Harmony in the Air℠
Harmony in the Air
Harmony in the Air, the Houston Airports performing arts program, is one of several initiatives that Houston Airports has undertaken to create a memorable and positive travel experience for our passengers and generate higher revenue and stronger customer loyalty. The vision of the Houston Airports is to establish itself as a five-star global air service gateway. Harmony in the Air contributes to achieving this high level of customer satisfaction and positive travel experience by providing such an exceptional amenity to the passengers.
Director of Harmony in the Air
The program features live performances by Houston’s finest professional musicians at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport, IAH, and William P. Hobby Airport, HOU. The performances include a diverse repertoire of Classical, Jazz, Pop, and International music performed by over 75 Houston’s finest professional musicians.
Every musician participating in the program underwent a rigorous solicitation process required by the City of Houston. The criteria to select performers was based on education, experience, professional credentials, and ability to perform diverse music genres. The musicians also represent diversity in genders, races, and cultures. All the musicians in the Harmony in the Air program are residents of Houston and perform in other Houston music venues, including the Houston Symphony, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Houston Ballet. Most of the musicians are educators and have mentored young musicians during their professional career.
LOCATION:
Harmony in the Air performances take place every weekday from noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Terminal Art Connector Gallery, Terminal A, with some performances rotating every other day of the week.
SCHEDULE: Weekdays from Noon to 3 p.m. Performers listed below alternate weekly.
| Mondays: | The Paul English Jazz Quartet - Jazz Quartet |
| Hope Cowan – Classical Solo Harpist | |
| Tuesdays: | Carya Quartet – Classical String Quartet |
| Mystery Loves Company – Chamber Rock Quartet | |
| Wednesdays: | Axiom Quartet – Classical String Quartet |
| Retrospect – Contemporary Jazz Quartet | |
| Thursdays: | Eddie Akhmetchine Trio – Contemporary Jazz Trio |
| Fridays: | Ars Lyrica Houston – Chamber Music String Quartet |
| Caipiroska - Bossa Nova Quartet |
For more information about the Harmony in the Air performing arts program, please email Maricela Kruseman, Program Founder and Director at Harmonyintheair@houstontx.gov
The Paul English Jazz Quartet
Paul English is an internationally recognized composer, pianist, producer and educator. He has performed and recorded with jazz greats and produced numerous jazz and classical recordings. Equally at home in jazz, popular, Country & Western, and classical settings, his quartet brings forth the jazz but will from time to time venture into these other genres - much to the surprise and delight of his audiences.
Axiom Quartet
Axiom Quartet is a dynamic and passionate string quartet that explores all genres of music with no boundaries or limits. Axiom has become known around Texas for their inventive programs that mix music from the classical canon with transcriptions, and new compositions along with the inclusion of popular rock, electronic, indie, jazz and pop genres in a single concert experience. The unifying concept is simply expressivity whereby Axiom’s concerts turn classical fans towards extraordinary popular music, while serving as classical music advocates to those who normally do not attend classical concerts.
The individual players of Axiom, Dominika Dancewicz and Ingrid Gerling - violin, Katie Carrington - viola, Patrick Moore - cello, have decades of combined experience performing internationally as soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral performance. The Axiom Quartet serves as outreach ambassador for Chamber Music Houston, one of Houston's top chamber music presenters.
Eddie Akhmetchine Trio
The Eddie Akhmetchine Trio is a group of highly sophisticated and exciting musicians who delight audiences with their interpretations of Jazz music of 1930-1960s, Brazilian Bossa Nova and American R&B classics. The trio's repertoire includes music made famous by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Benson, Bill Withers, and many other greats. The trio also plays some of Eddie's original compositions. Led by saxophonist and composer Eddie Akhmetchine, the band includes Alexandre Loukachine on drums and Brennen Nase on guitar.
Ars Lyrica
Founded in 1998 by harpsichordist and conductor Matthew Dirst, Ars Lyrica Houston presents a diverse array of music from the 17th and 18th centuries on period instruments. Its local subscription series, according to the Houston Chronicle, “sets the agenda” for early music in Houston. Ars Lyrica performs regularly at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and appears regularly at major festivals and conferences.
Retrospect
“Retrospect” is a group of professional musicians creating a reverie with their interpretations of Jazz, R&B, and Pop standards. People of all ages become caught in the spell that Retrospect’s wonderful compositions, delivered with passion and years of honoring their craft.
Hope Cowan
Harpist Hope Cowan performs and teaches throughout the Houston area. Active as both an orchestral and chamber musician, she performs with the Symphony of Southeast Texas and the Mississippi Symphony and is a founding member of both the Deciduous and Lynx Trios. A strong advocate for the local Houston harp community, she is currently the president of the Greater Houston Chapter of the American Harp Society. Ms. Cowan also teaches students of all ages at her home studio and is on the faculty for the Houston Summer Harp Festival. She received a BM from the University of Houston, and a MM from Rice University, both under the instruction of Paula Page.
Mystery Loves Company
Mystery Loves Company is a touring and recording Chamber Rock quartet who has mesmerized audiences by their unique style combining the electric cello, the percussive acoustic, and the perfect pitch harmonies would rivet one to the stage at times. Founders Madeline Herdeman, a conservatory-trained cellist with a highly technical musical background, and Carlos Machado, a self-taught guitarist and songwriter from Venezuela, apply their dynamic talent along with Alan Rubin on flute and Danny Patterson on percussion to produce a sound which is both avant-garde and exceptional.
Carya Quartet
Founded in the spring of 2018, the Carya String Quartet is a Houston-based ensemble dedicated to performing string quartet repertoire new and old from around the world. Drawn together by Houston’s international and inclusive arts culture, the members- Eugeniu Cheremoush, Laura Cividino, Sonya Matoussova, and Rainey Weber bring their individual experiences as performers and teaching artists to create inclusive concerts and innovative educational programming.