50th Anniversary Gala
A once-in-a-lifetime celebration hosted at the Shepherd School of Music.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
6:00 Cocktails | 7:00 Performance | 8:15 Gala Dinner
The special gala performance features a movement from Pierre Jalbert’s Another Starry Night, in a premiere performance by Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano alumna Sasha Cooke ('04) and the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra, led by Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
An elegant seated dinner on the Morrison Theater stage in the stunning Brockman Hall for Opera will take place following the concert for Gala event supporters.
Secure your table reservation
Co-chairs: Anne and Albert Chao, Isabel and Danny David
Underwriting chairs: Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan
50th Anniversary Commissions
Music is a living, breathing, ever-expanding art form, and the music created in our time is a powerful reflection of who we are. In this exciting multi-year initiative, we’ll unveil seven brand-new works by seven different Shepherd School of Music composition faculty members—each with a unique and powerful story to tell.
Special thanks to Rice University's Office of Research for its support of these commissions.
This Season 2025-26
Anthony Brandt
Beethoven, Rossini & Brandt
Sat, Sep 27 at 7:30pm in Stude Concert Hall
Anthony Brandt's single-movement concerto, Chamber Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, is performed by Professor of Cello Norman Fischer alongside the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra.
Kurt Stallmann
The Fruit and the Work
Sun, Oct 5 at 2:00pm in Wortham Theatre
A new multi-media collaborative work by Kurt Stallmann and Rice University Professor of English Joseph Campana, The Fruit and the Work explores the fascinating and evolving relationship between humans and honeybees.
Pierre Jalbert
Shepherd School of Music 50th Anniversary Gala
Sat, Nov 8 at 7:00pm in Stude Concert Hall
Pierre Jalbert’s Another Starry Night features two-time Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano alumna Sasha Cooke ('04) performing alongside the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra.
Karim Al-Zand
Modern American Opera Scenes
Sun, Feb 1 at 2:00pm in Morrison Theater
Karim Al-Zand's A Joint Interest is a comic scene for three vocalists and chamber ensemble, featuring the Shepherd School Chamber Players.
Arthur Gottschalk
Springtime Rhapsody
Sun, Mar 8 at 2:00pm in Stude Concert Hall
Arthur Gottschalk's Tombeaux: pour un création d'une rhapsodie is a one-movement chamber concerto composed for alumnus Milton Rubén Laufer ('98, '03), performed alongside the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra.
Last Season 2024-25
Shih-Hui Chen
Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 7:00pm Wortham Theater
View a video clip from the world premiere performance in October
The premiere of "The Birds Are Real; Ambush From Ten Directions" - an evening of music, light and shadow puppetry. Featuring Shepherd School faculty members Brian Connelly and Matthew Strauss and guest artists Ding-Yun Huang (director), Chia-Wei Chen (visual artist) and Tung-Hua Puppet Theater.
Richard Lavenda
Thu, Jan 16, 2025 at 7:30pm Duncan Recital Hall
Hear from Richard Lavenda directly about the world premiere
“Upon Further Reflection," written for two vocalists and chamber ensemble, exemplifies Lavenda’s lifelong relationship with the Shepherd School. Featuring Shepherd School faculty members Thomas Jaber, Marianne Gedigian, Benjamin Kamins, and James Dunham, plus alumni and current students.
50th Anniversary Community Day
On March 29, 2025, we welcomed hundreds of families for our 50th Anniversary Community Day, an open-to-all free celebration packed with musical performances, interactive activities and hands-on fun for visitors of all ages.
The day began with a sold-out family concert featuring Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and narrated in English and Spanish. After the concert, guests enjoyed over 20 performances and activities across the school, from intimate recital venues in Alice Pratt Brown Hall to backstage of Brockman Hall for Opera.
Shepherd Alumni Party on the Piazza
On November 2, 2024, we welcomed back Shepherd School alumni to enjoy BBQ bites and brews while reconnecting with Shepherd School friends and faculty members.