Congratulations to our Shepherd alumni and students on these amazing recent orchestra appointments 👏🎶
Alumni, got good news? Share it with us at the link in bio!
“Twenty years ago, a conservatory orchestra couldn’t have performed this piece," remarked composer John Adams during his recent visit to Rice's campus.
Through our partnership with the Houston Symphony, Adams joined the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra to rehearse his iconic “Short Ride in a Fast Machine," praising the ensemble for sounding “very tight, very controlled."
During the Q&A, one composition student’s question about the creative process drew one of the afternoon’s most vivid answers. Adams likened composing to gardening.
“Once you have an idea, you water it, fertilize it, clip it,” Adams said. “When I see a piece that doesn’t work, I notice the gardener didn’t do a good job.”
Such an inspiring visit all-around! Full recap linked in bio.
Huge news! A massive congratulations to Gabriela Lena Frank ('94, '96) for winning the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Music for "Picaflor: A Future Myth."
It’s been an incredible run for the Shepherd School alumna, who was also recently named Musical America’s 2026 Composer of the Year. Talk about an unforgettable year! 👏
Frank studied with Samuel Jones, earning both her bachelor's and master's at Rice. “I cannot even qualify how important those six years were," said Frank in an interview with the Rice Thresher.
The excitement only continues—on May 14, her opera "El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego" will have its Metropolitan Opera debut!
An incredible Shepherd School showing at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on April 9 & 10!
The connection was everywhere: Artist Teacher of Orchestras Jerry Hou—and former ASO resident conductor—returned to the podium, leading the premiere of a new work by Nicky Sohn ('25).
Joining them on stage were over 10 Shepherd School alumni with full-time positions in the orchestra, plus substitute musician David Green, current trumpet master’s student of Barbara Butler 🎺
"It was such a special experience to go from Monday morning conducting class at Shepherd to Tuesday rehearsal with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and see the concepts that Jerry has been teaching us in action… and his friendly smile!" said David Green.
"The orchestra sounded amazing throughout the entire evening, and it was meaningful to see so many Shepherd School alumni in the orchestra, including from my time as a student and as a teacher. The many generations of alumni demonstrated the lasting impact of the remarkable teachers and orchestral training at Shepherd. I am proud to be part of that legacy," said Jerry Hou.
Seeing our community make music together on these major stages is just incredible. What a testament to the Shepherd legacy and how far it reaches beyond our campus!
The reviews are in 👏✨
Swipe through to see what OperaWire had to say about the Shepherd School of Music and our recent production of Verdi’s Falstaff. Bravo to all involved!
Full review linked in bio.
Feeling extra nostalgic on this last day of classes 🥹
Congratulations to all of our amazing owls on another incredible year in the books. We're going to miss having you around. Have the best summer! 🦉☀️
What a way to close out the season!
Guest conductor Kevin John Edusei makes his Rice conducting debut this Saturday, leading the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra through Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Debussy’s La Mer.
Don't miss our final orchestra concert of the year! Saturday, April 25 at 7:30pm in Stude Concert Hall. Tickets start at $5 at music.rice.edu/events
Tzvi Bat Asherah, a graduating master’s student in vocal performance from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, has spent the past two years honing his craft and preparing for the professional stage. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, he found his path in singing early on and has since grown into an emerging bass-baritone, performing in ambitious productions inside Brockman Hall for Opera — a space that mirrors the level and intensity of the industry he’s stepping into.
For Tzvi, opera is about connection. Through an unamplified human voice, he brings stories to life across language and time — and he’s passionate about helping new audiences experience that power for themselves. As he heads to the Butler Studio at Houston Grand Opera, he’s not just building a career — he’s helping carry the art form forward. #RiceGrad26
