From its inception in 1975, the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University has emphasized orchestral training as a central element in its performing curriculum. The orchestral program is composed of a Symphony Orchestra of one hundred-plus music students and a Chamber Orchestra of some fifty music students. Both orchestras are of equal caliber, differentiated only by the repertoire they perform.
Players rehearse three times each week and benefit from sectionals with our experienced faculty. Orchestral repertoire training is supplemented through Orchestral Repertoire classes for Winds, Brass, Percussion, and each string instrument.
Highlights of the 2025-2026 season include Strauss Don Juan, Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Ste. No. 2, Respighi Fontane di Roma, Prokofiev Suite from Cinderella, Britten The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Bartók Concerto for Orchestra, Debussy La mer, and symphonies by Brahms (No. 4), Sibelius (No. 2), Mozart (No. 40), Beethoven (No. 7), Tchaikovsky (No. 6), and Schumann (No.1). Works by Bruckner, Gershwin, John Adams, Mason Bates, and Tania León round out the programming. Additionally, concertos performed by student competition winners, world premieres by faculty and student composers, and operas are featured throughout the season.
The Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra has a history of touring, including visits to New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Performance Calendars & Repertoire
Conductors
Miguel Harth-Bedoya , Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras, Professor of Conducting
Kyle Haake and Ana Spasovska , Assistant Conductors
Louis Lohraseb, Kevin John Edusei and Cristian Mӑcelaru , Guest Conductors
Administrative Staff
Alan Austin , Orchestra Manager
Stephen Bachicha , Orchestra Librarian
Miguel Harth-Bedoya Named Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting
Acclaimed conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya joins the Shepherd School as Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting. An Emmy award winner and Grammy-nominated artist, Harth-Bedoya has led ensembles worldwide, including the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, where he remains music director laureate.
In his new role, Harth-Bedoya will lead the orchestral program and train the next generation of conductors, continuing the legacy of the late Larry Rachleff. With a fervent commitment to nurturing young artistry and a track record of impactful leadership roles worldwide, Harth-Bedoya brings a unique and internationally recognized artistic vision and pedagogy to the institution. He joins the Shepherd School faculty after serving as Director of Orchestral Studies at Baylor University.