The opening-night concert on June 16 features the overture to Rossini's Semiramide, Lalo's Cello Concerto, William Bolcom's MCMXC Tanglewood, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 2. Frederico Cortese conducts; Houston Symphony principal cellist Brinton Averil Smith is the soloist.

Other conductors include Rebecca Miller, an American Conducting Fellow at the Houston Symphony; Austrian conductor Christoph Campestrini; and Carlos Miguel Prieto, the outgoing associated conductor of the Houston Symphony. Principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski leads an Independence Day program on July 4.

Soloists include rising pianist Orion Weiss and American Idol finalist Will Makar, a native of Houston.