Welcomes you to Inaugural Concert of the 2007

Since 1996
Welcomes you to
Inaugural Concert of the 2007-2008 Season
in tribute to children of war
December 8, 2007
Seven thirty in the evening
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Zilkha Hall
Executive Committee
Meherwan Boyce
Chairman
Welcome to the Inaugural Concert of our 12th season. We
are so pleased that you have joined us this evening to hear our
remarkable youth chamber orchestra.
Tonight is a special night for several reasons. For many of
our young musicians, this concert will mark their debut
with Virtuosi of Houston. We extend a warm welcome
to this freshman class and their families. We anticipate a
long relationship with each of them and look forward to the
rewarding experience of watching them develop their talent as
they move closer to the realization of their dreams and goals.
This concert also marks the conducting debut of Monzer
Hourani, a member of our board and a major benefactor
of our organization.
His passion for classical music and
the training of young talent for the future of the art form is
extraordinary.
The dramatic impact that classical music
made on his life as a young boy who suffered the loss of an
immediate family member during a civil war is incredible and
inspirational. Mr. Hourani is dedicating his performance
tonight in tribute to children throughout the world who have
experienced war.
We would also like to welcome our new general manager,
Margaret Bott. Her professional skills and experience will
take our organization to the next level of maturity. We are
fortunate to have her on our staff.
Virtuosi of Houston would not be enjoying its current success
without the commitment of its founding artistic directors and
conductors, Franz Anton Krager and Andrzej Grabiec. We
are deeply grateful for their vision and continued passion for
the mission of this organization. In addition, I would like to
acknowledge the dedicated support of our board and countless
hours of service provided by our valued volunteer parents,
alumni parents and friends. We also salute our funders whose
support last season resulted in one of Virtuosi of Houston’s
most successful seasons.
We hope you enjoy tonight’s performance and we look forward
to seeing you at our Annual Concert and Dinner, “Legends
of the Future: Celebrating Broadway and Pops” and our May
concert.
Meherwan P. Boyce
Chairman
President Emeritus Betty C. Jukes
Founding President Earle Steinberg
Past Presidents Susan Love Fitts
Cynthia Martin
Chairman Meherwan P. Boyce
President Zarine Boyce
Treasurer Matthew Nelson
Secretary Iqbal Khan
General Counsel Wayne Kitchens
Special Projects Bobbie Griffith-Winner
Information Technology Mansur Khan
Members at Large Christopher Ashby
Artistic Directors & Andrzej Grabiec*
Conductors Franz Anton Krager*
General Manager Margaret Bott*
Development Consultant Mary Kay Wittrock*
*Ex-officio members
Board Of Directors
E. Fred Aguilar III
Christopher Ashby
Susan Bloome
Jean-François Bonneté
D. John Calloway
Deanie Caraway
Behroze Daruwalla
Juanita Elizondo
Minoo B. Gazdar
Sean Gorman
Harry Hadland
J. Thomas Haney
Mika Hasler
Monzer Hourani
Herbert Karpicke
Hoyt (Toby) Mattox
Judy Maynard
Carmen Montiel de Lechin
Jennifer Moore
George Murray
Willem Plegt
Steve Power
Dame Darlene Rubinoff
Orlando Sanchez
Donna Vallone
Bahram Yazdani
Carolyn Yazdani
Celebrating our Twelfth Season of Excellence
in Chamber Music Education and Performance
More Than an Orchestra:
Extraordinary Musical Education
Performances
Virtuosi of Houston, founded in 1996, is a premier youth
chamber orchestra for gifted instrumentalists (ages 11 to 18).
Unlike other youth orchestras in the country, Virtuosi of
Houston is directed by two conductors and the educational
focus is on chamber music. Because the orchestra is smaller (50
to 55 players), Virtuosi of Houston musicians are required to
play at an exemplary level. The purpose of Virtuosi of Houston
is to provide the opportunity for every talented young musician
in the Houston area to receive the necessary training and
experience to be competitive in their pursuit of a professional
career in music.
The season typically includes two public concerts in Zilkha Hall
in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in December and
May and a fundraising concert at a prestigious Houston hotel
in April. A concerto competition is held in February which
offers cash awards to help Virtuosi of Houston members with
their musical education expenses. Throughout the season,
small ensembles (quartets, trios, duets and solos) are organized
to perform recitals of smaller chamber works in various venues
throughout the city. The smaller ensembles are also available
for outside engagements such as weddings, private parties, etc.
Education
Future Professionals
Artistic directors/conductors are Franz Anton Krager and
Andrzej Grabiec who are faculty members of the University
of Houston, Moores School of Music and co-founders of the
orchestra. Under this exceptional two-conductor structure,
more individual training is provided. While one maestro is
conducting from the podium, the other circulates through the
ensemble tutoring individual players on the correct techniques
of fingering, pitch, sound and other good music practices. The
young musicians benefit from the combined experience and
knowledge of two acclaimed professionals.
The vision of Virtuosi of Houston is that these talented young
Houstonians will fully develop their potential and become a
part of our community as performers, educators and/or arts
advocates. The majority of our graduates continue their musical
studies at prestigious conservatories and music schools. Such
schools include Juilliard, New England Conservatory of Music,
Eastman School of Music, University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, Peabody Institute, Curtis Institute
of Music, Indiana University, University of Houston Moores
School of Music, Rice University Shepherd School of Music
and the Royal Conservatory in the Hague in The Netherlands.
Rehearsals are held in our Studio in Memorial City Mall and
are open to the public. Each concert has a total of 30 hours
of rehearsal time which is scheduled over the five-week period
prior to each concert. Rehearsals are scheduled on Tuesdays
and Thursdays (from 6:30 to 9:30 pm) with a 20-minute
break for dinner.
What Artists and Educators Say About Virtuosi of Houston
“In these turbulent times we need the language of music to create an oasis
of calm in the harried world we live in. Music builds bridges and opens
doors. We need to support these young musicians who, despite the call of
the electric and fast paced world they will inherit, still want to take the time
to learn to play beautiful music.”
Zubin Mehta, Honorary Chairperson of the
“Legends of the Future” Annual Gala, May 2003
“Virtuosi of Houston has provided an incredible opportunity for my
students to grow and advance beyond the classroom. The exposure to great
literature, instruction from recognized college faculty members, and the
high standards of performance have enabled the students to perfect and then
progress beyond the skills and training offered in school.”
Karen Kline, Orchestra Director,
Houston Christian High School
“As a private viola teacher, I have had students participate in Virtuosi of
Houston. As a teacher, I have observed the impact on the music education
of these students. The Virtuosi repertoire is unlike anything they play in
their school programs. It has been a great learning experience for these
students. As music educators, we are very fortunate to have such a strong
program for young musicians in Houston.”
John Randolph, Viola Teacher
“With many of your students headed to the best music schools and
conservatories around the country, you are providing them with tools that
will last their entire careers. Best wishes for your continued success. The
Houston Symphony looks forward to its next opportunity to work with
your students.”
Roger Daily, Director of Education and Outreach,
Houston Symphony
“Virtuosi of Houston proved to be one of those turning points in life for our
daughter, Sara. Prior to auditioning for and being accepted in Virtuosi,
we had been looking for some way in which to expand and enhance Sara’s
musical education. Virtuosi provided us with the way to move forward.
From the very first rehearsal, it was evident that the training would be intense
and, given the obvious dedication of the maestros, the quality of instruction
would be high. Additionally, it was apparent that the deliberately small
size of this chamber orchestra would also ensure much more individualized
attention than was possible in large city youth orchestras. Virtuosi exceeded
our expectations from the beginning. We believe that Sara’s success in
music can be traced back to the education, support and encouragement
she received at Virtuosi. In fact, Sara recently admitted to us that before
Virtuosi, she was ready to give up on music. But now, because of Virtuosi,
Sara has found a passion that she has chosen to make into a career.”
Nelson and Catherine Ordóñez, parents of Sara who recently
completed her first year in the pre-college division at Juilliard and earned
the position of first chair viola for the first concert
“Before becoming a part of this program my exposure to classical music
performance and working with string instruments were non existent. While
I was slightly intimidated at the accomplished musicians of Virtuosi, I took
on the challenge of being a part of this group with energy and enthusiasm,
and as a result have made huge advancements with my ability as a musician.
Being a part of this phenomenal music program has given me opportunities
that I would NEVER have had through the public school. Because of
Virtuosi, I have committed myself to pursuing a college degree in music.”
Wade Coufal, bassoon, third-year member of Virtuosi of Houston
Program
National Anthem of the United States of America
Colors presented by Cy-Fair High School Junior ROTC
Overture to Fingal’s Cave The Hebrides, Op 26
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)
Orchestral Suite No 3 in D Major, BWV1068
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
I. Overture
II. Gavottes I & II
Monzer Hourani, Guest Conductor
Masques et Bergamasques, Op 112,
Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
I. Ouverture
II. Menuet
III. Gavotte
INTERMISSION
Symphony No 40 in G minor, K550
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
I. Allegro molto II. Menuetto (Allegretto / Trio)
III. Allegro assai
This concert is funded in part by
the National Endowment for the Arts,
Texas Commission on the Arts
and from the City of Houston
through the Houston Arts Alliance.
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As the CEO and founder of Medistar Corporation, Monzer
Hourani currently directs the successful operations of one of
the most dynamic medical real estate development companies
in the U.S. Medistar develops all types of healthcare facilities
throughout the U.S., primarily hospitals, long-term acute
care facilities, integrated medical facilities, ambulatory and
outpatient buildings, medical office buildings, cancer treatment
centers and imaging centers.
The philosophy which Mr. Hourani has always followed in each
of his development endeavors is to develop, design and construct
very economical and modern healthcare buildings while
maintaining a superior-quality product and to complement the
latest advances in technology and medicine.
Monzer Hourani
Guest Conductor
Monzer Hourani attended the University of Texas at Austin
where he earned degrees in Structural Engineering and
Architectural Studies in 1969.
In 1971, Mr. Hourani founded M. Hourani and Associates
Consulting Engineers and was involved in engineering
innovations of many building techniques and engineering
concepts which have had a great impact on the construction
and economy of the building industry in the U.S. Mr. Hourani
has been involved in over 600 facilities nationwide. A major
accomplishment as an engineer was Mr. Hourani’s development
of the state-of-the-art system in post-tension foundation. His
many accomplishments in the engineering field led him to
receive the award for “Outstanding Engineer of the Year” in
Houston in 1973.
Mr. Hourani has several patented inventions. His latest
invention is the Hurricane Window Brace for hurricane forces
of category 4 or 5.
Mr. Hourani has dedicated his entire life to making the lives of
others better. He has been a major supporter of many diverse
charitable and cultural organizations, including St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Hospital, the Arab American Medical
Association, the Arab American Cultural & Community
Center, the American University of Beirut, the American
Lebanese National Mission, the Anti-Defamation League,
B.A.P.S. Temple, the Open Door Mission Foundation, Health
Outreach to the Middle East, Houston Food Bank, Feed the
Children Foundation and others. Out of Mr. Hourani’s great
love of classical music, one of his most recent and dear charitable
causes is his role as the major underwriter of the Virtuosi of
Houston, an organization which provides an opportunity for
gifted young classical musicians.
Mr. Hourani knows that the children of the world suffer
greatly in wars. They are innocent victims, and many have lost
their parents. These children have been affected physically,
emotionally and psychologically by the wars, and some will
never recover.
It is for these innocent children that Mr. Hourani is dedicating his conducting
in hopes that somewhere and somehow, it will touch and heal the spirits of the
children of war.
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“It is important to support our youth today so they can perform to their utmost
ability. The opportunities that Virtuosi of Houston offers our community’s gifted
young musicians are admirable.”
Wayne Hays, Chief Operating Officer of MetroNational
MetroNational, amazing in its diversity and broadness of
scope, is a privately held billion dollar real estate investment
and management company headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Established in 1954, the company is active in commercial
healthcare, residential, restaurant, retail, and senior living and
telecommunications markets throughout Texas.
“Virtuosi of Houston provides an opportunity for young people to not only
develop their talent to the fullest but also helps preserve the viability of this
artform which, I know personally, can make a positive and dramatic impact
on the quality of life.”
Monzer Hourani, Chief Executive Officer
Medistar Corporation is a national full-service real estate
development company that specializes in the design,
development, financing and construction of medical office
buildings, hospitals, ambulatory buildings, cancer treatment
centers and other medical facilities for the healthcare industry
throughout the U.S., as well as corporate developments,
corporate facilities and academic facilities. Over the past
35 years, Medistar Corporation has designed, engineered,
constructed, financed and developed over 54 plus buildings
with a capitalization value in excess of $10 billion across most
major U.S. cities.
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Foundation Supporters
Major Individual Supporters
The Bhandara Foundation
The Casey Foundation
Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation
Houston Endowment Inc.
The Longenbaugh Fund
Lynne Murray Sr. Educational Trust Foundation
Nightingale Code Foundation
The Immanuel and Helen B. Olshan Foundation
The Selman/Rodd Charitable Foundation
Triple-S Steel/Stein Family Fund of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation
Amb. and Mrs. Christopher Ashby
Dr. and Mrs. Meherwan Boyce
Mrs. Vera Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Casey
Dr. and Mrs. Bill Eubanks
Mr. and Mrs. James D. Falconi
Mr. and Mrs. Sean Gorman
J. Thomas Haney, D.D.S.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mach
Mr. and Mrs. Jehanbux R. Mehta
Mr. and Mrs. Kirkmichael Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Pfrehm
Dame Darlene Rubinoff
Steve Weiss and Yukiko Canfieldten Entry
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Whiteman
Dr. and Mrs. James T. Willerson
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Wisch
Government Agencies
This concert is supported in part by an award from
the National Endowment for the Arts.
Major Gala Donors
Virtuosi of Houston is funded in part by a grant from
the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
This project is supported by a grant from the
Texas Commission on the Arts.
Corporate Sponsors
A-1 Stripping & Paving Company
Apache Corporation
BP Employee Matching Fund
Chevron Matching Gift Program
Cillies, Inc.
Competition Roofing, Inc.
ExxonMobil Foundation
Great Southern Laboratories
IPSSS, Inc.
Lyondell Chemical Company, Matching Gifts Program
Macy’s
M.C. Lighting Maintenance, LLC
Medistar Corporation
Memorial City Mall
Modern Woodmen of America
Paddington British Private School
Mr. Monzer Hourani, Medistar Corporation (Benefactor)
MetroNational (Major Underwriter)
Mr. and Mrs. Nijad Fares (Underwriter)
Africa Onshore Drilling Ltd., Rogers Beall, CEO
Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Z. Albina
Amb. and Mrs. Christopher Ashby and Friends
Mr. Phillip Azar and Domenique Hermes
Ms. S. A. Bischoff Barlow
Mr. and Mrs. Jack S. Blanton, Sr.
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Bloome
Mr. and Mrs. Jean-François Bonneté
Dr. and Mrs. Meherwan Boyce
Dr. and Mrs. William T. Butler
Capital One Bank
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis E. Caraway
Mr. and Mrs. William Carlos III
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Casey
Mr. and Mrs. Michel Chammas
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Chao
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Comstock
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Crassas
Mr. and Mrs. Bob DeKraker
EnVenture Capital - Mrs. Mary Zwald
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Evetts
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Falconi
Fiesta Mart, Inc.
First National Bank and Ritchmond Construction
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Fordis
Fortesa International
Dr. and Mrs. O. H. Frazier
Mr. Minoo Gazdar
Dr. Annette Gemp and Dr. Jim Nored
Great Southern Laboratories
Gulf Coast Cancer and Diagnostic Center at South East, Inc.
Mac Haik Enterprises - Mr. and Mrs. Mac Haik
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hartley
Mrs. Mika Hasler
Houston Neurocare, P.A.-Dr. Aziz Shaibani
HughesWattersAskanase, LLP
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In-Kind Donors
Dr. and Mrs. Roger Kaestner
Mr. and Mrs. Rashid Kapadia
Mr. and Mrs. Mansur Ali Khan
Ms. Anne Lamkin Kinder
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Lard
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Le
Mr. Lucien Lemieux
Ms. Karen Lowery
LaMotta Group at Merrill Lynch
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mach
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Maynard and Dame Darlene Rubinoff
Mr. and Mrs. D. Patrick McCelvey
Mr. and Mrs. Jack McCrary and Friends
Mr. and Mrs. David McKeithan
Mr. and Mrs. Kirkmichael Moore
Morgan Family Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Eric D. Mullins
Mr. George Murray
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Naeger
Mr. and Mrs. Bobbit Noel
Cluthe & William B. Oliver Foundation for Health & Aging
The Immanuel and Helen B. Olshan Foundation
Mrs. Jane B. Owen
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Patience
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pollock
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Poulos
A. Taghi Fine Apparel and Shoes
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Sandberg
Amb. and Mrs. Arthur Schechter
Mr. and Mrs. Rick Schulte
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Shadle
Mrs. Wilhelmina R. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Sutton
Toshiba International
Mr. and Mrs. Randy Vaal
Wallis State Bank
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Whiteman
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wilder
Dr. and Mrs. James T. Willerson
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Williams
Mr. and Mrs. David Wisch
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Woehler
Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Yap
Dr. and Mrs. Nadim M. Zacca
Dr. and Mrs. Meherwan Boyce
The Boyce Consultancy Group LLC
Calloway Custom Builders
Kim Coffman Photography
Elmore Public Relations, Inc.
Five Star Printing
Flowers by Nino
Meredith Foster, Web Design
Karen S. Gerstner & Associates, P.C.
The Houston Chronicle
HughesWattersAskanase LLP
InterContinental Hotel, Houston
Mr. and Mrs. Mansur Ali Khan
Memorial City Mall
Osaid Holdings Corp.
Ms. Susan Thomas
We express our deepest gratitude to all the parents,
grandparents, and alumni parents who contribute
their time and energy to the success of our season.
*Contributors as of printing deadline
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Andrzej Grabiec
Artistic Director, Conductor
Andrzej Grabiec began studying violin at the age of seven. Since his
first full recital at age 11 he has performed as a soloist in symphonic
concerts and recitals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia,
New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Denmark, Belgium, Great Britain,
East and West Germany, West Berlin, France, Switzerland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Spain, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Hungary,
Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, former Soviet Union, and his native country,
Poland. He was a prizewinner at the Fifth International Henryk
Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznan, Poland, in 1967, and the
International Jacques Thibaud Violin Competition in Paris, France,
in 1969. He completed his formal studies in 1972 with highest honors
at the Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland, where
he became Professor of Violin. He has been invited to direct Master
Classes in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Austria and
Poland. Andrzej Grabiec was Soloist and Concertmaster of the Polish
National Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra and leader of
Capella per Musica da Camera, a chamber orchestra of the Polish
Radio and Television. As a member of the Polish Radio Piano Trio
(violin, cello, piano) he has won first prize at the Tenth International
Competition for Chamber Music Ensembles in Colmar, France.
Between 1979 and 1985 Mr. Grabiec was engaged by the Pueblo
Symphony Association as Concertmaster of the Pueblo Symphony
Orchestra and Music Director of the Mozart Festival Chamber
Orchestra, which he founded. He was also Artist-in-Residence at the
University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colorado. In May 1984
Mr. Grabiec had his highly successful Carnegie Hall debut recital.
In 1985 Andrzej Grabiec was appointed Professor of Violin and
Director of Strings and Orchestral Studies at the School of Music
of the Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, where he was also
first violinist of the Fairmount String Quartet. Simultaneously the
Wichita Symphony Orchestra engaged him as Concertmaster. In 1986
the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina, selected
Mr. Grabiec to become Concertmaster of the Eastern Philharmonic
Orchestra, principal violin faculty, as well as soloist and chamber
musician in many summer concerts of this annual international
festival. Since 1989 Mr. Grabiec has been Concertmaster of the
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in Rochester, New York, and
since 1990, a founding member and soloist and Concertmaster of
the American Sinfonietta, an ensemble comprised of some of the
most outstanding musicians in the United States. In addition to
these duties, Mr. Grabiec also assumed the post of music director of
the Society for ChamberMusic in Rochester and became a founding
member of the Trio NOVA, which is enjoying an active career.
In the fall of 1995, Mr. Grabiec assumed a position of Professor of
Violin at the Moores School of Music of the University of Houston
in Houston, Texas, and in 1996 the American Sinfonietta offered
him the position of Artistic Director of the American Sinfonietta
Performance Academy, which is active every summer. Since moving
to Houston Mr. Grabiec has become founder and Artistic CoDirector of the Virtuosi of Houston, a 45-piece orchestra comprised
of some of the most outstanding young musicians in the metropolitan
Houston area. Throughout his artistic career Mr. Grabiec frequently
collaborated as a soloist or as a chamber musician with many
internationally recognized artists, such as - conductors Pierre
Boulez, Erich Leinsdorf, Krzysztof Penderecki, Witold Lutoslawski,
Jerzy Semkow, Kazimierz Kord, Mark Elder, Erich Bergel; - pianists
Garrick Ohlsson, Michael Ponti, Andre-Michel Schub, Lee Luvisi,
Robert Levin, John Perry; - violinists Joseph Silverstein, Robert
McDuffie, Ani Kavafian, Fredell Lack, James Buswell; - violists Heidi
Castleman, Lars Anders Tomter, Barbara Westphal, Robert Vernon,
Thomas Riebl, Patricia McCarty, James Dunham; - cellists Leonard
Rose, Laszlo Varga, Carter Brey, Nathaniel Rosen, Timothy Eddy,
Ronald Leonard, Christoph Henkel, Heidi Litschauer; double bassist
James Vandemark, Paul Ellison, Fred Bretschger, ; - guitarists Pepe
Romero, Angel Romero; - wind players Hermann Baumann (French
horn), Carol Wincenc and Wolfgang Schulz (flute), Franklin Cohen
and Charles Neidich (clarinet), Alan Vogel and Neil Black (oboe);
- and many others. During the summer of 1999 Mr. Grabiec was
Artistic Director of an extensive Olympic Arts Tour to Australia
(Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Charters Towers, a.o.), New
Zealand (Auckland), and South Pacific islands, where he played a
double role as violin soloist and as a conductor. Mr. Grabiec closed
the year 1999 with a performance in the presence of former President
George Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Presidential
Advisor Vernon Jordan, Senator Howard Baker, and German Consul
General Wolfgang Moser, and with a performance as soloist with the
Houston Symphony Orchestra. Recently Mr. Grabiec completed a CD
recording of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the American
Sinfonietta, with Michael Palmer conducting. It was released on the
Summit Records label, and is presently distributed to 52 countries
around the world. Most recently Mr. Grabiec completed another CD
recording of contemporary American chamber music, and a unique
CD recording of Strauss’ Don Quixote, arranged for septet by cellist,
Laszlo Varga. In addition, recordings of Mr. Grabiec can be found
on the Vifon and Natural Soundfields labels as well as in the archives
of Polish Radio and Television, ORF (Austrian Radio, Vienna), and
West German Radio (West-Deutsche Rundfunk).
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Franz Anton Krager
Artistic Director, Conductor
American born and trained, conductor Franz Anton Krager has
been making his artistic presence felt both at home and abroad. Performance engagements in some of the world’s most celebrated
concert halls and musical centers are testimony to his emergence
as a conductor on the international music scene. Since making his
prize winning European conducting debut in Copenhagen’s Tivoli
Koncertsalen in 1978, Krager has led orchestras in the Leipzig
Gewandhaus, Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace, England’s Bridgewater
Hall in Manchester & Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham, Sydney Opera
House, Amsterdam Congresgebouw, Kazan’s State Philharmonic Hall
in Russia, Guadalajara’s Degollado Theater, and Sarasota’s Van Wezel
Performing Arts Hall. His affiliations with leading music festivals include the Lichfield &
Aberystwyth International Arts Festivals and Lancaster International
Concert Series in the U.K., the “Lago di Como,” “Lunatica,”
“Pianomaster,” “Sinfonico,” “Giovedì a Teatro,” “Scarlino Castello,”
and “All Around Jazz” Festivals in Italy, and the Texas Music Festival
and Interlochen National Music Camp in the U.S.
Krager’s musical training included the study of percussion, piano,
theory, composition, and conducting with Elizabeth A. H. Green at
the University of Michigan. He served as General & Artistic Director for “Shostakovich 2000,”
a five-day international music festival marking the 25th anniversary
of Shostakovich’s death. The festival was recognized by the DSCH
Journal as a major world event for Shostakovich’s ballets, operas,
chamber, and orchestral music. In 2003, Maestro Krager conducted
Shostakovich with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra &
Symphonic Cappella, and Alexander Kisselev of the Bolshoi Theatre,
inside the State Kremlin Palace. A command performance, initiated
by Kremlin authorities, was given in honor of Russian poet Yevgeny
Yevtushenko’s 70th birthday to an audience of 6500. Krager made
his European opera conducting debut in 2004 in the production of
Puccini’s “Tosca” with Italy’s Stagione Lirica. Krager was appointed,
in 2006, as Artistic Consultant for the World Holocaust Forum
Foundation’s “Let My People Live,” in commemoration of the 65th
anniversary of the tragedy in Babi Yar, Kiev, Ukraine. This event
garnered global media attention, and included state delegations from
several countries including the Presidents of Israel and Ukraine. Krager also directed the “Jean Sibelius Festival 2006,” a three-day
music festival celebrating the works of Finnish composer Sibelius.
Krager’s conducting engagements include the Houston Symphony
Orchestra; Russian State Symphony; Romanian and Kazan State
Philharmonics; Symphony Orchestra of Berlin; Akademisches
Orchester Leipzig; Koriyama Symphony Orchestra (Japan); Texas
and Oakland (CA) Ballet Companies and Houston Ballet Academy;
the chamber orchestras of Stratford (“Orchestra of the Swan,” where
he was Principal Guest Conductor from 2000-2004), Orchestra
Sinfonica Citta’ di Grosseto, Guido d’Arezzo, and Orchestra
Sinfonica del Conservatorio Jacopo Tomadini (Italy).
Choral engagements include the Houston Symphony Chorus; the
Chorus of the Gruppo Polifonico “Francesco Coradini,” Corale
Giacomo Puccini di Grosseto (Italy); and the Asaka Women’s
Chorus (Japan). Krager has worked with some of the pre-eminent
artists of our time. In conjunction with the Moores School of Music,
he has collaborated with Robert Shaw, William Warfield, Maxim
Shostakovich, Marilyn Horne, John Corigliano, Horacio Gutiérrez,
and Sergei Leiferkus.
Krager is Professor of Conducting, Director of Orchestras, and
Chair of the Conducting Department at the University of Houston
Moores School of Music, where he has brought the orchestra
and orchestral conducting program into the realm of national
prominence. The Moores School Orchestra has commercially
recorded the music of Michael Horvit, Peter Lieuwen, Robert
Nelson, and Stephen Shewan for Albany Records. In conjunction
with the Moores School, Krager has collaborated with Robert
Shaw, William Warfield, Maxim Shostakovich, Marilyn Horne,
John Corigliano, Horacio Gutiérrez, and Sergei Leiferkus.
Music press that has hailed the Maestro includes the Liverpool
Daily Post: “American conductor Franz Anton Krager produced
a performance full of life, vivacity and enthusiasm.” The Leipziger
Volkszeitung in Germany: “Krager’s unusual Schwung and Esprit
brought to the Gewandhaus.”; the Houston Chronicle: “well-prepared
earnestness; assured, committed performances; effectiveness; and
heartfelt sincerity.” The Tampa Tribune: the Florida West Coast
Symphony organization “would be smart to grab Franz Anton Krager,
who won over the sellout crowd...” In 1984, after a six year Assistant
Professorship at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Krager
relocated to Texas as Music Director of the Brazos Valley Symphony
Orchestra and Brazos Sinfonietta. 21
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Musician Roster
Inaugural Concert of the 2007-2008 Season
Violins
Oboes
Paige Jackson, concertmaster
Brittany Ehrhardt, associate concertmaster
Hannah Moore, assistant concertmaster
Peter Schulte, principal second
Christine Chang, assistant principal second
Mark Arroyo
Alexander Ghadially
Daniel Gibson
Dominique Hammons
Wilson Hui
Sadie Park
Rebecca Whiteman
Junji Wiener
Dora Wu
* Se Yoon Eom
* Yuri Kang
* Natalie Lin
** Laura Ruiz
* Xuan Tang
** Christine Wisch
* Ji Eun Yook
Elaine Lowery, co-principal
Colin Vaal, co-principal
Daniel Perez, co-principal
Alexa Thibodeaux, co-principal
Grant Wilder
Violas
Trumpets
Paula Jeon, principal
Hillary Eichelberger, associate principal
Jennifer Trondle, assistant principal
Tony Hudson
Trung Nguyen
* J.D. Karpicke
** Samantha Pollock
Charles Canales, co-principal
Tanner Smith, co-principal
* Sean Maness
* Erin Thomas
Clarinets
Kate Sutton, principal
Brandon Boyle
Bass Clarinet
* Rena McCampbell
Bassoons
Wade Coufal, principal
** Keith Cruz
Horns
Bass Trombone
* Dustin Garcia
Violoncelli
Branson Yeast, principal
Timothy Hoang, associate principal
Justin Parker, assistant principal
Jessica Barnett
Abby Fisher
Phillip Kim
Harpsichord
* Chien-Jung Chen
Timpani
* Doug Goldberg
Contrabassi
Sean Casey, principal
Caleb Quillen, associate principal
David Hernandez, assistant principal
Kynan Horton-Thomas
* Music students at the University of Houston Moores School of Music
Flutes
Robert Pimentel, co-principal
Henry Williford, co-principal
** Virtuosi of Houston Alumni and music students at the
University of Houston Moores School of Music
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Mark Arroyo
Brandon Boyle
Violin
Clarinet
Mark Arroyo, 16, has played violin since the summer of 2002.
He is a senior at Westside High School, where he serves as
concertmaster and president of orchestras and performs under
the baton of Jessica Chandler. Mark has been a member of
Houston Youth Symphony for three years, and was a first violinist
in the AFA conservatory. Mark has studied with Rodica Weber,
Ronn Andrusco, and Emmanuel Borok. He also performs
weekly in a local coffee house. In college, Mark plans to double
major in violin performance and psychology.
Brandon Boyle, age 17, a senior at Stephen F. Austin High
School, has played the clarinet for eight years. He performs in
the SFA Honors Band under the direction of Dustin Winson
and in the orchestra under the direction of Carolyn Vandiver.
Brandon was a member of the TMEA All-State Symphonic
Band in 2007, and received a superior rating for a solo and an
ensemble at the UIL Solo and Ensemble Competition for three
years. Brandon studies privately with Jennifer Dennison and is
a member of Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. He
is active in his church, and in summer goes on mission trips.
Jessica Barnett
Charles Canales
Violoncello
Trumpet
Jessica Barnett is in her second season performing the cello with
Virtuosi of Houston and is a sophomore at Katy High School
where she performs in the school’s chamber orchestra under the
direction of Courtnay Parker. She made Region in 2005 and
2007 and studies privately with Anthony Kitai of the Houston
Symphony Orchestra. In the summers she attended Sam
Houston State University’s Orchestra Camp and Texas Tech
University’s Band & Orchestra Camp. She was chosen Katy
High School’s Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) ambassador and
will represent her school this summer at the HOBY Leadership
Seminar.
Charles Canales is a senior at Kempner High School where he
was principal trumpet for Kempner High School Orchestra
under the direction of Mr. Mike Wells. He played in the Texas
All -State Band since his freshman year, and has participated
in Region XVII Band and Orchestra since junior high. He is a
member of the Kempner English Honor Society and the Future
Texas Music Educators Association. Charles has been a member
of Virtuosi of Houston for two seasons and studies trumpet with
Mr. Jesus Cantu.
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Sean Casey
Wade Coufal
Contrabasso
Bassoon
Sean Casey, a senior at Cinco Ranch High School, is in his
second season with Virtuosi of Houston. He attended the 2005
Interlochen Summer Orchestra Camp, the 2006 Tanglewood
Double Bass Workshop, the 2007 Strings International Music
Festival, and the Third Beijing International Music Festival and
Academy. For two years, he performed with the Houston Youth
Symphony and the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra. Sean
also studies with Andrew Moritz and Eric Larson as he prepares
for college, where he plans to pursue a performance major. Sean
enjoys coaching middle school bass players at two junior high
schools two days a week. Beyond music, Sean actively fences at
the Katy Blades Fencing Academy earning a C07 ranking, and
works in German Honor Society as an officer.
Wade Coufal is a sophomore at Pearland High School and in
his third season with Virtuosi of Houston. He began playing
the bassoon at the age of 11 and studies privately with Cathy
Marmolejo. He has made Region Band for the past three years
and earned all ones in Solo and Ensemble. Wade is a member
of the National Honor Society and has competed in various
math competitions. Last year, he participated with the Pride of
Pearland Marching Band, and is currently first chair bassoonist
in Honors band.
Christine Chang
Brittany Ehrhardt
Violin
Violin
Christine Chang, 16, fulfilled the promise inherent in
her middle name - “Melody” - when she began playing
the violin at age four at the Southwest Suzuki School
of Music. She has performed with the Houston Youth
Symphony while studying under 11 teachers including
Zachary Carrettin, Tang Xuan, and Mark Lai. She lived
for two years in Taiwan to achieve fluency in Mandarin
and Taiwanese. Since returning, she is a junior at Katy
Taylor High School where she is a member of the chamber
orchestra and the 2007 Region 23 Symphony. Christine
studies with Johnny Chang, and believes: If music be the food
of love, play on!
Brittany Ehrhardt is 17 years old and a senior at Klein High
School. She began studying violin at the age of three with
Carol Blue, and now studies with Dr. Lisa Burrell. In her third
season with Virtuosi, she has been a member of the Region
9 Orchestra for five years. She was a member of the 2006/7
Tommy Tune Award-winning pit orchestra at her high school
for the musical “Oklahoma.” Brittany won two “Outstanding
Solo” Awards in Klein ISD Solo and Ensemble competitions; is
a member of the chorus in her school’s musical Bye-Bye Birdie;
a member of Klein’s Drama Club, Chorale, French Club and
French Symposium Team. Brittany plays with her dogs, attends
concerts, sings, dances, and hangs out with friends.
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Hillary Eichelberger
Alexandre Ghadially
Viola
Violin
Hillary Eichelberger is a junior at Langham Creek High School
where she is a member of the Sinfonia Orchestra, directed by
David Hunter. She began playing the viola at age eleven, and
the piano at age six. Hillary has achieved superior ratings for
class one solos and ensembles in Solo/Ensemble competitions
and has been in Region Orchestra for five consecutive years.
Her music teachers include John Randolph for viola and ChiaWen Bonbright for piano. Hillary is an active member of West
Houston Church of Christ, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish National
Honor Society, Biology Club, Student Council and Interact
Club.
Alexandre Ghadially is a first year student with Virtuosi and a
private student with Qi Ming. He won the String Concerto
Competition with Greater Houston Youth Orchestra in 2003.
For the past several summers, Alexandre has performed at
workshops at Montreal Concordia University where he has built
good friendships with other musicians. In the eighth grade
at River Oaks Baptist School, he is excited about being with
Virtuosi and playing tennis, skiing and being with his brother
and family.
Abby Fisher
Daniel Gibson
Violoncello
Violin
Abby Fisher, age 17, has played the cello since age 11. A senior
at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, she is copresident of the school orchestra. In middle-school, she played
in Houston Youth Symphony and her school orchestra. She is a
member of the Region Philharmonic Orchestra and the Region
Symphony Orchestra. Abby made Area each year of high school
and made ones on solos at UIL each year. Carolyn Vandiver
directs her school orchestra and Ann Victor is her private
teacher. A member of Mu Alpha Theta and Youth Expanding
Services Program, Abby enjoys basketball, bowling, soccer, and
beat-boxing. She has performed with the Austin High School
Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, Austria, and Czech Republic.
Daniel Gibson, age 13, has played violin since age five. Daniel
is in the eighth grade, and is a member of the Greater Houston
Youth Orchestra, the HYS Philharmonia under the direction of
Christian Macelau, and the Southeast Texas Youth Symphony,
under the direction of Jacob Sustaita. He attended New
England Music Camp last summer where he became a member
of the NEMC Honors Society, being named Honor Camper
and Honor Musician. Daniel won the 2007 SETYS Solo
Competition award, the 2005 Symphony League of Beaumont
Outstanding Young Performer award, and is the 2006 and
2007 Concertmaster for Region X Orchestra.
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Dominique Hammons
Tim Hoang
Violin
Violoncello
Dominique Hammons has played violin under the direction of
Chaitwat Rodsuwan since age nine. He is in eighth grade at Drew
Academy where he is a member of the Advanced String Orchestra
under the instruction of Tim Blaha. A First Violinist in Region
XIX Middle School Symphony Orchestra, he received superior
ratings in 2007 UIL solo/ensemble competitions. He has
performed with the American Festival of the Arts and attended
Summer Music Camps at Sam Houston State University. He is
also a member of the Houston Youth Symphony Philharmonia
Orchestra. This is Dominique’s first year with Virtuosi and he
studies privately with Mika Hasler.
Tim Hoang is a senior at Austin High School. He has played
the cello since sixth grade under the guidance of Ann Victor.
Tim has made region every year and has made the TMEA AllState String Orchestra in his senior year. Tim enjoys playing
basketball and running during his spare time.
David Hernandez
Kynan Horton-Thomas
Contrabasso
Contrabasso
David Hernandez, in his first season with Virtuosi, is a junior at
Pasadena High School, where he plays in the Chamber Orchestra
under the direction of Stacy Weill. He plays double bass and
studies privately with Erik Gronfor. David also performs with
the Pasadena Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction
of Bud Woodruff. He is a member of the TMEA All-State
Symphony Orchestra, and earned two gold medals for solo
performances at All-State Solo & Ensemble. He performed an
All-State solo in the University of North Texas’ Jeff Bradetich
Master Class. David arranges and transcribes music, and plans
to pursue a career in music. He is a member of the National
Honor Society.
Kynan Horton-Thomas, 13, is in his first year in Virtuosi. In
the eighth grade in Pearland ISD, he has played Double Bass
for six years in Rice University’s Shepherd School preparatory
program with direction from Sarah Hogan and Erik Gronfor.
Kynan also studies privately with Becky Merritt and Paul Ellison.
He is a member of the Houston Youth Symphony. He performs
at the American Festival of the Arts, the Young Sounds summer
jazz camp and for two years has been first chair in region
orchestra. Kynan also performs with his church praise band.
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Anthony Hudson
Paige Jackson
Viola
Violin
Anthony Hudson, age 16, is a junior at Stephen F. Austin
High School and a member of the orchestra under the
direction of Carolyn Vandiver. Tony was in the symphony
orchestra of TMEA Region XVII and Region XIII and
also medaled in UIL Solo & Ensemble competitions. Last
spring, he performed with the Austin/Travis High School
Orchestra in three European concerts. Tony participated
in the American Festival of the Arts programs for three
summers and in the Houston Youth Symphony. He has
attended clinics that include three workshops at Baylor
University, Sam Houston State University and UT San
Antonio. Tony enjoys listening to music, playing games
on his laptop, boating and reading.
Paige Jackson, in her seventh year with Virtuosi of Houston,
began Suzuki violin lessons at age three with Joyce Durfee
Gertsman, and now studies privately with Eric Halen, of
the Houston Symphony Orchestra. She has played with the
Montgomery County Youth Orchestra, Young Chamber Players
of the Woodlands, Greater Houston Youth Orchestra, Region
IX Symphonic Orchestra, the Honor Orchestra of America
in Indianapolis and many Houston area quartets. Paige has
attended the American Festival of the Arts, ARIA Music Camp
in Muncie, IN, Master Works Festival, Winoa Lake, IN and a
fine arts camp in Vogelway, Germany.
Wilson G. Hui
Paula Jeon
Violin
Viola
Wilson G. Hui, in his first year with Virtuosi of Houston,
was born in the USA, but attended first through fourth
grade in Yonghu Elementary School in China. He played
violin with the Orchestra of Children’s Palace Guilin and
Guangxi Normal University Orchestra. There, he was
given second prize as a “Future Star – China’s Outstanding
Expertise Competition in the Guangxi region.” Since
returning to the USA, Wilson is studying privately with
Dr. Shih-Ting Huang and performs with the Greater
Houston Youth Orchestra.
Paula Jeon is a senior at Stratford High School, and has played
with Virtuosi of Houston since 2005-2006 season and began
playing the viola at age 13. She attended American Festival
for the Arts during summer of 2005. She has made Region
23 Orchestra for the past two years and Region 27 Orchestra
this fall. She has earned ones on solos and trios at UIL Solo
& Ensemble Contests. She studied with Edward Lawrence and
John Randolph, and studies with Ab Sengupta and under the
school directors, Michael Fahey and Kate Moore. She is an A
student, a member of United International Club, CARE club,
Fellowship of the Christian Athletes, and a vice-president of
Stratford Orchestra. She speaks fluent Korean, and in her spare
time, she likes to hang out with her friends, eat and sleep.
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Phillip Kim
Hannah Moore
Violoncello
Violin
Phillip Kim, in his first year with Virtuosi of Houston and a
junior at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, began playing cello
at age ten. He has performed with Region XXIII Orchestra,
Greater Houston Youth Orchestra, Houston Youth Symphony,
his church orchestra and his school orchestra under the direction
of Desiree Overree. He takes private lessons from Artan Zhuri.
Phillip enjoys playing piano, video games, basketball, and
swimming. His dream is to become a world-famous chef on the
Food Network.
Hannah Moore, age 15, is in her fourth year with Virtuosi
of Houston. She studies violin with Eric Halen, associate
concertmaster of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. She is a
sophomore at Memorial High School in the Sinfonia Orchestra
under the direction of Bingiee Shiu. Hannah has been honored
as a member of Region Symphony from 2003-2007, All-Area
2006-2007, and All-State 2007. She received third place in
the Virtuosi of Houston Concerto Competition in 2007.
Elaine Lowery
Trung Nguyen
Oboe
Viola
Elaine Lowery is a junior at Cypress Ridge High School where
she is a member of the Orchestra and the Symphonic Band.
She has played oboe since she was 11, and has performed
with the Greater Houston Youth Orchestra, the American
Festival for the Arts, and the Houston Youth Symphony. Last
summer she studied at Le Domaine Forget in Quebec. In UIL
competition she received first chair at Freshmen Region Band.
As a sophomore, she was selected as a Texas All-State musician.
She has studied oboe with Dr. Anne Leek, and has made the
academic honor roll each year for ten years.
Trung Nguyen, a freshman at Stephen F. Austin High School in
Sugar Land, studies viola with Mika Hasler and is a part of the
high school orchestra under the direction of Caroline Vandiver.
Before moving to Texas from Virginia, he studied viola with
Soo Hoo, and often rock climbed and fenced. He enjoys web
designing and creating computer animations in his spare time
and plans on becoming a graphics designer or animator. Trung
joined Virtuosi of Houston this season.
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Sadie Park
Daniel Perez
Violin
Horn
Sadie Park is a freshman at Memorial High School where she is
a member of the orchestra. Currently in her second year as a
member of Virtuosi of Houston, she began playing the violin at
age four and performed with the Bunker Hill Fiddlers. Sadie
has participated in all region orchestra for three years. She
studies with Qi Ming of the Houston Symphony Orchestra,
and performs with the Houston Grand Opera’s High School
chorus.
Daniel Perez, 17, is a senior at the High School for Performing
and Visual Arts where he is co-principal of the HSPVA Orchestra
and a member of the Wind Ensemble. He is also a member of
HYS Symphony. Daniel attended American Festival of the Arts
for two summers and this past summer he attended Boston
University’s Tanglewood Institute, where he had the opportunity
to study with horn soloist Eric Ruske. Daniel lived in Israel for
two months last summer as a Mickey Leland Kibbutzim Intern.
Justin Parker
Robert Pimentel
Violoncello
Flute
Justin Parker is a senior at The Kinkaid School and plays in
the Upper School Orchestra under the direction of Steve
Kastner. A National Merit Scholar, he is in his second season
with Virtuosi. Justin studies cello privately with Josh Bolton.
He participated in the ENCORE! Orchestra Camp at Emory
University and studied in the Preparatory Division of the
Shepard School of Music at Rice University. With members of
the Kinkaid Band and Orchestra he played on the Great Wall of
China in a joint concert with the Tian Jin University Concert
Band at the Beijing Conservatory of Music, and to a sell-out
audience in Xian.
Robert Pimentel began flute studies at age eleven. He is a senior
at Cypress-Springs High School and the drum major in the
Panther Band. A first year student with Virtuosi of Houston,
he was a member of Greater Houston Youth Orchestra and
Houston Youth Symphony where he placed first in the concerto
competition. Robert has attended music camps at several
universities in Texas and Western Michigan University. He
achieved All-Region for band six times, and for orchestra three
times, earning a spot in the TMEA All-State Concert Band last
year. Robert studied with Sarah Bennett and now studies with
Dr. Sydney Carlson.
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Caleb Quillen
Tanner Smith
Contrabasso
Violin
Caleb Quillen, age 16 and a junior at Stephen F. Austin High
School, plays double bass in the Symphony Orchestra under
Carolyn Vandiver’s direction, and studies privately with
Dennis Whittaker and Paul Ellison. A member of Region XIII
Symphony Orchestra and a State Solo and Ensemble medalist,
Caleb is a Texas All-State musician. He is performing his third
season with Virtuosi of Houston and has been a member of
the Houston Youth Symphony for four years. Caleb attended
summer workshops including Francois Rabbath’s master classes,
American Festival for the Arts, University of North Texas
Summer Bass workshop and Philadelphia Strings International,
where he took master classes with Hal Robinson.
Tanner Smith, in his first year with Virtuosi, is a senior at
Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land where he is a
member of the symphony orchestra conducted by Carolyn
Vandiver. He has attended band camps at Texas universities,
and has performed with the John Philip Sousa National High
School Honor Band, Bands of America Honor Band in the
Rose Parade, Bands of America National Concert Band Festival
and Bands of America National Honor Band. He also studies
trumpet with Dan Laufer and John DeWitt, Associate Principal
Trumpet for the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Peter Schulte
Kate Sutton
Violin
Clarinet
Peter Schulte, in his fourth year with Virtuosi of Houston, is a
senior at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, where
he is the Upper Strings Student Conductor and plays in the First
Violin section of the symphony orchestra under the direction of
Carolyn Vandiver. He also studies violin with Andrzej Grabiec
and has studied with Charles Qiao and Sofia Silivos. Peter
has made Region Orchestra every year since seventh grade,
performs in string quartets and on an electric violin with the
worship band at his church. He was selected to be a NASA High
School Aerospace Scholar at the Johnson Space Center.
Kate Sutton is a senior at Elkins High School, where she plays
clarinet in the band. Now in her second year with Virtuosi,
Kate has studied privately with Michael Isadore since 2004.
She is a three-year member of Houston Youth Symphony,
performed with the American Festival for the Arts, and last
summer attended the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro.
Kate made All-State and played in both the 5A Symphonic Band
and the Philharmonic Orchestra. She volunteers at Habitat for
Humanity, and at Elkins she is president and co-founder of
the Environmental Club, and president of English Honors
Society.
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Alexa Thibodeaux
Colin Vaal
Horn
Oboe
Alexa Thibodeaux, age 16, is in the tenth grade at Lawrence
E. Elkins High School. She has played French horn since she
was 12, and also plays the trumpet. Alexa made first chair in
Freshmen Region band in 2006-07 and was the only freshmen
in her district to make the regular Region Band as well. Alexa
also made First Division on every solo and ensemble she has
played in the past three years. Alexa is playing under the
direction of Scott Estes and Drew Farmer at Elkins and receives
private lessons from Matt Menger. She is a member of the
Elkins Environmental Club and the French Club, and attends
the French Symposium.
Colin Vaal, 18, is a senior at John Foster Dulles High School. An
oboist, he has qualified for Area band and orchestra since 2005
and All-Region band and orchestra since 2003. He received
top ratings on UIL Division I solos and ensembles from 20032007. In addition to Virtuosi of Houston, Colin is a member of
the Houston Youth Symphony and won the HYS Philharmonia
Concerto competition for 2006-2007. He participated in the
Interlochen Advanced Oboe Institute during the Summer of
2007, and in the American Festival for the Arts during 2006.
Colin studies privately with Dr. Anne Leek.
Jennifer Trondle
Rebecca Ross Whiteman
Viola
Violin
Jennifer Trondle started playing the viola at 11 years of age
and has played with Virtuosi of Houston for several years. She
attends Stephen F. Austin High School and studies under the
direction of Carolyn Vandiver. In the past few years, she has
attended the American Festival for the Arts summer camp and
the Fort Bend Summer Camp. Jennifer has made Region each
year since seventh grade and made Area the last few years.
Rebecca Ross Whiteman, in her second season with Virtuosi
of Houston, attends Houston Christian High School. She
began studying the violin with Kathy Karpicke at Bunker Hill
Elementary and continued studying after moving to Melbourne,
Australia in the second grade. Since returning to Houston in
2005, Rebecca takes private lessons from Lucy Shaw and plays in
her high school orchestra under the direction of Karen Kline.
Selected for the Region 27 Orchestra as both a freshman and
sophomore, Rebecca also competed in TAPPS and TPSMEA
Solo and Ensemble competitions, receiving ones at both the
district and state level.
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D. Junji Wiener
Henry Williford
Violin
Flute
D. Junji Wiener, a junior at Memorial High School, is a first
violinist in the Sinfonia Orchestra under the direction of Bingiee
Shiu and is in his third season with Virtuosi. Junji attended
Fiddler’s Fair violin camps and has studied privately with Julie
Lundgren. His first Suszuki teacher was Kathy Karpicke at
Memorial Drive Elementary. He competed in the SBISD Solo
and Ensemble Festival, earning outstanding performance
ratings. He has earned Number 1 ratings at the Texas State UIL
Solo Competitions. He played in Middle School and High
School Regional Orchestras, and last summer, he rehearsed
with the Rhode Island South County Chamber Orchestra.
Henry Williford, age 17, is a senior at Clear Lake High School.
He has played flute since the fourth grade and also plays cello.
He has performed with AFA , HYS and Virtuosi of Houston.
When he lived in Boise, Idaho, he studied with Dr. Liana Tyson,
and later received lessons from Dr. Zart Dombourian-Eby, of
the Seattle Symphony.Currently, he studies with Dr. Sydney
Carlson, Affiliate Artist of Flute at University of Houston. He
plans to continue his studies at a music conservatory in the fall
of 2008.
Grant Wilder
Dora Wu
Horn
Violin
Grant Wilder, 16, is a sophomore at the Kinkaid School where
he is principal horn in the band under the co-direction of Fred
Angerstein and Sarah Bunk. He has been principal horn in the
Intermediate Concert Orchestra at Interlochen, and placed in
the World Youth Wind Symphony and was principal horn of the
Greater Houston Youth Orchestra. He was first chair in his allregion and all-area bands before ranking second chair in the
TPSMEA all-state band. Grant has received multiple superior
ratings for solos in state-wide solo and ensemble contests. He
enjoys racing sailboats, and he is on the Kinkaid varsity boys’
volleyball team.
Dora Wu, 16, is a junior at Cypress Ridge High School and is in
her second season with Virtuosi of Houston. She began playing
the violin at age 11 under the instruction of Jenny Greene,
and now studies privately with Armand Berisha and with Jose
Rocha, Cypress Ridge Orchestra Director. Dora has been in
the region orchestra and Symphony North of Houston. She has
won medals for solos and ensembles in UIL competitions. She
is a member of Science Olympiad, Issues Club, and Interact.
She speaks English and Cantonese fluently, and French semifluently.
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Branson Yeast
Violoncello
Branson Yeast, 18, a senior at The High School for the
Performing and Visual Arts, studies privately with cellist
Norman Fischer. At age 12, he began cello lessons with Frances
Koiner, and recently performed with fiddler Mark O’Connor
on the national radio show From the Top. Branson studied chamber
music at Encore School for Strings in Ohio with members of the
Cavani Quartet and privately with Christopher von Baeyer. He
is in his sixth season with Houston Youth Symphony and fourth
season with Virtuosi of Houston. He was the string division
concerto winner for both HYS and Virtuosi of Houston for the
2006-2007 season. He will perform the Shostakovich concerto
in December with HSPVA and plans to study cello at a music
conservatory.
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Virtuosi of Houston Quartet Program
A supporting educational component of Virtuosi of Houston is
the Quartet Program in which students perform smaller
chamber works as quartet ensembles. In addition to performance
experience, the students develop leadership skills and gain
responsibility through valuable interaction with one another.
Under the guidance of the maestros, the students who participate
in the Quartet Program are professionally coached by three
practicing professionals: John Randolph (viola), Ed Lawrence
(cello) and Amanda DeHoyos (oboe).
Last season (2006-07), the Quartet program expanded to
include a new wind quartet in addition to the string quartets.
Throughout the season the quartets performed 39 recitals in
venues which included public libraries, museums, festivals, and
malls for a total audience reach of 11,050. The majority of the
recitals were performed free of charge. Six of the recitals were
funded in part by a special touring grant awarded by Harris
County and the Texas Commission on the Arts through the
Houston Arts Alliance for the purpose of reaching new
audiences throughout Harris County. As in past seasons,
Virtuosi of Houston quartets also played several pre-concert
recitals for the Houston Symphony performances in Jones
Hall.
Virtuosi of Houston Quartets also perform for a modest
honorarium for weddings, parties and all social occasions. The
performance fees allow the students to earn much needed funds
for their musical education expenses as well as instrument
maintenance and upgrades.
To engage a Quartet for an upcoming event,
please call the Virtuosi of Houston
713.807.0888 or e-mail us at
[email protected].
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Uniquely Houston
Friends of the Virtuosi of Houston
Virtuosi of Houston is proud to be a part of the Uniquely Houston
program with the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Uniquely Houston offers an innovative program- the only one
of its kind in the U.S. designed to give small to midsize nonprofit performing arts groups the chance to shine and reach
broader audiences with a state-of-the-art home in the Theater
District. This concept was part of the founding vision of the
Hobby Center and the reason why Zilkha Hall was built.
Charivari – Fine European Cuisine
Dr. and Mrs. Bill Eubanks
Mr. and Mrs. Jehanbux R. Mehta
Mr. and Mrs. Kirkmichael Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Pfrehm
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Whiteman
Dr. and Mrs. James T. Willerson
What Uniquely Houston has to say about
Virtuosi of Houston:
Virtuosi of Houston is a nationally recognized young artists chamber
orchestra. Its goal–to educate and develop young talented
musicians, from their training in Virtuosi to their next step as
sought-after students who attend major music conservatories
in the country and overseas, to their graduation to a career in
classical music.
Virtuosi constantly cultivates and nurtures these bright young
musicians, encouraging and inspiring them as performers,
educators and advocates of classical music.
This much needed and unique organization provides the
opportunity for every talented youth in the Houston area
regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or financial status to receive
the best education in the field of classical music, thereby fostering
the next generation of classical musicians.
Virtuosi of Houston is the only youth chamber orchestra in the
United States. Its smaller size of only 50-55 musicians enables
each musician to experience increased confidence, leadership
and responsibility. This limited number of artists also makes it
mandatory that each musician plays at an exemplary level, fine
tuning their skills for a career that would excel in any aspect of
classical music.
With pleasure we offer membership in the Friends of the
Virtuosi of Houston. Our Friends provide annual support for
the educational training of our musically talented students.
The various levels of membership offer various opportunities
for support as we strive to provide an excellent environment for
learning in our state-of-the-art studio with educational expertise
provided by world-class Maestros. Your financial assistance as a
Friend helps our students in the realization of their dreams.
Please take this opportunity to become a Friend of the Virtuosi of Houston
by completing and returning the enclosed flyer or contacting us
at 713.807.0888 or [email protected].
51
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13315 Veterans Memorial, Suite 202
Houston, Texas 77014
phone 281.893.2161
fax 281.893.4314
52
Paul Heggeseth
Trumpet, Virtuosi Alumnus
Paul Heggeseth, of Cypress, played trumpet in Virtuosi during
the 2003-2004 season. He is currently a junior Bachelor of
Music in Trumpet Performance major at St. Olaf College in
Northfield, Minnesota, where he has been a member of the
St. Olaf Orchestra for three years and is currently principal
trumpet. He has toured with the Orchestra on three national
tours as well as an international tour of Norway in the summer
of 2005. He has attended summer orchestra festivals in the
United States and Canada and will be attending the International
Festival-Institute at Round Top, TX this summer for the
second year in a row. In addition to orchestral playing, Paul
was a featured soloist with the world-renowned St. Olaf Choir
on their 2006 national tour and currently plays lead trumpet
in St. Olaf College’s premiere jazz ensemble, performing with
such artists as Joseph C. Philips, Laura Caviani, and Michael
B. Nelson. Paul has studied recently with Charles Lazarus and
Manny Laureano of the Minnesota Orchestra, John DeWitt
and Robert Walp of the Houston Symphony, and Tom Booth
of the Dallas Symphony. In April of 2007, after a masterclass,
famed composer and Minnesota resident Libby Larsen has
asked Paul and his brass quintet to make a definitive recording
of a recent composition. Outside of the trumpet, Paul enjoys
listening to music, especially jazz, late 20th Century classical,
and early music, reading history books about Venice, cooking,
sword collecting, writing poetry, and playing catcher for the St.
Olaf Orchestra softball team. Paul hopes to one day become
proficient in playing the West African kora, as well as to obtain
a full-time position in a professional symphony orchestra.