The Grammy-winning Houston Chamber Choir has announced that individual tickets for the 2024-25 season for its “30th Anniversary Season: From Startup to Star” are now on public sale. Of the eight concert events, six are part of the choir’s subscription series, while two are free community concerts.
The Houston Chamber Choir is under the leadership of Founder and Artistic Director Robert Simpson and Artistic Director-elect Dr. Betsy Cook Weber. They will share conducting duties for the season, which marks the farewell of Simpson, who will retire from the role after the final concert on May 31, 2025.
Simpson has transformed the choir into one of the finest vocal ensembles in the world and leaves behind a legacy of musical brilliance that has enriched the greater Houston community and left a lasting mark on the choral community as a whole. Weber, an internationally renowned choral conductor, will take the podium as artistic director and conductor beginning in the 2025-2026 season.
Details of the Houston Chamber Choir’s concert program “30th Anniversary Season: From Start to Highlight”:
“The Son of Man” (Conductor: Robert Simpson)
Saturday, September 21st; 7:30 p.m.
Location: South Main Baptist Church, Houston
The choir opens its 30th season with the world premiere of The Son of Man, a brilliant new work by renowned English composer Patrick Hawes for chorus, soloists and orchestra. This concert marks the first collaboration with the renowned Houston Symphony Orchestra. Based on iconic texts from the Old and New Testaments, his memorable melodies, imaginative choral and orchestral writing and deep sense of drama create a powerful experience that is entirely of our times, yet reminiscent of Handel’s Messiah. Be the first to hear a work that promises to become a favorite of audiences around the world.
“I just want to celebrate! Songs from the 70s” (Dr. Betsy Cook Weber conducts)
Saturday, October 19th; 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston
For many, there is no better pop music than that of the ’70s. The Houston Chamber Choir takes you through the decade with music from Roberta Flack, the Bee Gees, Carly Simon, ABBA, the Jackson 5 and many more. Come rock and sing along at this free concert at the beautiful Miller Outdoor Theater.
“This Heaven” (Dr. Betsy Cook Weber)
Saturday, November 16; 7:30 p.m.
Location: St. Philip Presbyterian Church, Houston
People have always looked to the sky for answers to the big “why?” And composers have done the same. The Houston Chamber Choir offers an outstanding collection of pieces that reflect on the heavens. The centerpiece of this program, along with music by Heinrich Schütz, Venezuelan-Texan Carlos Cordero, Johannes Brahms, and others, is the stunning “Consolation of Apollo.” Written in 2014 by American composer Kile Smith, “Consolation” has important references to Houston, with texts by the philosopher Boethius as well as the Apollo 8 astronaut crew. Accompanied by stunning projections of images from and about space, this concert is sure to capture the imagination aurally and visually.
“Glory be in the highest: Christmas at the Villa” (Robert Simpson)
- Saturday, December 7th; 2:30 p.m.
- Saturday, December 7th; 5pm
- Sunday, December 8th; 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, December 8th; 5pm
Location: Chapel in the Villa de Matel, Houston
The soaring sounds of voices, organ and brass will resonate through the beauty of the Villa de Matel Chapel as the Houston Chamber Choir presents “Christmas at the Villa – Glory on High.” Special guests this year include the outstanding instrumental ensemble Paragon Brass, as well as the return of the Treble Choir of Houston to Christ Church Cathedral under the direction of Marianna Parnas-Simpson. Join family and friends in this Houston Christmas tradition.
25th Annual Hear the Future Invitational Choir Festival (Robert Simpson and Dr. Betsy Cook Weber)
Sunday, January 26, 2025; 4 p.m. (Free community concert)
Location: South Main Baptist Church, Houston
The Houston Chamber Choir has a long tradition of showcasing some of the Houston area’s most outstanding school and community choirs. This year, the Chamber Choir is represented by McCullough Junior High School, the Treble Choir of Houston, and The Woodlands High School. The public is invited to enjoy these four outstanding ensembles in a free concert set amidst the stunning acoustics of South Main Baptist Church.
“Love Songs and Sonnets” (Dr. Betsy Cook Weber)
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Location: South Main Baptist Church, Houston
How do I love you? Composers have counted the paths through the centuries. The Houston Chamber Choir takes the listener on a romantic journey that begins in the Renaissance with madrigals – fiery and bold. Next come two important pieces from the Romantic period – Brahms’ Four Songs for treble choir, horns and harp and Schubert’s Serenade for tenor-bass choir, followed by Sven-David Sandström’s Four Songs of Love. Finally, the choir adds jazz, pop and barbershop to round out the program.
“From Darkness to Light” (Dr. Betsy Cook Weber)
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Location: South Main Baptist Church, Houston
In 1638, Gregorio Allegri composed a setting of Miserere mei, Deus (Psalm 51) for the Sistine Chapel. According to the apocryphal story, the Vatican only allowed three copies, which were locked away for safekeeping so that no one could copy or perform the work. Fast forward to 1764-65, when the young Mozart heard a performance of Allegri’s composition, returned to his inn, and copied it flawlessly from memory.
Fast forward again, this time to 1989, when Estonian composer Arvo Pärt set the same text to music. Pärt’s Miserere is described as one of his “most dramatic and contrasting pieces”. From these two pieces of darkness we move to hope and light, working our way through a Latvian “Plaudite, Psallite” and American spirituals, including Thomas Dorsey’s “Precious Lord”. The concert ends with the ravishing “Amazing Grace”, arranged by Ēriks Ešenvalds.
Saturday, May 31, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Location: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Houston
On this special evening, the Houston Chamber Choir family will come together to honor Simpson as he concludes his 30-year tenure as Founder and Artistic Director. The choir will perform some of its favorite pieces from years past while previewing the program that will take it on tour to Sweden, Latvia and Estonia in June 2025. As the Houston Chamber Choir prepares for continued growth and artistic success over its next 30 years, this evening will celebrate the love, leadership and happiness that have taken this Grammy Award-winning ensemble from “startup to preeminent ensemble.”
Single tickets start at $10 for students and go up to $45, while season subscriptions range from $57 for students to $222 for the six-concert option. For ticket and subscription information, visit HoustonChamberchoir.org.
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