Miller Outdoor Theatre: Star-Spangled Salute

Christina Wells is a nurse, singer, actress, and motivational speaker from Houston, Texas. After years of caring for othersas a Registered Nurse, and single mother to her two incredible sons, Christina embarked upon a journey of

self-discovery that would lead her to national recognition. While in her 40s, she shifted focus toward her passion for singing and performance and found herself auditioning for America’s Got Talent. She not only landed a spot in the competition but was a semifinalist earning praise from the infamous Simon Cowell while winning over the hearts of America.

In addition to her musical talent, she discovered that her message of self-love, confidence, and positivity would inspire millions. She encourages everyone to pursue their own dreams and learn to accept themselves just as they are. News publications such as USA Today, Forbes, The Houston Chronicle, Billboard Magazine, The Washington Post, NPR, Outsmart Magazine, and more have featured her as a performer with a message of positivity, love, and hope who also has a powerhouse voice that will blow the roof off of any stage.

Since her time on America’s Got Talent, Christina has appeared in professional productions such as Ursula in The Little Mermaid (Theatre Under the Stars TUTS), Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (TUTS), Medda Larkin in Newsies! (TUTS), Charilee in Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular (Stages), Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act the Musical (Art Park Players), and Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray (Art Park Players). Christina also spent 2022 and 2023 touring the country as Matron “Mama” Morton in the Broadway National tour of Chicago the Musical.

Christina has sung the National Anthem for the MLB, NFL, and NBA. She has also released two original singles, “Ready or Not” and “Somebody,” available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music. Each song bears her message of confidence and self-love.

From her time inspiring others as a Semi-Finalist on America’s Got Talent to her appearances at schools, women’s conferences, and benefits across the nation, Christina uplifts her audience with her own unique brand of motivational entertainment.  Visit christinawells.com for more information.

Houston Symphony Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke is one of North America’s leading conductors of popular music. He is in his second decade as music director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he is principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Steven is a frequent guest conductor and can be seen on the podium with the Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.

On stage, he creates and collaborates with a range of leading artists from the worlds hip-hop, R & B, Broadway, television, and rock including: Maxwell, Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Ne-Yo, Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio, Barry Manilow, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Sutton Foster, Amos Lee, Dispatch, Jason Mraz, and Ben Folds, among others.

In 2024, he led the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) on PBS’s Next at the Kennedy Center featuring Ben Folds DeClassified with Jacob Collier, Laufey, and dodie. He was previously seen with the NSO on PBS on Great Performances with hip-hop legend Nas performing his seminal album Illmatic. In 2017, he was featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered leading the NSO—in a first for the show’s 45-year history—performing live music excerpts between news segments.

As the creator of hundreds orchestral arrangements, Steven’s work is performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings. His symphonic works Celebration Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Casey at the Bat are frequently performed in North America, including performances by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His Sun Valley Festival Fanfare was used to commemorate the Sun Valley Summer Symphony’s pavilion, and his Festival Te Deum and Swan’s Island Sojourn were debuted by the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras. His numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are perennially performed by concert bands.

A native of Ohio, Steven is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio (2020 Alumnus Distinguished Achievement Medal), where he earned bachelor of music degrees with honors in both trumpet performance and music composition. He currently resides in New York City with his husband Eric Gabbard.