Patrick Summers, longtime artistic and musical director of Houston Grand Opera, is bidding farewell to the performing arts organization after more than 25 years. He plans to step down from his position in the spring of 2026. At the end of the 2025-2026 season, he will transition to the role of Music Director Emeritus and assume the Robert and Jane Cizik Chair of Music Directors Emeritus.
In his future roles, Summers will serve as an advisor, scholar and guest conductor for the company. An international search is underway for his successor.
“Almost 30 years ago, when I was a shy and ambitious young conductor in my 30s, David Gockley first approached me about coming to HGO, and at this moment in the early days of Kohli Dastoor’s tenure, “I can only say that it has been a once-in-a-lifetime privilege to be a part of this great company,” Summers said in a statement.
As a young musician, Summers was mentored by opera singer and voice teacher Margaret Harshaw and Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras. His professional opera career began in 1986 as pianist and conductor of the San Francisco Opera Melora Opera Program. There he was quickly promoted to music director of SFO’s touring division and later named music director of the SFO Center. From 1999 to 2016, Summers served as principal guest conductor at the SFO. During this period, he was awarded the company’s highest honor, the San Francisco Opera Medal.
He joined HGO as music director in 1998, having been scouted by then-general director David Gokley at a critical time when the opera company’s relationship as the Houston Symphony Orchestra’s principal orchestra was coming to an end. . By 2011, Summers assumed the roles of artistic director and music director.
During his tenure, Summers conducted Verdi’s La Traviata three times at Houston Grand Opera, starring Patricia Racette, Renée Fleming, and Albina Shagimuratova. Other notable HGO productions directed by Summers include “Requiem,” “Don Carlo,” “Rigoletto: The Masquerade,” “Simon Boccanegra,” “Aida,” “Otello,” and starring Lord Bryn Terfel. two productions of “Falstaff,” and three productions of “Il Trovatore,” starring Reginald Smith Jr. and Sondra Radvanovsky, Tamara Wilson, Michael Spyres, and Aylin Perez.
“Patrick Summers’ impact on this company and on opera as an American art form is awe-inspiring,” said Cori Dastall, HGO’s general director and CEO. mentioned in. “He worked closely with leading composers to create groundbreaking new works, mentored some of the biggest names in opera, and guided the HGO Orchestra from its inception to the extraordinary ensemble it is today. Summers has always been a positive leader. He has also been a very kind and supportive partner to me in bringing this company into a new era. My gratitude to him is immeasurable. I am happy that he continues to be my trusted colleague.”
