippines, MiG played Robert Kincaid in the first international production of The Bridges of Madison C ounty and starred with Lea Salonga and Tanya Manalang for the major concert event Curtains Up, as well as his own concert celebrating Shangri-la’s 25th Anniversary, and most recently originated the role of Jamie Crimson in the World Premiere Production of All Out of Love.

MiG starred as Joe King in the TV series The Ferals. His other TV credits include Fil It Up, Mission: Top Secret, Hits and Memories, The Midday Show, IMT, C arols in the Domain, It’s About Time, C arols by C andlelight, People’s Choice Awards, Vidiot, G ood Morning Australia, and Hey Hey It’s Saturday as well as various commercials including a global campaign for Ray Ban. MiG’s film credits include Q ueen of the Damned and Subterano. A finalist in the global hit TV show Rockstar: INXS, MiG released his self-titled debut album, through Decca/ Universal and was an original cast member of Handel’s Messiah

Rocks: A Joyful Noise. As well as releasing his second album More Than Ever, MiG has also penned theme songs for various TV shows as well as writing “Fill My Cup” for FWD, along with his own fundraising awareness campaign for the victims of Philippine floods with “United A s One.” 

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Special Program | Queen by Houston Symphony - Issuu