I am from south-central Pennsylvania and how I got interested in symphonies is perhaps typical of many in my age group and from the area in which I was raised. I am from a small town close to Gettysburg. I began singing at a very young age much to the chagrin of my sister. Our … Continued
I have enjoyed enriching music ever since youth. My wife and I both grew up playing instruments in our schools’ band programs, and I into college. I cut my teeth on Maurice Abravanel and later Joseph Silverstein with the Utah Symphony, and after moving to The Woodlands in the mid-1990s, was introduced to the Houston … Continued
The Houston Symphony has been woven through our lives for decades. We’ve both served as trustees and on committee, had the pleasure of getting to know some of the musicians and their families, and many music directors. But it’s the musical experiences that fill our souls and hearts. Whether it’s Mahler or the Mariachi Orchestra, … Continued
I have always enjoyed music. My parents had a subscription to the Houston Symphony for many years. My first memory of going to the Symphony was in junior high school. My family was downtown at an event that was not interesting to me so my dad bought me a ticket to the Symphony – it … Continued
I literally grew up with the Houston Symphony. My father, Irving Wadler, was a first violinist with the orchestra, and he played continually from 1933 until his retirement in 1980. So a large and wonderful part of my childhood and adolescence was spent going to all sorts of concerts, meeting great artists, and getting a … Continued
My first pure musical experience was listening to Brahms’s Fourth Symphony. But I did not hear it in a concert hall, or even performed by a local ensemble. No, my true introduction to classical music came to me in my bed. I was about 9 years old and every night I buried myself under my … Continued