Verreaux Collective inaugurates chamber music series in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- On Saturday, Sept. 22 The Verreaux Collective will debut as a nonprofit professional organization born in The Woodlands and dedicated to performing classical chamber music for its residents.

This will be the first of four concerts comprising Verreaux’s inaugural season.

Our exciting season opener features pianist Wesley Ducote, violinist Jacob Schaefer, and cellist Bree Ahern presenting a program of iconic Austrian and German masters. Follow the compositional heritage from Haydn’s “Gypsy” Trio (No. 39), nicknamed for its Hungarian?influenced finale, through Schumann’s set of lighthearted character pieces, Fantasiestücke Opus 88, and Beethoven’s eerily atmospheric “Ghost” Trio, Opus 70.

Bringing together a trio of rising stars who have performed across the nation in some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals and have given world premieres for some of today’s leading composers, this inaugural concert will open the door to a new organization and a new level of cultural possibilities, as The Verreaux Collective brings this nation’s next generation of artistic leaders directly to the heart of this community.

While Verreaux is not the first professional music organization to offer classical music in The Woodlands, it fills a unique niche exploring the depth and intimacy of chamber music, a genre designed for small halls and personal connections.

Verreaux’s founders include Andrew White, who, born and raised in The Woodlands, is currently pursuing a degree in Piano Performance at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

In the spirit of Rice University and its mascot, the owl, The Verreaux Collective took its name from Jules Verreaux, a French ornithologist and owl specialist. The Woodlands, itself a renowned habitat for owls and other forest creatures, forms a natural habitat for the Verreaux Collective.

In addition to providing high quality performances without requiring a trip into Houston, the group’s goals include inspiring the young musicians in our midst to pursue careers in classical music while giving experiential learning opportunities to Shepherd’s most capable and entrepreneurial students.

Want to go?

• What: Verreaux debut concert
• When: 7 p.m. Saturday Sept. 22
• Where: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 3801 S. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands
• Tickets: www.verreaux.org