Our Team
Artistic Staff
Dr. Michael Webster,
Artistic Director and Symphony Conductor
Artistic Director of Houston Youth Symphony since 1997, Dr. Michael Webster has led HYS to multiple national performance awards. Known as clarinetist, conductor, composer/arranger, and educator, he has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Aaron Copland, the Boston Pops and John Williams, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and many prestigious musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua Bell. He has also appeared with many string quartets, including Tokyo, Cleveland, and Dover, and at many of North America’s finest music festivals. Having served on the clarinet and conducting faculties of Eastman, Boston University, New England Conservatory, and University of Michigan, he retired in 2023 after 26 years as Professor of Music at Rice University and achieved the International Clarinet Association’s highest award – honorary membership.
Brad Smith joined the Houston Youth Symphony artistic staff in 2015. He is the Director of Orchestral Activities at Kinder HSPVA in Houston. Dr. Smith’s students consistently achieve recognition in concerto and chamber music competitions and earn seats in the TMEA All-State Orchestras. Each year, HSPVA graduates gain admission to conservatories and music schools across the country. Before joining the Kinder HSPVA faculty, Smith taught for eleven years at the University of Pennsylvania. He also conducted the Delaware County Youth Orchestra (DCYO), a group based in the suburbs of Greater Philadelphia. Dr. Smith holds degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Brad Smith,
Philharmonia Conductor
Matthew Porter,
Sinfonia Conductor
Matthew Porter joined the Houston Youth Symphony artistic staff in 2025. He is Director of Orchestras at Tompkins High School in Katy ISD, where he leads a nationally recognized program of over 240 string musicians. His orchestras have earned multiple TMEA Honor Orchestra titles, Tommy Tune awards, and placed students in the Texas All-State Orchestras. Many of his students have gone on to study at top music schools including Eastman, Juilliard, and Oberlin. Mr. Porter received the 2014 Houston Symphony’s Award for Excellence and is a four-time TMEA Leadership Award winner.
Angela Peugnet is Director of Orchestras at Fort Settlement Middle School. She holds a Master of Music degree with a conducting specialization from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Music degree with teacher certification from the University of Houston. Mrs. Peugnet is a recipient of the Houston Symphony’s Music Educator Award and has been an invited clinician conductor with several TMEA Region Orchestras.
Angela Peugnet,
String Orchestra Conductor
Dr. Jackson Guillén,
Debut String Orchestra Conductor
Honduran violinist and violist Dr. Jackson Guillén is the Director of the HYS Coda Music Program. He also serves as Principal Second Violin of the Symphony of Southeast Texas. He is the co-founder and organizer of Encuentro Anual de Cuerdas, a String Festival that takes place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Dr. Guillén holds a Doctor in Musical Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Houston.
To send a message to a member of our artistic staff, please email HYS@houstonyouthsymphony.org.
Administrative Staff
Amy Chung – Executive Director
Amy@houstonyouthsymphony.org
Michael Craig – Operations Manager
Michael@houstonyouthsymphony.org
César Fránquiz – Development and Program Manager
Cesar@houstonyouthsymphony.org
Jackson Guillén – Coda Music Program Director
Jackson@houstonyouthsymphony.org
Omar Escobedo – Office Manager
Omar@houstonyouthsymphony.org
Nora Henschen – Program Manager
Nora@houstonyouthsymphony.org
Board of Directors
2025-2026 Season
Officers
Deborah Dunham – President
Dr. Blake M. Wilkins – Vice President, Artistic
Rose Ann Medlin – Secretary
DaviAnn Worthington* – Treasurer
Board of Directors
Gregory Scott Brown*
Raul Camba
Daniel Fu
Dr. Arthur Gottschalk
William Guinn*
Cathy Hartley
Melissa Hoffman
Dr. Avni Kapadia*
Alecia Lawyer
Sandra Paige
Anthony Sanchez Rodriguez Lee
Georgia Struthers
Advisory Board
James F. Dunham
Stephan M. Farber*
Brian James
Ryan Jewett
Linda Katz
Sarah Loudermilk
Dr. Jeffrey Ross, D.P.M., M.D.
Sandra Stettler
May Wu
*Houston Youth Symphony Alum