From Harry Potter to Carmina Burana, from Mahler to Messiah: the 2018–19 Season challenged Houston Symphony Chorus and made for a memorable year. Houston Symphony Chorus Director Betsy Cook Weber and Chorus Manager Anna Diemer share their favorite moments from last season, with a look ahead to what’s coming up next—including auditions open to all … Continued
Houston Symphony musicians work hard to perform for more than 400,000 people in the Houston area every year—but how do they spend their time away from their instruments? Many exercise in their spare time: some are tennis players, runners, and—like Jarita Ng, viola, and Mark Nuccio, principal clarinet—fans of cycling. Jarita worked to create custom … Continued
Broadway and “The Little Mermaid” ushered in a monumental era of Disney films! The Houston Symphony presents The Little Mermaid—Film with Live Orchestra on August 31 and September 1. For many fans, the “Disney Renaissance” is a highpoint in the history of animated films. Covering a decade (1989–1999) of feature films, this era brought a … Continued
In June, 40 singers from the Houston Symphony Chorus joined Chorus Director Betsy Cook Weber and Chorus Manager Anna Diemer for a concert tour across Poland and Germany. In this post, Anna shares memories of the trip. Our unforgettable June tour—five concerts in five cities!—culminated with an invitation to sing at the Bach Festival in … Continued
A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Anastasia joined the Houston Symphony second violins in November 2017 having previously performed as a contracted substitute in the first violin section since the 2014–15 season. After moving to the United States at age 17, her musical career took a diversion into jazz and contemporary music. Realizing her passion … Continued
While gearing up for the start of our 2019–20 season in September, we asked our musicians which concerts they are most excited about this year. From Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Mahler’s epic Seventh Symphony to Hamilton’s Renée Elise Goldsberry and John Williams’s classics, discover what Houston Symphony musicians are most looking forward to! CLASSICAL … Continued
On April 12 and 13, 2025 the Houston Symphony pays tribute to the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla. Learn more about this iconic Texan with these fun facts as we prepare to celebrate her legacy ! 1. Selena Quintanilla was the first female Tejano artist, and the youngest singer, to ever win the Grammy … Continued
Performing for thousands of people at an ExxonMobil Symphony Summer Nights concert is one of the perks for winners of the silver medal at the Ima Hogg Competition. Cellist Coleman Itzkoff won second prize at this year’s competition for his performance of Bloch’s Schelomo: Rhapsodie hébraïque, which also earned him the Artistic Encouragement Award as … Continued
The Houston Symphony Residency at Lewis Elementary, presented by BBVA, helped bring music education to local third, fourth and fifth graders in the 2018–19 school year. Community-Embedded Musicians taught both in-school and after-school violin classes to some 230 Lewis Elementary students. During a Symphony concert in Jones Hall on April 27, students performed in the … Continued
Adam Dinitz joined the Houston Symphony in September 2007 as solo English horn. He held prior positions with the San Francisco Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and the Sarasota Orchestra, and has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others. He has participated in summer festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen … Continued
This year’s Ima Hogg Competition features nine young musicians who hail from three countries and five different U.S. states, including two from Texas (and three Rice University graduates). Together, the group has won more than 60 awards and accolades—and all before their 26th birthdays! Read on to learn more about the talented competitors who compete … Continued
A sweeping choral masterpiece, Rachmaninoff’s The Bells features 138 Houston Symphony Chorus singers joining the orchestra for the Russian composer’s own favorite composition on May 9, 11, and 12. While the evening concludes with this powerhouse choral symphony, it begins more intimately—with 40 unaccompanied singers in a pre-concert prelude. Betsy Cook Weber, director of the … Continued
Guests of Debussy’s La mer are in for treat: During the program on March 8, 9 & 10, ticket holders can enjoy a special performance of two chamber music selections. Les citations by Henri Dutilleux kicks off the presentation of chamber music, followed by Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String … Continued
This February, the Houston Symphony invites you to discover one of history’s most idiosyncratic geniuses: Robert Schumann. The Schumann Festival is a celebration of the composer’s life and work, with concerts and events at Jones Hall, Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “The music of Schumann, which borders … Continued
Richard Harris joined the Houston Symphony as second trumpet in 2018. Previously, for eight years he was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where he became the only musician in an American orchestra to win auditions for each position in one trumpet section. A Yamaha Performing Artist, he has performed with the Seoul and … Continued
Andrew Pedersen joined the Houston Symphony Double Bass section in August 2017. A native of Batavia, Illinois, Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and master’s degree from Rice University, where he studied with Robert Kassinger and former Houston Symphony Principal Bass Timothy Pitts, respectively. Other mentors include Paul Ellison, Alexander Hanna and Gregory … Continued
Meet Ima Hogg Competition Semi-finalist August Ramos! This talented musician is currently beginning his senior year of double bass studies at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of Tim Pitts. We recently got a chance to ask Sam a few questions about himself and his musical life. Houston Symphony: Where did you grow up … Continued
Meet Ima Hogg Competition Semi-finalist Samuel Chan! This talented 22 year old marimba player began percussion studies at age 6. A graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and New England Conservatory, Samuel is currently attending The Juilliard School to pursue a Master of Music degree. We recently got a chance to ask … Continued
This weekend, the Houston Symphony presents Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook, a tribute to one of America’s most popular and enduring singer/songwriters. Performing many of these songs will be the talented Liz Callaway, one of Broadway’s brightest stars. Liz Callaway has appeared many times on Broadway, including in Sunday in the Park with George, Evita and Cats, and … Continued
It’s not every day that a young, up-and-coming violinist gets to share the stage with a world-renowned conductor. In fact, most young musicians don’t get that opportunity until they perform with an orchestra. That was not the case for Angel Vela, a 10-year-old boy from Houston whose life was forever changed on November 14, 2014. … Continued