Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: The Music of Motown

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.

Grammy and Tony-nominated singer & actress Valisia LeKae is thrilled to join The Houston Symphony. She most recently made her Carnegie Hall debut to a sold-out crowd with the New York Pops and Steven Reineke. 

Valisia is an award-winning actress who has graced the Broadway stage in numerous Tony-nominated productions such as The Three Penny Opera, 110 in the Shade, Ragtime, and The Book of Mormon. Her starring role as Diana Ross in Motown the Musical garnered her a Grammy Nomination, Tony Nomination, Theatre World Award, Drama League Nomination, and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. Valisia won a Joseph Jefferson Award and was nominated for a Black Theatre Alliance Award for her portrayal of Sarah in Ragtime at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago. Valisia’s Off-Broadway credits include Rock & Roll Man (Laver Baker, Aurelio Nom), Superhero (Mom, Audelco Award Nomination Best Ensemble), and Almost Heaven, The John Denver Musical, as well as Sweet Lorraine, for which she starred as Lorraine Hansberry. 

In 2020, Valisia Executive Produced & starred as Lorraine Hansberry in the virtual production of Scenes From Sweet Lorraine, which was a benefit for Stand Up To Cancer and the Equity in the Arts & Culture Committee of the Brooklyn NAACP. Some of her regional credits include Rock and Roll Man (Lavern Baker), Mark Twain’s River of Song, Oklahoma (Laurey), Caroline or Change (Emmie), Dreamgirls (Deena Jones), Godspell (Joanne), Big River (Alice’s Daughter) and Little Shop of Horrors (Chiffon), to which she was nominated for a Kevin Kline Award. She has toured with the USO and the National touring companies of All Shook Up (Lorraine) and Mamma Mia (Lisa). 

She has participated in countless workshops and readings in the New York City area. Some of her television credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, CBS FBI: Most Wanted, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Live at the Lincoln Center (Camelot), and the 60th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. Valisia is an ovarian cancer survivor and has been honored by the NOCC, OCRA, and Look Good Feel Better. 

She also served as the spokesperson for the NOCC and has been the keynote speaker for cancer organizations across the country. Her journey has been featured in Elle.com, Vogue.com, Vanity Fair Magazine, Essence Magazine, Parade Magazine, USA Today, NY Times, and many other publications. She has been honored three times by her alma mater, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 

Valisia is a graduate student in the M.A. Marriage & Family Therapy program at Syracuse University. She is in her clinical practice in New York as a Graduate Marriage & Family Therapist. Twitter/Instagram @valisialekae www.valisialekae.com.

Ryan Shaw is a three-time Grammy-nominated artist for his solo projects This is Ryan Shaw (Columbia Records), his In Between, and Dynotone’s Real Love. He has shared the world stage with such artists as Van Halen, Bonnie Raitt, John Legend, B.B. King, and Jill Scott. His music has been featured on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance and ABC’s Dancing with The Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, and Lincoln Heights; films My Blueberry Nights and Bride Wars; and the Sex and the City soundtrack.
He has been a featured guest on national TV talk shows. He starred as Judas in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Olivier Award-winning London production of Jesus Christ Superstar; as the original Stevie Wonder in Motown: The Musical on Broadway; and on London’s West End as the Soul of Michael Jackson in Thriller Live.
Ryan debuted at Radio City Music Hall in the Dream Concert benefit for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Carnegie Hall appearances include the Elton John and Bernie Taupin Tribute, A Celebration of The African American Cultural Legacy, and a Nat King Cole 100th concert with the NY Pops. His concert schedule includes Nat King Cole at 100 with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center and the Nashville Symphony and A Tribute to the Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin with numerous orchestras throughout North America.
Ryan’s new solo orchestral show, RYAN SHAW: Masters of R&B premiered at the Ferguson Center for the Arts with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and is being presented by other major orchestras around the country. He was a featured guest in The 92nd Street Y’s recent presentation of Lyrics & Lyricists What’s Going On?: Songs of Change. Ryan’s most recent album, Imagining Marvin, showcases Marvin Gaye hits alongside Ryan’s original songs and features Grammy Award-winning co-writers Valerie Simpson and Rob Thomas, and special guests Derek Trucks, Rob Thomas, Robert Randolph, and Shoshana Bean.

Houston native Chelsea Cymone is a talented singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and social media influencer. Part of a family of influential singers, she discovered her love for singing at a young age.
Chelsea’s passion for classical music blossomed at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), where she gained a deep understanding of music as both an artist and performer.
After graduating, Chelsea received a scholarship to Prairie View A&M University’s School of Music and concentrated on operatic performance. Alongside her studies, she explored her options in the music industry, lending her vocals as background for various Houston artists, an experience that helped refine her gift and opened doors to new opportunities.
Chelsea has performed as a featured artist for notable events, such as the Mayor of Houston’s Christmas and Thanksgiving parades. She debuted as a featured soloist with the Houston Symphony during its 2018 POPS Season.
In addition to her own music endeavors, she has served as a background vocalist for many esteemed artists, including Gene Moore, Chante’ Moore, Mya, Michelle Williams, Regina Belle, and Kenny Latimore. She has also toured with Grammy award-winning artist, Ella Mai, from 2019 to 2023.
Chelsea’s goal is to bring a fresh sense of artistry to the music industry. She aspires to be a highly sought-after entertainer, vocalist, songwriter, and vocal producer. She is committed to supporting and empowering other artists in pursuing their dreams. She cherishes every opportunity to connect with audiences by pouring her heart into every performance, showcasing her vulnerability and artistry.

Born and raised in Monrovia, California, singer-songwriter Raven Johnson developed an early interest in music. Influenced by Lalah Hathaway, Faith Evans, Tierney Sutton, and her love for the church, Raven has been singing since age 5. She pursued her passion by studying music at Spelman College and later Azusa Pacific University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music education in 2008.

Throughout her career, Raven’s contributions to the music industry can be characterized by countless vocal productions and arrangements, along with being a staple voice in the BGV community. She has participated in a variety of industry projects including, motion picture soundtracks, award shows, and albums. Some of the most notable include Paramount Pictures film Dreamgirls, the BET Awards, An Evening with the Stars Tribute to Aretha Franklin, and Mary J. Blige’s hit album, The Breakthrough.

A highlight of Raven’s career is touring with artists Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5, R&B singer Chante Moore, gospel recording performer Brian Courtney Wilson, and Grammy Award-winning artist Tasha Cobbs-Leonard.

Currently, Raven is working on a project of her own, a record entitled When He Speaks set to be released this winter. For more information on where you can find her next, follow her journey on Instagram @Thtsorae.

Grammy-nominated songwriter, singer, vocal arranger, background vocalist, and producer Michael Dixon, a Houston native, has written for myriad gospel artists such as Gene Moore Jr, Christina Bell, Nakitta Clegg Foxx, and many others.

Michael got his professional start in the music industry with studio background vocals, which developed into live background singing, working with an array of artists spanning genres. Artist like Vanessa Bell Armstrong, James Fortune, Yolanda Adams, JJ Hairston, Alabama, Chris Tomlin, Lady Gaga, Reba McIntyre, and Lyle Lovett are just a few.

In 2019, Michael released his first solo album The Walk on Water Project, which debuted at #9 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart. The single “Walk on Water” was one of the most added songs to gospel radio. Two other charting singles from that album, “Great Grace” and “Hello Sunshine,” both with accompanying concept videos, also rose in popularity.

Michael’s sophomore album, released in 2022, How Are You Healing?, also debuted at #9 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart. The song “Be Alright,” featuring Stellar Award-nominee Christina Bell, is currently impacting gospel radio. He serves as one of the worship leaders at The Luke Church in Humble, Texas.