Conroe Symphony Orchestra Announces Rodeo Roundup, a rootin’ tootin’ good time

CONROE, TX -- February 17th is coming on quick!!! So yee-haw, and hold onto your hats! The Conroe Symphony Orchestra is fixin' to wrangle up a rootin' tootin' good time with their upcoming concert, Rodeo Roundup. Prepare for a musical stampede of soaring melodies, dust-kickin' rhythms, and heart-poundin' excitement that'll have you feelin' like you're ridin' right alongside the great symphonic trailblazers of the frontier!

"The spring is rodeo season in both Houston and Montgomery County so we are thrilled to present our theme of Rodeo Roundup,” Conductor Gary Liebst said. “Western movie music is a definitive genre and the music creates a special imagery for the audience that will transport us to the western frontier. Our great state is rooted in this imagery so come and celebrate Texas and the Wild West with some of the finest fiddling you’ll hear all year! Western attire is encouraged!”

The concert is underwritten by Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts.

The CSO will share the stage with vocal soloist Audrey Welsh during the matinee performance.
Audrey Welsh, mezzo soprano, is a native of Houston, Texas, and a second year graduate student working towards her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Rice University, under the tutelage Nova Thomas. She is an alumna of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Music in Voice and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies. This spring at Rice University, Welsh will perform the role of Dorabella (Così fan tutte) in the opera department’s Mozart Workshop as well as the role of Dido in the mainstage double bill of Dido and Aeneas and The Rape of Lucretia. This summer, Welsh will join Des Moines Metropolitan Opera and perform the role of the Page of Herodias in Strauss’ Salome. Welsh was a Houston District Winner and 3rd Place Gulf Coast Region Winner in the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Some previous credits include: Nerone (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), Tolomeo (Giulio Cesare), Sibella Hallward (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) Mae Jones (Street Scene), Tisbe (La Cenerentola), Petra (A Little Night Music), Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring), and Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors).

“Put on your hats and boots and join the orchestra for a great night of western themed music including ‘Hoe Down’ by Aaron Copland from the ballet Rodeo, music from the movie The Cowboys by John Williams, and music from Broadway hit Annie Get Your Gun with guest vocalist Audrey Welsh,” Liebst said.

The concert will feature activities for the entire family. There will be kids’ crafts, music education, and entertainment. The CSO will perform Rodeo Roundup on February 17, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church Conroe located at 4308 W Davis St. The CSO is grateful for its sponsors. The concert is underwritten by Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts and current sponsorships by the City of Conroe, TCA AND NEA

Tickets are on sale now at https://conroesymphony.org/ or by calling the box office at 936-760-2144.

Photos