I have recently become enchanted by concerts of chamber music by the University of Dallas’s Crowley Chamber Trio at the Museum of Biblical Art in Preston Hollow.
On the recommendation of a neighbor, I discovered these convenient, free spring and fall concerts performed by music professors and teachers and followed by a reception with light refreshments, perfect for families, music lovers, or even for a sophisticated date night.
Lilting works by the likes of Claude Debussy and Ernst von Dohnànyi are beautifully played by Kristin Van Cleve, violin, Marie-Thaïs Oliver, cello, and Andrey Ponochevny, piano.
“This whole idea was the idea of Marylin Walker,” Van Cleve said. “Before she retired, she was the director of the music program here for many years. She taught choir, but she loves chamber music. She really wanted us to form this group and promote the university.”
Van Cleve now directs the music program and teaches music history, music theory, and violin as well as directs the chamber ensemble program at UD.
“One of the things that the university doesn’t have, and it really needs, is a dedicated performing venue,” she noted. “Performing this kind of music, you need a place that had favorable acoustics, and there’s not really a place on campus.”
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Preston Hollow
The Museum of Biblical Art was suggested, and they thought attendees might be interested due to its great art collection and nice performance space.
“We would love to perform at UD,” she added. “The idea was to raise the level of visibility of the program, get people interested, then maybe we’ll get a performance center someday.”
Starting pre-Covid, the trio has been playing bi-annual concerts at the museum for years now, with preview shows at UD presented beforehand for the students.
“I think chamber music is something people can really relate to,” Van Cleve said. “It’s a little more intimate than a symphonic concert. People can sit fairly close and feel like they’re really almost part of the performance. That’s something that’s really compelling about chamber music and something that our audience really enjoys.”
“We try to perform music that we think people are going to like – music that’s interesting and that we like,” she said. “We’re always trying to reach more people.”
Van Cleve elaborated on a piece by Dohnànyi.
“It’s just the most incredible, passionate, rich music,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite pieces. But I don’t have a favorite. There are so many great works.”
And the trio will get to more of those as it continues bringing attention to UD and its music department.
“The plan is to keep bringing great music to the community,” Van Cleve said. “It’s all about connections and people. Hopefully, we’ll be able to open a performing arts venue, because we have really great student musicians here, and they need a place to perform that reflects what we’re doing here musically and the high level of it.”
Josh Hickman, a Park Cities musician, artist, and author of such humorous novels as “I Am Luney: The Untold Story of The World’s Naughtiest Man,” is a frequent contributor to People Newspapers. Visit joshhickmanbooks.com.
