HOUSTON, TX (October 31, 2023) — This Thanksgiving weekend, the Houston Symphony welcomes LaKisha Jones and Nova Payton to the Jones Hall stage for “I Will Survive—Diva Legends,” a tribute to some of the greatest pop, R&B, and disco performers of all time. From November 24 to 26, guest conductor Lucas Waldin leads the Houston Symphony and powerhouse vocalists LaKisha Jones and Nova Payton in iconic songs from artists including Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Tina Turner, and more. Program highlights include “I Will Survive,” “Proud Mary,” “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “Bad Romance,” and “Girl On Fire.”
Houston-based LaKisha Jones—recognized as a top-four finalist on American Idol in 2007—is a seasoned artist with a rich history of collaboration with renowned songwriters and producers. From her stellar performance as “Sophia” in the Broadway production of The Color Purple, where she alternated with the legendary Chaka Khan, to her extensive travels as a guest soloist with renowned orchestras, her deep-rooted love for soulful legends like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin and unwavering passion for music has taken her to amaze audiences around the globe.
Renowned for her mesmerizing soprano vocals, Nova Y. Payton has thrilled international stages, collaborated with legends, and garnered numerous accolades. Her career spans captivating musicals, prestigious PBS specials, and acclaimed roles in Hairspray and Dreamgirls. Nova’s star continues to rise, with recent roles in Grace the Musical, The Color Purple, Into the Woods, and Fela! Payton also performed for President Biden and Vice President Harris and delivered the National Anthem at the dedication of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
Guests are invited to a night of extended fun for an Encore After Party following the Saturday evening performance at the Round Bar. Anyone with a ticket will have the opportunity to dance the night away, enjoy specialty cocktails receive free swag, and mingle with Houston Symphony musicians for a night fit for diva legends.
For tickets and more information, call 713.224.7575 or visit houstonsymphony.com/diva
HOUSTON SYMPHONY PRESENTS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND: “I WILL SURVIVE”—DIVA LEGENDS
Friday & Saturday, November 24 & 25 at 8 p.m.
Livestream available Saturday, November 25 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
Lucas Waldin, conductor
LaKisha Jones, vocalist
Nova Y. Payton, vocalist
About Lucas Waldin
Lucas Waldin is a Toronto, Ontario native who is a highly accomplished conductor and musician. He has an impressive educational background, having earned degrees in both flute and conducting from the esteemed Cleveland Institute of Music.
Lucas Waldin stands as a conductor of boundless versatility, leaving a trail of captivated audiences throughout North America. His portfolio includes thrilling collaborations with an array of today’s most electrifying artists, including Carly Rae Jepsen, The Barenaked Ladies, Crash Test Dummies, Ben Folds, The Canadian Brass, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. Furthermore, Lucas has skillfully helmed presentations such as the enchanting Disney in Concert, the mesmerizing Blue Planet Live, the high-flying Cirque de la Symphony, and notably, the groundbreaking symphonic premiere of R&B duo Dvsn as part of the esteemed global Red Bull Music Festival.
Apart from his role with the Houston Symphony, Lucas has graced numerous orchestras across the United States and Canada as a guest conductor. These prestigious ensembles include The Cleveland Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and a host of other distinguished orchestras.
About LaKisha Jones
Recognized by millions of TV viewers for her remarkable journey as a top-four finalist on the 2007 season of American Idol, LaKisha Jones is poised to once again shine at the forefront of the music, theater, and television scenes.
LaKisha Jones has a roster of collaborating with renowned hit-making songwriters and producers, including the likes of Tony Nicholas (known for his work with Patti LaBelle and Luther Vandross), Ro & Sauce (famed for their contributions to artists like Brandy and Ne-Yo), and Greg Curtis (notable for his production for Keyshia Cole and Yolanda Adams), LaKisha crafted her album So Glad I’m Me.
Her unwavering passion and determination trace back to her formative years in Flint, Michigan. Growing up under the loving guidance of her mother and grandmother, LaKisha was immersed in the soulful sounds of iconic singers like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Patti LaBelle. Her grandmother, a true inspiration, encouraged the young LaKisha to “let your voice shine,” igniting her love for singing in church choirs and music programs.
Throughout her high school years, LaKisha’s involvement in various choral groups and a cappella choruses paved the way for her to compete and triumph in Flint’s local talent contest, The Super Show, in 1997.
Following this early success, LaKisha embarked on a remarkable journey, venturing to New York to audition for American Idol. Her path led her from the American Idol stage to the illustrious Broadway scene, where she portrayed the role of “Sophia” in The Color Purple. In this unforgettable theatrical role, she alternated with the R&B icon Chaka Khan, who would become her mentor. LaKisha even joined Khan’s 35th Anniversary Tour, solidifying her reputation in the world of music. After her Broadway chapter, LaKisha made her mark as a vocal coach on MTV’s reality competition show, Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods, which aimed to discover and nurture Broadway’s next star.
LaKisha’s remarkable journey as a frequent soloist has taken her to stages around the globe. She has graced orchestras with her soul-stirring vocals, serving as a guest soloist with renowned ensembles like the National Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony and Opera, Winnipeg Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Windham Chamber Singers, Grand Rapids Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, Reno Philharmonic, Oregon Symphony, Long Bay Symphony, and the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, among many others. Her talent knows no bounds, and her journey is one of unwavering dedication to the world of music.
About Nova Y. Payton
Nova Y. Payton is known for her mesmerizing soprano vocals. Her voice has graced international stages in captivating musicals, on prestigious PBS specials with The American Pops Orchestra, in the awe-inspiring ensemble “3 Mo’ Divas,” and in countless regional theater productions spanning the nation.
Nova’s impressive journey is rich with notable artist collaborations, as this former student of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) has shared the spotlight with legends such as Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Levi Kreis, Bobby McFerrin, John Michael Higgins, Yolanda Adams, Betsy Wolfe, Michael Uris, Anthony Hamilton, and Michelle Williams. Nova’s melodious gift has resonated in over 150 major cities throughout the United States, as well as internationally in Canada, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Europe.
Nova’s exceptional talents have earned her numerous nominations and accolades. Her portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls led to a 2006 Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical. The DVD/CD release of “3 Mo’ Divas” garnered a 2010 NAACP nomination for Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration. In 2012, she received the prestigious Helen Hayes Award as the Best Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical for her captivating performance as MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray. Nova’s role as Effie White in Dreamgirls during the 2012-13 season at Signature Theatre earned her another Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical. In 2015, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Musical) for her role in Elmer Gantry, and she secured nominations in 2018 for Lead Actress (Musical) in Caroline, Or Change and Supporting Actress (Musical) in Ragtime.
Nova’s remarkable journey is punctuated by other honors, including the privilege of performing for President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as delivering the National Anthem at the dedication of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, witnessed by a global audience on C-SPAN. She also graced Jimmy Fallon’s late-night talk show, providing an unforgettable musical accompaniment to artist Glen Hansard. In 2022, Nova’s star continued to rise as she took on prominent roles in Grace the Musical, The Color Purple, Into the Woods, and Fela!
About Houston Symphony
Under Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the Houston Symphony continues its second century as one of America’s leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring, and recording activities. One of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas, the Symphony held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an operating budget of $37.8 million, the full-time ensemble of professional musicians presents more than 130 concerts annually, making it the largest performing arts organization in Houston. Traditionally, musicians of the orchestra and the Symphony’s three Community-Embedded Musicians also offer over 1,000 community-based performances each year at various schools, community centers, hospitals, and churches reaching more than 200,000 people in Greater Houston annually.
After suspending concert activities in March 2020, the Symphony successfully completed a full 2020–21 Season with in-person audiences and weekly livestreams of each performance, making it one of the only orchestras in the world to do so,. The Houston Symphony remains committed to livestreaming all of its 2023–24 Season to a broad audience in over forty-five countries and all fifty states, one of few American orchestras dedicated to transmitting live performances to a size-able audience outside its home city through this technology.
The Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony has recorded under various prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, Telarc, Virgin Classics, and, most recently, Dutch recording label Pentatone. In 2017, the Houston Symphony was awarded an ECHO Klassik award for the live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck under the direction of former Music Director Hans Graf. The orchestra earned its first Grammy nomination and Grammy Award at the 60th annual ceremony for the same recording in the Best Opera Recording category. The Symphony’s most recent recordings include a Pentatone release in January 2022 of its world premiere performances of Jimmy López Bellido’s Aurora and Ad Astra, and a Naxos release in July 2023 of its world premiere performance of Jennifer Higdon’s Duo Duel.
