Vir·tu·o·si
A group that excels in musical technique or performance of an art;
especially skilled musical performers
Who Are We
The Virtuosi of Houston is a Premier Young Artists Chamber Orchestra. Its goal is the education and development of young talented musicians into true professionals, who would be sought after by the premier Conservatories and who would pursue a musical career as performers, educators, and advocates of classical music. Virtuosi provides the opportunity for every talented youth in the Houston area, regardless of race, religion, or income to receive the best education in the field of classical music so that they are competitive in their objective to be music professionals.
As a chamber orchestra with only 50-60 musicians, Virtuosi of Houston makes it possible for each musician to experience increased confidence, leadership, responsibility, and performance skills to move their musical ability to a higher level.
Mission
Virtuosi of Houston is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of talented young musicians in performing symphonic music and to become valued contributors to their communities.
Education
The Virtuosi of Houston season is comprised of three chamber orchestra performances. There are a total of 10 rehearsals, five weeks prior to the concert, for each of the three concerts. Our Artistic Directors and Conductors are Franz Anton Krager and Andrzej Grabiec both Professors at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston, with more than 50 years of conducting and performing experience between them. While one Maestro is conducting, the other Maestro is instructing the musicians as they are playing the correct and improved techniques on fingering, holding the instrument, pitch, sound, etc. This is the true difference between our orchestra and the other youth orchestras.
Building Character
The Virtuosi of Houston has two performances in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall. Here students have an opportunity to experience performing in a state-of-the-art facility as professional musicians who have completed their university studies and have achieved professional standing.
A third performance is held at our annual Legends of the Future gala dinner and concert.
The Virtuosi duos, trios, and quartets are encouraged to perform all over Houston for a modest honorarium or with their compliments in malls, senior citizen homes, etc.
Future Maestros
Our vision is that someday Virtuosi alumni will return to Texas as performers, educators, and arts advocates to give their expertise back to the community that helped develop them as young students.
Virtuosi musicians attend and have graduated from some of the finest music education institutions in the country and abroad, such as Julliard, New England Conservatory, Curtis, Eastman, Peabody, Northwestern, North Texas, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. For the first time in our history, one of our alumni graduated from The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Read more about some of our student success stories >