Houston Civic Symphony
This column usually covers the cultural schedules of the three major classical music organizations in Houston – the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet. For this issue and at times in the future, I want to additionally present information on classical music opportunities for our readers other than the “Big Three.”
Let’s begin with information of the Houston Civic Symphony.
HCS was formed 57 years ago in 1967. A group of musicians ran an advertisement in one of the Houston newspapers stating that they wanted to form a volunteer symphony orchestra. They received numerous responses from musicians in the area and the Houston Civic Symphony Orchestra was formed as a Texas not-for-profit corporation.
The HCS by-laws’ mission statement reads, “to create and maintain a non-profit orchestra dedicated to the performance of music, to provide the public with good live music, to offer qualified instrumentalists of the community an opportunity to play fine symphonic music, and to encourage and educate talented individuals to appear as vocal, instrumental, and choreographic soloists.” In my opinion, the organization has lived up to its mission statement.
HCS performs 5 to 6 concerts per season in various local venues. These include Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University), the Moores Opera House at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, St Martin’s Episcopal Church, and Sugar Land Baptist Church.
The orchestra has nearly 100 volunteer musicians from various walks of life. There are a large number of educators – high school, middle school and elementary school orchestral and band directors, even university professors. Also there are several attorneys (including a Texas Supreme Court Justice) and accountants as well as IT professionals, real estate agents, oil and gas engineers and financial planners.
HCS is led by a very active Board of Directors – attorney Al Thomas, President (since 2006), Ken Henderson, Vice President, who is Director of Bands at Alief Middle School, Duncan Monsurud, Treasurer, who has many years experience in several orchestras and works as a co-op owner of Electric Violin Shop, Matthew Chan, Secretary, violinist, along with Monica Hanna, and Martin Kastenbaum, both violinists.
Brian Runnels has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Houston Civic Symphony since 2006. He first conducted the Houston Civic Symphony in 1979 when he served as Apprentice Conductor with the orchestra under Robert Linder. Since that time, he has conducted orchestras, musical theater, oratorio, and opera in Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, and Kentucky. After earning a degree in music education at Houston Baptist University he went on to earn a masters degree in church music and choral conducting at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestra conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has had additional conducting training at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and in the United States with Max Rudolf and Herbert Blomstedt.
Michael Alan Isadore, Associate Conductor, came to Houston after graduating with Masters Degrees in conducting and clarinet performance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Conservatory of Music. Since moving to Houston, Isadore has built an important career teaching and conducting while maintaining his recognized performance ability on the clarinet. As a conductor, Isadore was appointed the Associate Conductor of the Houston Civic Symphony starting with the 2007 season, was guest conductor of the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra in 2003, The Houston Civic Symphony in 2004 and the Houston Sinfonietta on two occasions in 2004 and 2005. Recently, Isadore joined the staff of the Houston Youth Symphony as one of their conductors. Isadore has been director of the Dulles High School Orchestra since 1999. Under his leadership, the Dulles Orchestra was chosen to play at the Midwest Convention in Chicago in December 2004 and was chosen as the Runner up for TMEA Honor Orchestra in 2005.
The Houston Civic Symphony has, since its beginning, provided our community with some very serious music concerts on its yearly schedule. Here is its schedule for 2024-2025:
Daniel Zajicek – Overture to The Pit – PREMIERE PERFORMANCE
Aaron Copland – Lincoln PortraitJohannes Brahms – Symphony no. 4 in E minor, op. 98
Additional work – TBD
Friday, September 27, 2024, 7:30pm
Houston Christian University, Dunham Theater
Morris Cultural Arts Center, 7502 Fondren, 77074
Samuel Barber – Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance
Lili Boulanger – D’un Matin de PrintempsAntonin Dvorak – Symphony no. 6 in D major, op. 60
Thursday, November 7, 2024, 7:30pm
Houston Christian University
Christmas Concert with Houston Christian University Choirs
Program TBA
Friday, December 6, 2024, Houston Christian University
J. S. Bach – Orchestral Suite no. 4 in D major, BWV 1069
Georges Bizet – Symphony no. 1 in C major
Ottorino Respighi – Pines of Rome
Friday, January 24, 2025, 7:00pm
St Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, 77056
Shostakovich – Symphony no. 1
2025 Young Artist Competition Winners
Additional works TBA
Friday, March 7, 2025, 7:30pm
Houston Christian University
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Dona Nobis Pacem
Johannes Brahms – Schicksalslied, op. 54
Additional work – TBD
With choirs from Houston Christian University and the Houston Choral Society
Friday, May 2, 2025, 7:39pm
Houston Christian University
Finally, here is a bit of information that should please everyone. I asked the HSC President, Al Thomas, about ticket prices. He responded, “All of our concerts are free. Show up, pick your favorite seat, and enjoy!”
I will be back with the next issue highlighting the 2024-2025 classical music events of the “Big Three”.
Let me continue to hear from you – classicalmusicberquist@gmail.com