This is such an exciting time for the Symphony of Southeast Texas. We got our 2019 portion of the season off to a rollicking start with our Classics 3 program that featured a breathtaking performance of the Grieg Piano concerto with Claire Huangci lighting up the stage with her musical abilities. Then we followed that up with a reading of Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2, which had not been played by the SOST before. The orchestra really played on a whole new level of artistry. We are headed into some bold new directions for the SOST as you will see from our musical offerings for 2019-2020 season.
After that concert in the Julie Rogers Theater, I got on the road to work with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to present a program called Wicked Divas. It was a crazy good time with two soloists who were in the Broadway cast of Wicked. Following those performances, I hopped on a plane to York, Pennsylvania to perform the music of David Bowie with the York Symphony Orchestra. Before the rehearsals began, I had a lovely dinner with Verona and Joe Detrick who live in York. If their last name sounds familiar, that is because they are parents of Matthew Detrick our concertmaster here with the SOST. They told me many stories and showed me many pictures of Matt, the early years! It was fun, and we had a good time with the York Symphony Saturday. But next up for me is the Texas Tenors with the Symphony of Southeast Texas!
The Texas Tenors are going to make you want to kick up your heels and dance in your seats. This concert will close out our Pops series this season, and I couldn’t be more excited. Yes, I am actually going to conduct this concert in Cowboy boots for this performance! Many of your favorites that will take you down memory lane including “Amazing Grace,” “God Bless the USA,” “Rise,” music from The Magnificent Seven and so much more. This is a performance that you do not want to miss!
