Houston Symphony Hosts Centennial 100th Birthday Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre Tonight

Tonight, June 21, the Houston Symphony will celebrate its 100th birthday on the anniversary of its first public concert by inviting all of Houston to a free Centennial 100th Birthday Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Conducted by Associate Conductor Robert Franz, the concert will be broadcast live on KTRK Channel 13 and will feature some of the most beloved classical works, pops hits and even a few surprises, including an appearance by American Idol Finalist and Houstonian, LaKisha Jones. The Symphony will also be joined by the Memorial High School Choir, the University of Houston's Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band and Westside High School's Inertia Dance Company.

Concluding with a spectacular fireworks display, the Symphony's Birthday Concert is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to experience what just might be the biggest birthday celebration that Houston has ever seen. The orchestra will perform classical blockbusters like Beethoven's Ode to Joy with the Houston Symphony Chorus, selections from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and John Williams' Celebration Fanfare. Selections from The Planets - An HD Odyssey will also be performed, paired with images of NASA's exploration of the solar system projected on a giant screen.

The audience is encouraged to participate in the Symphony's photo contest, OH SNAP!, in which concert-goers upload their favorite snapshots from any Summer Symphony Nights concert to the Symphony's Flickr page. The themes upon which the winners will be selected include the following categories: Performance, Family/Friends, Fireworks, Venue, Audience and Miscellaneous. Winners of each photo category will receive a pair of ticket vouchers to a future Houston Symphony concert, and their photo will be featured on the Houston Symphony website, e-news, and blog. Additionally, the grand prize winner will be given $300. Visit www.houstonsymphony.org/ohsnap for more information.

Miller Outdoor Theatre is located at 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030. The concert will take place on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 8:30 pm.

Centennial 100th Birthday Concert:

Robert Franz, conductor

LaKisha Jones, vocalist
Houston Symphony Chorus

Charles Hausmann, director
Memorial High School Choir

Lawrence Johnson, director

University of Houston Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band

Westside High School Inertia Dance Company

Smith/Skrowaczewski: The Star-Spangled Banner

Shostakovich: Festive Overture

Menken: Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast
Tchaikovsky: Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker
Williams: Liberty Fanfare
Bizet: Selections from Carmen
Giménez: Intermedio from La boda de Luis Alonso
Parton: I Will Always Love You
Holst: Jupiter from The Planets with film from The Planets--An HD Odyssey
Beethoven: "Ode to Joy" from Symphony No. 9

During the 2013-14 Season, the Houston Symphony will be in its 100th year as one of America's leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring and recording activities. 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 $28.7 million, the full-time ensemble of 87 professional musicians is the largest performing arts organization in Houston, presenting more than 280 concerts for 280,000 people, including 84,000 children, annually. For tickets and more information, please visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.

Pictured: Fireworks at Miller Outdoor Theatre Concert. Photo Credit: Biao Hu, winner of Houston Symphony 2011 OhSnap! Photo Contest.