Music – Houston Arts Journal

Houston Symphony extends Music Director Juraj Valčuha’s contract, announces new Board and Council leaders

*Houston Symphony and Music Director Juraj Valčuha in a February 2025 concert / Photo by Melissa Taylor*

The Houston Symphony recently announced that it has extended the tenure of Music Director Juraj Valčuha through the 2027–28 season.

Appointed following the COVID-19 pandemic, Valčuha began his role in the 2022-23 season, after debuting with the Houston Symphony in 2011 and returning to conduct the orchestra in the 2017-18 and 2020-21 seasons. He currently holds the orchestra’s Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair.

“In these first three seasons, the orchestra and I have forged a musical partnership rooted in trust, curiosity, and bold music-making. It is a great honor to continue leading the Houston Symphony and to collaborate with such extraordinary musicians,” said Valčuha said in a statement.

“In the years ahead, I look forward to continuing to explore music both timeless and new, creating experiences that move, challenge, and inspire,” he said.

The Houston Symphony noted in a press release that musicians, trustees, and staff were drawn to Valčuha’s “authenticity and passion, his artistic excellence, and his ability to communicate through his deeply expressive gestures,” while celebrating his performances with the orchestra, which have received praise from classical music critics.

“Under [Juraj’s] leadership, we’ve elevated our sound, expanded our repertoire, and shared performances that feel like conversations between players, conductor, and audience. We are proud to continue this partnership with him and excited for the ambitious work that lies ahead,” said Robin Kesselman, Principal Bass and Chair of the Artistic Advisory Committee of the Orchestra, in a statement.

According to a press release, discussions of future plans include recording projects and possible tours to reach a broader audience.

*Reverend Ray Mackey, III / Courtesy of the Houston Symphony*

As the 2025-2026 season gets underway, the Houston Symphony also recently announced new members of its Board of Trustees and Council Chairs.

The Reverend Ray Mackey, III was named Chair of the African-American Leadership Council, and Alejandro Gallardo was appointed Chair of the Hispanic Leadership Council. Both will serve in their respective roles for the 2025-2028 seasons.

The Houston Symphony’s African American and Hispanic Leadership Councils are composed of business, education, and community leaders who serve as advisors to provide insight into how the Symphony can more deeply connect with and reflect the Black and Hispanic communities of Greater Houston, according to a press release.

“I am extremely honored as the new Chair to lead this dynamic group comprising The Houston Symphony’s African American Leadership Council,” stated Reverend Mackey, who has been part of the Council since 2017 and previously served as its Vice Chair since 2021.

A fifth-generation Texan of Irish and North African heritage, Reverend Mackey is a distinguished faith leader and past fellow of the Harvard Divinity School’s Religion and the Practice of Peace Colloquium. An Executive Pastor and Chairman of the Biz Mackey Family Foundation (BMFF), Reverend Mackey is a longstanding cohort and partner of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and a former Ambassador of the Houston Galleria Chamber of Commerce.

*Alex Gallardo / Courtesy of the Houston Symphony*

Alex Gallardo is currently Senior Manager of Supply Chain Management at Chevron. His career spans more than three decades in procurement, logistics, and materials management, including 13 years in the fashion industry prior to joining Chevron. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for Preservation Houston. Gallardo has served on the Symphony’s Hispanic Leadership Council for the past four years, most recently as Vice Chair.

“Our goal for the council is that we play a vital role in influencing programming that not only celebrates Latino culture but also highlights how it beautifully intersects with other musical genres, fostering inclusion, collaboration, and a richer artistic experience for all audiences,” said Gallardo in a statement.

Additional changes in leadership to the Houston Symphony’s Board of Trustees include the following:

Khoa Dao, Chief Commercial Officer at ConocoPhillips, and Stacie Pitts, who leads global crude trading at Shell, were named as Governing Directors.

David Balderston and Pablo Hernandez Schmidt-Tophoff were elected as Trustees. A longtime Houston Symphony subscriber and a trombonist in his youth, Balderston had a 41-year career in chemical engineering and finance with LyondellBasell Industries before retiring in 2019. Hernandez Schmidt-Tophoff is Managing Director in Lazard’s North American Energy Group, based in Houston. He serves on the board of lnprint and sits on the steering committees for both The Menil Collection’s Contemporaries group and the Lazard Foundation.

Gretchen Watkins, former President of Shell USA, moves from being a Governing Director to Trustee. Watkins currently chairs the Greater Houston Partnership and serves on the boards of the Mosaic Company and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Energy Advisory Council.

“These leaders all bring unique skills and perspectives to the Houston Symphony, and I look forward to working with them to advance our mission and reach more people in our community,” said Barbara Burger, President of the Symphony Board of Trustees, in a statement.

The Houston Symphony in a March 2024 concert at Jones Hall / Photo by Melissa Taylor

Theatre Under The Stars receives $150,000 grant to launch local Disney Musicals in Schools Program

*Disney Musicals in School / Courtesy of Theatre Under The Stars*

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced that it will bring the Disney Musicals in Schools program to the Greater Houston area with funding from a $150,000 grant from Disney. The program will allow local public elementary schools to participate in and produce a Disney musical, with support from TUTS, at no cost.

The Disney grant will cover two years of the Houston program, which is now accepting applications. TUTS will select two schools to participate in the 2025–26 school year, with an additional five to be chosen for the 2026-27 school year. More information, including eligibility, requirements, and application, can be found at www.tuts.org/disney. The deadline to apply is October 6.

“This new partnership expands our relationship with Disney in the best way—through one of their incredible programs that increases access to musical theatre for the youngest students in our public school system,” said Dan Knechtges, TUTS Artistic Director, in a statement.

Disney Musicals in Schools / Courtesy of Theatre Under The Stars

According to a press release, selected schools will participate in a free 17-week musical theater residency and will receive complimentary “performance rights, educational support materials, and professional development as teachers collaborate with TUTS artists to learn how to direct, choreograph, and music direct a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical.” Each school will also perform a number from their production at the Hobby Center in a culminating Student Share Celebration. Schools will be responsible for their individual production budgets.

Launched in 2009 to address equitable arts access in public elementary schools, Disney Musicals in Schools partners with organizations nationwide. Its goals, according to its website, include creating sustainable musical theater programs; developing a strong community of students, parents, faculty, staff, and neighbors; and exposing students and faculty to the wide spectrum of skills that are developed when producing a piece of musical theater, such as critical thinking, problem solving, ensemble building, communication, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills.

“This program creates an opportunity for students to learn, create, and grow through the art of musical theatre,” said Hillary Hart, TUTS Executive Director, in a statement. “It aligns perfectly with our mission to cultivate the art form and provide access to the community.”

Houston Grand Opera announces new Board Chair

*Astley Blair / Photo credit: Claire McAdams*

Houston Grand Opera has elected Astley Blair, a veteran board member, community leader, and arts advocate, as the new Chairperson of its Board of Directors, effective this month.

Blair will serve a two-year term through August 1, 2027, at a time when HGO “continues to strategically expand both its world-class artistic offerings and its global presence under the leadership of General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor,” as stated in a press release.

“With Astley Blair assuming leadership of the HGO Board, I see no limit to what we can achieve,” said Dastoor.

“Astley brings with him a wealth of global business expertise gained during a dynamic career in the financial and energy sectors, and an entrepreneurial spirit that makes him the perfect choice to help lead HGO through a time of thrilling possibility,” she said.

*L-R: Khori Dastoor and Astley Blair / Photo credit: Claire McAdams*

Blair is the Chief Financial Officer of Marine Well Containment Company. Previously, he held senior management positions at Chevron, serving as the company’s Vice President and General Manager of Finance and Business Services, as well as at Texaco.

An HGO board member since 2004, Blair chaired its Audit Committee and has served on the Audiences, Philanthropy, and Management Evaluation and Development committees. In 2021, he co-chaired the committee that selected and recruited Dastoor to lead HGO. Since last year, he has also been part of the Strategic Advisory Group, founded in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group to advance HGO’s strategic planning efforts over the next decade.

“For decades, HGO has pushed the boundaries of what is possible, and now, with a clear vision of what the future of American opera can be, this is our time,” said Blair. “It’s an honor to serve this board and help lead this storied institution into the future.”

As Board Chair, Blair succeeds Claire Liu, who served a special three-year term and received OPERA America’s National Opera Trustee Recognition Award in 2024.

“I plan to continue my work in service of this fantastic organization, and I look forward to watching the company advance its mission with Astley Blair, one of its most devoted champions, as its next Chairperson of the Board,” said Liu.

Blair’s additional work in the community includes currently serving on the boards of the Houston Airport System Development Corporation and the American Leadership Forum. He was the former Chairman of the Center for Houston’s Future and a former Board Member of the Greater Houston Partnership, and has been involved with the Houston Food Bank, the United Way, and initiatives to support STEM education.

4th Annual Houston Theater Week offers record number of BOGO ticket deals, new AI feature

*Houston Theater Week 2025 will offer BOBO ticket deals to nearly 400 live performances / Image courtesy of Houston First*

For the fourth year in a row, Houston Theater Week will aim to support and bolster the city’s performing arts community at the start of a brand-new season with a seven-day online promotional event.

This year’s Theater Week will take place August 18 – 24, during which participating arts groups, based downtown and throughout the community, will offer Buy One, Get One Free tickets for performances in the 2025-26 season, in a collaborative effort led by Houston First Corporation. Offers will be available at www.HoustonTheaterWeek.com, using the promo code HTW25.

Theatre Under The Stars will present Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Broadway Cast pictured), April 15-26, 2026 at The Hobby Center / Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Launched in 2022 as a way to support local theaters, performers, and behind-the-scenes professionals following the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Theater Week has grown from offering ticket deals to approximately 100 shows in its first year to, this year, offering BOGO tickets to nearly 400 performances of theater; opera; dance; Broadway-touring musicals; wide-ranging music genres, including classical, jazz, and mariachi; celebrity and expert lectures; film with live music; and more.

“The power and popularity of Houston Theater Week is evident in the record number of offers and deals available to consumers this year. We are pleased to once again partner with our world-class performing arts organizations to bring exclusive deals to audiences and generate revenue that helps strengthen our performing arts community,” said Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First, in a statement.

In 2024, Houston Theater Week yielded a “combined revenue of nearly $1.4 million with more than 32,000 tickets sold,” according to Houston First.

The 2025 Theater Week expands to include a new digital tool called Ask V. A press release described Ask V as an “AI-powered personal assistant,” which can curate a customized list of performances, plus hotels, restaurants, and pre- and post-show activities, based on the user’s personal interests and past experiences—potentially bringing increased revenue to other local businesses.

The Hobby Center, in collaboration with Jazz Houston, will present the JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS on November 16, 2025 / Photo courtesy of Houston First

At its inception, Theater Week temporarily replaced the longtime Theater District Open House—a one-day event that combined free family activities at downtown performing arts venues and discounted season ticket offers—which was interrupted by the pandemic in 2020.

Theater District Open House resumed last spring and is set to return on Monday, March 9, 2026.

With Theater Week centered on exclusive BOGO offers in the fall, the Open House will be “fully focused on families and having an open invitation to the community into the district, in alignment with many spring breaks around the region,” said Craig Hauschildt, Executive Director of Houston Theater District.

Both Theater Week and Theater District Open House will now continue to serve Houstonians as separate, annual events, Hauschildt said.

Local arts groups welcome new leadership, major hires

Clockwise, L-R: Gregory D. McDaniel, Brittany Webb, Jennifer Bielstein, Alex Soares, and Betsy Cook Weber / Courtesy of Houston Ebony Opera Guild; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Alley Theatre; Houston Symphony; and Houston Chamber Choir

Recently, Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Houston Chamber Choir, and Alley Theatre announced the appointments of new directors, following the retirement of longtime arts leaders. The Houston Symphony and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston also announced major new hires.

Gregory D. McDaniel took the helm of Houston Ebony Opera Guild as its new Artistic Director, effective July 1, 2025, following an announcement of his appointment in May.

A Houston native, McDaniel returns to the Bayou City from the New Jersey Symphony, where he served as the Colton Conducting Fellow for the 2024-25 season. Previously, he has worked with numerous symphony orchestras and opera companies in the US and Canada, including the Orchestre Métropolitain in Québec, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Opera Ithaca, Boise Baroque Orchestra, Prizm Ensemble, and Opera in the Heights. He received his bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Houston and his master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of North Texas.

Houston Ebony Opera Guild stated in a press release that McDaniel’s appointment marks “a new chapter in the organization’s storied legacy of celebrating and advancing the contributions of Black classical musicians and composers.”

McDaniel succeeds Dr. Jason Oby, who stepped down after nearly three decades with the organization, serving as soloist, conductor, curator of repertoire and content, and Artistic Director.

“A great choice!” wrote Oby in a social media post regarding McDaniel’s appointment.

In response, McDaniel posted in a public comment: “Thank you, Dr. Oby. Your recognition means a great deal to me, especially since you have dedicated the past 28 years to advancing this organization to new heights of artistic and creative prominence both here and abroad. I hope to build upon the strong foundation of excellence you have established and to continue your legacy of dedication.”

In a statement, McDaniel also said that he aims “to introduce innovative strategies to engage new audiences and enhance the relevance of our contributions to the art form.”

***

When longtime founding Artistic Director Robert Simpson announced in early 2024 that he would retire from the Houston Chamber Choir after the 2024-25 season, Dr. Betsy Cook Weber was named the ensemble’s next leader.

Following Simpson’s 30^th and final season and the announcement of a $1 million anonymous donation to the Choir in June, Dr. Weber will officially begin her tenure as Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir this fall.

Dr. Weber is the Madison Endowed Professor of Music Emeritus and former Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, as well as the Director Emeritus of the Houston Symphony Chorus. With degrees from the University of North Texas, Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ), and the University of Houston, she has an extensive background and award-winning reputation as a nationally and internationally active conductor, presenter, educator, and adjudicator.

“Betsy is a person I have worked with over the years. I admire her greatly. She’s been a part of the choral scene in Houston for many years. She’s extraordinarily well respected. … it gives me a great sense of comfort and excitement that the Houston Chamber Choir’s next chapter will be under the leadership of such an inspired musician,” Simpson told the Houston Press in an article by Sam Byrd.

The Houston Chamber Choir recently announced its 2025-26 season, Friends and Neighbors, which will open on September 6.

***

Alex Soares was recently named Chief Marketing Officer of the Houston Symphony, having served as Interim CMO since 2024.

Soares’ marketing leadership is tied to the orchestra’s growth in ticketing revenue, rise in subscription sales, and expanded audience engagement this past season, according to a press release.

During its 2024-25 season, subscription sales grew 12% and single ticket revenue rose 28% year-over-year, said the Houston Symphony. Additionally, “innovative programming and community-centered campaigns” drew high levels of audience attendance—including the sold-out April performances of Cynthia Erivo with the Houston Symphony, which set a record for the first single program in the Symphony’s history to surpass $1 million in revenue.

Soares’ appointment as CMO is the second development in Houston Symphony leadership this year, following the appointment of Gary Ginstling to Executive Director/CEO in January.

“It’s an honor to step into this role during such a transformational chapter for the Symphony under Gary Ginstling’s leadership,” said Soares in a statement. “With bold artistic vision, a newly renovated Jones Hall, and a team deeply committed to connecting people through music, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine the concertgoing experience.”

A graduate of the University of Houston and an accomplished, formally trained contemporary dancer, Soares was President of technology firm REI Network, L.P. and founder of Wheelhaus Consulting, prior to joining the Houston Symphony, where he also served as Senior Director of Marketing before becoming CMO.

***

Last month, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston announced the appointment of Dr. Brittany Webb as Curator in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Dr. Webb joins the MFAH from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia (PAFA), where she has curated an extensive roster of exhibitions since 2018, most recently in her role as the inaugural Evelyn and Will Kaplan Curator of 20^th-Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection. Previously, she served as a curatorial and research assistant at the African American Museum in Philadelphia (2014–18).

Her recent publications include her contributions for Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art, a major catalogue for the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and for the forthcoming Birmingham Museum of Art collection catalogue Roll Call: 200 Years of Black American Art, as well as Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden (2023).

The MFAH’s social media announcement of Dr. Webb’s appointment received hundreds of positive reactions and scores of congratulations from the public, welcoming her to Houston.

Gary Tinterow, director and Margaret Alkek Williams chair of the MFAH, said in a statement that Dr. Webb “stood out for her strong sense of passion and purpose, deep connection to communities and constituents, and history of developing and producing thoughtful, illuminating exhibitions of American contemporary art and African American art within an international context.”

Dr. Webb received a Ph.D. in anthropology from Temple University and a B.A. in political science from the University of Southern California.

She begins her position at the MFAH this summer.

***

Texas native, former Houstonian, and veteran of the theatre world, Jennifer Bielstein has been named Managing Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre.

Bielstein will begin her new role on October 20, 2025 at a significant moment in The Alley’s history, as the company approaches its 80^th anniversary in 2026. She succeeds Dean Gladden, who retires after a 19-year tenure that encompassed “a comprehensive renovation of the theatre complex, which necessitated a 14-month off-site relocation, $26 million in damages from Hurricane Harvey, and the global COVID-19 shutdown,” according to a press release.

“To return home and serve the city’s flagship nonprofit theatre is truly an honor,” said Bielstein in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside the Alley’s exceptional Board, staff, crew, and artists, and to engaging fully with the Houston community as we build an exciting future together.”

With more than two decades of leadership experience in regional theatre, Bielstein has served as Executive Director of the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco, as well as top positions at Guthrie Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She is currently on the board of Theatre Communications Group (TCG).

The Alley’s Artistic Director Rob Melrose described Bielstein as “a legend in her own right” with a successful track record at major theatre companies, and he added in a statement: “I also feel that Jennifer’s warmth, kindness, and collaborative spirit are just what we need as we chart our way to Alley Theatre’s next era of success.”

In an interview with Margaret Downing of the Houston Press, Bielstein said that, in her career thus far, she is most proud of “creating really positive inclusive organizational cultures that ensure staff and artists and audiences feel welcome.”

Asia Society Texas pays tribute to Larry Ramos, the first Asian American Grammy winner, with film screening and concert

Larry Ramos / Courtesy of Asia Society Texas

A new documentary about Filipino American musical artist Larry Ramos—lead singer and lead guitarist of the iconic ’60s band The Association—will screen at Asia Society Texas on Friday, June 27 at 6pm, followed by a live performance by The Association.

Along Comes Larry: The Larry Ramos Story (2025) was written, directed, and produced by Rick Quan, an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and veteran documentarian based in Honolulu, Hawaii and a native Houstonian. The film chronicles Ramos’ groundbreaking career as the first Asian American to win a Grammy Award.

Growing up in Waimea, Kauai and Southern California, Larry Ramos (1942-2014) was a child ukelele prodigy, singer, and dancer who won statewide contests, landed movie roles, and performed on a tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I, starring Yul Brynner.

As a member of the folk group The New Christy Minstrels—singing and playing ukelele, guitar, and banjo—Ramos broke racial barriers on television when he performed on The Andy Williams Show. His appearance with the band as a non-white member had to be “cleared” by the show’s producers, as recounted by his daughter Tracy. With The New Christy Minstrels, Ramos won the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus for their debut album Presenting the New Christy Minstrels.

Publicity photo of The Association, 1968 / Source Wikimedia Commons

A pioneer for Asian Americans in the music and entertainment industry, Ramos faced and overcame racist incidents and remarks, even from bandmates in the early days, as he told in a 2013 interview.

In 1967, Ramos joined The Association, the band with whom he would have the most success and longest run for more than four decades, making their mark together with Billboard hit songs like “Cherish,” “Never My Love,” and “Windy,” winning Gold and Platinum Awards, and earning Grammy nominations—and eventually becoming the band’s leader.

Quan’s documentary spotlights Ramos’ story as one of “resilience, talent, and cultural significance,” stated Asia Society Texas.

Tickets for the June 27 event include the film screening and concert by The Association. VIP and sponsorship tickets, which include an additional reception, dinner, and meet-and-greet with the band, are also available.

Houston Grand Opera launches its own recording label and new partnership with London Symphony Orchestra

*Soprano Janai Brugger in Houston Grand Opera’s Intelligence / Photo credit: Michael Bishop*

Houston Grand Opera has announced plans to release recordings on its own, newly created label, in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra’s label LSO Live.

According to a press release, “HGO sought out a partnership with the LSO to fulfill the company’s ambitious vision of sharing its work with audiences around the world.” HGO says that this collaboration, LSO Live’s first-ever with a U.S. opera company, represents a significant opportunity to advance operas by American composers on a broader international scene.

“For decades, HGO has led the way in building the American repertoire through new commissions from the country’s finest composers,” said Khori Dastoor, HGO General Director and CEO, in a statement.

“We founded the new Houston Grand Opera label because we want more people to experience these incredible artworks, performed by the brilliant artists and musicians who grace our stage each season. With its award-winning label and rich legacy of inspiring global audiences, the London Symphony Orchestra is the ideal partner to help bring Houston’s operatic innovation to the world,” Dastoor said.

Set for an August 2025 release, Intelligence, by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer, will be the first album in the new collaboration between Houston Grand Opera and LSO Live— featuring soprano Janai Brugger, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, baritone Michael Mayes, and the HGO Orchestra conducted by Kwamé Ryan.

Intelligence, which was commissioned by HGO and which made its World Premiere in 2023, is inspired by the true story of Mary Jane Bowser, an enslaved woman who became a spy for the Union during the American Civil War, and Elizabeth Van Lew, a member of the Confederate family who enslaved Bowser and who ran the spy ring.

Other forthcoming albums include:

Breaking the Waves, by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, captured during HGO’s spring 2025 regional premiere

El Milagro del Recuerdo, the HGO-commissioned mariachi opera by composer Javier Martínez and librettist Leonard Foglia, recorded during its 2019 world premiere

Florencia en el Amazonas, by composer Daniel Catán and librettist Marcela Fuentes-Berain, commissioned by HGO in 1996 and inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, in a recording from the company’s 2019 revival starring soprano Ana María Martínez

Houston Grand Opera’s Florencia en el Amazonas, 2019 / Photo credit: Lynne Lane

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Houston Grand Opera on their new record label,” said Becky Lees, LSO Live Director, in a statement.

“LSO Live is committed to supporting arts organizations around the world in delivering high-quality content to music enthusiasts internationally, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our mission,” Lees said. “We look forward to working closely with HGO to preserve and celebrate the rich tradition of opera for future generations.”

Intelligence and Breaking the Waves will be released in both physical and digital formats. Florencia en el Amazonas and El Milagro del Recuerdo will be available via streaming and download platforms, including Apple Music Classical, Amazon, and Spotify.

Theatre Under The Stars, Alley Theatre announce open auditions

L-R: The Hobby Center (home to Theatre Under The Stars) and the Alley Theatre / courtesy of the companies’ websites

Two of Houston’s leading producers of live theater have announced open calls for actors to audition for their 2025-26 seasons.

Theatre Under The Stars, Houston’s non-profit home of musical theater based at The Hobby Center, is seeking strong singers, dancers, and principals for four of its self-produced musicals of the upcoming season: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Million Dollar Quartet, and Beautiful: The Carole King Story.

“This season our casts, along with our audiences, are getting a lineup of productions that invite them to explore varying worlds—some fiction and some based on real events—and to be part of stories that shape all of us,” said Dan Knechtges, Artistic Director of Theatre Under The Stars, in a statement.

In-person auditions will take place at TUTS on Thursday, March 27; Friday, March 28; and Saturday, March 29. Virtual audition opportunities are available by submitting a self-tape to TUTS. Virtual auditions must be submitted no later than March 30.

Audition requirements—including character descriptions, song preparation, dance information, what to bring to auditions, as well appointment and virtual audition submission instructions—are available at TUTS.org/Auditions.

“TUTS is committed to diversity and encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, ages, and abilities to audition. As a leader in Houston’s vibrant arts community, we welcome both local and national talent to be part of our high-caliber productions. Must be 18 years old by the first day of rehearsal,” said the company in a statement.

***

Alley Theatre, one of the largest U.S. professional nonprofit theatres outside of New York City, has announced that it is “seeking a diverse cast of Houston talent of all genders, ethnicities, body types, and abilities” for next season.

Auditions will be held by appointment only on Sunday, March 16 and Monday, March 17 at The Alley. Starting February 27, appointments can be made by emailing contact information (name, phone number, and indicate whether you are a member of the Actors’ Equity Association) to auditions@alleytheatre.org.

The Alley will be casting for roles in its 2025-26 season productions, including: Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, The Da Vinci Code (adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel, based on the Novel by Dan Brown), The Body Snatcher by Katie Forgette, Real Women Have Curves by Josefina López, English by Sanaz Toossi, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, August Wilson’s Fences, and Dear Alien by Liz Duffy Adams.

The company states that actors should prepare two contrasting monologues that are not to exceed three minutes in length total. All actors auditioning must be at least 18 years old, must live within a 50-mile radius of downtown Houston, and must be available for weekday and weekend rehearsals.

Information on specific roles being cast can be found at alleytheatre.org/auditions.

Additionally, the company is accepting Stage Manager applications for next season.

Public Poetry, Houston Early Music announce new leadership

L-R: Võ Đức Quang is the new Interim Executive Director of Public Poetry, and Jesús Pacheco is the new Executive and Artistic Director of Houston Early Music / Courtesy of Public Poetry and Houston Early Music

The Houston literary nonprofit, Public Poetry, recently named poet, host, and community leader, Võ Đức Quang as its Interim Executive Director, effective immediately.

Founded in 2011, Public Poetry has expanded its programs over the years to include a free monthly Reading Series in partnership with the City of Houston/Houston Public Library, the annual REELpoetry International Film Festival, poetry contests, and publications.

Public Poetry showcases the enduring power of poetry, conveying poetry’s range, relevance and reach throughout the year. Working locally, nationally and internationally, we sustain diverse minority voices, layer multiple genres, encourage collaboration, commission new work, and create new opportunities and paid work for poets. We initiate collaborative partnerships and engagement to enrich the community and to deliver poetry to audiences in Houston and beyond.

– Public Poetry Mission Statement

“My goal is to continue Public Poetry’s outreach to artists, and showcase talents to audiences in Houston and beyond,” said Võ in a statement.

Võ succeeds Founding Director Fran Sanders, who announced her intention to step down last summer and will now concentrate her time on the REELpoetry film festival.

Since November 2022, Võ has managed and hosted Public Poetry’s monthly Reading Series and Open Mic—a role that he will continue to be involved in as Interim Executive Director.

Considered the organization’s flagship program, the Reading Series transitioned from an in-person only series to a hybrid online/in-person series following the COVID-19 shutdown. Võ will work to maintain the hybrid model, which he said has attracted a larger audience outside of Houston and across the United States.

“Public Poetry should make use of our strengths to showcase poets beyond Houston, give young emerging poets a venue to hone their craft, and bridge different forms of poetry,” said Võ in an email to Houston Arts Journal. “As of now I am still managing the series, which is my passion, though I have considered having guest hosts to keep the program lively.”

Võ told Houston Arts Journal that he also aims to achieve proposed financial and organizational goals over the course of the next year in order to bring Public Poetry “up-to-date.”

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Houston Early Music recently appointed internationally-renowned Houston percussionist and music educator Jesús Pacheco as its new Executive and Artistic Director.

“Having performed with all the major early music groups in Houston, Jesús brings a uniquely qualified perspective and passion for this genre. In addition, being a native of Spain, Jesús has an intense appreciation for the importance of highlighting various international expressions of early music to appeal to the diverse Houston audiences,” said Houston Early Music in a social media post on July 15.

A graduate of the Seville Conservatory in Spain, Pacheco has performed with international ensembles such as the Royal Symphonic Orchestra of Sevilla, the Cordoba Symphony Orchestra, and the Bach Collegium-Stuttgart Bachakademie.

He has collaborated widely with Houston ensembles, including Apollo Chamber Players, Ars Lyrica Houston, Bach Society Houston, The Houston Brass Band, Houston Grand Opera, The Magnolia City Brass Band, Mercury Houston, Octave Illusion, and others.

Along with mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte, Pacheco is the co-founder and co-director of Arte Puro, an organization “with the mission to bring Hispanic music and art to the stage through musical fusion and artistic collaboration.” He also teaches at The Awty International School.

“Jesús is a versatile percussionist who thrives in the culturally varied music scene of Houston, where he performs styles ranging from early and classical music to contemporary styles such as musical theatre, Latin music, and flamenco,” said Houston Early Music in a statement.

“[We are] most fortunate to have him serve in this dual role [of Executive and Artistic Director] and we are excited and anxious to see his skills unfold in the curation of our future seasons,” stated the organization.

Pacheco succeeds Julia Simpson in the role.

Initially formed in 1965 as the Houston Harpsichord Society, Houston Early Music “presents historically informed performances of music from the Medieval through Classical periods by internationally-recognized artists” through an annual season of concerts and programs.

Full Disclosure: Houston Arts Journal’s Catherine Lu was featured as an independent poet on Public Poetry’s Reading Series in June 2024.

Houston Symphony continues concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre following Hurricane Beryl

*The Houston Symphony at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 2022 / Photo by Melissa Taylor*

The Houston Symphony has announced that it will perform its scheduled concerts this weekend, with no disruption to its 2024 Summer Symphony Nights at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

“Thanks to the tireless work of Houston First and the staff of Miller Outdoor Theatre in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the Houston Symphony’s free performances at its Summer home, Miller Outdoor Theatre, this weekend and next will go on as planned,” stated the organization in a press release.

According to its Facebook page, Miller Outdoor Theatre did not experience any damage from Hurricane Beryl, “except for a few downed trees,” and the orchestra was able to rehearse at the venue this past Wednesday.

Now in its 83^rd year, the Summer Symphony Nights at Miller Outdoor Theatre series is a local tradition of free family-friendly concerts, often introducing audiences to acclaimed, rising conductors and soloists making their Houston Symphony debuts.

This summer, the series kicked off on July 4^th with Houston Symphony’s annual Star-Spangled Salute concert. On July 8^th, Hurricane Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast, impacting the Greater Houston region and leaving more than 2.2 million Houston-area residents without power at its peak outage. As of Friday morning, roughly 870,000 CenterPoint Energy customers are still without electricity.

The Houston Symphony’s remaining summer concerts will continue as scheduled on Friday, July 12 (American Masterworks), Saturday, July 13 (Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5), Friday, July 19 (Enigma Variations), and Saturday, July 20 (Haydn & Dvorak).

These free performances begin at 8:30pm at Miller Outdoor Theatre, with open seating available on the hill and reserved, covered seats available under the pavilion. Free tickets for covered seats can be reserved online and are also released an hour before the performance at the box office.

Miller Outdoor Theatre stated that it hopes that these free concerts will offer Houstonians some relief from a difficult week: “We’ve all been through a lot in the last few days … So, no matter your situation, know that you are more than welcome for some incredible respite here at Miller – for FREE!”

Jones Hall, the orchestra’s home during its regular season, also did not sustain any major damage during the hurricane, according to Houston First, the corporation that manages more than 10 city-owned facilities. Houston First further confirmed that none of its venues, including those in the Theatre District, experienced any significant impact from the storm.