Basically Beethoven Celebrates Exceptional Musicians and Excellence in Music Education at Free Summer Festival Concert Series
- Morgan Vaughan
- Jun 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28
Three-Concert Series Showcases Dallas’ Finest Musicians and Highlights Music Residency Program Impact and Artists
DALLAS, TX – June 20, 2025 – Basically Beethoven announces its summer festival series, three free concerts featuring exceptional professional local classical musicians and celebrating the organization's commitment to music education in its Rising Star segment. The festival will take place on Sundays, July 13, 20, and 27, 2025, beginning at 2:30 PM (Rising Star) and 3:00 PM (Featured Performer) at Moody Performance Hall.
This summer's festival marks a significant milestone as Basically Beethoven completes its first full year under its new identity, building upon the nearly 45-year legacy of Fine Arts Chamber Players with renewed focus on inclusive and exemplary programming and emerging artist support.
"This festival represents everything we stand for – nurturing the next generation of musicians while delivering world-class featured performances," said Morgan Vaughan, Basically Beethoven executive director. "Our 'Rising Stars' opens each concert at 2:30pm, demonstrating the exceptional quality of our Music Residency program as well as the skill and talent from SMU Meadows School of the Arts Music Division. Our ‘Featured Performers’ are world-class professionals and some of the best talent in Dallas and Austin.”
Concert Schedule and Highlights:
Sunday, July 13, 2025 - PRELUDES
2:30 PM - Rising Stars: SMU Meadows School of the Arts Music Division MFA students Bradley Ritschel (bass-baritone) and Grace Monsanto (mezzo-soprano) with collaborative pianist Kara Solis. Their program features selections from Mozart, Rossini, Cole Porter, Stephen Schwartz, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Special thanks to SMU Professor of Voice Virginia Dupuy
3:00 PM - Featured Performer: Liudmila Georgievskaya, piano, performing selections from Claude Debussy’s Préludes, Book 1 and Joaquín Rodrigo’s Cuatro Estampas Andaluzas (Four Andalusian Pictures)
Sunday, July 20, 2025 - CAFÉ MUSIC
2:30 PM - Teacher Feature: Crystal Haynes (soprano, MM Vocal Performance, Boston University), Kenoly Kadia (piano, MM Piano Performance, UT), and John Tatum (piano) all Basically Beethoven Teaching Artists will perform Adams and Perkinson (Kadia) and Puccini, Webber, and Doane (Tatum and Haynes.) Haynes and Kadia are also former students in our music residency program who have come back to Dallas to perform and teach. Tatum taught and mentored one of our Rising Stars, Tinashe McGowan, who will play on the final concert, July 27.
3:00 PM - Lakeway Chamber Players & Friends featuring Filip Fenrych (violin), Anastasia Markina (piano), and Andrew Pearce (cello) performing Brahms' Piano Trio No. 1 in B major and Schoenfeld's Café Music
Sunday, July 27, 2025 - SEPTET
2:30 PM - Rising Star: Tinashe McGowan, piano – a newly graduated FACP/BB piano student who was featured on NPR's From the Top and is attending the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music this fall, will perform Beethoven’s Sonata No. 26 Les Adieux, Ravel’s Jeux d’eau, and Perkinson’s Toccata.
3:00 PM - All-local Dallas ensemble performing Nielsen's Serenata in vano and Beethoven's Septet, Op. 20 - Danny Goldman (clarinet), Luke Varland (bassoon), Heather Test (horn), Jen Betz (violin), Paul Tullis (viola), Esther Seitz (cello), and Troy Tippawang (bass)
Visit our website for specific repertoire. All programs are subject to change due to any circumstances beyond our control.
Supporting Music Education Through Performance
The festival's unique structure, featuring "Rising Stars" performances before each main concert, directly supports Basically Beethoven's focus on music education by providing performance opportunities for students and pre-professional musicians. This innovative approach demonstrates the organization's commitment to creating pathways for emerging musicians while raising awareness and funds for music education initiatives.
"We're not just presenting concerts – we're investing in the future of classical music," noted Vaughan. "When audiences see these remarkable young artists perform, they're witnessing the direct impact of our free private and group lessons - as well as the work in graduate programs for those who intend to pursue professional careers in music."
There is one exception this year. In the “Rising Star” opening slot beginning at 2:30 for the 2nd concert on July 20, Basically Beethoven has substituted a “Teacher Feature” to showcase its professional teaching artists. This year, Kenoly Kadia, piano, and Crystal Haynes, soprano, will perform. Each has achieved terminal degrees in their respective disciplines, and also are Basically Beethoven teaching artists.
Capital One is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 Basically Beethoven Festival. This is its 4th year as presenting sponsor. Other vital supporters include Fanchon & Howard Hallam, The City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, TACA - The Arts Community Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, Moody Fund for the Arts, DART, Individual Donors, and its board of directors, as well as Sammons Center for the Arts, Moody Performance Hall, and Central Commons, who rent to us at reduced nonprofit rates.
Artwork
This year’s Basically Beethoven poster art is based on painted violins by Dallas artist LaShonda Cooks who interned with Basically Beethoven when it was Fine Arts Chamber Players as a marketer in 2015. As she was an artist, she was asked to paint a viola to raffle and credits that experience with being “the reason [she’s] not afraid to paint on literally anything” and where her idea that “all the world’s a canvas” began, according to an Instagram post from November 2024. Executive Director Morgan Vaughan saw the Instagram post and asked Shonda if she’d be willing to paint some student violins for this year’s Basically Beethoven Festival.
“I love what she did with the original viola,” Vaughan said. “When [production manager] Jeff Tullis and I were discussing art for this year’s festival, we both thought of Shonda. I’m thrilled with how gorgeous they are - and it's a real full-circle moment for the organization.”
Shonda painted three violins, one to represent each concert of the festival. The painted violins will be available for viewing at the festival and will be raffled to help support the music education residencies. You can see more of her work on her website, www.shondasart.com
About Basically Beethoven
A year ago - June 2024 - the organization changed its logo and “doing business as” name to Basically Beethoven. The IRS nonprofit designation and EIN remain Fine Arts Chamber Players.
The name Basically Beethoven reflects the organization's philosophy of being playful while remaining serious about artistic excellence, contemporary while respecting classical traditions, and inclusive while maintaining unwavering commitment to quality. This identity has enabled expanded programming, increased support for emerging artists, and the creation of transformative musical experiences that transcend expectations.
Ticket Information and Support
Admission is always free for Basically Beethoven concerts. Basically Beethoven asks patrons to RSVP on its website - www.basicallybeethoven.org - in case there are last-minute changes or information. Links to support the concerts and music residencies through donations via Zeffy or Stripe are there as well.
For more information about Basically Beethoven's Music Residency program or to support music education through donation, visit www.basicallybeethoven/donate and www.basicallybeethoven.org/supportmusiceducation or email morgan@fineartschamberplayers.org
Media Contact: Morgan Vaughan, Executive Director, morgan@fineartschamberplayers.org and 310.600.4296 (mobile)
High-resolution photos, artist bios, and additional information available upon request.
Basically Beethoven continues the legacy of Fine Arts Chamber Players while embracing a new vision for classical music that celebrates excellence, accessibility, and the transformative power of music education.
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