French music and French dinner with wines. Meet the artists from Nice, France, who will perform on October 26th. Proceeds benefit the Austin Chamber Ensemble 2003-2004 Concert Series. 

Celebrate Valentine's Day as Klondike Steadman, guitar, joins Barbara Mahler, flute, and others, in a concert of works including Rorem's Romeo and Juliet. Meet the artists at the reception which follows. 

March winds blow in a concert by members of the Austin Chamber Ensemble Wind Quintet. A wine and cheese reception will follow the concert, hosted by gallery owner Don Berkman. 

French jazz pianist and composer Claude Bolling virtually defined jazz-classical crossover - his ground breaking Suite for Flute and Jazz piano Trio (1975) was #1 on the charts for a phenomenal 530 weeks. Jazz and classical music lovers alike will enjoy this acclaimed work as well as his Concerto for Classical Guitar and Jazz Piano Trio (1974), interpreted by an ensemble of virtuoso Austin artists. 

Polish-born cellist Marek Szpakiewicz of Los Angeles won the 2003 international competition of Mu Phi Epsilon professional music fraternity, co-sponsor of his Austin appearance. 

New York composer John Lampkin charmed Austin audiences in 2001 with his quirky, award-winning work "Insects" and in 2002 with "Love and Lunacy: Moon Songs." Now he's back again with a new musical foray into the natural world exploring "Migrations" of species as diverse as broadwing hawks and red crabs. Lampkin's musical whimsy plus works by other composers, performed amid the pensive splendor of Elisabet Ney's sculpture, promise an evening of artistic variety and fun.

Warm sounds of flute, viola, and harp waft through an elegant residence. You and your sweetheart listen and gaze out from expansive windows as the winter sun kisses burnished treetops. When the music's over, you visit the sumptuous dessert buffet and chat with the musicians. What could be more richly romantic?

Pianist and UT graduate Richard Dowling returns to Austin to play Joplin, Gershwin, and more in an energetic afternoon concert. Dowling has performed throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe, where many acclaimed appearances in France earned him induction as a Chevalier of the Company of Musketeers of Armagnac. Not bad for a guy who plays ragtime - come hear what the fuss is about.

Mother's Day wouldn't be complete without Austin Chamber Ensemble's annual potpourri of chamber music in honor of everyone's number one lady. Bring the whole family for singing, playing, and refreshments to please one and all.

Works by Lutoslawski, Schumann, Finzi, Chopin, and Horowitz.
A Haylee's Hope concert to benefit Smile Train, serving children with facial birth defects. 
Martha MacDonald, clarinet
Patryce King Gindele, piano 

Claude Debussy was one of the first to compose for flute, viola, and harp.  Hear his Sonata and works by Genzmer and more for this unusual, delightful combination of instruments.
Barbara Mahler, flute
Martha Carapetyan, viola
Wendy Tamis, harp 

The Wind Quintet spreads Valentine's cheer with a breezy program of favorites from twenty years of Austin Chamber Ensemble performances.
The Austin Chamber Ensemble Wind Quintet
Barbara Mahler, flute
Martha MacDonald, clarinet
Mikal Hart, horn
Sue Tomkiewicz, oboe
Eric Miller, bassoon

Part of the St. Cecilia Music Series and the Shostakovich 100: Austin Celebrates Festival
Like fashion of each decade, Dmitri Shostakovich's compositions changed dramatically with the times.  From piano preludes written in his youthful "salad days" to one of his final pieces in the 1970s, we celebrate this quick-change artist in a program of his works for soprano, piano, wind quintet, and string trio.
The Austin Chamber Ensemble Wind Quintet
Martha Carapetyan, viola
David Utterback, piano
Claire Vangelisti, soprano 

Part of the Shostakovich 100: Austin Celebrates Festival
Celebrate Mother's Day with a program of string quartets including Dmitri Shostakovich's complex but sprightly String Quartet No. 7, plus a dessert reception in an elegant Austin home.
Beth Blackerby, violin
Stephanie Tepley, violin
Martha Carapetyan, viola
Carolyn Hagler, cello