Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel

For 20 years, Virtuosi of Houston has created a pre-professional climate and performance opportunities for Houston’s most focused young musicians. Their recent Legends of the Future gala, chaired by Karina and Carlos Barbieri and Zarine and Meherwan Boyce, was a huge success in celebrating this premier youth chamber orchestra. This gala concert and dinner, honoring Margaret Alkek Williams and Monzer Hourani, included heavenly music provided throughout the evening from the students. The crowd went wild when founding artistic directors and conductors, Andrzej Grabiec and Franz Anton Krager, both rode in on motorcycles to their podiums. I can only imagine how much fun it is to learn under the direction of these amazing men!

Virtuosi of Houston is a premier youth chamber orchestra for gifted instrumentalists (ages 11-18) of all races, religions and financial backgrounds. These dedicated and amazingly talented kids all come together throughout the year to learn their craft and perform. Virtuosi’s 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. Their college attendance lies at 100% and over 90% of them become professionals in music. Incredible.

Some of the crowd’s favorite pieces they performed at the gala included “The Typewriter”, “Hoe-Down from Rodeo” and “The King of Pop: Monster Hits of Michael Jackson”. There isn’t anything these kids can’t do. They are the best of the best and I was honored to be in the audience. Bravo Virtuosi and we look forward to the next 20 years of success!