Houston’s art scene is in no shortage of phenomenal organizations of all sizes, but this year undoubtedly belongs to Mercury Chamber Orchestra. Ringing in its 25th anniversary earlier this year, the organization has remained both a touchstone to previous eras of great music as well as an open door to newer, fresher performances. The group’s shows are the ultimate reminder that music is an ever-evolving artform where there is room for the greats of yore and the up-and-coming figures of the future; and that excellent music is accessible to all.
What seems to impress even more is the forward-thinking nature of the organization — and some quite impressive partners. The Mercury-Julliard Fellowship (as in THAT Julliard) is the embodiment of investing in the art form. Welcoming its first class in 2016, this yearly initiative is a collaboration between The Juilliard School of Music Historical Performance Program and Mercury that encourages the development of talented young instrumentalists and fosters a strong relationship between major players in America’s period instrument performance scene. Fellows perform with Mercury during the season, gaining valuable performance experience while introducing Houston to the next generation of great period performance musicians.
The fellowship is only one branch of their investment in the community. Another example: Mercury’s education programs have engaged more than 20,000 students in the past five years, bringing teaching artists into Title I schools to work with children and to perform entertaining and curriculum-based concerts.
The group’s list of accomplishments extends on, but the point has already been made: Mercury’s 25 years in Houston is a benefit for everyone who appreciates the art form and looks to its continually shifting bevy of new artists.
Various locations
713-533-0080
mercuryhouston.org