2026 Mason Chamber Music Festival
Community Concert
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 AT 12 O’CLOCK NOON
M. BEVAN ECKERT MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Featuring The Artisan String Quartet
“Be Serious”
Joseph Bologne String Quartet No. 1
Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet, Opus 95, the “Serioso”
$20 Suggested Donation
Odeon Gala Concert
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 AT 7:30 IN THE EVENING
THE ODEON THEATER
Featuring Solo Violinist Patrice Calixte, The Artisan Chamber Players, & Special Guest Artist Scott Haupert
“Italian Seasonal Favorites”
Arcangelo Corelli Concerto Grosso Opus 6, No. 4
Antonio Vivaldi “Four Seasons”
Tickets $30
Sandstone Chamber Music Series
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2026 AT 2 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Featuring the Artisan String Quartet
“Viennese Classics”
Franz Joseph Haydn String Quartet opus 74, No. 1
Johannes Brahms String Quartet No. 1
Free Performance, Donations Appreciated
Education Program
Artisan String Quartet Annual “Young People’s Concert” at Mason High School
Thursday, March 26, 2026
This continues to be part of the MCMF’s mission to bring String music and quartets, both classical and pops, to the students of Mason.
Mason String Academy Summer Workshop
June 8-10, 2026:
The Mason String Academy will hold the second annual Academy Workshop in early June for students of all ages. Violins and violas, all supplied by the Mason String Academy, will be available to students and most sessions will be taught in group classes. For deeper learning, private lessons will be available. Director of the Academy, Amy Harris, and Mariama Alcântara of the Artisan String Quartet are the Faculty of the Academy.
How Can You Help?
Donate to Mason Chamber Music Festival
Our Patrons make all things possible for the Mason Chamber Music Festival (MCMF). It is your support, and any grants won, that fund the MCMF each season. Your support is vital to make our Seasons possible. Won’t you join us in continuing to bring high caliber Classical sting performances to our community?
In appreciation of your tax-deductible donation to the Mason Chamber Music Festival Committee will list all donors’ names in our program and thank all donors at curtain time at the Odeon Theatre Gala. Gifts in kind and volunteer hours are also recognized for their contributions.
Mason Chamber Music Festival falls under the umbrella of the Odeon Preservation Association and is a 501 ©3 non-profit organization.
Please Send Donation Checks to:
Odeon Preservation Association
(write MCMF in the Memo line)
P. O. Box 1605
Mason TX, 76856
or
Donate by PayPal
Watch our 2019 Guest Artist Ying Zhang play amidst the Mason wildflowers
A Message from the
Artistic Director
of the Mason Chamber Music Festival
Welcome to the Gala 10th anniversary season of the Mason Chamber Music Festival! In May 2015, the Odeon Preservation Association took a chance and presented the Artisan String Quartet, joined by Mason’s own Scott Haupert, performing the first-ever classical chamber music concert at the historic Odeon Theater. None of us knew then that the sold-out performance that evening would help launch the MCMF. That is exactly what happened that evening, and this Gala 10th anniversary season celebration is a testament to the will of the Festival Committee and classical music lovers in Mason to sustain and grow this important organization. With the support of the Odeon Preservation Association, the Festival Committee, and many businesses and individuals in Mason and beyond, the MCMF boldly plans for a future that promises continuing world-class level chamber music concert performances for years to come.
We are also delighted that this 10th anniversary season highlights the start of the Mason String Academy. Since the beginning of its existence, the MCMF has performed school concerts almost every year at Mason High School and considers these events an essential part of our mission to both entertain and educate. This commitment to have a positive and lasting impact on the Mason community has now been fully realized with the creation of the Mason String Academy. Students of all ages participated in the 1st annual Mason String Academy Summer workshop in June of 2025 at the historic Seaquist House, and Academy students performed Christmas songs along with the Artisan String Quartet at the “500 Years of Christmas Music” fundraiser in December 2025 to the delight of those gathered at the Library.
The future of the MCMF is bright starting with the annual school concert, and the public concerts we have planned for March 26-29, 2026! Our resident ensemble, the Artisan String Quartet, will again anchor the lineup of great music…and musicians!
“Building the Future”
While we look forward to the opportunity to enjoy great music together at our public concerts, we are also excited about our yearly Young People’s Concert at Mason High School during Festival Week. Our concerts at the school continue to be an especially important gift to Mason’s young people, and we are passionately dedicated to fostering music appreciation and education for the next generation!
Annual School Concert
March 26, 2026, in the Mason High School Theater
Performance by the Artisan String Quartet
Enjoy the Music!
Bruce Williams, Artistic Director