The Production Team
Organizational Capacity and Leadership
The Virtuosi of Houston has a diverse Board of Directors. Meeting quarterly, the Board guides the activities and direction of the Virtuosi of Houston, and volunteers their time to the many tasks
needed to run the orchestra.
An Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, which meets monthly, governs Virtuosi. The two Maestros, Executive Director, and the Manager are non-voting members of the Executive Committee
and for the past few years the Executive Committee has been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of various professionals in the legal, accounting, and financial areas. This strengthening of the executive committee has brought expertise and professionalism,
and has transferred the excitement of the growth of this organization to the students and their parents. In addition to the Board of Directors, the Artistic Advisory Committee lends their years of experience and professional knowledge to Virtuosi. The
members of this committee are the leaders of various arts, civic and educational organizations in the city, including the Society of the Performing Arts and the Houston Symphony.
In 2002 the Board of Directors saw a need for a secure rehearsal space as well as a need for diversification of funding. With the leadership of Zarine Boyce, then Vice President of Development and Advocacy, the first gala was held that year “Around the World in 80 Minutes.” Later that year the orchestra moved into its first studio, an in-kind donation from Town and Country Mall. With the demolition of the mall, Virtuosi secured a new studio at Memorial City Mall. Through the generosity of MetroNational the owners and operators of the Mall, Virtuosi enjoys the facility free of charge. This new facility is larger, with the ability to seat 100-150 for open-to-the-public rehearsals and our students are able to hold their recitals there as well.
Virtuosi of Houston has received grants from foundations such as The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, The Houston Endowment, Inc., Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, Spec’s Charitable Foundation, HSIAO Family Foundation, The J. Nixon Wheat Foundation the Strake Foundation, the Susman Foundation, The Rockwell
Fund Inc and the Greater Houston Community Foundation just to name a few. We are also supported with grants from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County and the Texas Commission for the Arts. In fact, revenues per IRS 990 filings have increased from $67,000 for fiscal year 2001 and $105,000 for fiscal year 2002, to the present $194,000 for fiscal year 2004.
