EarRelevant Staff | 19 SEP 2025
HOUSTON, Texas— The Houston Symphony has extended music director Juraj Valčuha’s contract through the end of the 2027–28 season, the organization announced this evening.
Valčuha, who became the orchestra’s 16th music director in 2022, has been credited with raising the ensemble’s artistic profile and broadening its programming. Under his leadership, the Symphony has presented a diverse repertoire, including traditional works, contemporary pieces, and collaborations with guest artists. The contract extension allows him to continue initiatives already underway, including new commissions, recording projects, and community outreach programs.
“From the first time I experienced Juraj Valčuha conducting the Houston Symphony, I immediately recognized there was a special relationship between music director and orchestra,” said Gary Ginstling, executive director/CEO. He noted that Valčuha’s artistry, leadership, and collaborative spirit have already reshaped the orchestra and said he is enthusiastic about its future under Valčuha’s direction.
A native of Bratislava, Slovakia, Valčuha previously served as music director of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples and principal conductor of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in Turin. He has appeared with major orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
The Houston Symphony’s 2025–26 season, Valčuha’s fourth as music director, will feature multi-week programs centered around themes such as “Composer as Hero,” “Doomed Lovers,” and “Transfiguration.” Additionally, Valčuha will lead a performance of The Elements, a work commissioned and performed by violinist Joshua Bell, featuring movements by various composers, including Kevin Puts, Edgar Meyer, Jake Heggie, Jennifer Higdon, and Jessie Montgomery.
For more information about the Houston Symphony, visit www.houstonsymphony.org. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Juraj Valčuha: jurajvalcuha.com
- Houston Symphony: houstonsymphony.org
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