MUSIQA to Launch 25th Anniversary Season with Free Concert at Miller

Musiqa will launch its 25th anniversary season — UNBOUND — with a free outdoor concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 8:00 PM. The evening is a double feature presented in collaboration with Houston Cinema Arts Society, pairing live chamber music with original short films from Musiqa's "Parade" series, directed by James Templeton with scenarios created by multidisciplinary artist T' Lavois Thibaud. Musiqa shares the bill with WindSync, Houston's acclaimed wind quintet, with Musiqa performing the second half of the program. 

The Musiqa portion of the evening intertwines live chamber works with selections from Musiqa's “Sight and Sonic Houston Parade," a vibrant series by Houston filmmakers T' Lavois Thibaud and James Templeton that celebrates the city's creative heart through music and film, showcasing compositions by Karim Al-Zand, Anthony Brandt, Pierre Jalbert, and Marcus Maroney. The program moves between live performance and projected film, creating a dialogue between contemporary music and moving image — a collision of music plus every other art form that has defined Musiqa for 25 years. Musiqa and Houston Cinema Arts Society have partnered since 2016, both dedicated to fostering innovation and amplifying underrepresented voices. 

Dr. Anthony Brandt, Artistic Director and Founder: "We're excited to share the stage with WindSync. Watching films with live musical accompaniments is a special treat. We're excited to pair them with Musiqa's "Parade" series, films made by James Templeton and T' Lavois Thibaud that embed Musiqa performances in iconic Houston places." 

Dawson White, Executive Director, Musiqa: "For 25 years, Musiqa has believed the music of right now is worth everything. Opening our anniversary season at Miller Outdoor Theatre — free and open to all — with a program that moves between live performance and film feels like a true expression of who we are. We're grateful to Houston Cinema Arts Society, Miller Outdoor Theatre and WindSync and for making this evening possible, and to the city that has sustained us for a quarter century." 

Katie Creeggan-Ríos, Executive Director, Houston Cinema Arts Society: “Houston Cinema Arts Society has always been rooted in world-class film, but our work is ultimately about the larger cultural story of Houston and the incredible artists and organizations who bring it to life. Collaborations like this with Musiqa and WindSync are at the heart of what we do: connecting disciplines, amplifying Houston's rich fine arts community, and creating new ways to experience our city. With the “Parade” films woven throughout the program, this lineup is a vibrant reflection of Houston's creative spirit, and we're honored to bring this work to the incredible stage at Miller Outdoor Theatre.”

Program: 

Marcus Maroney — "Scherzo (How A Mosquito Operates)" (live, solo piano, 6 min)
Inspired by Winsor McCay's pioneering 1912 animated film, Maroney's playful scherzo brings early cinema to life through contemporary music — a collision of music and moving image that reflects Musiqa's commitment to bringing together artists, ideas, and disciplines.

Houston Sight and Sonic Parade (projected film)
A vibrant four-part series from the "Musiqa on Parade" series, created in collaboration with Houston Cinema Arts Society. Directed by James Templeton with scenarios by T' Lavois Thibaud, the films celebrate the city's creative heart through music and film, showcasing compositions by Karim Al-Zand, Anthony Brandt, Pierre Jalbert, and Marcus Maroney — embedding Musiqa performances in iconic Houston places and holding a mirror to a city of immigrants and artists, deep memory and constant reinvention.

Florent Ghys — "Etude for 11 Faces" (live, violin/cello/piano, 9 min)
Combining synchronized video with live chamber music, Ghys' etude embodies Musiqa's commitment to saying yes to music that has never been heard — an artist whose vision resists easy categorization, blending rhythmic precision with a spirit of playful reinvention.