Twin Sisters and Pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton Make Houston Debut at SPA Tonight

Twin piano virtuosos, Christina and Michelle Naughton, will make their Houston debut tonight, May 16, 2014, at 8 p.m. in the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, presented by Society for the Performing Arts.

Christina and Michelle Naughton are captivating audiences from around the globe with their mastery of showcasing celebrated works of the great composers. Their Houston program will include Felix Mendelssohn's Andante and Variations in B-flat major for 4 hands Op.83a; Franz Schubert's Allegro in A minor for 4 hands "Lebensturme"; Maurice Ravel's "La Valse" for Two Pianos; and Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring for Two Pianos.

Christina and Michelle Naughton have toured the world with their intricate and beautiful four-hands and two-piano playing. Graduates of Juilliard and the Curtis Institute of Music, where they were each awarded the Festorazzi Prize, the Steinway Artists began their piano studies at the age of 4.

Orchestras the Naughtons have performed with include the Philadelphia, Milwaukee, New Jersey, North Carolina, Delaware, El Paso, Napa Valley and Madison Symphonies; the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland's Red Orchestra, Chicago's Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic and the Erie Philharmonic. They have also appeared on the Steinway Society-The Bay Area, Artist Series of Sarasota, UAB Piano Series, Chamber Music San Francisco Series, Kingston Chamber Music Festival, at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the Schubert Club in St. Paul, the Wharton Center, the South Orange Performing Arts Center and Ramsey Hall in Athens.

International performances have included the Parc Du Chateau de Florans at France's La Roque d'Antheron Festival; the Concert Series in Ludwigshafen; Hannover's NDR Kleiner Sendesaal; the Homburg-Saar series; the Bremen Music Festival; and with the Hamburg Chorus. Their performances have been broadcast on New York's WQXR, Chicago's WFMT, Philadelphia's WHYY, Boston's WQED, Atlanta's WABE, Hong Kong's RTHK, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, American Public Media's "Performance Today" and more.

Christina Naughton made her orchestra debut at the age of 9 performing Haydn's Piano Concerto No. 11 in D major. She was the bronze medalist at the quadrennial Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and her ensemble, the Vesta Trio, received the gold medal in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. She has performed as a soloist with Chicago's Ars Viva and Park Ridge orchestras; the Madison, Fort Collins and Utah symphonies; the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra; and at Ravinia's Martin Theatre.

Michelle Naughton made her orchestra debut at age 10 performing Mozart's Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488. She won first prize at the Piano Arts National Biennial Piano Competition and was the gold medal winner in the quadrennial Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. She has performed as a soloist with the Madison, Milwaukee and Gulf Coast symphonies and with Chicago's Ars Viva and Park Ridge orchestras. She has also performed on Denver's Saint John's Cathedral concert series and at Green Lake Festival of Music.

Tickets range from $23-$58 and can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713-227-4772 or at the courtyard level ticket office at Jones Hall located at 615 Louisiana St. Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday - Friday. For groups of 15 or more call 713-632-8113.

About Society for the Performing Arts: Founded in 1966, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is the largest independent non-profit presenting organization in the Southwest. Since its inception, SPA has sponsored more than 1,000 performances of the world's finest music, dance and theater events, in adherence to the belief that the arts are fundamental to the overall enrichment and quality of life within the community. In addition to presenting artists, SPA seeks to provide a variety of learning experiences for adults and children through master classes, lectures and special student performances, as well as build relationships between the performing arts and other interests within the greater Houston area and throughout the state of Texas.

Pictured: Christina and Michelle Naughton. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco.