The last Crowley Chamber Trio concert of the season will be on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 at the Museum of Biblical Art at 7:30 p.m.
The Crowley Chamber Trio is composed of University of Dallas faculty members Kristin Van Cleve, violin; Marie-Thaïs Oliver, cello; and Andrey Ponochevny, piano.
Van Cleve, the director of the Music Department at the University of Dallas, said the faculty trio was inspired by Marilyn Walker, the former music director at UD, who conceived the idea to raise awareness about the music program at UD, but also to highlight the university’s excellent education for the wider community.
“Marilyn Walker's vision and dedication have made the chamber music program possible," said Van Cleve.
According to Walker, the idea came from a tradition that started back in the 1990s in private homes around Dallas.
“First of all, we didn't think that there were enough opportunities for people to hear chamber music,” she explained. “And secondly, frankly, I wanted to show off the excellence of the faculty musicians who present these concerts. The third reason is to help raise awareness of the university and its high standards, exemplified by the excellence of these musicians.”
The series began back in 2019, but the pandemic brought the concerts to a pause, so the trio performed only once in 2020.
“With great joy, we are presenting these again. There was a time when we didn't know if we would ever be able to hear live music again, but it is with tremendous enthusiasm,” Walker said.
The trio will perform Trio No. 1 in C Minor by Dimitri Shostakovich and Trio No. 1 in D Minor by Felix Mendelssohn, as well as the violin/piano version of Jules Massent's Meditation from Thaïs.
The concert is free to the public, but seating is limited. There is free valet service to attendees. Van Cleve and Walker encourage audience members to register ahead of time.
The next concert will be in February 2022.
