Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada joins Huston Symphony

Andrés Orozco-Estrada

The Houston Symphony announced its 101st season dominated by the news of Hispanic music director, Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Born in Medellin, Colombia he began his musical studies in violin and first conducted at age 15 and at 19 years old and speaking only Spanish, Orozco-Estrada traveled alone to Vienna and completed his degree from the renowned Vienna Music Academy with distinction.

He will open Hispanic Heritage Month with a weekend-long celebration. Festivities will begin on September 12 with “Bienvenido Andrés!” a free performance at Miller Outdoor Theater. All are invited to this evening of music from Mexico, France and Colombia complete with folk dancers and other festivities.

“I am so proud to become part of this wonderful city and the 100-year tradition at the Houston Symphony,” said Orozco-Estrada. “Every time I walk onto the Jones Hall stage to rehearse and perform with these musicians, I feel something extraordinary, and I look forward to sharing this excitement, connecting more closely to the music, with all of our patron.”

The “Bienvenido Andrés!” weekend will culminate on September 14 with another free concert at Jones Hall, “Fiesta Sinfonia con Andrés’ commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, Gabriela Montero, superstar Venezuelan pianist also will join the exciting weekend.

As the first Symphony Hispanic Director, Orozco-Estrada is exploring numerous opportunities to connect with Spanish-speaking patrons in their native language. At an additional “Musically Speaking” performance Orozco-Estrada will offer Spanish-language commentary together with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on November 16 at the Rice University Stude Concert Hall.

Bilingual online discussions are also encouraged. The Houston Symphony has created the hashtag #1415AndresHS for twitter audiences to connect with Orozco-Estrada in their own language.

About Houston Symphony
During the 2014-15 season, the Houston Symphony enters its second century as one of America’s leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring and recording activities. This season also marks the inaugural year for new Music Director Andrés Orozco- Estrada. The Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas whose inaugural performance was held at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an annual operating budget of $30.7 million, the full-time ensemble of 87 professional musicians is the largest performing arts organization in Houston, presenting more than 286 performances for 300,000 people, including 82,000 children, annually. For tickets and more information, please visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.