30th Annual Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival Kicks Off at The Pavilion June 7

The Woodlands, Texas – Since 1990, each summer, young professional musicians descend upon the University of Houston campus for a four-week intensive orchestral fellowship program. Each musician accepted into the program receives a fellowship that offers a dynamic opportunity to learn from distinguished artists from the Moores and Shepherd schools of music faculty as well as members of the Houston Symphony. The program features a concert at The Pavilion where the Texas Music Festival Orchestra will take the Main Stage for a free concert Friday, June 7at 8 p.m. under the direction of Conductor Franz Anton Krager. Tickets are not required for free seating.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary season, the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival international music residency will launch its 2019 Orchestra Series with world-acclaimed pianist Kenneth Broberg, The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition 2017 Silver Medalist, performing Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. The momentous Opening Night concert also will feature the “bookends” Aaron Copland: “Fanfare for the Common Man” and Joan Tower: “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman,” and Rimsky Korsakov: “Scheherazade, an evocative piece that channels Sinbad and other tales of the Arabian Nights.  New York-based violin virtuoso Xiao Wang, 2012 winner of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition, will return to The Pavilion as guest concertmaster for the evening.

“The Pavilion is very proud to be the presenting venue for the Texas Music Festival. This event truly fulfills our Mission of being a catalyst to enhance an appreciation for the arts and provide performance opportunities for young artists,” said Jerry MacDonald, president and CEO of The Pavilion.

During pre-concert activities beginning at 7:00 p.m., Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of all ages will have the opportunity to complete their music merit badge through a variety of requirements set up throughout The Pavilion’s North Plaza. Other plaza activities include The Pavilion Partners Arts & Crafts booth and Instrument Petting Zoo as well as sponsor activities by Woodforest National Bank.

Families are encouraged to enhance their performing arts experience with Mini Maestros, a free and exciting program that makes the arts both fun and accessible for kids of all ages. By signing up for Mini Maestros, children will receive: a special membership lanyard and badge, free reserved seating at all performing arts events, early entry for Ice Cream Social or Hocus Pocus Pops, a free ticket to Children’s Festival and other great perks throughout the season. Families can register their children at any of The Pavilion’s performing arts events this season at a special booth located in the North Plaza or online at www.woodlandscenter.org/mini-maestros.

Guests are welcome to bring a picnic from home or their favorite restaurant to enjoy in their seat or on the lawn. Keep in mind however, that beverages are not allowed to be brought into The Pavilion and picnics must comply with The Pavilion’s bag size restriction and/or be in original packaging. Examples include pizza within a pizza box or chips in original sealed packaging. Please visit The Pavilion’s website for more information on these restrictions. For those wanting to sit on the hill, lawn chairs also are provided free for this event.  

Preferred parking is available in the on-site Town Center Garage, located along Six Pines Drive. Parking is $10 per vehicle for this and most performing arts events. Tickets for on-site parking can be purchased in advance at Ticketmaster.com and The Pavilion Box Office. Guests also may park in any of the free parking lots off Timberloch Drive on the southwest side of The Pavilion.

For more information about The Pavilion, please visit our website at www.woodlandscenter.org. Look for The Pavilion on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram, or download The Pavilion’s iOS or Android app.

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Opened in 1990, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is part of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides diverse, high-quality performing arts events for the entertainment and enrichment of a broad regional audience. Through numerous educational and community outreach programs, The Center is a catalyst for attracting new audiences to the performing arts and building strong ties between the arts and educational institutions.