Christian Schubert has been the second clarinetist of the Houston Symphony since 1996 when he was appointed by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach. A native of Burbank, CA, he studied at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance. His principal teachers have been Kalman Bloch, Robert Marcellus … Continued
In January 2019, Timothy Dilenschneider was appointed associate principal double bass of the Houston Symphony. Prior to joining this orchestra, Timothy was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of music director Marin Alsop. He has also performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and The Florida Orchestra. His orchestral … Continued
On March 29, 30 and 31, Houston Symphony Principal Cello Brinton Averil Smith performs Eugen d’Albert’s passionate Cello Concerto. In this post, Brinton explains how a great cellist of the past inspired him to champion this unknown masterpiece. Get tickets and more information here. Eugen d’Albert’s Cello Concerto is something of a novelty today. Even most … Continued
Leonardo R. Soto Jr. is the newly appointed Principal Timpanist of the Houston Symphony and the first native Hispanic timpanist to play in a professional orchestra in the United States. Leo served as principal timpanist of the Charlotte Symphony from 2009 until 2018, and the Michigan Opera Theatre-Detroit Opera House from 2003 to 2009. He … Continued
Richard Harris joined the Houston Symphony as second trumpet in 2018. Previously, for eight years he was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where he became the only musician in an American orchestra to win auditions for each position in one trumpet section. A Yamaha Performing Artist, he has performed with the Seoul and … Continued
Andrew Pedersen joined the Houston Symphony Double Bass section in August 2017. A native of Batavia, Illinois, Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and master’s degree from Rice University, where he studied with Robert Kassinger and former Houston Symphony Principal Bass Timothy Pitts, respectively. Other mentors include Paul Ellison, Alexander Hanna and Gregory … Continued
As Halloween approaches, Houstonians across the city are stocking up on candy and getting their costumes ready. Many Houston Symphony musicians get especially excited about this gleefully ghoulish holiday. We asked them about their favorite costumes, ghost stories and music for Halloween. Here’s what they had to say. Robin Kesselman, principal double bass Is there … Continued
Above: Principal Double Bass Robin Kesselman works with a student from Medellín, Colombia during a special masterclass. Last week, 35 Houston Symphony musicians journeyed to Medellín, Colombia to help the Orquesta Filarmonica de Medellín celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Teatro Metropolitano José Gutiérrez Gómez with a concert featuring music director Andrés Orozco-Estrada and violinist Hilary Hahn. … Continued
Anne Leek, oboe, was educated at Juilliard where she received her bachelors of music, masters of music and doctor of musical arts degrees. During her time in New York, she performed on a recital in Carnegie Hall sponsored by the Artists International Contest, which she won. During the 1980s, Anne was solo principal oboe of … Continued
Donald Howey, a member of the Houston Symphony since 1999, has performed with the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and has been principal and soloist with the Houston Chamber Orchestra. He began playing the bass at age 15 in his hometown of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Howey completed his Master’s degree in … Continued
Principal Trombonist with the Houston Symphony, Allen Barnhill joined the orchestra in 1977 and has appeared as a soloist on numerous occasions. Winner of the Swiss Prize in the 1979 Geneva International Solo Competition, he was also featured in the 2008 world premiere of Cindy McTee’s Solstice for Trombone and Orchestra. As an ensemble collaborator, … Continued
Orchestra musicians love touring. The notion that the orchestra is building bridges, making connections, drawing together a diversity of people through music—while also enjoying ovations, sightseeing, history, and culture—make tours a memorable part of any musician’s career. For a while, every musician is removed from everyday concerns—laundry, dishes, what’s for dinner, traffic—and can really focus … Continued
Nancy Goodearl, a member of the Houston Symphony since 1981, received a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree in performance from Northwestern University. Since 1987, she has been a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has … Continued
Whether it’s a song, movie or a distant memory, there is always something that puts us in a festive mood. We surveyed our musicians to see what gets them into the holiday spirit. Season’s greetings from all of us at the Houston Symphony! Andrew Pedersen, double bass Sponsored by Barbara J. Burger What is the … Continued
Jonathan Fischer joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Oboe in September 2012, and joined the faculty of the University of Houston in September 2014. Previously, he served as associate principal oboe with the San Francisco Symphony for nine seasons. He has also held positions with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and several … Continued
What is the Houston Symphony thankful for this year? We surveyed our musicians and staff to find out! From being back in Jones Hall after Hurricane Harvey to playing great music for you, we have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us onstage and behind-the-scenes. WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR … Continued
A junior from Galena Park High School and saxophone student, Salvador excelled locally and nationally under the guidance of Dave Connor, a Houston Symphony Community-Embedded Musician. Salvador’s growth in musical interpretation and execution prepared him for Texas Music Educators Association All-State and Interlochen auditions.
Titanic. Avatar. Braveheart. Field of Dreams. Some of the biggest movies of the past 30 years have told their stories with the help of sweeping, colorful scores by the late James Horner. He entrusted some of their most poignant moments to the French horn: In Field of Dreams, for instance, the horn lent its glow to the first sight … Continued
Big Brothers Big Sisters brought some very special guests for the Houston Symphony’s “A Frosty & Frozen Christmas” Family Concert on Saturday, December 12 at Jones Hall. A mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”) in the Houston area. Before the concert, unmatched “Littles” … Continued
At the Houston Symphony, nothing gives us more joy than sharing the music we love, and as an organization we are committed to sharing music with as many people in our community as we possibly can. This means that in addition to our busy concert schedule, our musicians are out and about all over Houston … Continued