In 1995, 1998, and 2004, the society took part in the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England, performing HMS PINAFORE, THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD, and THE MIKADO, respectively. On all occasions, the society received numerous awards for individual performances, directing and conducting. The 1998 appearance resulted in the festival's first standing room only performance. But it was the 2004 production of THE MIKADO that brought the Society its greatest honor: 1st Place International Champions of the Festival.
In 2001, the Society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by staging audience favorite THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE to sell out crowds and critical acclaim. Our fifty-first year marked yet another milestone. a forty-year association with the Society, Dr. Robert Linder retired as music director, passing his baton to Dr. Clifton Evans, orchestra conductor at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts and the director of the Houston Civic Symphony.
Both Robert and Cliff came home with Best Musical Director awards each time they were in the pit at Buxton. Cliff accepted a professorship at the University of Texas at Arlington this year and has been replaced by Brian Runnels, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities School of Music at Houston Baptist University. We look forward to Brian's continuing the outstanding leadership that we've been fortunate to have throughout our history
As a stalwart of Houston's arts community, the Society not only maintains high artistic standards, but also strives to increase exposure of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operas to the public. This goal has been greatly assisted thanks to the generosity of the Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation and the Downtown Kiwanis and working with Ripley House, DePelchin Children's Center, Big Brother/Big Sisters and other organizations. Through such on-going programs, young people from less fortunate backgrounds are able to enjoy the magic of musical theater and G&S.
