Libi Lebel, Founder and Artistic Director of the Texas Medical Center Orchestra (TMCO), was recently awarded the 2025 American Prize in Conducting. On July 4, Lebel and TMCO were also named the 2025 Honored Artists of the American Prize, a special distinction awarded by the organization in recognition of sustained artistic excellence. The American Prize is the nation’s most comprehensive series of competitions in the performing arts, recognizing outstanding performers, ensembles, and composers across all levels of achievement throughout the United States.

She founded TMCO in 2000 to offer healthcare professionals a creative outlet and has since led the orchestra to national recognition—including its Carnegie Hall debut in 2013 and winning the American Prize for Best Community Orchestra Performance. Now in its 26th season, TMCO has blossomed into one of Houston’s most esteemed cultural institutions, performing at premier venues such as the Hobby Center, Jones Hall, MATCH Houston, the Wortham Center, and Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Driven by her strong belief in the healing and transformative powers of music, Lebel creates interdisciplinary collaborations that unite music with visual arts, dance, theater, and education. Under her leadership, TMCO has expanded its community impact through initiatives that bring live music to hospitals, clinics, and senior centers—including Texas Children’s Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Hermann, Baylor College of Medicine, and the VA Hospital. She has strengthened the orchestra’s educational reach by supporting programs that foster creativity and access to music, including a long-term partnership with Pilgrim Academy, a Title I HISD school. Additionally, she initiated TMCO’s Young Artist Spotlight program in collaboration with the Young Texas Artists competition to feature emerging talent in concerts annually.

As a testament to her impact, she has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Houston YWCA Outstanding Woman of the Arts Award, Houston Woman Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Women, the CKW LUXE Top 20 Impact Maker Award, and Houston’s Top 30 Most Influential Women of 2025.

To learn more about Libi Lebel: www.LibiLebelConductor.com