About Us

Mission

Celebrating and connecting Houston through powerful, innovative music that uplifts and educates.

 

 

Vision

Embracing Houston, singing music that inspires and connects us all.

 

HMC

Bringing the world’s classics to Houston since 1986

 

HMC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

HMC Repertoire/Partnerships 2020 – Present

 

Our 39th season showcases a rich tapestry of music from the Renaissance through Contemporary eras. At HMC, we take pride in our unique approach, deliberately reflecting the vast cultural landscape of Houston as we intertwine music, dance, and art to create unforgettable experiences. 

 

Our seasonal programming is a testament to the creative vision of HMC Artistic Director, Dr. Paulo Gomes, who explores Houston through a global lens. Over the past four years, he has formed over twenty unique partnerships for each season, and we have engaged more than 120 local musicians to support our local economy. We are thrilled to have esteemed organist Grant Smith as our accompanist for rehearsals and performances.

 

As a singing community, we are known for removing participation barriers for singers and patrons. We offer scholarships, community service hours, and vocal workshops for singers, as well as free and discounted tickets for students, seniors, veterans, and music educators.  

The all-volunteer, auditioned singers are selected from Houston and surrounding areas, and our flexible rehearsals allow busy singers to maintain their love of singing for a lifetime. 

 

Each October, the HMC Young Singer Competition spotlights talented high school students who want to make a career in vocal performance. We offer them cash awards, and the winner performs with us for our annual holiday concert, Christmas with HMC, Rejoice!

 

We are proud of our collaborations. In 2024, HMC commissioned and premiered ‘Canción del Amor Lejano’ with the University of Houston Puma Director Jose Chabelo Longoria and the UH Mariachi Pumas. This groundbreaking work for mariachi band and chorus is a testament to our commitment to diversity and belonging. This season, we are thrilled to share the stage with the Klein High School Mariachi Band in an encore performance of our commission. 

 

As a group, we’re globally inspired and locally focused. HMC has performed at Carnegie Hall, NY, throughout Italy and at St. Peter’s Basilica, and most recently in Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor 80th anniversary commemoration. Each season we incorporate Houston’s mural art into our season artwork and sponsor a mural tour of Houston’s famous graffiti street artists that is open to the public.

 

Don’t miss our 2024-2025 season! It’s filled with familiar favorites and new works. Singers across Houston join us for our first concert, the iconic Fauré Requiem. A few of our partnerships this year include El Sistema TX Symphony Youth Orchestra, Chapelwood United Methodist Chancel Choir, and Casulana Women’s Choir of Houston.

 

Won’t you join us on our journey? Connect with us if you’re interested in changing the lives of those who sing and those who listen. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

office@houstonmasterworks.org

HMC History

  • Dr. Ara Carapetyan and his wife Cherrie, founded The Houston Oratorio Society in 1986, now known as the Houston Masterworks Chorus. 
  • Director Bob Brewer developed insights into the great masterworks. 
  • Dr. Allen Hightower expanded the chorus and increased musicianship. 
  • Dr. Craig Hella Johnson explored contemporary composers, broadened audiences, and increased sponsorships. 
  • Tom Jaber took us from Carnegie Hall, New York City, to Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy.
  • Dr. Paulo Gomes introduces us to unique partnerships and multicultural music and directed the Chorus in Hawaii for the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of Pearl Harbor, 2021. 
  • In 2021, The HMC Young Singer Competition was established to encourage high school vocal students to sing past high school no matter their future vocation. 

 

Partnerships and Collaborations

  • The Brookwood Community Bell Ensemble
  • Cameron Cody, Chapelwood United Methodist Church
  • El Sistema TX Youth Philharmonic and Chamber Ensembles
  • Bauer Family Vocal School (Division of Houston Grand Opera)
  • Blinn College District Chamber Choir
  • Casulana Women’s Choir of Houston
  • Klein High School Mariachi Band
  • Opera on Tap
  • Monarch Chamber Players, Brazos Valley Orchestra, Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
  • Houston Jazz Band, Terra Nostra Ensemble, Houston Youth Symphony
  • Festival Hill Institute
  • Houston Boychoir, Houston School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA)
  • Houston Show Choir, Space City Sound, Houston Choral Society, Houston Cecilia Choir
  • HISD Westside Inertia Dance Company, Ad Deum Dance Company
  • Jose Chabelo Longoria and the University of Houston Mariachi Pumas
  • Xach Blunt, Spoken Word Poet
  • Sherri Harris, Mixed Media Artist
  • Frank N’ Strings