"While this isn't so common at all orchestras across the country, it does happen occasionally in cities that are fortunate enough to have active concert artists on their school's faculties," said Aurelie Desmarais, senior director of artistic planning for the Houston Symphony. "We here in Houston are extremely lucky to have such a vibrant music community with great schools such as the Shepherd School at Rice University."

Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano at Rice, will play George Gershwin's "Concerto in F" on the closing weekend of the Houston Symphony's classical subscription concerts May 17, 19 and 20.  The concert will review Gershwin's most celebrated works.

"I first discovered ‘Concerto in F' after seeing the 1951 film ‘An American in Paris,' in which Oscar Levant performs this work as pianist, conductor and entire orchestra in what was an early music video masterpiece," said Parker. "I knew then that I would have to learn it.

"The piece explodes with the rhythms and sounds of America, including the Charleston and the blues," Parker said. "Given President David Leebron's strong commitment to engage the Rice community with the city of Houston, I am especially thrilled as a member of the Shepherd School faculty to perform as guest soloist with the Houston Symphony downtown."

Parker has played with several orchestras outside Houston since the beginning of the year, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Denver and New York. He also gave a special performance with Audra McDonald and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Two other Shepherd School faculty will appear with the symphony as guest soloists in 2008: Susanne Mentzer,  mezzo-soprano and professor of voice, and violinist Cho-Liang Lin, professor of violin.