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2023 TMF Orchestra Series

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  • Festival Orchestra June 10: Vadym Kholodenko Performs Beethoven

    Saturday, June 10, 2023 | Moores Opera House, University of Houston

    Pre-concert performance by members of Virtuosi of Houston
    6:30 - 7:20 p.m. | Moores Opera House Lobby

    Settling the Score: Pre-concert lecture with Dr. Andrew Davis
    6:30 - 7:10 p.m. | MSM Room 108

    Concert
    7:30 p.m. | Moores Opera House

    Festival Orchestra
    Franz Anton Krager, conductor
    Vadym Kholodenko, piano soloist

    Program

    Debussy: Prélude à L'apres-midi d'un faune 
    Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
    Debussy: La mer
    Ravel: Alborada del gracioso

    Artists

    krager1-900x600.jpeg  Franz Anton Krager, conductor

    American born and trained conductor, Franz Anton Krager, has made his artistic presence felt both at home and abroad with performance engagements in some of the world's most celebrated concert halls and musical centers. Learn more

     

    Picture of Vadym Kholodenko  Vadym Kholodenko, piano soloist

    Vadym Kholodenko is fast building a reputation as one of the most musically dynamic technically gifted performers of the new generation of pianists, praised by the Philadelphia Enquirer in his performance of Tchaikovsky with the Philadelphia Orchestra for “his absorbing melodic shading [and] glittering passage work”. Winner of the 2013 Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Kholodenko has begun to forge an international career throughout Europe, Asia and North America to great critical acclaim. Previous awards include First Prize at the 2011 Schubert Piano Competition in Dortmund, First Prize at the 2010 Sendai Piano Competition in Japan and the Grand Prix at the Maria Callas Competition in Athens.  Learn more

  • Festival Orchestra June 17: Gerard Schwarz Conducts Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

    Saturday, June 17, 2023 | Moores Opera House, University of Houston  

    Pre-concert performance by members of Virtuosi of Houston
    6:30 - 7:20 p.m. | Moores Opera House Lobby 

    Settling the Score: Pre-concert lecture with Dr. Andrew Davis
    6:30 - 7:10 p.m. | MSM Room 108 

    Concert
    7:30 p.m. | Moores Opera House 

    Festival Orchestra

    Gerard Schwarz, conductor

    Program

    Valerie Coleman: UMOJA
    Webern/Schwarz: Adagio (Langsamersatz, 1905)
    Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100

    Artist

    Picture of Gerard Schwarz  Gerard Schwarz,conductor

    Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalogue of recordings, American conductor Gerard Schwarz serves as Music Director of the All-Star Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival, Palm Beach Symphony, and Mozart Orchestra of New York and is Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony and Conductor Emeritus of the Mostly Mozart Festival. He holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Music; Conducting and Orchestral Studies of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and Music Director of the Frost Symphony Orchestra. Schwarz is a renowned interpreter of 19th century German, Austrian and Russian repertoire, in addition to his noted work with contemporary American composers. Learn more

  • Festival Orchestra June 24: Andrew Grams Conducts Copland + Young Artist Competition Winner

    Saturday, June 24, 2022 | Moores Opera House, University of Houston 

    Pre-concert performance by members of Virtuosi of Houston
    6:30 - 7:20 p.m. | Moores Opera House Lobby

    Settling the Score: Pre-concert lecture with Dr. Andrew Davis
    6:30 - 7:10 p.m. | MSM Room 108

    Concert
    7:30 p.m. | Moores Opera House


    Festival Orchestra
    Andrew Grams, conductor
    Winner, 2023 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition

    Program

    2023 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition Winner, soloist

    Berlioz: Overture to Le corsaire
    Copland: Symphony No. 3

    Artist

    grams-andrew.png Andrew Grams, conductor

    With a unique combination of intensity, enthusiasm and technical clarity, American conductor Andrew Grams has steadily built a reputation for his dynamic concerts, ability to connect with audiences, and long-term orchestrabuilding. He’s the winner of 2015 Conductor of the Year from the Illinois Council of Orchestras and has led orchestrasthroughout the United States including the Chicago Symphony, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, and the Houston Symphony. Andrew Grams became music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra after an international search in 2013 and recently concluded his tenure there after 8 seasons. His charismatic conducting and easy accessibility have made him a favorite of Elgin Symphony audiences. Learn more

Sharon Ley Lietzow Piano Series

Faculty Chamber Music Series

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  • French Classical: Thursday, June 8 | 7:30 p.m.

    Thursday, June 8 | 7:30 p.m. in Dudley Recital Hall 

    Festival Faculty artists and guests perform Mozart's sublime Clarinet Quintet and French chamber music. 

    Program: 

    Eugène Bozza: Rustiques for Trumpet and Piano

    Mark Hughes, trumpet
    Brian Suits, piano

    Francis Poulenc: Sonate pour violin et piano, FP. 119 

    Xiao Wang, violin
    Brian Suits, piano

    Wolfgang A. Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581 

    Richie Hawley, clarinet
    Kirsten Yon, Mann-Wen Lo, violins
    Wayne Brooks, viola
    Anthony Kitai, cello
  • American/Russian Idioms: Thursday, June 15 | 7:30 p.m.

    Thursday, June 15 | 7:30 p.m. in Dudley Recital Hall  

    TMF Faculty artists and guests perform music by living American and Russian composers, culminating a performance of the historically beloved Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57 by Dmitri Shostakovich.

    Program: 

    David Anderson: From Five Romances for Double Bass and Harp

    Robin Kesselman, double bass
    Paula Page, harp

     Andrea Clearfield: Three Songs for Oboe and Double Bass after Poems by Pablo Neruda

    Jonathan Fischer, oboe
    Robin Kesselman, double bass

     Gina Gillie: Sonata for Horn and Piano

    Robert Johnson, French horn
    Timothy Hester, piano

     Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57

    Tali Morgulis, piano
    Xiao Wang, Mann-wen Lo, violins
    Susan Dubois, viola
    Anthony Kitai, cello
  • Amazing Journey: Thursday, June 22 | 7:30 p.m.

    Thursday, June 22 | 7:30 p.m. in Dudley Recital Hall 

    Join our world tour as TMF Faculty artists explore offerings from composers around the globe, featuring Schoenfeld's Cafe Music

    Program: 

    FRANCE: Charles Koechlin: Sonata for Two Flutes, op. 75

    Aralee Dorough and Leone Buyse, flutes

    HUNGARY: Béla Bartók: Rhapsody No. 2 for Violin and Piano, Sz. 89

    Mann-wen Lo, violin
    Timothy Hester, piano

    GERMANY: Max Bruch: From Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano 

    Michael Webster, clarinet
    Wayne Brooks, viola
    Timothy Hester, piano

    SERBIA: Aleksandra Vrebalov: Pannonia Boundless      

    Kirsten Yon, Xiao Wang, violins
    Wayne Brooks, viola
    Eunghee Cho, cello

     NETHERLANDS: Jacob TV: The Garden of Love for Oboe and Audio

    Jonathan Fischer, oboe

    U.S.: Paul Schoenfield: Café Music  

    Kirsten Yon, Eunghee Cho, Timothy Hester

                                            

Free Events

  • Cynthia Woods Mitchell - Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition, Final Round: Sunday, June 11 | 2 p.m.

    Sunday, June 11, 2 p.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Cynthia Woods Mitchell - Ima Hogg
    Young Artist Competition, Final Round

    TMF’s young artists compete for the chance to perform as soloist with the festival orchestra and cash prizes. A distinguished panel of judges chooses the winner, but YOU can help to choose the Audience Favorite prize. Come discover Classical music’s rising star soloists!

  • Ming Yang: Sunday, June 11 | 10:30 a.m.

    Sunday, June 11, 10:30 a.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Guest Pianist, Ming Yang, performs works by Chopin, Ravel, Liebermann, and Beethoven. 

     

  • Anton Igubnov: Friday, June 16 | 7:30 p.m.

    Friday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Guest Pianist, Anton Igubnov, performs works by Grieg, Mozart, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. 

     

  • The Levante Duo: Sunday, June 18 | 10:30 a.m.

    Sunday, June 18, 10:30 a.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Guest Piano Duo, The Levante Duo (Andrea Benabent and Pablo Martinez), performs works by Lecuona, Granados, Poulenc, Benabent, Albeniz, Abril, De Falla, and Narro. 

     

  • Jazz Institute Orchestra: Friday, June 23 | 7 p.m.

    Friday, June 23, 7 p.m. | Moores Opera House, FREE

    Jazz Institute Orchestra

    Noe Marmolejo, director

    Classic to contemporary big band jazz, performed by Houston high school all-stars from the TMF Jazz Institute.

  • Keyboard Academy: Friday, June 23 | 11 a.m.

    Friday, June 23, 11 a.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Keyboard Academy

    Final performances by Academy participants, featuring music for piano ensembles.

  • Keyboard Academy: Saturday, June 24 | 12 p.m.

    Saturday, June 24, 12 p.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Keyboard Academy

    Final performances by Academy participants, featuring music for solo piano.

  • Keyboard Academy: Saturday, June 24 | 2 p.m.

    Saturday, June 24, 2 p.m. | Organ Recital Hall, FREE

    Keyboard Academy

    Final performances by Academy participants, featuring music for organ and harpsichord.

  • Master Classes

    Wednesday, June 7, 1-4 p.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Vadym Kholodenko, Piano

    Wednesday, June 7, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. | MSM 160, FREE

    Richie Hawley, Clarinet, “Orchestral Etiquette”
     

    Thursday, June 8, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. | MSM 160, FREE

    Benjamin Kamins, bassoon

    Friday, June 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m. | MSM 160, FREE

    Sasha Potiomkin, Clarinet

    Sunday, June 7- 9 p.m. | MSM 160 FREE

    Kirsten Yon, violin 

    Monday, June 12, 7-9 p.m. | Moores Opera House, FREE

    Leo Soto, Timpani

    Monday, June 12, 7-9 p.m. | MSM 160, FREE

    William VerMeulen, French horn

    Monday, June 12, 7-9 p.m. | MSM 129, FREE

    Richard Harris, trumpet

    Tuesday, June 13, 2:30 - 4 p.m. | MSM 160 FREE

    Intro. to Alexander Technique with Teresa Grawunder

    Wednesday, June 14, 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Awadagin Pratt, Piano
    Keyboard Academy 

    Thursday, June 15, 2:30-4:30 p.m. | MSM 160, FREE

    Brinton Smith, Cello

    Friday, June 16, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. 

    Adam Dinitz, English Horn, 160 
    Susan Dubois, Viola, 129 
    Xiao Wang, Violin, Dudley Recital Hall

    Tuesday, June 20, 2:30-4:30 p.m. | MSM 185, FREE

    Paul Ellison, Double bass

    Wednesday, June 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Dudley Recital Hall, FREE

    Amy Yang, Piano
    Keyboard Academy 

    Thursday, June 22, 2:30-4:30 p.m.       

    Mann-wen Lo, Violin, 185 
    Eunghee Cho, Cello, 160 

a close up shot of a man playing cello