Andres Orozco-Estrada to Launch Houston Symphony Season With Free Concerts, 9/12-14

Join the Houston Symphony for a weekend of free symphonic fun to celebrate the arrival of its 15th music director, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, for his inaugural season. With a deep-rooted desire to make orchestral music more accessible to the community, Andrés has chosen to launch his tenure with the Houston Symphony with two free public performances -- a concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre on Friday, September 12 and a concert at Jones Hall on Sunday, September 14.

"It's important for me to start my inaugural season with a celebration for the entire community," Andrés says of including two free concerts in his first weekend. "I'd love to invite the whole city of Houston to attend!"

The weekend will kick off on September 12 at 8:30 p.m. with "¡Bienvenido Andrés!," a free performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre, complete with fireworks! Audiences are encouraged to arrive as early as 6:30 p.m. to claim their seat on the hill and experience pre-concert activities in the surrounding area, including music, salsa dancing lessons and activities provided in partnership with the Houston Dynamo and Mega 101FM. Starting at 8:30 p.m., Andrés will lead the orchestra through music of Colombia and America, complete with folk dancing and other festive elements. Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero will dazzle the audience with Gershwin's jazz-influenced Rhapsody in Blue. This concert is made possible in part through the support of the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board and Houston First Corporation and will be broadcast live by Official Television Partner KTRK-TV Channel 13.

The weekend culminates on Sunday, September 14 at 6 p.m. with "Fiesta Sinfónica con Andrés," another free concert at Jones Hall. Join the Houston Symphony's first Hispanic music director in commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month with sizzling danzas from Mexico, France and Colombia. Piano superstar, Gabriela Montero, rejoins the Houston Symphony for this final performance of the weekend by reprising Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
The 2014-15 season marks the entrance to the Houston Symphony's 101st year under the baton of Andrés, who begins a five year contract with the organization. Born in Medellin, Colombia, he began his musical studies in violin and first conducted at age 15. At 19 years old and speaking only Spanish, Andrés traveled alone to Vienna and completed his degree from the renowned Vienna Music Academy with distinction. With his infectious warmth, love of people and electricity on the podium, the 36-year-old Colombian-born and Vienna-trained Andrés is looking forward to creating ongoing, meaningful connections with patrons and engaging more Houstonians in orchestral music during his first season and beyond.

"I am so proud to become part of this wonderful city and the 100-year tradition at the Houston Symphony," said Andrés. "Every time I walk onto the Jones Hall stage to rehearse and perform with these musicians, I feel something extraordinary, and I look forward to sharing this excitement, connecting more closely to the music, with all of our patrons."

CONCERT WEEKEND OVERVIEW:

¡Bienvenido, Andrés! Concert Friday, September 12, 2014, 8:30 p.m. Free Community Performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre, with Fireworks! Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Gabriela Montero, piano Tickets: FREE. This is a ticketed event for the covered seating area. Free tickets are available at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance, between the hours of 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. As always, there is open seating available on the hill. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030.

Fiesta Sinfónica con Andrés Sunday, September 14, 2014, 6:00 p.m. Free Community Performance at Jones Hall Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor Gabriela Montero, piano Tickets: FREE. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and must be picked up in person at the Houston Symphony Patron Services Center Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Jones Hall 615 Louisiana St., Houston, TX 77002

About Houston Symphony - During the 2014-15 season, the Houston Symphony enters its second century as one of America's leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring and recording activities. This season also marks the inaugural year for new Music Director Andrés Orozco- Estrada. The Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas whose inaugural performance was held at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an annual operating budget of $30.7 million, the full-time ensemble of 87 professional musicians is the largest performing arts organization in Houston, presenting more than 286 performances for 300,000 people, including 82,000 children, annually. For tickets and more information, visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call (713) 224-7575.

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