Neighborhood Concerts

Each summer, as part of our commitment to serving our community, the orchestra offers a Neighborhood Concert Series that sees our world-class musicians perform free concerts at venues throughout the city, bringing access to symphonic music to all. Concert venues are in nearby neighborhoods that are part of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Complete Communities initiative. For many who attend, this is their first experience with the Houston Symphony and an introduction to classical music.

During the 2022–23 Season, the Houston Symphony offered three full orchestra performances as part of the Neighborhood Concert Series. These concerts took place at the Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Kashmere High School, and Waltrip High School. Each concert was led by Yue Bao, the Symphony’s Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Assistant Conductor, and hosted by teaching artist Jasmine Renee Thomas.

To bring symphony musicians into smaller, intimate venues that could not accommodate a full orchestra, two chamber concerts were held at the Community of Faith Church and the DeLUXE Theater. The concert at Community of Faith Church featured a trumpet quartet while the DeLUXE Theater concert featured a woodwind duo with piano accompaniment. One audience member at the DeLUXE Theater

Neighborhood Concert Series Host, Jasmine Renee Thomas

Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Conducting Fellow, Yue Bao, conducts the Houston Symphony Houston Symphony Executive Director/CEO John Mangum, Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee at the Community of Faith performance

A young concertgoer gets hands-on experience with a violin at the pre-concert Instrument Petting Zoo

concert commented, “It was a great experience, especially when we were told the stories behind the music being played. I also enjoyed hearing from the chamber members. I think it was great and very informative. Thank you all for the experience.”

In attendance at the Community of Faith Church performance was Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who honored the Houston Symphony with a congressional proclamation for our work in the community to bring people together through the power of music.

This season, we will host a residency program at the DeLUXE Theater in the Fifth Ward. The afterschool program will serve elementary school children and be led by our Community-Embedded Musicians. Look for more information on this new program in a future issue of InTune.