Houston Chamber Orchestra Presents Concert at Zilkha Hall, Houston, Texas

The Houston Chamber Orchestra presents its fifth program of the season, “Mozart and McNeely” on Monday, May 7, 2007, 7:30 p.m. at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston’s Theater District.

Joel McNeely, an Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor with more than a hundred motion picture and television credits, conducts the Houston Chamber Orchestra in a performance of his composition, “Portraits for Violin and String Orchestra.” The piece, commissioned by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, will feature violinist Margaret Batjer, concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

McNeely has worked with some of Hollywood’s most influential producers, including James Cameron and George Lucas. Film credits include “Terminal Velocity,” “Air Force One,” and “The Avengers.” His compositions for television include CBS mini-series, “Sally Hemings: An American Scandal,” and episodes of “The Young Indiana Jones” series, one of which won him an Emmy.

Batjer, a graduate of the Curtis Institute, made her first solo appearance at the age of fifteen with the Chicago Symphony. She recently recorded the Bach double violin concerto with Hilary Hahn, and she has performed with such major orchestras as the Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony and the Seattle Symphony.

ALSO ON THE PROGRAM:

“Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin” by J. S. Bach,
featuring violinist Margaret Batjer and oboist Anne Leek

“Fratres” by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt

“Concerto for Piano in A Major, K 488” by W. A. Mozart, performed and directed by Michael Lowe, artistic director of the Houston Chamber Orchestra

TICKET AND VENUE INFORMATION

Houston Chamber Orchestra performances are at 7:30 p.m. in Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston’s Theater District, 800 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002.

Individual tickets are $30 and are available to students for $10. A 20 percent discount is offered to seniors and KUHF members. Season subscriptions are $130 and include an invitation to HCO’s post-concert champagne receptions. A 15 percent discount is available to seniors and KUHF members, and season subscribers save 15 percent on additional tickets purchased. To purchase tickets, call the Hobby Center at 713-315-2525 or go online at www.UniquelyHouston.org.



ABOUT MICHAEL LOWE AND THE HOUSTON CHAMBER ORCHESTRA:
Founder Michael Lowe is in his sixth season as conductor and artistic director of the Houston Chamber Orchestra, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to concerts, educational programs, commercial recordings and tours to strengthen Houston’s arts community and musical culture. The orchestra’s repertoire exploits the virtuosity of individual members who are frequently featured as soloists. Programs and venues are chosen to provide intimate interaction between the audience, the orchestra as a whole, and individual orchestra members.