InTUNE
Miller Outdoor Theatre: Star-Spangled Salute
performance CALENDAR 2024 –25 SEASON
The Music of ABBA
June 15
Jurassic Park in Concert
June 22 & 23
The Music of The Rolling Stones
June 28 & 29
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: The Music of Motown
September 28 & 29
Opening Weekend: Dvořák’s New World
October 4, 5 & 6
Trifonov in Concert
October 10
Dvořák’s Violin Concerto
October 12 & 13
Hansel and Gretel & Don Quixote
November 1, 2 & 3
It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics with Byron Stripling
A Viennese Waltz Christmas
December 7 & 8
Yo-Yo Ma in Concert
December 9
Very Merry Pops
December 12, 14 & 15
Holly Jolly Holiday
December 14
S Handel's Messiah
December 20, 21 & 22
Pink Martini with China Forbes: 30th Anniversary Season
January 3, 4 & 5
November 8, 9 & 10 S
Clap your hands, say yeah! The Great American Music Adventure
November 9
Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Beethoven 9
November 14
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert
November 16 & 17
Bach, Mozart & Brahms
November 23 & 24
Thanksgiving Weekend: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto
November 29, 30 & December 1
An Eschenbach & Bruckner
Birthday Celebration
January 11 & 12
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert
January 18 & 19
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto & Tchaikovsky
January 24, 25 & 26
Viva Italia! Opera Beyond Words
February 7 & 9
Duke Bluebeard’s Castle
February 15 & 16
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
February 21 & 22
007: James Bond Forever
February 28, March 1 & 2
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Maestro
March 1
Hilary Hahn Plays Brahms
March 7, 8 & 9
Korngold’s Violin Concerto & Cinderella
March 14, 15 & 16
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody & The Little Mermaid
March 21, 22 & 23
Showstoppers! Celebrating Iconic Women of Broadway
April 4, 5 & 6
La Flor: The Music of Selena
April 12 & 13
Sibelius 5 & Stravinsky
April 18 & 19
Cirque Rocks!
April 25, 26 & 27
Cirque For Kids
April 26
Beethoven 7 & Mozart
May 1, 3 & 4
Trumpet Brilliance & Boléro
May 9, 10 & 11
Stayin’ Alive: The Bee Gees & Beyond
May 16, 17 & 18
Bruce Liu Plays Chopin
May 23, 24 & 25
Juraj Valčuha Conducts Mahler 3
May 30, 31 & June 1
John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Movie Magic
June 6, 7 & 8
Juraj valČuha
Houston Symphony Music Director Juraj Valčuha is recognized for his effortless expressiveness and depth of musicianship. With sharp baton technique and natural stage presence, the impressive ease of his interpretations translate even the most complex scores into immersive experiences.
Before joining the Houston Symphony in June 2022, Juraj was Music Director of the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, from 2016 to 2022 and first guest conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. He was Chief Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai from 2009 to 2016.
The 2005–06 Season marked the start of his international career on the podium of the Orchestre National de France followed by remarkable debuts in the United Kingdom with the Philharmonia London, in Germany with the Munich Philharmonic, in the United States with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and in Italy with Puccini's La bohème in Bologna.
He has since led the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Munich Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Maggio Musicale in Florence, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Music
Director Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair
Rome, Milan's Filarmonica della Scala, Montréal Symphony, and the NHK and Yomiuri orchestras in Tokyo.
He enjoys regular collaborations with the Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony.
International touring with the Orchestra Sinfonica della Rai took them to the Musikverein in Vienna and Philharmonie in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Zurich, Munich, to the Enesco Festival in Bucharest, and the Abu Dhabi Classics. With the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, he visited Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn to mark the 100 th anniversary of the Baltic nations.
In Europe, he is acclaimed on the podium of the Munich Philharmonic, the NDR Hamburg and Frankfurt Radio orchestras, as well as the Vienna Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, BBC Symphony and Philharmonia London, and the Swedish Radio Orchestra.
Juraj champions the compositions of living composers and aims to program contemporary pieces in most of his concerts. He has conducted world premieres, including Christopher Rouse’s Supplica with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Steven Mackey’s violin concerto with Leila Josefowicz and the BBC
Symphony in Manchester, and Nico Muhly’s Bright Idea with the Houston Symphony. In 2005, he conducted, in the presence of the composer, Steve Reich’s Four Seasons at the Melos-Ethos Festival in Bratislava. Other composers he has supported and continues to follow with interest are Bryce Dessner, Steven Stucky, Andrew Norman, James MacMillan, Luca Francesconi, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Anna Clyne, and Jessie Montgomery, among others.
Including his engagements in Houston, the 2023–24 Season took him to the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Chicago, and Minnesota Orchestras as well as to the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra in Tokyo. On the European stage, he performed Fanciulla del West and Tristan and Isolde at the Bavarian State Opera and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Jenufa at the Opera di Roma, and Salome at the Semperoper in Dresden. He led concerts with the RAI Orchestra, the Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Orchestre National de France, the NDR, SWR, and the Bamberg Symphony, among others.
Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Juraj studied composition and conducting in his birth place, then at the conservatory in St. Petersburg (with Ilya Musin), and finally, at the Conservatoire Supérieur de la Musique in Paris.
ORCHESTRA ROSTER
Juraj Valčuha
Music Director
Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair
FIRST VIOLIN
Yoonshin Song, Concertmaster
Max Levine Chair
Eric Halen, Co-Concertmaster
Ellen E. Kelley Chair
Boson Mo, Assistant Concertmaster
Qi Ming, Assistant Concertmaster Fondren Foundation Chair
Marina Brubaker
Tong Yan
MiHee Chung
Sophia Silivos
Rodica Gonzalez
Ferenc Illenyi
Si-Yang Lao
Kurt Johnson*
Christopher Neal
Sergei Galperin
SECOND VIOLIN
MuChen Hsieh*, Principal
Teresa Wang+, Associate Principal
Amy Semes
Annie Kuan-Yu Chen
Mihaela Frusina
Jing Zheng
Tianjie Lu
Anastasia Ehrlich
Tina Zhang*
Yankı Karataş
Hannah Duncan
Tianxu Liu+
Samuel Park+
VIOLA
Joan DerHovsepian, Principal
Wei Jiang, Acting Associate Principal
Sheldon Person
Fay Shapiro
Keoni Bolding
Samuel Pedersen
Paul Aguilar
Suzanne LeFevre+
Elizabeth Golofeev+
Meredith Harris+
Yvonne Smith+
CELLO
Brinton Averil Smith, Principal
Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Chair
Christopher French, Associate Principal
Anthony Kitai
Louis-Marie Fardet
Jeffrey Butler
Maki Kubota
Xiao Wong
Charles Seo
Jeremy Kreutz
COMMUNITY-EMBEDDED MUSICIAN
Lindsey Baggett, Violin
ASSISTANT LIBRARIANS
Hae-a Lee
Anna Thompson
Steven Reineke, Principal POPS Conductor
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor Laureate
Gonzalo Farias, Assistant Conductor
DOUBLE BASS
Robin Kesselman, Principal
Timothy Dilenschneider, Associate Principal
Eric Larson
Andrew Pedersen
Burke Shaw
Donald Howey
Avery Weeks
Ryan Avila+
FLUTE
Aralee Dorough, Principal
General Maurice Hirsch Chair
Matthew Roitstein*,
Associate Principal
Judy Dines,
Acting Associate Principal
Kathryn Ladner
PICCOLO
Kathryn Ladner
OBOE
Jonathan Fischer, Principal
Lucy Binyon Stude Chair
Anne Leek, Associate Principal
Colin Gatwood
Adam Dinitz
ENGLISH HORN
Adam Dinitz
Barbara and Pat McCelvey Chair
CLARINET
Mark Nuccio, Principal
Bobbie Nau Chair
Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal
Christian Schubert
Alexander Potiomkin
E-FLAT CLARINET
Thomas LeGrand
BASS CLARINET
Alexander Potiomkin, Tassie and Constantine S. Nicandros Chair
BASSOON
Rian Craypo, Principal
Isaac Schultz, Associate Principal
Elise Wagner
Adam Trussell
CONTRABASSOON
Adam Trussell
STAGE PERSONNEL
Stefan Stout, Stage Manager
José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager
Nicholas DiFonzo, Head Video Engineer
Justin Herriford, Head Audio Engineer
Connor Morrow, Head Stage Technician
Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager
HORN
William VerMeulen, Principal
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan
Endowed Chair
Robert Johnson, Associate Principal
Nathan Cloeter, Assistant Principal/Utility
Brian Thomas
Brian Mangrum
Ian Mayton
Barbara J. Burger Chair
TRUMPET
Mark Hughes, Principal
George P. and Cynthia Woods
Mitchell Chair
John Parker, Associate Principal
Robert Walp, Assistant Principal
Richard Harris
TROMBONE
Bradley White, Acting Principal
Ryan Rongone+
Phillip Freeman
BASS TROMBONE
Phillip Freeman
TUBA
Dave Kirk, Principal
TIMPANI
Leonardo Soto, Principal
Matthew Strauss, Associate Principal
PERCUSSION
Brian Del Signore, Principal
Mark Griffith
Matthew Strauss
HARP
Allegra Lilly, Principal
KEYBOARD
Scott Holshouser, Principal
LIBRARIAN
Luke Bryson, Principal
*on leave + contracted substitute
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP
John Mangum, Executive Director/CEO, Margaret Alkek Williams Chair
Elizabeth S. Condic, Chief Financial Officer
Vicky Dominguez, Chief Operating Officer
DEVELOPMENT
Lauren Buchanan, Development Communications Manager
Alex Canales, Development Ticket Concierge
Jessie De Arman, Development Associate, Gifts and Records
Timothy Dillow, Senior Director, Development
Amanda T. Dinitz, Senior Major Gifts Officer
Vivian Gonzalez, Development Officer
Kamra Kilmer, Development Gift Officer
Karyn Mason, Development Officer
Hadia Mawlawi, Senior Associate, Endowment and Planned Giving
Meghan Miller, Special Events Associate
Emilie Moellmer, Annual Fund Manager
Megan Mottu, Development Officer
Tim Richey, Director, Individual Giving
Sherry Rodriguez, Corporate Relations Manager & Board Liaison
Katie Salvatore, Development Officer
Christine Ann Stevens, Senior Director, Development
Lena Streetman, Manager, Research and Development Operations
Stacey Swift, Director, Special Events
Sarah Thompson, Donor Stewardship Manager
Christina Trunzo, Director, Foundation Relations
Alexa Ustaszewski, Major Gifts Officer
EDUCATION | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Olivia Allred, Education Manager
Allison Conlan, Director, Education and Community Engagement
FINANCE | ADMINISTRATION | IT | HR
José Arriaga, Systems Engineer
Henry Cantu, Finance Accountant
Kimberly Cegielski, Staff Accountant
Joel James, Director of Human Resources
Tanya Lovetro, Director of Budgeting and Financial Reporting
Jane Orosco, Database Administrator
Morgana Rickard, Controller
Gabriela Rivera, Senior Accountant
Pam Romo, Office Manager/HR Coordinator
Lee Whatley, Senior Director, IT and Analytics
MARKETING | COMMUNICATIONS
Mark Bailes, Marketing Revenue Manager
Olivia Cantrell, Content Marketing Coordinator
David Early, Marketing and External Relations Assistant
Heather Fails, Manager, Ticketing Database
Kathryn Judd, Director, Marketing
Priya Kurup, Senior Associate, Group Sales
Yoo-Ell Lee, Graphics and Media Designer
Fiona Legesse-Sinha, Graphic Design Manager
Ciara Macaulay, Creative Director
Mariah Martinez, Email Marketing Coordinator
Freddie Piegsa, Patron Experience Coordinator
Eric Skelly, Senior Director, Communications
Alex Soares, Senior Director, Marketing
Christian Sosa, Web Experience Director
Ashlan Walker, Manager, Patron Services
Jenny Zuniga, Director, Patron Services
OPERATIONS | ARTISTIC
Stephanie Alla, Associate Director of Artistic Planning
Juan Pablo Brand, Artistic Intern
Becky Brown, Associate Director, Orchestra Personnel
Suré Eloff, Chorus Manager
Michael Gorman, Director, Orchestra Personnel
Julia Hall, Interim Director, Chorus
Adrian Hernandez, Artistic Operations Intern
Hae-a Lee, Assistant Librarian
Giancarlo Minotti, Audio Production Manager
Lauren Moore, Associate Director, Concert Media and Production
José Rios, Assistant Stage Manager
Brad Sayles, Senior Recording Engineer
Claudia Schmitz, Artistic Coordinator and Assistant to the Music Director
Stefan Stout, Stage Manager
Anna Thompson, Assistant Librarian
Meredith Williams, Associate Director, Concert Operations and Production
Rebecca Zabinski, Senior Director, Artistic Planning
SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Barbara J. Burger President
Janet F. Clark Chair
John Rydman Immediate Past President
Mike S. Stude Chair Emeritus
Paul Morico General Counsel
Barbara McCelvey Secretary
John Mangum^ Executive Director/CEO
Margaret Alkek Williams Chair
Jonathan Ayre Chair, Finance
Brad W. Corson Chair, Governance & Leadership
Carey Kirkpatrick Chair, Marketing & Communications
Evan B. Glick Chair, Popular Programming
Barbara McCelvey Chair, Development
Sippi Khurana, M.D. Chair, Education & Community Partnerships
GOVERNING DIRECTORS
Jonathan Ayre
Gary Beauchamp
Eric Brueggeman
Bill Bullock
Barbara J. Burger
Mary Kathryn Campion, Ph.D.
John Cassidy, M.D.
Janet F. Clark
Lidiya Gold
Claudio Gutiérrez
Rick Jaramillo
David J. M. Key
Sippi Khurana, M.D.
Carey Kirkpatrick
Mary Lynn Marks Chair, Volunteers & Special Events
Robert Orr Chair, Strategic Planning
John Rydman Chair, Artistic & Orchestra Affairs
Jesse B. Tutor Chair, Audit
Steven P. Mach ^ Immediate Past Chair
Bobby Tudor^ At-Large Member
Heidi Rockecharlie^ President, Houston Symphony League
James H. Lee^
President, Houston Symphony Endowment
Juraj Valčuha^ Music Director, Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair
Rian Craypo Musician Representative
Joan DerHovsepian^ Musician Representative
Mark Hughes^ Musician Representative
Mark Nuccio^ Musician Representative
Sherry Rodriguez^ Assistant Secretary ^Ex-Officio
Cindy Levit
Isabel Stude Lummis
Cora Sue Mach **
Rodney Margolis**
Jay Marks *
Mary Lynn Marks
Elissa Martin
Barbara McCelvey
Paul R. Morico
Robert Orr
Chris Powers
John Rydman**
Ed Schneider
Justin Stenberg
William J. Toomey II
Bobby Tudor **
Betty Tutor **
Jesse B. Tutor **
Gretchen Watkins
Robert Weiner
Margaret Alkek Williams **
EX-OFFICIO
Brad W. Corson
Rian Craypo
Joan DerHovsepian
Evan B. Glick
Mark Hughes
James H. Lee
Steven P. Mach
John Mangum
Mark Nuccio
Heidi Rockecharlie
Sherry Rodriguez
Juraj Valčuha
David J. Beck
James M. Bell Jr.
Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl
Nancy Shelton Bratic
Terry Ann Brown**
Lindsay Buchanan
Ralph Burch
Dougal Cameron
John T. Cater**
Robert Chanon
Heaven Chee
Michael H. Clark
Virginia Clark
Brad W. Corson
Andrew Davis, Ph.D.
Denise Davis
Manuel Delgado
Allen Deutsch, M.D.
Tracy Dieterich
Joan Duff
Connie Dyer
Jeffrey B. Firestone
Eugene A. Fong
Aggie L. Foster
Julia Anderson Frankel
Ronald G. Franklin
Carolyn Gaidos
Evan B. Glick
Lori Harrington
Jeff Hiller
Grace Ho
Gary L. Hollingsworth
Brian James
Dawn James
I. Ray Kirk, M.D.
David Krieger
Kenny Kurtzman
Steven P. Mach
Michael Mann, M.D.
Jack Matzer
PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY
Mrs. Edwin B. Parker
Miss Ima Hogg
Mrs. H. M. Garwood
Joseph A. Mullen, M.D.
Joseph S. Smith
Walter H. Walne
H. R. Cullen
Gen. Maurice Hirsch
Charles F. Jones
Fayez Sarofim
John T. Cater
Richard G. Merrill
Ellen Elizardi Kelley
John D. Platt
E.C. Vandagrift Jr.
J. Hugh Roff Jr.
PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE
Miss Ima Hogg
Mrs. John F. Grant
Mrs. J. R. Parten
Mrs. Andrew E. Rutter
Mrs. Aubrey Leno Carter
Mrs. Stuart Sherar
Mrs. Julian Barrows
Ms. Hazel Ledbetter
Mrs. Albert P. Jones
Mrs. Ben A. Calhoun
Mrs. James Griffith Lawhon
Mrs. Olaf LaCour Olsen
Mrs. Ralph Ellis Gunn
Mrs. Leon Jaworski
Mrs. Garrett R. Tucker Jr.
Mrs. M. T. Launius Jr.
Mrs. Thompson McCleary
Mrs. Theodore W. Cooper
Mrs. Allen W. Carruth
Mrs. David Hannah Jr.
Mary Louis Kister
Mrs. Edward W. Kelley Jr.
Mrs. John W. Herndon
Mrs. Charles Franzen
Mrs. Harold R. DeMoss Jr.
Mrs. Edward H. Soderstrom
Mrs. Lilly Kucera Andress
Ms. Marilou Bonner
Mrs. W. Harold Sellers
Mrs. Harry H. Gendel
Mrs. Robert M. Eury
Mrs. E. C. Vandagrift Jr.
Mrs. J. Stephen Marks
Terry Ann Brown
FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL REPRESENTATIVES
Dougal A. Cameron
Janet F. Clark
Nancy Martin
Jackie Wolens Mazow
Alexander K. McLanahan**
Marilyn Miles
Aprill Nelson
Leslie Nossaman
Tim Ong
Edward Osterberg Jr.
Zeljko Pavlovic
Gloria G. Pryzant
Miwa Sakashita
Ted Sarosdy
Andrew Schwaitzberg
Helen Shaffer**
Robert B. Sloan, D.D., Theol.
Jim R. Smith
Miles O. Smith**
Quentin Smith
Anthony Speier
Tina Raham Stewart
Robert M. Hermance
Gene McDavid
Janice H. Barrow
Barry C. Burkholder
Rodney H. Margolis
Jeffrey B. Early
Michael E. Shannon
Ed Wulfe
Nancy Strohmer
Mary Ann McKeithan
Ann Cavanaugh
Mrs. James A. Shaffer
Lucy H. Lewis
Catherine McNamara
Shirley McGregor Pearson
Paula Jarrett
Cora Sue Mach
Kathi Rovere
Norma Jean Brown
Barbara McCelvey
Lori Sorcic Jansen
Nancy B. Willerson
Jane Clark
Nancy Littlejohn
Donna Shen
Barbara McCelvey
Mike S. Stude **
Shirley W. Toomim
Margaret Waisman, M.D.
Fredric A. Weber
Vicki West
Steven J. Williams
David J. Wuthrich
Ellen A. Yarrell
Robert Yekovich
EX-OFFICIO
John Steven Cisneros, Ed.D.
Juan Zane Crawford, Ph.D.
Kirby Lodholz
Frank F. Wilson IV
**Lifetime Trustee *Deceased
Jesse B. Tutor
Robert B. Tudor III
Robert A. Peiser
Steven P. Mach
Janet F. Clark
John Rydman
Dr. Susan Snider Osterberg
Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein
Vicki West
Mrs. Jesse Tutor
Darlene Clark
Beth Wolff
Maureen Higdon
Fran Fawcett Peterson
Leslie Siller
Cheryl Byington
Mary Fusillo
Featured Program
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE:
Star-spangled salute
Jason Seber, conductor
Rafael Moras, vocalist
0:02 J.S. SMITH/ORMANDY – "The Star-Spangled Banner"
0:02 J. STEPHENSON – American Fanfare
0:04 J. WILLIAMS – March from Midway
0:03 L. GREENWOOD/G. PRECHEL – "God Bless the U.S.A."
0:03 MENDOZA Y CORTÉS/LANG – "Cielito Lindo"
0:02 BIZET/GUIRAUD – Les toréadors from Suite No. 1 from Carmen
0:05 WILLSON/ANDERSON – "Seventy-Six Trombones" from The Music Man
0:03 SOUSA/C. MCALISTER – The Washington Post
0:04 J. WILLIAMS – Olympic Fanfare and Theme
0:03 J. WILLIAMS – “With Malice Toward None” from Lincoln 0:03 A. MENKEN/M. STAROBIN– "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
0:05 Arr. J. KESSLER – Armed Forces Medley
0:03 WARD/P. ROTHMAN– "America the Beautiful"
0:12 TCHAIKOVSKY – 1812 Overture, Opus 49
0:03 SOUSA – The Stars and Stripes Forever
About the Music
Thursday, July 4
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board Guarantor
The Houston Symphony's Miller Outdoor Theatre concerts are endowed by The Brown Foundation, Inc. in memory of Stewart and Hanni Orton
The Houston Symphony's sound shell ceiling is made possible through the generosity of the Beauchamp Foundation and the Fondren Foundation
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Program Insight
8:30 p.m.
Tonight’s program celebrates the United States of America—and, in specific, Independence Day. We remember and honor the courageous patriots of the Second Continental Congress, who ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, throwing off the shackles of English colonial rule and establishing the Thirteen Colonies as a new, free land upholding liberty for all.
The idea that 13 disparate states might come together to form a more perfect union was summarized with a motto that became standard: E pluribus unum, which translates as “Out of many, one.” Accordingly, and appropriately, the program Jason Seber conducts tonight represents a broad span of musical eras and styles, from anthems and military marches to popular songs, excerpts from film soundtracks, and even popular classics that have nothing whatsoever to do with America or independence—apart from the fireworks they bring to mind!
Our American odyssey starts, naturally, with “The Star-Spangled Banner,” based on a poem written by Maryland lawyer and author Francis Scott Key after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. He published his poem, “Defence of Fort M'Henry,” with the suggestion that it might be accompanied by the melody “To Anacreon in Heaven”—the theme song of a British amateur music society—and thus was tradition born.
It would be hard to imagine any celebration of American music that didn’t include two of the most beloved composers of all time: John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), a band director who brought cultured music to countless Americans during his lifetime; and John Williams (born 1932), whose film scores have performed a similar role in more recent decades. The diversity at our nation’s heart is represented by “Cielito Lindo” (“Beautiful Heaven”), a splendid waltz known worldwide as an unofficial anthem for Mexico.
But what do “Les Toreadors” from Bizet’s opera Carmen, “Seventy-Six Trombones” from The Music Man, and 1812 Overture by the Russian Romantic composer Tchaikovsky have to do with the Fourth of July? Perhaps it’s nothing more than the fireworks those popular pieces contain—and, of course, what better way to celebrate victory than a piece that literally includes cannons? —Steven Smith
Program Bios
Jason Seber, conductor
Jason Seber is known for his inviting and engaging approach on and off the podium. A strong believer in the eclectic experiences, which today’s symphony orchestras offer their communities, he strives to make music of many genres and styles accessible, relevant, and meaningful to diverse audiences across the country.
Jason has conducted many leading American orchestras, including the Houston, Colorado, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, National, San Diego, and St. Louis Symphonies; the Louisville and Minnesota Orchestras; the Cincinnati Pops; and the Buffalo Philharmonic, among others. Upcoming performances include debuts with the North Carolina Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Phoenix Symphony. He has conducted more than 20 fullfeature films and has had the pleasure of performing with a wide range of artists, including Patti Austin, Mason Bates, Andrew Bird, Boyz II Men, Jinjoo Cho, Melissa Etheridge, Ben Folds, Cody Fry, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Indigo Girls, Paul Jacobs, Wynonna Judd, Lyle Lovett, Katharine McPhee, Natalie Merchant, Brian Stokes
Mitchell, My Morning Jacket, Leslie Odom Jr., Aoife O’Donovan, Pink Martini, Ben Rector, Stephen Schwartz, Doc Severinsen, Conrad Tao, Bobby Watson, and Joyce Yang.
Jason served as associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony from 2016 to 2022. In this position, he led the Symphony in more than 300 performances on the Classical, Pops, Classics Uncorked, Family, Film + Live Orchestra, Education, and Christmas Festival series. He also served as co-host for the Symphony’s podcast, “Beethoven Walks into a Bar.” Prior to Kansas City, he was the education and outreach conductor at the Louisville Orchestra from 2013 to 2016 and music director of the Louisville Youth Orchestra from 2005 to 2016.
A passionate advocate for music education, Jason has led the Honors Performance Series Orchestra in concert at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Royal Festival Hall in London. He is a frequent guest conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra each summer, and he has served as the All-State Orchestra conductor for Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
Hailed for his ability to communicate “…romance and heartbreak with his soaring tenor tones,” by Broadway World and “...heroic bravado…,” “…acting chops…,” and “…irresistible mix of Italianate and Latin passion…” by Musical America Worldwide, Opera News, and Classical Voice North America respectively, tenor Rafael Moras is a rising operatic star whose voice, stage presence, and ability to speak off-the-cuff and passionately with audiences has connected and captivated on stages around the world.
In addition to the Houston Symphony, Rafael has performed as a featured soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, LA Philharmonic, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, San Antonio Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Amarillo Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Austin Opera, Opera Idaho, Aspen Music Festival, and San Antonio Mastersingers. He has sung across the world with Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti as a featured soloist in the Chris Botti in Concert global tour.
Further career highlights include a Seattle Opera debut as Tariq in the critically acclaimed world premiere A Thousand Splendid Suns; Don
Rafael Moras, vocalist
Program Bios
José in Carmen, the directorial debut of acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves; and debuts with Houston Grand Opera and Arizona Opera as Father Matías in the world premiere of El Milagro del Recuerdo, Utah Opera and Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera as Alfredo in La traviata, Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera as the Duke in Rigoletto, and Arizona Opera as Zorro in its inaugural New Works Festival.
A graduate of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program and The Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program for Singers, Rafael is a two-time recipient of The Santa Fe Opera's Richard Tucker Fund Award, a Metropolitan Opera Eric and
Dominique Laffont Competition
Grand Finalist, Operalia Quarter Finalist, and a two-time Eleanor McCollum Vocal Competition Finalist.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
Feb. 21 & 22, 2025 | Jones Hall
Experience the ultimate surround sound as you watch The Empire Strikes Back on the giant screen at Jones Hall, with John Williams’s unforgettable score performed live by the Houston Symphony.
December 9 | Jones Hall Subscribe
Juraj Valčuha, Music Director