25th Annual Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival: TMF Orchestra Series - 25th Anniversary Concert and Celebration

Founded in 1990, the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival (TMF) marks its 25th anniversary season June 2-28, 2014, with performances by outstanding student musicians, distinguished conductors and faculty artists from all over the world.

Based at the University of Houston (UH) Moores School of Music, the one-month international music residency program will include such guest luminaries as violinist Leon Spierer and his son, conductor Carlos Spierer; the Houston debut of “Time for Three,” the world’s first classical music garage band, with drummer Matt Scarano; conductors Daniel Hege and Mei-Ann Chen; and the Houston Symphony Chorus.

“We’re dedicating our 25 anniversary season to the memory of David Tomatz, our co-founding director, who passed away this past January.  “David has left an everlasting impression on the Texas Music Festival through his visionary leadership. The TMF Orchestra will perform Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ as a tribute to him, as we celebrate our 25th birthday,” said Alan Austin, TMF General and Artistic Director and a TMF participant in the Festival’s inaugural year.

TMF has become Houston’s largest classical music presenter in the month of June with nearly 30 performances, many free or at a nominal cost.  Most concerts are indoors on the UH campus (Moores Opera House and Dudley Recital Hall) and parking is free.

Texas Music Festival Orchestra Series
Renowned conductors lead the Orchestra Fellows in exciting performances of the cornerstones of the orchestral repertoire.

The one-month international music residency’s Grand Celebratory Opening will be a 25th Anniversary Concert and Celebration Saturday, June 7th.

FEATURED ARTISTS:
Franz Anton Krager, conductor
Cynthia Clayton, soprano
Melanie Sonnenberg, mezzo-soprano
Houston Symphony Chorus
Charles Hausmann, choral preparation

FEATURED WORKS:
Mahler Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”

Pre-concert activities for each TMF Orchestra Series performance include a performance by members of Virtuosi of Houston and a lecture hosted by noted music theorist Dr. Andrew Davis, Associate Dean of the UH Honors College, Associate Professor of Music Theory, and Director of the Moores School of Music (as of June 2014).

Franz Anton Krager, UH Professor and Conductor of the Grand Celebratory Opening concert, describes the festival as a gift to classical music lovers in Houston, “The final product can be stunning, because while the students may lack years of professional experience, they meet each challenge with youthful enthusiasm and sheer determination.  The audience can feel their triumph as they master these difficult works.”

TMF also showcases the talents of its faculty artists on four faculty chamber music concerts as part of its PERSPECTIVES Series (each Tuesday night, June 3, 10, 17, 24).

TMF  is  supported, in part, through  the  generosity  of  the  Immanuel  and  Helen  Olshan Foundation, created by two Houstonians who loved attending summer music gatherings in Colorado and New England.  Houston’s Texas Music Festival is considered on par with renowned festivals such as Aspen or Tanglewoood.

Most concerts are general admission. Saturday Orchestra Series performances are reserved seating. Tickets may be purchased on line at www.tmf.uh.edu and through the UH Moores School Ticket Office 713 743 3313.  Admission for single tickets is $15 and students and seniors is $10.

All faculty, guest artist, and conductor biographies and photos may be found at http://www.tmf.uh.edu.                         

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