Chandor Gardens Foundation News

Chandor Gardens Foundation is honored to again host "piano sensation" Danny Wright in concert Thursday,  December 11, 2025 at 7:00 P.M in the Great Room of Chandor Gardens, Weatherford, TX. Concert tickets included complimentary pre-concert wine and lite hors d’oeuvres from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM.

For this very special Christmas concert Danny Wright will be featuring a number of songs from his last Christmas album of his career A Glorious Christmas (2023). This album features holiday standards including Joy to the World/Canon in D, as well as Where are you Christmas from the popular holiday movie Polar Express. The album, A Glorious Christmas, showcases his knack for transforming holiday classics into serene melodies.

The Fort Worth Texas native Danny Wright states “A Glorious Christmas features 12 beautiful arrangements and medleys, as well as a few originals. The tones in the music are unique and artistic. This is probably my favorite holiday album I have ever recorded.” He also states “God’s music is needed in this world, and I pray that this last Christmas album of my very long career touches the hearts and souls of everyone who hears it.”

To round out the evening Danny will select a few songs from his many other Christmas albums; Remembering Christmas (1989), Just Wright For Christmas (1992),  Christmas by Candlelight (1998), An Intimate Christmas (2004), Merry Christmas (2012), and Christmas Time is Here (2013). 

Tickets: $55  (includes complimentary pre-concert wine/beer and lite hors d’oeuvres)

*** Tickets will go on sale in October ***

Danny Wright

With over 60 albums recorded and millions of albums sold, it is true to say that Danny Wright's music is playing 24 hours a day in both the U.S. and around the world. One of new age music's finest performers, Wright is a brilliantly talented pianist whose music has the ability to stir the soul. He has sold millions of CDs since his debut album in 1986, is an award-winning Steinway Piano Artist, and was twice (1993 & 1994) named by Billboard Magazine as a Top 10 artist in the New Age genre.

Danny Wright's piano destiny began at age four. He studied under the respected professor, Dr. Harris Cavender. Trained as a classical pianist, Danny composes and performs uplifting original compositions that are blended with various influences including new age piano, contemporary jazz, classical and neoclassical. One might say his original compositions are similar in style to David Lanz and George Winston, while subtly drawing inspiration from classical composers such as Beethoven, Pachelbel and Debussy, and by such Broadway greats as Gershwin and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Danny Wright has performed all over the world, including The Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, Canada, The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City, Utah, and The Smith Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. At The Smith Center, Danny headlined the Jazz Cabaret Room for many years, and performed a concert in their largest auditorium with Ventriloquist Terry Fator.

Danny's life has consisted of his love of music, the piano, and his desire to share his gift with others. His warm, outgoing personality combined with extraordinary musical talent has enabled him to touch millions of listeners through his recordings and concerts.

Chandor Gardens Foundation is excited to present the next installment of the ongoing Wine & Words Speaker Series with writer, story teller and humorist Dave Lieber speaking about his play and companion book AMON! The Ultimate Texan on Friday, October 3, 2025 in the Great Room of Chandor Gardens at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm).

Dave Liebel wrote AMON! The Ultimate Texan the story of “Mr. Fort Worth”, one of the most amazing Texans who ever lived. Born in a log cabin and with only an eighth-grade education, Amon G. Carter Sr (1879 – 1955) became Texas’ most powerful media overlord. Presidents put up with him because he owned the largest newspaper, radio and television station in Texas. He had a big heart, but a bigger sense for business and for the future. He was one of a kind and the play the companion book – brings the story of this remarkable Texan back to life.

Dave’s play and companion book AMON! The Ultimate Texan debuted in 2019, and was a smash hit. The play has already been performed more than 60 times and counting. The book presents 100 classic photographs from the era that bring Amon Carter to life. In his play and companion book Dave highlights Amon Carter's legacy and his rivalry with Dallas, where he felt businesses were being stolen from Fort Worth. Carter was the owner of Fort Worth’s newspaper, radio station, and TV station, which gave him an iron grip on the city and as much as he loved Fort Worth, he hated Dallas.

Flashy, excessive, impulsive and powerful, the pretend-cowboy manipulated presidents with gifts and hobnobbed with celebrities.  At every turn, Carter fought arch-rival Dallas. He liked to say that “Fort Worth is where the West begins which means Dallas is where the East peters out”. Dallas, or Little D as he called it, was his public enemy #1. Anytime he could take a swipe at Dallas, by carrying a sack lunch to Little D so he wouldn’t have to spend any money over there, he did it. His hobby was stealing businesses away. Why do you think American Airlines is here [Fort Worth], not over there [Dallas]?

Texas is what it is today – a leader in industry, especially aviation – in part because of the work Carter did in the first half of the 20th century. A one-man economic development department for Fort Worth and vast West Texas, Carter is credited with luring a trillion dollars’ worth of businesses to his beloved state.

Dave Liebel is a masterful story teller, funny, engaging and one of Texas’ most popular speakers.

The book AMON! The Ultimate Texan will be available for purchase at this event and Dave will be available to sign copies after the presentation.

Tickets $35 (includes wine & beer)

Tickets will go on sale in August

About Dave Liebel:

Dave Lieber, a humorist and storyteller, has used stories to help change our world, and is one of Texas' most popular speakers. He has worked as a Texas newspaper columnist for more than 30 years – first at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and now at The Dallas Morning News where he writes the twice-weekly investigative “Watchdog” column. In 2019, he received top prize in the nation’s largest column-writing contest. A judge stated, “Through a lively combination of consumer advocacy and investigative reporting, Lieber’s columns were models of suspenseful storytelling and public service.”

Dave works to expose corruption and make positive change. He is founder of a consumer rights movement —  WatchdogNation.com — which shows Americans how to protect themselves from thugs, thieves, scammers, and corporate skulduggery.

In addition, he is the 2022 winner of the Ernie Pyle Award for excellent writing from the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation.

Dave is also a certified professional speaker, one of only a thousand in the world. He specializes in teaching strategic storytelling to businesses, groups and individuals.

He is the author of ten popular books. His most recent two are;  Dandy Don Meredith – The First Dallas Cowboy and SEARCHING FOR PEROT - My Journey to Discover Texas' Top Family.

Dave became a playwright with his hit -- AMON! The Ultimate Texan -- about the legendary Texas powerhouse publisher, Amon G. Carter. Carter ran the state’s largest newspaper as well as the biggest radio and TV stations in Texas. The book is a companion piece to the theatrical production of the same name, also written by Dave. The play won several awards and has played over 60 times and counting in many Texas cities.

The book tells all the classic stories of one of America’s best known (pretend) cowboys. Amon knew presidents, celebrities and even his paperboys. His effect on the Lone Star State, its history and growth, is astounding. And the stories of his life are amazing!

Dave’s other books include his popular Dave Lieber’s Watchdog Nation: Bite Back When Businesses and Scammers Do You Wrong, which shows American’s how to fight back and win against corporate abuse of customers and actual scammers.

His popular The Dog of My Nightmares: Stories by Texas Columnist Dave Lieber includes nearly 100 wonderful stories that make you laugh and cry.

On a personal note, Dave is co-founder of one of North Texas' largest children's charities, Summer Santa, which serves thousands of children each year through a volunteer service that has no office or paid staff. His work for Summer Santa earned him the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award which goes to the U.S. newspaper columnist whose work produces positive effects on the lives of readers.

                           Amon Carter

Chandor Gardens Foundation is excited to bring another exquisite evening of up-close and personal chamber music!

Chandor Gardens Foundation is pleased to bring Sedici Strings (16 Strings, in Italian), comprised of world-class musicians; Jennifer Betz (violin), Molly Baer (violin), Dmitry Kustanovich (viola), and Allan Steele (cello), all members of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, to the Great Room of Chandor Gardens, Weatherford, TX on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

For this concert Sedici Strings will be performing Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms string quartets (See the Program listed below).

The concert tickets include a complimentary pre-concert reception from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM with wine and hors d’oeuvres. Come enjoy this superb chamber music concert performed by four exceptional artists in the intimate atmosphere of the Great Room at Chandor Gardens.

Seating is limited, as such this event is expected to sell out quickly.

Tickets - $55 (includes wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

The evening’s program:

Joseph Haydn op.76 #3, C Major, "Emperor" (1797) – Duration: 27 minutes approx.

The quartet consists of four movements:

• Allegro (a lively, energetic movement in sonata form) 
• Poco adagio, cantabile (a slow, song-like movement with variations on the "Emperor's Hymn") 
• Menuetto allegro (a lively minuet) 
• Finale: Presto (a fast and spirited conclusion) 

The "Emperor" nickname comes from the second movement, which features variations on the "Kaiserlied" (Emperor's Hymn), a melody Haydn composed for Francis II, the Austrian Emperor. The Op. 76 quartets, including the "Emperor," are highly regarded as some of Haydn's finest works and a significant contribution to the string quartet genre. 

Ludwig Van Beethoven, op.18 #2, G Major (1800) – Duration: 24 minutes approx.

The quartet consists of four movements:

• Allegro (G major) 
• Adagio cantabile – Allegro – Tempo I (C major) 
• Scherzo: Allegro (G major) - Trio (C major) 
• Allegro molto, quasi presto (G major) 

This quartet is nicknamed "Komplimentier-Quartett" or "quartet of bows and curtseys" due to the graceful, elegant opening melody of the first violin. The quartet shows the influence of Haydn, but Beethoven also maintains his own unique style and voice throughout. The final movement is full of bright energy, relaxed spirits, and a sense of fun.

INTERMISSION – 20 minutes

Johannes Brahms, String Quartet #1, op.51 in C Minor (1873) – Duration: 33 minutes approx.

The quartet consists of four movements:

• Allegro
• Romanze - Poco adagio (somewhat slow)
• Allegretto molto moderato e comodo
• Allegro

Brahms’ style as a composer is characterized by extreme rigor in the treatment of his material, and a tendency for full, rich textures both of which are evident in all three of his string quartets, and especially in his first one, the C minor quartet. The sudden upward rush that opens the work sets the mood for a movement that has been called “robust and sentimental.” The intensity subsides for some lyrical interludes, but the turbulent mood soon returns. The second movement, which is designated as a Romanze (romantic or tender character), has a restrained, pensive quality. It is followed by a kind of sadness that permeates the third movement. The intensity that marked the opening movement returns in the final movement. The finale is fiery and impulsive.

Artists:

Jennifer Betz (violin)

Jen Betz has been a member of the first violin section of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra since 2012. Originally from California, she began playing the violin at age seven. She studied at the preparatory division in San Francisco Conservatory with Doris Fukawa and then with Zaven Melikian at the San Domenico School in San Anselmo, CA. She was accepted into the studio of Almita and Roland Vamos at Northwestern University and was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2007-2008. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree, she moved to Miami to play with the New World Symphony as a Fellow for four years. There she worked closely with conductors Michael Tilson Thomas and Esa- Pekka Salonen. She now lives in Fort Worth with her husband, her beautiful daughter, and two rescued Labrador mixes.

Molly Baer (violin)

Molly Baer joined the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2012. Before moving to Texas, Molly was a violin fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. She graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston as a student of Miriam Fried, and received her Master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music, where she studied with Andrés Cárdenes. Molly has participated in the National Orchestral Institute, National Repertory Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, and Music Academy of the West. Molly grew up in a suburb of Baltimore and enjoys returning to spend time with her family.

Dmitry Kustanovich (viola)

Dmitry Kustanovich joined the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2005. Dmitry is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, immigrated with his family to the U.S. at age 5, settling in Worcester, MA. After completing violin studies at the New England Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music, Dmitry became a violist. He then attended the Curtis Institute of Music, working with Joseph de Pasquale. Dmitry has also performed with the Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Seattle Symphony orchestras. He has toured the U.S. and Europe, working with many of the world's greatest conductors. His summers at the Greenwood Music Camp and participation in Alexander Schneider's New York String Seminar propelled him into a career in music. In his spare time, Dmitry enjoys playing chamber music with his FWSO colleagues in their group Sedici Strings, road trips, hiking, cycling, baseball and chess.

Allan Steele (cello)

Allan Steele, principal cellist with the Fort Worth Symphony, is a performer, teacher, and composer. Mr. Steele maintains an active solo career and has performed with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, the American Youth Symphony, and others. He has premiered several works in chamber or orchestral settings by composers such as Mark Antony Turnage and Stephen Cohn, as well as performing the world premiere of Henri Lazarof's Fifth Cello Concerto. Mr. Steele has studied with a number of notable pedagogues such as Tanya Carey, Hans Jensen, and Susan Moses. Music festival appearances include Indiana University's Summer String Program, The Meadowmount School of Music, and the Montreal International String Quartet Academy. He is a graduate of the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where he studied with Ronald Leonard. He is a regular in the chamber music scene, performing with musicians such as Edgar Myers, Paul Coletti, Arnold Steinhardt,

and Vadym Kholodenko. Steele is a founding member of the classical music group, "MC2" and

devotes much of his spare time to composing and arranging.