Olivia Cantrell

Tell us a little about yourself: Growing up in a house filled with art, music, and wonderful people really set me up for a career in the arts. I hold a BFA in Arts Management from Emerson College and have worked as a lighting specialist for most of my career, but I have a very … Continued

We all know Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker– it’s as much a part of the holidays as hot cocoa and snow (well, maybe not in Texas). But what happens when this classical piece gets a jazzy makeover? Enter Duke Ellington and his unique take on the beloved ballet. In 1960, Ellington and his collaborator Billy Strayhorn reimagined … Continued

You may know the Houston Symphony for its remarkable performances in Jones Hall, but the Symphony is also committed to enriching lives through music beyond the confines of a performance hall. The Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives are designed to reach the diverse communities of Houston through a robust array of programs. Last … Continued

Welcome to “Meet the Musician,” a behind-the-scenes blog series getting to know the Houston Symphony’s exceptional musicians. In this series, we take you up close and personal with the artists who sit on stage at Jones Hall every weekend. Read on to learn more about the inspirations, challenges, and musical passions that drive these remarkable … Continued

If you have ever watched part of a movie on mute, you know that without music, scary scenes aren’t as scary, and happy endings aren’t as happy. A live orchestra can take the emotional impact of a film to a whole new level, making suspenseful scenes terrifying, sad moments heartbreaking, and our protagonists’ victories truly … Continued