Chamber group to perform at Chandor Tuesday

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October 11, 2012

Chamber group to perform at Chandor Tuesday

Brian Smith CNHI The Weatherford Democrat Thu Oct 11, 2012, 08:00 AM CDT

WEATHERFORD — Chamber music is making its inaugural appearance in Weatherford next week.

The Hall Ensemble, a group of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra musicians, will be performing at Chandor Gardens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16. Karen Nantz, manager of the gardens, said the whole event, titled “In the Bloom of the Night” came about because of a love of art.

“Douglas Chandor had painted a portrait of Frank Reaugh of the Frank Reaugh Art Association back in 1941,” Nantz said. “(Earlier this year) Julie Battle, a board member of both the Art Association and the Hall Ensemble, had presented the portrait, which was of Reaugh, an artist himself, holding a pallette, to the gardens. She absolutely fell in love with the place.”

About a week later, Nantz was invited to hear the ensemble play at a private home. Nantz invited Karen Hall, artistic director of the ensemble, out to Chandor Gardens for a yoga class and she fell in love with the facility, getting the ball rolling for the performance.

The ensemble will not only be providing a classy evening of entertainment, but is also helping the gardens as well by donating a percentage of the first 50 tickets sold and then the entire proceeds for all tickets above 50 sold to the facility.

Hall said the ensemble is looking forward to the performance.

“I don’t believe Weatherford has many classical music opportunities and we have had positive feedback from arts patrons who are tired of driving to Fort Worth,” Hall said in an e-mail. “We are also bringing in a number of our Fort Worth patrons who are excited to see the gardens for the first time.”

Nantz said tickets, which are $50 each, have been selling well from the Fort Worth community but there are still tickets available. She said depending on the weather and ticket sales, the concert could be moved outside.

“We would love to see more local people come out for this. No other venue is providing something like this in Weatherford,” Nantz said. “Inside or outside, it’s going to be a beautiful night.”

If this goes well, Nantz would like to see the series expand into some of the beautiful homes in town.

The ensemble show is just one of the many events going on at the gardens this month.

On Sunday, Oct. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. an Autumn Art Walk is planned. Admission is just $1 with a lot of fun and interesting things planned.

“We have over 20 artists from different mediums coming out,” Nantz said. “We’re also going to be having a food truck come out. The Weatherford College Jazz Band is appearing. It’s going to be a great afternoon for all.”

For tickets to the ensemble show or more information on Chandor Garden events, call 817-598-4334.