Chandor Gardens Foundation News

Chandor Gardens Foundation was thrilled to have Opus Nova Chamber Music Series return for the third time to Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, TX with “Stellar Sounds”. A program celebrating the beauty of nature just two days before the Solar Eclipse. 

The concert took place in the Great Room at Chandor Gardens on April 6th at 7 PM (doors opened at 6:30 PM), featuring Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra principal bassoonist Joshua Elmore, Opus Nova directors Stas Chernyshev and Ann Hung on clarinets, and a special guest artist, Alexander Timofeev. Mr. Timofeev is an award-winning, Philadelphia-based composer and pianist, who joined with Opus Nova specifically for this One Night Only concert. 

This sold out concert featured carefully curated chamber music, which explored the wonders of nature with Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, Piazzolla’s Seasons, and many more, and featured the newly purchased, rare 1979 Steinway & Sons Chippendale piano at Chandor Gardens. 

Attendees enjoyed light appetizers and a selection of beverages, sponsored by Barbara & Stephen Zeman. A huge "Thank you so much" to the Zeman's for co-hosting this event with us by sponsoring the food and beverages.

Artists: 
Alexander Timofeev, piano/composer 
Joshua Elmore, bassoon 
Stas Chernyshev, clarinet
Ann Hung, clarinet 

Program: 
- Claude Debussy: Clair de lune for Piano Solo
- Alexander Timofeev: Two Forest Melodies for Piano Solo
- Alexander Timofeev: Nocturne for Clarinet and Piano 
- Alexander Timofeev: Joc De Noroc for Clarinet and Piano 
- Astor Piazzolla: Spring in Buenos Aires for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano 
- Astor Piazzolla: Autumn in Buenos Aires for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano 
** Intermission ** 
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight Sonata”, 1st movement 
- Felix Mendelssohn: Concert Piece No. 2 in D minor, Op. 114 for Two Clarinets and Piano
- Mikhail Glinka: Trio Pathetique for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano 

 Artist Bios:

Alexander Timofeev

Alexander Timofeev debuted as a pianist and composer at 19, performing his Piano Concerto (2003) with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Moldova. He won First Prizes at Niš International Piano Competition, Serbia (2006) and the Margaret Guthman Piano Competition, Atlanta (2006), and received Third Prize at the 2007 MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition (Toronto).  

As a composer, his accolades include the Audience Choice Award and Commission at the American Composers Orchestra's 2017 Underwood New Music Readings; he is the finalist of the 2021 Organ Taurida International Composition Competition, and 2018 International Competition of the Moscow Conservatory for Young Composers ‘New Classics’ (Russia); winner of the 2016 Richard Weerts Composition Competition (USA); finalist of the 2016 Thailand International Composition Festival Competition; and Commissioned Composer for the 2019 NJMTA conference.

His compositions have been broadcast on WQXR, Pro TV (Romania) and Tele-Radio Moldova. Alexander Timofeev completed his doctoral studies in piano performance at the University of Maryland, College Park (2012). He holds a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music (2008) and B.M. degree from Rowan University (2006). His teachers included Veda Zuponcic, Douglas Humpherys, Larissa Dedova, Zlata Tkach, Lawrence Moss, Harold Oliver, Victor Levinzon, Aliona Vardanean, and Mikhail Sechkin. Dr. Timofeev is currently Artist-in-Residence and 3/4-time faculty at Rowan University.

Joshua Elmore

Joshua Elmore is the principal bassoonist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Joshua has performed with many orchestras around the World including The Chineke! Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and performed a side-by-side collaboration at Carnegie Hall with The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Before joining the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Joshua completed his professional studies certificate at the Colburn School in Los Angeles as a student of Richard Beene. Joshua was a Kovner Fellow graduate of The Juilliard School where he studied under Judith LeClair and appeared often as principal bassoon of The Juilliard Orchestra.  Joshua has been a member of The New York String Orchestra Seminar and was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Music Academy of the West, and the National Orchestra Institute where he recorded a Grammy-nominated orchestral album with NAXOS.

Originally from Cleveland, Joshua began his official bassoon studies with Mark DeMio before joining the Young Artist Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Barrick Stees. During his high school years, Joshua was principal bassoonist of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony and was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and regularly rehearsed and performed in Severance Hall. Joshua was a member of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA) where he toured China and Europe with Charles Dutoit, Valery Gergiev, and Christoph Eschenbach. Joshua has also performed on NPR’s From The Top and was selected to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. In 2022, Joshua served as the Principal Bassoon for the Gateways Music Festival for their Carnegie Hall debut as the first All-African American Orchestra to perform at the Hall.

Stas Chernyshev

Stas Chernyshev is an "eloquent" clarinetist with "incredible artistry” Russian-born Stas Chernyshev has established a versatile career as an orchestral musician, soloist, chamber musician, and educator (Dallas Morning News, Theater Jones).

Principal clarinetist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Chernyshev has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall in New York, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as in Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Russia, South Korea and Japan.

A devoted chamber musician, Mr. Chernyshev has collaborated with Grammy-winning ensembles Eighth Blackbird and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, commissioned new works for his instrument. He has been featured on WQXR -New York’s classical music station and WHYY’s television program - On Stage at Curtis.

He is the founder and artistic director of Fort Worth Performances for Autism, and a co- founder of Opus Nova Chamber Music Series. Mr. Chernyshev holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a Master’s degree from St. Petersburg Conservatory. 

Ann Hung

Ann Hung, born in Taipei, Taiwan, began her musical studies at a young age, starting with piano at age five and clarinet at age nine.

Dr. Hung is an active performer in the Dallas and Fort Worth area who regularly performs in the realms of both the orchestral and chamber music. She has shared the stage with the Fort Worth Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the faculty of the Juilliard School.

Dr. Hung is always pushing the boundaries of her repertoire and skills, such as collaborating with jazz musicians and commissioning new composers. As a proponent of new music, she has avidly commissioned new works including a wind quintet with her quintet Opus Now premiering in Symphony Space in NYC. One of the new works that Dr. Hung commissioned is included in a recently released album “Stained Glass Story” by Eldad Tarmu.

Dr. Hung is currently teaching in Lewisville ISD, Birdville ISD as private lesson instructor and often plays with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She is a board member of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, the associate director of the Fort Worth Performances for Autism and co-founder of Opus Nova Chamber Music Series.

The Friends of Chandor Gardens meeting held Wednesday, March 20 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Great Room at Chandor Gardens featured guest speaker, Bill Warren, presenting "The Adventures of Coho Smith" 

Coho Smith (1826–1914) was a farmer, artist, author, merchant, freighter, carpenter, gunsmith, teacher, and Texas Ranger, who made Parker County his home. 

Darlene Chapman presenting Bill Warren with a Thank-you gift for being the guest speaker

Kathy Siler was the lucky winner of the door prize (2 tickets to Theater Off The Square) with Ann Geer the Hospitality Chair of the Friends
Thank you to TOTS for sponsoring the monthly door prize.

Chandor Gardens Foundation Inc was pleased to again host The Cliburn - Cliburn Kids on the Road for a free interactive, educational concert March 15, 2024 in the Great Room at Chandor Gardens, Weatherford, TX!

Cliburn Kids on the Road presented “Laugh Out Loud,” a program that finds the funny in whimsical songs.

This was a FREE event, but space was limited so pre-registration was required.

PROGRAM DETAILS: 

LAUGH OUT LOUD

They say laughter is the best medicine! It releases endorphins and strengthens our resiliency to stress. It increases oxygen intake, making us feel more focused and energized. In a time when kids are under more academic and social pressure than ever before, it’s important to remember to just have FUN! This program introduces kids to witty pieces of classical music and shows how even serious composers let loose once in a while.

Featured works:

BACH, P.D.Q. The Short-Tempered Clavier (VI. E-Flat Major)

RAMEAU La Poule

HAYDN Symphony No. 94 in G Major (“Surprise”)

HIROMI The Tom and Jerry Show

KIRCHER Gold Coin Variations

POULENC Sonata for Four Hands (I. Prelude)

KABALEVSKY Comedians’ Gallop

Sara Doan – Host

 Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Sara Doan began studying piano at the age of 3 with Donna Edwards. Under her tutelage, Ms. Doan won top prizes in several state and regional competitions. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano performance at the University of North Texas, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at TCU.

Ms. Doan has performed with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra (Dallas) and the North Texas Symphony Orchestra (Denton). She has presented recitals across Texas, and in Oklahoma, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.  In December 2010, Ms. Doan served as guest artist in the First International Piano Festival of Bogota, Colombia where she performed, taught master classes, led discussions, and served on the competition jury.

Ms. Doan has served as collaborative pianist-in-residence at Southeastern Oklahoma State and adjunct professor of piano at the University of North Texas. She maintains a private studio in the DFW area and is an adjunct professor at Tarrant County College -Northwest Campus, while performing regularly with her chamber groups, Trio 8831 and Apana Trio. She also presents lectures and educational programs through the Fort Worth Music Fund and Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth.

Dongni Xie - Pianist

Originally from China, Dongni Xie is a first-prize winner of many international piano competitions, including the International Keyboard Odyssiad Competition, West Virginia International Piano Competition, and Texas Young Artists. She is in demand around the globe, having performed in notable venues such as Carnegie Hall, Château de Fontainebleau (France), Dream Forest Arts Center (South Korea), Gijon City Hall (Spain), and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (United States). Ms. Xie has been praised for her “bold and riveting” (Peninsula) and “bravura performance…mature and relaxed, perfectly in line with its composer’s presumed intention” (Herald Tribune). She has appeared as soloist playing with orchestras in California and Colorado, and boasts appearances as featured artist at many international music festivals.

Ms. Xie is a leader in the interplay between classical and modern music, and founded In6ix, a sextet combining jazz and classical styles. She led her group on tour throughout China in 2019. Recently, she also founded the concert series Live! Again based out of Dallas and Houston. Ms. Xie seeks to bring a unique way to experience new music and modern arts through all of her performances.