Meet the 2022–23 Community-Embedded Fellows

The Houston Symphony is excited to announce the newly selected recipients of our Community-Embedded Fellowship! The Community-Embedded Fellowship, a collaboration with Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, is an apprenticeship program that provides graduate music students with the opportunity to develop community engagement skills. The fellowship … Continued

“I Am Coming to Houston”: A Look Back at Resilient Sounds

According to the Houston Chronicle, if Houston were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for refugee resettlement. Refugees are our neighbors, our colleagues, and our friends, but we do not always know their stories. For more than 450 members of Houston’s classical music community packing White Oak Music Hall on June 13, … Continued

Resilient Sounds: Celebrating Houston’s Refugee Communities

“Good! A beautiful setting,” Jimmy said over the applause as the pianist and vocalist finished the first reading of a new song by Erin Graham, a student at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. “There is one thing I’m thinking about: it’s so well written for the piano that I’m wondering how you’re going to … Continued

The Future of Orchestral Music is Now

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a composer? Picture a blank manuscript page, whether on a computer screen or old-fashioned paper, with endless sets of five lines marching across the page…empty. Now imagine filling that space with notations that define sounds, melodies, harmonies, dissonances and instrumental effects. You must make thousands of decisions: Which instruments play when? How … Continued

Ima Hogg Competition Finalists Announced!

After many amazing performances at the Semifinal round today, our judges have after much deliberation decided on four finalists for the 2016 Ima Hogg Competition. We present them to you in alphabetical order: Samuel Chan, marimba – Koppel Marimba Concerto No. 1 This 22-year-old marimba player is a graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for … Continued

Meet Stephanie Zyzak: 2016 Ima Hogg Competition Semi-finalist

Meet Ima Hogg Competition Semi-finalist Stephanie Zyzak! This talented 22-year-old violinist currently studies with Miriam Fried at New England Conservatory. We recently got a chance to ask Stephanie a few questions about herself and her musical life. Houston Symphony: Where did you grow up and how did that community affect whom you have become? Stephanie … Continued