HOUSTON, TX (October 23, 2024) — In 2022, the Houston Symphony launched its new In Harmony initiative, a community-based after school music program in partnership with AFA (American Festival for the Arts) – Houston’s largest independent non-profit provider of music education – and local community organizations. Now beginning its third full season, this initiative is expanding with two new programs to join DeLUXE K!DS In Harmony in the 5th Ward under the Symphony’s In Harmony umbrella: reVision In Harmony in Gulfton, and Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus En Armonía Violin Discovery Series. All three In Harmony programs aim to provide access to music education, and promote life skills through active music-making for children in under-resourced communities who might otherwise not have access to music. Each program is tailored to the specific community partner, including culturally relevant musical content that allows children to celebrate and share their cultural traditions.
“We’re thrilled to expand the In Harmony program to even more communities in Houston,” said Sippi Khurana, the Chair of Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Committee. “This program provides access to music education, but it also creates a safe space for kids to learn, grow, and communicate. We’re excited to partner with Segundo Barrio Chldren’s Chorus (SBCC) and reVision and bring the life-changing power of music to young people.”
In Harmony is made possible thanks to Program Guarantors Dr. Sippi and Ajay Khurana, and Sponsors H-E-B and Union Pacific.
Now in its third year, DeLUXE K!DS In Harmony is a partnership among the Houston Symphony, AFA, and the 5th Ward Cultural Arts District’s DeLUXE Theater. The program provides free and comprehensive violin lessons to children in grades three through five from the 5th Ward neighborhood. A central goal of this program is to promote a sense of community and create a safe, accepting, inspiring environment. The program now has about 30 children participating, who continue to perform concerts throughout the year across Houston, including performances at the DeLUXE Theater as well as at Jones Hall before Symphony concerts.
The Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus En Armonia Violin Discovery Series finds the Houston Symphony and AFA partnering with the SBCC for an eight-week pilot program of twice-weekly group violin lessons for children ages seven to nine. The goal here is to promote life skills through musical instruction that emphasizes the culturally rich music of Latin America.
A second new partnership this year sees the Houston Symphony joining with Houston reVision for the new reVision In Harmonyprogram. This weekly after school series in the Gulfton community is designed to integrate into the community and build trust and confidence through music appreciation workshops. It focuses on developing music literacy skills and sparking interest in a diverse array of musical genres, incorporating musical elements showcased during Houston Symphony performances that its members experience.
Significant In Harmony Upcoming Events:
First Note Ceremony for new DeLUXE K!DS to graduate to real violins
October 24, 2024 @ 5:15 p.m.
Bruce Elementary School
First Note Ceremony for Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus students to graduate to real violins
November 5, 2024 @ 6:15 p.m.
Garza Studios
DeLUXE K!DS End of Term Performance
December 18, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.
Bruce Elementary School
Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus Violin Program End of Term Performance
December 21, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Trinity Downtown
About Houston Symphony
Under Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the Houston Symphony continues its second century inspiring and engaging a large and diverse audience in Houston and beyond through exceptional musical performances, and creating enduring impact in the Houston community. One of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas, the Symphony held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an operating budget of $40.7 million, the full-time ensemble of professional musicians presents more than 130 concerts annually, making it the largest performing arts organization in Houston. Traditionally, musicians of the orchestra and the Symphony’s Community-Embedded Musicians also offer nearly 600 community-based performances each year at various schools, community centers, hospitals, senior centers, and churches, annually reaching nearly 200,000 people in Greater Houston in addition to Jones Hall.
After suspending concert activities in March 2020, the Symphony successfully completed a full 2020–21 season with in-person audiences and weekly livestreams of each performance, making it one of the only orchestras in the world to do so. The Houston Symphony remains committed to livestreaming its 2024-25 Season to a broad audience in over 45 countries and all 50 states, one of few American orchestras dedicated to transmitting live performances to a sizeable audience outside its home city through this technology. The Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony has recorded under various prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, Telarc, Virgin Classics, and, most recently, Dutch recording label Pentatone. In 2017, the Houston Symphony was awarded an ECHO Klassik award for the live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck under the direction of former Music Director Hans Graf. The orchestra earned its first Grammy nomination and Grammy Award at the 60th annual ceremony for the same recording in the Best Opera Recording category. The Symphony’s most recent recordings include a Pentatone release in January 2022 of its world premiere performances of Jimmy López Bellido’s Aurora and Ad Astra, and a Naxos release in July 2023 of its world premiere performance of Jennifer Higdon’s Duo Duel.
About AFA
AFA (American Festival for the Arts) is Houston’s largest independent non-profit provider of music education programs. AFA was founded to break down the barriers that exist in music education and each AFA program is one step toward addressing the need for greater access to the arts. AFA’s work in the Greater Houston community is divided into three program areas: 1) Engage AFA – presenting a broad range of customized residencies, clinics, and master classes in area schools both during and after the school day. 2) AFA Ensembles & Instruction, consisting of Chamber Music Academy and Composition Studies – offering unique learning opportunities in the fall and spring semesters that challenge musicians at their next stage of musical achievement taking place at AFA’s home in the Second Ward; and, 3) AFA’s flagship program, the Summer Music Festival, the most intensive, age appropriate training that AFA offers. More than 400 grade 3-12 vocalists, pianists, instrumentalists, and composers participate in challenging, multi-week experiences at AFA’s summer home, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Downtown Houston.
Each season, AFA serves over 2,000 young musicians, offers over 40,000 hours of classroom instruction, and presents 50 free performances throughout the greater Houston metro area. AFA believes that financial hardship should never be a barrier between a musician and the experiences that have the potential to shape their futures. AFA’s Play It Forward Fund ensures that students have access to programs, instruments, and private lessons regardless of socio-economic status, helping more than two-thirds of AFA students annually. The Fund also allows AFA to offer Engage AFA programming for free to partner schools and community centers.
For over three decades, AFA has inspired thousands of Houstonians through music. Find out more at www.afatexas.org
About the DeLUXE Theater
The DeLUXE Theater, located in Houston’s Fifth Ward, opened in April 1941 as the city’s premiere Black movie theater, serving the community until its closure in 1969.
The DeLUXE Theater has a rich history that reflects the cultural evolution of Houston’s Fifth Ward. When it opened in April 1941, it became a vital social and entertainment hub for the Black community, showcasing films and events that resonated with local audiences. Despite its closure in 1969, the theater’s legacy continued when the De Menil family converted it into an art gallery in 1971, hosting exhibitions until 1973. It remained vacant until 2015 when the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (FWCRC) purchased it, planning to transform it into a performing and visual arts facility through a collaboration with the City of Houston and Texas Southern University. It was then that the theater was revitalized, restoring its role as a community landmark and continuing to celebrate the arts and culture of the neighborhood. Today, it stands not only as a historic site but also as a vibrant venue for performances and events, reflecting the resilience and creativity of the Fifth Ward community. Youth arts programming is now a vital part of the theater’s legacy.
The venue is a part of the 5th Ward Cultural Arts District, designated in September 2020 by the State of Texas. The district focuses on preserving cultural legacies and celebrating the community’s African American history through art, embodying the belief that “there is no art without people.”
About Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus
Houston’s first and only spanish-language, bilingual children’s choir, Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus (SBCC) deeply enriches the lives of children and their families through Tuition-Free music and arts education, coupled with transformative performance opportunities at community events throughout Second Ward/East End District and greater Houston. SBCC programs target children from immigrant/bilingual hispanic households representing some of Houston’s most under-resourced neighborhoods. A specially-curated music education curriculum utilizes Spanish-language musical cannons from the folk, classical, indigenous, and popular traditions fostering pride in cultural identity, while instilling discipline and focus, and building character and confidence.
Choristers in the flagship ensemble, Los Jóvenes Cantantes (ages 8-12), serve as cultural ambassadors, representing East End families and communities at city-wide events. These performances play a critical role in paving the way for bilingualism in the arts, sharing with all Houstonians, the rich immigrant culture of Segundo Barrio and Houston’s Latinx/Hispanic population. SBCC’s mission pillars include engaging residents and empowering youth through crucial, out-of-school time programming, culturally-informed performances, and educational experiences, all aimed at reducing drop-out rates and increasing overall academic outcomes.
About Houston reVision
Houston reVision is located in the Gulfton/Sharpstown area. This area is home to a large community of Hispanic, immigrant, and refugee populations. It has the largest number of ESL students, and one of the highest rates of gang activity. Over 90% of the youth served by reVision are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), with many speaking a primary language other than English. A significant number of these youth come from refugee backgrounds and have faced multiple traumatic experiences, often with limited access to trauma-informed support and care.
Houston reVIsion’s mission is to break the cycle of juvenile justice involvement and homelessness among youth in Harris County by leveraging the power of community. The organization connects youth with mentors, positive peer groups, life-changing resources, sports, and opportunities for artistic expression. At reVision, youth find a safe, supportive, and caring environment. It’s a place where they can build meaningful relationships with caring adults and peers who uplift and empower them. reVision is committed to cultural competency and programs prioritize equity and fairness. The organization’s front-line staff reflects the diversity of the youth they serve, bringing similar lived experiences and training in culturally competent, trauma-informed practices.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Eric Skelly: 713.337.8560, eric.skelly@houstonsymphony.org
Madison Mann: 832.930.4065 x120, madison@theckpgroup.com