Pink Martini, Brian Stokes Mitchell & West Side Story highlight Houston Symphony Pops season

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pops at Jones Hall will welcome back a friendly face to lead the series. Conductor Michael Krajewski (though he prefers Mike) will begin his 13th season with the Houston Symphony. He will continue through 2016-17.

With such a contract extension, signed in the summer of 2011, the series begins with a debut of a sparkly program by Krajewski featuring the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys August 31 - Sept. 2.  In October Broadway singers Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block become Wicked Divas in a show packed with show tunes from Wicked, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera and other Broadway hits.

 A holiday season would not be complete without the popular Very Merry Pops, this time with baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell, who will play one of Rachel Berry's gay dads in Glee. 

 To concide with the release of the newest James Bond movie, Skyfall, in November, the orchestra will pay homage to Agent 007 in "Bond and Beyond: 50 Years of James Bond" with Tony-award chanteuse, Debbie Gravitte.

A holiday season would not be complete without the popular Very Merry Pops, this time with baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell, who will play one of Rachel Berry's gay dads in Glee. 

In 2013, the music of Louis Armstrong, Simon and Garfunkel and Elton John takes center stage, ending the Pops season with a special engagement of Pink Martini in May.

New York Pops music director Steven Reineke takes the stage in March to lead a screening of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. The full score accompanies a re-mastered reel alongside original vocals and dialogue.

Family fun

Will family series conductor Robert Franz sport his hilarious bird costume? One never knows what to expect during each family-friendly musicale, other than it will be fun and educational. Franz always surprises, making his persona a favorite with kids and adults alike.

Four concerts are sprinkled throughout the season, featuring the music of everyone's favorite wizard, Harry Potter, tunes from the Nutcracker, Aladdin and the Arabian Nights, ending with a dinosaur-themed concert.

Click here to read about the Houston Symphony's plans to salute maestro Hans Graf in his farewell season.