Be Our Guest!
Houston Chamber Choir Guest Conductors
Dr. Betsy Cook Weber
This season we are pleased to announce our guest conductor for “California Gold”- Dr. Betsy Cook Weber. Dr. Weber is currently the University of Houston’s Director of Choral Activities but is also well known in the city as the former Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus. Dr. Weber is staking a claim that even proud Texans will discover that California composers have produced a wealth of wonderful choral music. The program includes works by Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, John Cage and the Chamber Choir’s first performance of Mass by Igor Stravinsky. We hope you’ll join us for what is sure to be an incredible concert on Saturday, April 27th, 7:30PM at South Main Baptist Church!
Anthony Trecek-King
During the 22-23 Season the Houston Chamber Choir had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Anthony Trecek-King as the guest conductor for “Ancestors’ Dream”. Recently appointed as both an Associate Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Activities at The Hartt School, University of Hartford and a Resident Conductor with the Handel and Haydn Society Dr. Trececk-King has cultivated an international reputation as a choral conductor, scholar, pedagogue, and media personality. Dr. Trecek-king developed the program for “Acenstors’ Dream” in the hopes of broadening one’s view of music by Black composers beyond that of spirituals and work songs. Under the guidance of Dr. Trecek-King The Houston Chamber Choir performed seldom heard works by Nathaniel Dett, Harry Burleigh, Undine Smith Moore, and more. Following the performance of “We Shall Overcome” arranged by Robert T. Gibson all those in attendance stood to acknowledge Mr. Gibson himself who had traveled over four hours with his family to see his work performed. It was a powerful an emotionally stirring evening that we won’t soon forget.
María Guinand
In past seasons we have had the honor of welcoming renowned Venezuelan conductor María Guinand who most recently shared the stage with us as guest conductor for Dela noche al día. María Guinand, choral and orchestral conductor, university professor, pedagogue, and leader of choral projects, is currently Artistic Director of the Schola Cantorum Foundation of Venezuela and the Choir of the Polar Foundation. In her long career, she has been the Associate Professor of the Simón Bolívar University (1976-2018) (Venezuela); Coordinator of Choral Symphonic projects of El Sistema (1980-2012); Artistic Director (2003-2017) of the ‘Música para Crecer’. She has also been President, Vice President and Advisor for Latin America of the International Federation for Choral Music (1996-2014) (2019-) and member of the International Music Council (UNESCO) (2002-2005). Dela noche al día took place during the 21-22 Season when the world was still reeling with the effects of the pandemic and just beginning to gather together once more. María Guinand presented a program with the Houston Chamber Choir which offered messages of hope and a journey through darkness into light. This message is exemplified in the final piece of the evening “La Restinga” who’s upbeat rythms and stirring vocal melodies inspire joy and excitement.
Esteemed Guest Conductors Over The Years
2005
Peter Phillips, founder of The Tallis Scholars leads the choir in a concert marking the 500th birthday of English Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis.
2008
Noted Dutch conductor Reinbert De Leeuw directs the Houston Chamber Choir in a performance of Stravinsky’s Les Noces.
2010
The Choir hosts Chorus America’s national conducting Masterclass with Yale University professor Marguerite Brooks and renowned Swedish conductor Robert Sund.
2013
Simon Carrington, founding member of The King’s Singers and Yale University professor emeritus, guest conducts the Houston Chamber Choir in an all British program.
2014
María Guinand, world-renowned Venezuelan conductor, leads the Houston Chamber Choir in a program of Latin-American music.
2015
Houston Chamber Choir presents music of choral masters with guest conductor, Anton Armstrong.
2015
Guest conductor Paul Hillier leads the Houston Chamber Choir in a program of music from the Baltic Nations.
2016
Guest conductor Elena Sharkova leads the Houston Chamber Choir in an evening of Russian choral music.
2018
Guest conductor Alexander Blachly leads the Chamber Choir in a special concert exploring gamesmanship, eloquence, and surprise in the Renaissance.