Houston Symphony

Despite its small stature and budget, the orchestra and its first conductor, Julien Paul Blitz, enjoyed a good response and continued to perform.

When Stokowski invited African-American opera singer Shirley Verrett to sing with the Houston Symphony in the early 1960s, he was forced to rescind his invitation when the orchestra board refused to accept a black soloist.

Stokowski later made amends by giving her a prestigious date with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In 2001, the orchestra lost millions of dollars' worth of instruments, music, and archives when Tropical Storm Allison flooded the basement levels of Jones Hall.

[5] Andrés Orozco-Estrada became music director in September 2014,[6] with an initial contract of five years.

In July 2021, the orchestra announced the appointment of Valčuha as its next music director, effective with the 2022–2023 season.