Artist Guide » Classical » Traditional » HOUSTON SYMPHONY AND CHORUS: Houston Symphony Christmas Festival
Michael Krajewski, Houston Symphony Principal Pops ConductorMichael Krajewski began his role as principal pops conductor of the Houston Symphony in the 2000-2001 season. Known for his trademark sense of humor and imaginative programming, he also serves as principal pops conductor of the New Mexico, Long Beach and Jacksonville Symphonies. A popular guest conductor nationwide, Krajewski has appeared with orchestras ranging from the Boston Pops Orchestra to the San Francisco and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. He has collaborated with such renowned artists as Doc Severinsen, Roberta Flack, Art Garfunkel, The Canadian Brass, Linda Eder and The Kingston Trio. For 11 years, Krajewski served as music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. He also held positions as assistant conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra and resident conductor of the Florida Symphony Orchestra. He twice received awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) for adventuresome programming of contemporary music.
Krajewski holds degrees from Wayne State University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He attended the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Conductors and was a Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony.
The Houston Symphony
Founded in 1913, the Houston Symphony is one of America's oldest performing arts organizations, with a rich history of musical excellence. Hans Graf became the orchestra's 15th music director in September 2001. The Houston Symphony fills each busy season with more than 170 concerts attended by an estimated 350,000 people. These concerts include the classical season, ExxonMobil Pops series, Time Warner Family Concerts and the InterAct! chamber orchestra series. During the summer, the orchestra performs at its summer home, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, tours the city with free Sounds Like Fun! concerts for children and presents a series of free concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre - the Houston Chronicle Summer Symphony Nights. The Houston Symphony sponsors more than 500 separate educational and community service events during the main season. Each season, its musicians reach more than 15,000 Houstonians in schools, hospitals, retirement homes, shelters and community centers as part of the Houston Symphony Community Connections outreach program. The orchestra also presents concerts for school children, a tradition of more than 50 years that has introduced more than one million students to live performances of symphonic music. The Houston Symphony currently records for Koch International Classics. Other recordings are available on the Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and Carlton Home Entertainment labels.
Charles Hausmann, director, Houston Symphony Chorus
Charles Hausmann has been director of the Houston Symphony Chorus since 1986. Since then, he has prepared the Chorus for more than 350 performances, covering 400 years of choral repertory, and numerous tours to Mexico and Europe. As director of choral studies and professor of conducting at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music since 1985, Hausmann conducts the Moores School Choral Artists and Men's Chorus, and supervises the master's and doctoral programs in choral conducting. Choral ensembles under Hausmann's direction have received acclaim in the United States, Mexico and Europe. He has directed music at churches nationwide and currently serves as director of the St. Philip Presbyterian Church Choir in Houston. He has also served widely as choral clinician, guest conductor and vocal soloist. Hausmann holds degrees from Westminster Choir College, the College of New Jersey and the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri.
Houston Symphony Chorus
One of the oldest vocal ensembles in the United States, the Houston Symphony Chorus has had close to 8,000 members since its founding in 1947. Originally the Houston Chorale, it was founded by Alfred Urbach, former principal cellist of the Houston Symphony. Since its debut with the Houston Symphony in 1949, under the direction of Efrem Kurtz, the then Chorale forged a lasting relationship with the orchestra that has since produced hundreds of memorable performances of the great choral masterworks led by some of the world's leading conductors, including Leopold Stokowski, Robert Page, Sir John Barbirolli, Robert Shaw and Christoph Eschenbach. In 1986, the Chorale was renamed the Houston Symphony Chorus. In addition to regular concerts in Jones Hall each season, the Chorus has toured Europe and performs regularly in Mexico City with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria. This community of experienced choral singers from throughout the greater Houston area is an all-volunteer organization, representing all professions and ages.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.houstonsymphony.com
Track List:
1. Deck the Halls
2. A Christmas Festival
3. Angels' Dance
4. March from The Nutcracker
5. The Twelve Days of Christmas
6. Feliz Navidad
7. The Very Best Time of Year
8. Winter Wonderland
9. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
10. Sleigh Ride
11. Christmas a la Valse
12. A Merry Sing-Along
13. Hallelujah Chorus
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- CLASSICAL: Traditional
- CLASSICAL: Orchestral
- MOOD: CHRISTMAS