Through its mission to explore the rich intersection of Western classical and folk/ethnic music, Apollo Chamber Players has gained prestige through innovative, thematically programmed concerts and culturally enriching educational activities. During their 2013 East Coast Tour and Carnegie Hall debut, the group performed for over 1,000 enthusiastic concert-goers, including dignitaries from the Consulates General of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic of New York. Winner of HoustonPress’ 2014 MasterMinds award, Apollo was one of three organizations in Houston to be recognized for positively impacting the local arts community. European Folkscapes, Apollo’s debut album, was named ‘Album of the Week’ by WQXR-FM in New York City and has been featured on radio stations across the country, including Classical 91.7/Houston Public Media; WOMR 92.1 (Provincetown, MA); WRUV-FM (Burlington, VT); and WFMR 91.3 (New Orleans, LA). It showcases traditional European folk melodies in dynamic new contexts, featuring original arrangements transcribed from field recordings and Fantasy on Bulgarian Rhythms, Apollo's first commissioned work. European Folkscapes was sponsored in part by Houston Arts Alliance and the City of Houston. Educational outreach programs are a core component of Apollo's mission. The group presents frequent educational programs as members of Young Audiences of Houston, a non-profit arts-in-education provider reaching 330,000 students, and it has performed for schools and festivals in San Marcos (TX) and Dallastown (PA). Members of Apollo have been featured soloists with major orchestras, both nationally and internationally, including the Mexico City Philharmonic, National Symphony (Mexico), Mineria Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, York Symphony, and the Symphony of Southeast Texas. Additionally, Apollo’s musicians hold principal chairs in the Symphony of Southeast Texas and perform regularly with Houston Grand Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Sarasota Opera, Ars Lyrica and Mercury Baroque. Apollo’s artistic advisors include James Dunham and Kenneth Goldsmith, and its members have studied or collaborated with Fredell Lack, Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Gil Shaham, Robert Mann, Almita Vamos, Paul Kantor, Sylvia Rosenberg, Emanuel Borok, James Buswell, Norman Fischer, Ko Iwasaki, and David Updegraff, among others. Apollo’s musicians hold degrees from the Shepherd School of Music (Rice University), Vanderbilt University, University of Houston, and Southern Methodist University.