His announcement follows Tuesday’s announcement by Dean Gladden, the longtime Managing Director of Alley Theatre, that he will be retiring as of June 30, 2025 after 19 years with the regional theater.
Summers will become music director emeritus for the company he came to almost three decades ago. HGO announced it will launch an international search for its next music director.
Summers first joined the company as music director in 1998, brought in by then General Director David Gockley. He was credited with growing the HGO orchestra. In 2011, Summers took on the added title and duties of artistic director as well. In 2021, Khori Dastoor joined HGO as General Director and CEO of HGO and in a statement released by HGO she praised Summers for his work.
“Maestro Summers has always been a forward-looking leader. He’s also been such a gracious and supportive partner to me as we’ve ushered in a new era at this company. My gratitude to him is immeasurable. I am delighted he will be continuing as my trusted colleague,” she said.
Summers is known for mentoring young talent, presenting new works among them those of renowned composer Jack Heggie, and getting Wagner’s four-part Ring cycle on stage at the Wortham Center.
Summers will continue guest conducting and “serving in his current post, alongside Renée Fleming, as co-director of the Aspen Music Festival and School’s Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS, which the two have led since 2019,” according to HGO. He also plans to continue teaching at the Rice University Shepherd School of Music,
“Since David Gockley first spoke to me almost three decades ago about coming to HGO, when I was a shy and ambitious young conductor in my thirties, to this current moment of Khori Dastoor’s early tenure, during which I will bring my long service as music director to a close, I can only say that it has been the privilege of a lifetime to be a part of this extraordinary company,” said Summers in a press statement.
“Houston Grand Opera is a blessed place, and I am enormously grateful for the long honor of leading our own treasured orchestra and making art with both our resident ensembles, who are our heart and soul, while guiding the artistic direction of this great company. That my tenure stretches from David to Khori will always mean the world to me. I thank everyone so deeply.”