FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra’s founding music director Kai Yeun Choi (1992-1997) and former music director Dr. John Ricarte (1997-2007) will be among the special guests celebrating the orchestra’s 20th anniversary season during a special concert on Sunday, Feb. 19. Far Away Places, under the direction of current FBSO Music Director Dr. Hector Agüero (2008 to present), features music from around the world and begins at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre.
Among the works FBSO will perform include “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” from Richard Wagner’s opera “Lohengrin,” “Emperor Waltz” by Johann Strauss, “Hungarian March” by Hector Berlioz and “Irish Tune” by Percy Grainger. Christopher Henselman, a 16-year-old pianist who has twice performed at Carnegie Hall, will be a featured guest artist as the winner of FBSO’s 2012 Young Artist Concerto Competition.
Also in town for the celebration is Canadian composer Dr. Monte Keene Pishny-Floyd, FBSO’s conductor-in-residence. Planning surprises for FBSO patrons after the concert are three musicians who joined the orchestra during its inaugural season in 1992: Sandy Chapman, Marilyn Conger and Becky Walker.
Reserved adult tickets for Far Away Places are available for $10 and $15. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, but need a reserved ticket. Discounts are available for seniors, students and military, as well as groups of 10 or more.
Tickets may be ordered at www.fbso.org or by calling 281.276.9642.
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Accompanying Photo: FBSO_FarAwayPlaces.jpg
Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra musicians prepare to transport concertgoers around the world during their February 19 Far Away Places concert. Standing on the platform of the historical 1879 rail car at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum are Andrea Cope, percussion, and Fangming Zhu, violin. At ground level are Katherine Leskin, cello, and Ashley Clift, clarinet. Serving as conductor is FBSO patron Tom Chapman.
About the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra (FBSO), founded in 1992, enriches the lives of Fort Bend residents and surrounding areas with live symphonic music presented by its volunteer members. The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, represents an abundant cross-section of local talent, most of whom reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters student musicians through sponsorship of an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition that includes a cash prize for the winner and the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra.
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Christopher Henselman, a 16-year-old pianist and Austin, Texas resident, was recently named the Grand Prize Winner of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra’s 12th Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition. Cellist Andrew Shiau and violinist Melissa Du, students in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, received honorable mentions.
Henselman will be a featured guest artist as the Fort Bend Symphony presents Far Away Places, a concert featuring music from around the world, on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre. He will perform the first movement of Prokofieff’s “Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16.”
Reserved adult tickets are $10 and $15. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, but need a reserved ticket. Discounts are available for seniors, students, military and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be ordered at fbso.org and 281.276.9642, or purchased at the Stafford Centre box office on the day of the performance. The Stafford Centre is located at 10505 Cash Road in Stafford, Texas.
Henselman, a runner-up in FBSO’s 2009 concert competition, has won a host of international, state and regional awards. As a winner in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition (New York City) at ages 9 and 10, he performed twice in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall with works by Bach, Shostakovich, Debussy and Toch.
The third-year student at Austin’s Veritas Academy has earned multiple prizes in the United States Open Music Competition in California, the United States International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado and the Debose National Piano Competition in Louisiana.
Shiau, a junior at Jersey Village High School, has won concerto competitions sponsored by the Houston Youth Symphony, Clear Lake Symphony and Houston Civic Symphony. He is a three-time honoree of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Orchestra.
Du began her violin studies at the age of 6. The Cypress Falls High School sophomore has been named to the TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra and Houston Youth Symphony. She also has wins in concerto competitions sponsored by the Clear Lake and Houston Civic Symphonies.
The all-day FBSO Concerto Competition, supported by piano dealer Sherman Clay, attracted dozens of talented musicians, 18 and younger, from across the state.
Commenting on the high standards and outstanding talent exhibited by the young artists, FBSO competition chairperson Janet Larke said, “Classical music, with these young champions, is very obviously alive and well!”
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About the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra (FBSO), founded in 1992, enriches the lives of Fort Bend residents and surrounding areas with live symphonic music presented by its volunteer members. The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, represents an abundant cross-section of local talent, most of whom reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters student musicians through sponsorship of an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition that includes a cash prize for the winner and the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra.
As Sina Thompson remembers it, she never asked to play the violin. Her mother told her she would. That was in sixth grade. Today the six-time grandmother is in her 16th season as concertmistress of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra.
“I love the violin because you can play any genre,” said Thompson. “I have always enjoyed playing with other people. It has given me so many opportunities to do fun things.”
Thompson joined the Sugar Land Community Orchestra, as FBSO was originally called, in 1994 after a call for musicians went out. One year later she auditioned and won an appointment to the prestigious role of concertmistress.
What the average concertgoer sees on stage versus what Thompson does off stage is probably equivalent to one line of a musical score. Yes, she tunes the orchestra. She also exchanges the customary handshake with Music Director Dr. Héctor Agüero to signal his thanks to the entire orchestra and the mutual respect and cooperation they share. She also performs violin solos, but these are just a fraction of her contributions.
“The concertmistress role is the most important role one can assume in an orchestra second only to the conductor,” said Agüero.
One reason is because custom calls for the concertmistress to serve as assistant conductor if the conductor is unable to fulfill this role. Thompson, whose full-time job is teaching math and technology to middle and high school students, said she wouldn’t dream of doing this in a concert, particularly since FBSO has an assistant conductor. She might, however, consider conducting a rehearsal.
Agüero said as concertmistress, Thompson serves a vital role in leading the string section and working with him to find solutions to any issues that might arise during concert preparation. “Sina has the final say on all aspects of bowings and anything string specific,” he said.
Bowing is the art and science of making sure string players stroke their bows in the same direction for both artistic and musical impact. While there are certainly logical ways for string players to move their bows, the direction the bow is played can affect the sound.
“If I use an up-bow it creates a crescendo,” explains Thompson of the increasingly louder sound. “If there are an odd number of pickup notes, we want to play the downbeat of the first full measure as a down-bow. There’s also the visual element.”
Although Thompson would love to sit with all principal string players and go through the bowing, as an all-volunteer orchestra there just isn’t time. Instead she discusses and sets the bowings in rehearsals.
For Agüero the musical partnership he shares with Thompson makes his work easier. “Sina is very good at anticipating what I’m about to tell the strings and orchestra,” he said.
In addition to being a talented musician who sets bowings and shows string players how to technically execute Agüero’s instructions, Thompson possesses a charming and steady personality that makes her a natural leader. It is this role that has endeared her to her fellow musicians and makes her so valuable to FBSO.
“I affectionately call her ‘oh, wise one’,” said FBSO Board President Amy Billasch. “Because Sina has been with the orchestra for 17 years and served as president for eight of them, I know she has the historical and leadership background to give me sound guidance.”
Both Billasch and Agüero are quick to describe Thompson as the backbone of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra.
During FBSO’s search for a new music director in 2006-07, Thompson was a vital member of the search committee, helping interview candidates, speaking with members and processing their feedback about potential conductors. Over the years, she has attended nearly every audition by prospective members, as well as the challenges between musicians for their chair placement within a section. This equips her to offer advice, if needed. She has also been known to counsel musicians who are not meeting the obligations that they agreed to when they joined the orchestra.
“Sina is a good leader and she’s always fair,” said violinist Sandy Chapman who has shared a music stand with Thompson for the past 17 seasons.
Chapman also notes that Thompson has given a lot of herself to FBSO and was responsible for writing a grant for many years that secured funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. FBSO received $10,000 yearly for six years until recent cuts in the federal budget.
Under Thompson’s tenure as FBSO board president, FBSO started a Young Artist Concerto Competition. Now in its 11th season, the competition fosters student musicians by awarding them a cash prize and the opportunity to perform with the symphony during a live concert.
“I’m just happy Sina believes in the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra and has given so much of her time to it,” said Agüero.
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A variation of this story, originally written by
Nancy V Mills, appeared in the November 24, 2011
Ultimate Fort Bend section of the
Houston Chronicle.
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Get in the holiday spirit by joining the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra as it presents Deck the Halls on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre.
After our long hot summer, enjoy “Frosty the Snowman” and “Let it Snow!” Other seasonal favorites include “March of the Toys” and selections from “The Nutcracker.” Of course, no holiday concert is complete without Leroy Anderson’s classic “Sleigh Ride,” which was actually written during the heat wave of August 1946. Santa Claus will also be on hand distributing candy and holiday cheer.
Purchase tickets early to this popular concert by visiting www.fbso.org or by calling 281.276.9642. As always, children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, but they need a reserved ticket.
The Stafford Centre is located at 10505 Cash Road at Murphy Rd in Stafford, Texas.
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Accompanying Image: FBSO_DeckTheHalls.jpg
Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra members Kathryn Herod, French horn, and Lonny Yu, trombone, surround themselves with holiday trimmings at Tattle Tales Interiors & Gifts in preparation for FBSO’s December 4 Deck the Halls concert. (Photo by Coleman Locke)
About the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra (FBSO), founded in 1992, enriches the lives of Fort Bend residents and surrounding areas with live symphonic music presented by its volunteer members. The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, represents an abundant cross-section of local talent, most of whom reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters local musicians through sponsorship of an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition and opportunities to perform with the Orchestra.
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – As the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra opens its 20th anniversary Season of Surprises on October 16, look for audience giveaways and the world premiere of “Fanfare: Texas Surprise.” The season opener, aptly titled In An English Garden, begins at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre and features selections by British composers like Edwin Elgar, William Walton and The Beatles.
FBSO and its music director, Dr. Hector Aguero, commissioned Canadian composer Monte Keene Pishny-Floyd to write the fanfare in celebration of the orchestra’s 20th anniversary season and Pishny-Floyd’s 70th birthday.
Pishny-Floyd has served FBSO’s composer-in-residence since 2006. The prolific composer has had his works performed in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Israel and on CBS. A doctoral graduate of the Eastman School of Music and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he has written more than 700 works in his lifetime.
In addition to the fanfare, In An English Garden features Walton’s “Crown Imperial,” Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1” and a medley of 14 popular songs by The Beatles entitled “All You Need is Love.” Also performing are the extraordinarily talented junior and senior division winners of the Houston Music Teachers Association/Houston Young Artist Concert Concerto Competition.
Adult tickets for In An English Garden are available for $10 and $15. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, but need a reserved ticket. Discounts are available for seniors, students and military, as well as groups of 10 or more.
Tickets may be ordered at www.fbso.org or by calling 281.276.9642.
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Accompanying Image: FBSO_EnglishGardenConcert_Web.jpg
Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra members capture the mood of their 20th season opener, In An English Garden, set for October 16 at 2 p.m. at the Stafford Centre. From left, Diana Quam, violin; Rufus Chaney, French horn; Joe Mack, bass; and Marilyn Conger, clarinet and a founding member of FBSO. (Photo by Coleman Locke)
About the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra (FBSO), founded in 1992, enriches the lives of Fort Bend residents and surrounding areas with live symphonic music presented by its volunteer members. The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, represents an abundant cross-section of local talent, most of whom reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters local musicians through sponsorship of an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition and opportunities to perform with the Orchestra.
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra will perform a free, outdoor concert as part of the second annual M.D. Anderson Pink Lighting event at Sugar Land Town Square on Saturday, Oct. 1 beginning at 7 p.m.
The concert features patriotic music and a salute to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as selections from FBSO’s upcoming 20th anniversary season of surprises. The concert is sponsored by Square Land Town Square.
Attendees should bring lawn chairs and wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness month.
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra opens its 20th anniversary regular season on Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Stafford Centre. FBSO is under the musical direction of Dr. Héctor Agüero. More information about the upcoming season is at www.fbso.org.
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About the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra (FBSO), founded in 1992, enriches the lives of Fort Bend residents and surrounding areas with live symphonic music presented by its volunteer members. The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, represents an abundant cross-section of local talent, most of whom reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters local musicians through sponsorship of an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition and opportunities to perform with the Orchestra.
