The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston.

The first concert of what was to become the Houston Symphony took place on June 21, 1913, sponsored by the Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. Initially, the orchestra was composed of only 35 part-time musicians. Despite its small stature and budget, the orchestra and its first conductor, Julien Paul Blitz, enjoyed a good response and continued to perform. Blitz conducted until 1916, then Paul Bergé, until the orchestra disbanded in 1918.

The orchestra reformed in 1930, still as a semi-professional orchestra, and gave its first full season of concerts the following year conducted by Uriel Nespoli. In the spring of 1936 the symphony society officially became the Houston Symphony Society. Ernst Hoffmann began his tenure that year with increased support from the Society and began hiring professional musicians. The orchestra continued to expand over the next several decades, and its first 52-week contract was signed in 1971.

The orchestra performed in either the City Auditorium or the Music Hall until the construction in 1966 of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. In 2001, the orchestra lost millions of dollars worth of instruments, music, and archives when Tropical Storm Allison flooded the basement levels of Jones Hall. In 2003, the musicians went on strike for 24 days, and the settlement included a pay cut for the musicians and a reduction in the size of the orchestra^{[1] [2]}.

Since 2001, Hans Graf has been music director of the Houston Symphony. In September 2009, the orchestra announced the conclusion of his tenure as music director at the end of the 2012-2013 season, upon which Graf is to take the title of conductor laureate of the orchestra.^[3]

Contents 1 Music Directors 2 Notable musicians 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Music Directors

1913–1916 Julien Paul Blitz 1916–1918 Paul Bergé 1918–1930 dissolved 1931–1932 Uriel Nespoli 1932–1935 Frank St. Leger 1936–1947 Ernst Hoffmann 1948–1954 Efrem Kurtz 1954 Ferenc Fricsay (resigned mid-season) 1955–1961 Leopold Stokowski 1961–1967 John Barbirolli 1967–1969 André Previn 1971–1979 Lawrence Foster 1980–1988 Sergiu Comissiona 1988–1999 Christoph Eschenbach 2001–present Hans Graf [edit] Notable musicians James Austin, trumpet, principal 1960-1977 Edward Carroll, trumpet, associate principal 1970s Wayne Crouse, viola, principal 1951–1983 Paul Ellison, bass, principal 1964–1987 Hal Robinson, bass, assistant principal 1977–1985 Elaine Shaffer, flute, principal 1948–1953 Joseph Silverstein, violin 1950–1953 Harold Wright, clarinet, c. 1949–1952 William VerMuelen, horn, principle, present [edit] References ^ International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, Settlement Bulletin, "Houston Symphony Ratifies 4-Year Agreement". 17 April 2003. ^ Daniel J. Wakin (5 February 2006). "Carnegie Hall 4 Vry Lo Rnt". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/arts/music/05wakin.html?ei=5070&en=fcd5e1539fae9a31&ex=1165381200&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2007-01-10.  ^ Tara Dooley (23 September 2009). "Hans Graf takes steps to leave symphony". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/arts/theater/6633840.html. Retrieved 2009-10-02.  [edit] External links Houston Symphony official website Extensive history from The Handbook of Texas Online v • d • e Houston Symphony Music Directors Julien Paul Blitz (1913) · Paul Bergé (1916) · Uriel Nespoli (1931) · Frank St. Leger (1932) · Ernst Hoffmann (1936) · Efrem Kurtz (1948) · Ferenc Fricsay (1954) · Thomas Beecham (1954) · Leopold Stokowski (1955) · John Barbirolli (1961) · André Previn (1967) · Lawrence Foster (1970) · Sergiu Comissiona (1980) · Christoph Eschenbach (1988) · Hans Graf (2001)