When thinking of Houston Symphony volunteers, few have had a longer or more varied tenure than Angela Apollo. As a Symphony subscriber, donor, and League member for over 30 years, Apollo has been a valued member of the Symphony community.

Angela has always had an appreciation for music. Growing up on the coast of Italy in Calabria, she often huddled around the radio with her family on Saturday afternoons to listen to operas and classical music. She began playing piano as a child—a hobby she continued into adulthood. She came to New York City as a foreign exchange student in the 1960s, where she met her husband, Anthony Apollo, at a party. “He asked for my phone number, and that was it!” Angela reminisces. They got married and lived in New York City for 11 years until Anthony’s job transferred them to Houston.  

After moving, Angela fell in love with Houston and its extensive arts scene. Angela became involved in several organizations—she served as a volunteer docent at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH), was a member of the MFAH Guild, and is a Trustee at the Houston Grand Opera. However, as a musician herself, her love of the Symphony was unmatched. Angela and Anthony—also an avid piano player—began subscribing to Symphony Classical Series concerts in the 1980s when the Symphony had concerts on Monday nights. Although her children weren’t as interested in seeing orchestra performances (“They were much more interested in KISS at the time,” Angela remembered with a smile), concerts became a cherished bonding activity for her and her late husband. “We loved seeing a show and discussing the performance together on the way home,” says Angela. She has many treasured memories of her time with Symphony—both at concerts and as a volunteer. 

Beginning in 1990, she joined the Houston Symphony League and over the years volunteered at Student Concerts, fundraisers for the Symphony, luncheons, and in the Archives. Angela’s service to the orchestra earned her the Crystal Cello Award in 2002, a League award that honors outstanding volunteers whose dedication and service make a lasting impact on the education programs of the Houston Symphony. These days, she’s slowed down in her volunteer duties, occasionally coming out of League retirement to help organize certain events like the Musician and Staff Appreciation Luncheon (where her famous meatballs are a hit amongst the attendees). “From 1986 to 2019, I did everything—I think it’s someone else’s turn now,” she remarks with a chuckle. Angela still attends Symphony concerts, and you can often find her at Jones Hall on Sunday afternoons. “For the Mahler Songs of the Earth show, I had extra tickets and brought along four friends of mine. One friend had never been to a Symphony concert before and was blown away by the performance,” says Angela. “I always try to bring new people to concerts and expose them to the Symphony.”