Photos here.

HOUSTON, TX (September 5, 2025)—

The Houston Symphony today is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of beloved Associate Conductor Robert Franz, who inspired young audiences and musicians during his fourteen-year tenure at the Symphony. Franz passed away on September 2, 2025 at the age of 57.

Throughout his years with the Houston Symphony, Franz brought boundless joy, imagination, and creativity to every concert he conducted. From Saturday morning Family Concerts to community performances across Houston, to halls filled with students for the Symphony’s Education Concerts, Franz made music feel welcoming, exciting, and magical for all. His Education Concerts reached more than 400,000 students, as well as countless others who experienced his creativity and warmth through Family and Community Concerts across the city.

“As a team of education, operations, and artistic staff who worked closely with him, we can truly say he helped shape us into the administrators we are today” said Vicky Dominguez (Chief Operations Officer), Rebecca Zabinski (Senior Director of Artistic Planning), Allison Conlan (Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement), and Meredith Williams (Director of Concert Operations). “He filled us with creative ideas and reminded us that fun and joy are as essential to music as notes on a page. Some of our happiest memories are of planning with him—the costumes, the entrances, and all the little touches that made each concert unforgettable.”

“Robert had a gift for bringing out the best in everyone, and his legacy lives on in the delight and wonder he sparked in countless students, musicians, and audiences—and in the vibrant culture of music-making he helped nurture in Houston. His vision and the foundation he created for our Family and Education concerts will remain a vital part of the Houston Symphony’s fabric for generations to come.”

Renowned for creatively going above and beyond to engage the young audiences at his Family Series Concerts, Franz also led the orchestra in its 100^th Anniversary Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 2013, conducted the North American premiere of Dan Brown’s musical children’s book Wild Symphony, and was awarded the Raphael Fliegel Award for Visionary Leadership.

At the time of his passing, Robert Franz served as Music Director at the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Boise Baroque Orchestra, and Music Director of the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra. He previously held leadership roles with the Boise Philharmonic and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Orchestra, and appeared as guest conductor with leading ensembles across the U.S. and abroad.

Franz received both his bachelor’s degree in oboe performance and his master’s degree in conducting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Away from the podium, he was an avid runner and a passionate advocate of the Alexander technique as a practice for mindful living.

The Houston Symphony Community extends its heartfelt condolences to Robert’s family, friends, and colleagues around the world. His vibrant spirit and inspiring legacy will live on–in Jones Hall, in classrooms across Houston, and in the hearts of all who experienced his music.

About the Houston Symphony

Under the leadership of Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony continues to inspire and engage diverse audiences in Houston and beyond with exceptional musical performances and enduring community impact. The Symphony held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Now in its second century as one of America’s premier orchestras, the Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas and remains a cultural cornerstone of the region.

With an annual operating budget of $40.7 million, the Symphony presents over 130 concerts each year, making it one of the largest performing arts organizations in Texas. Its reach extends far beyond the concert hall, delivering more than 600 performances annually at schools, community centers, hospitals, and other venues, engaging over 160,000 people throughout Greater Houston.

The Symphony's innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic—completing its 2020-21 Season with in-person audiences and weekly livestreams—earned national recognition and the ASCAP Foundation’s Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award. Its commitment to innovation continues, with its 2024-25 Season reaching audiences in over 45 countries and all 50 states via livestreaming, making it one of the few American orchestras to sustain such global digital engagement.

Renowned for its artistry, the Symphony has a distinguished recording legacy under prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, and Pentatone. Highlights include a Grammy and ECHO Klassik Award-winning live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck and recent releases such as Jimmy López Bellido’s Aurora and Ad Astra (2022) and Jennifer Higdon’s Duo Duel (2023).

The Symphony’s educational impact is equally remarkable, with its Harry and Cora Sue Mach Student Concert Series reaching over 50,000 students annually. Its In Harmony after-school program and partnerships with institutions like the Houston Methodist Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital further demonstrate the Symphony’s commitment to fostering community connections and accessibility to the arts.

With a vision centered on artistic excellence, community engagement, and accessibility, the Houston Symphony remains a cultural leader in Houston and a global ambassador for the transformative power of music.

For more information, please contact

Eric Skelly, eric.skelly@houstonsymphony.org

Jessica Henderson, jessica@theckpgroup.com