Conducting

Larry Rachleff  is the Walter Kris Hubert Professor of Orchestral Conducting and Music Director of the Shepherd School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He recently completed twenty-one years as Music Director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, and formerly served as Music Director of the San Antonio Symphony. in Fall 2017, Larry was inducted into the American Classical Hall of Fame in the category of educator. Two recent reviews about Larry: “Music Director Larry Rachleff, a superb conductor with seasoned leadership skills who conducts everything with deep musical understanding…”(John von Rhein, Classical music critic, Chicago Tribune) and, from OpusColorado.com, “…make no mistake about it, Rachleff is an incredibly accomplished conductor and an incredibly accomplished musician.”

Jerry Hou  is the Associate Conductor of the Shepherd School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Jerry is quickly gaining recognition as a versatile and exciting young conductor. For the past five seasons, he has worked closely with the St. Louis Symphony and their music director David Robertson, including assisting the orchestra and an all-star cast of singers at Carnegie Hall for an acclaimed concert performance of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes. Mr. Hou also made his debut with the orchestra last season, in the US premiere of John Cage’s Thirty Pieces for Five Orchestras. At The Shepherd School of Music, he leads the Shepherd School Contemporary Ensemble and Hear&Now. In addition to his work at Rice, Mr. Hou serves as Associate Conductor of the Grand Teton Music Festival.

Thomas Jaber  is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Vocal Coaching at the Shepherd School of Music.  In addition to the responsibilities of coaching graduate students and senior voice majors, Mr. Jaber teaches graduate choral conducting and conducts the Rice Chorale.