2026 - 2027 Season
All concerts will take place at the MATCH Gallery. Tickets and live streams for individual concerts can be purchased from matchouston.org prior to the concert. Seasons subscriptions and livestream packages are no longer available for this season.
MATCH
matchouston.org
3400 Main St, Houston, TX
(713) 521-4533
November 1, 2026
Three-Quarter Quartets:
Gems of the String Trio Repertoire
While the string quartet was the obvious choice for many iconic chamber music works, some composers were inspired to write for a more intimate, smaller ensemble with just one violin, viola and cello. Mozart wrote one of his greatest chamber compositions- the Divertimento in E♭- for string trio, a work that is too rarely heard in traditional chamber music settings, while Jean Françaix’s 1933 String Trio is bursting with Parisian charm and humor. New Houston Symphony violist and Sphinx competition laureate Paul Aguilar joins Boson Mo and Brinton Averil Smith for this evening exploring gems of the string trio repertoire.
Boson Mo, Violin Brinton Averil Smith, Cello,
Paul Aguilar, Viola
December 6, 2026
The French Romantics
Violins: David Chan, Boson Mo, Tong Yan,
Samuel Pederson, Viola, Brinton Averil Smith, Cello,
Evelyn Chen, Piano
March 21, 2027
Inspired by the Clarinet
It was the enchanting sound of a clarinetist that lured Johannes Brahms out of retirement to create two of his greatest autumnal chamber music masterpieces. Brahms’ remarkable trio for clarinet, cello and piano in turn inspired Zemlinsky’s beautiful and haunting work for the same ensemble five years later, a piece which Brahms would champion. Houston Symphony Principal Clarinet Mark Nuccio returns to Musica Tra Amici, joined by Steinway artist Evelyn Chen, Brinton Averil Smith and Boson Mo to help us to bring to life a remarkable era when a chance meeting changed the course of music history.
Mark Nuccio, Clarinet, Boson Mo, Violin,
Brinton Averil Smith, Cello, Evelyn Chen, Piano
May 16, 2027
The NEXT NOW Generation
Musica Tra Amici audiences watched Brittany Halen, Sean Holshauser and Calista Smith grow into mature artists before their eyes, but they are no longer the ‘next’ generation! Today, all three are professional performers with international credentials and these perennial Musica Tra Amici audience favorites, joined by pianist Scott Holshauser, return to Houston for another fun evening combining heartstopping classical songs with entertaining and hilarious broadway selections. This enthralling evening tends to sell out quickly, so we recommend buying tickets early!
Brittany Halen, Mezzo Soprano, Sean Holshauser, Baritone, Calista Smith, Soprano, Scott Holshauser, piano
Past Events
May 10, 2026
Songs our Mothers Taught Us
The brilliant new harpist of the Houston Symphony,
Allegra Lilly makes her Musica Tra Amici debut with a Mother’s Day concert of beautiful French chamber music involving the Harp, incuding Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp. With Judy Dines, flute, Boson Mo, violin, Tong Yan, violin, Christopher French, cello, and Joan DerHovsepian, viola, Allegra, will present a Mother’s Day concert of exotic and beautiful Harp chamber music you will long remember!
March 29, 2026
Alt Wien: The Romantic Music of Old Vienna
Longtime Metropolitan Opera concertmaster and new Rice professor David Chan, makes his Musica Tra Amici Debut, joining Boson Mo, violin, Brinton Averil Smith, cello, Calista Smith, Soprano, James Dunham, viola, and Evelyn Chen, piano in music from the height of romanticism in Vienna, including Mahler’s piano quartet and Korngold’s stunningly beautiful Suite for two violins, cello and piano left hand.
February 1, 2026
The Houston Symphony’s
Bad Boys of Cello: Part Deux!
The spectacular cello section of the Houston Symphony, long known as the Bad Boys of Cello, return with a new program of beautiful cello music and irreverent humor. Featuring: members of the cello section of the Houston Symphony.
December 7, 2025
Inspired by the Violin
New artistic co-director Boson Mo makes his Musica Tra Amici debut with a program of works inspired by collaborations between composers and famous violinists, including Mendelssohn’s passionate Trio C in minor. Boson Mo, violin, Brinton Averil Smith, cello, and Evelyn Chen, piano.
May 11, 2025
Schubertiade!
Yoonshin Song, violin, Tong Yan, violin, Joan DerHovsepian, viola, Brinton Averil Smith, cello, and Charles Seo, cello.For Mother’s Day, we present one of the greatest and most sublime pieces of chamber music ever written, Schubert’s cello quintet. An all star ensemble including Houston Symphony concertmaster Yoonshin Song, principal violist Joan DerHovsepian and principal cellist Brinton Averil Smith will perform one of the works that is closest to our hearts, in this program celebrating Schubert’s genius.
March 23, 2025
Eric’s Farewell
Following his retirement from the Houston Symphony, our beloved founder Eric Halen makes his affectionate farewell to his Musica Tra Amici audience. Join us as we celebrate Eric’s magnificent contributions to Houston’s musical life, and Eric is joined by Boson Mo, Joan DerHovsepian, Brinton Averil Smith, and Evelyn Chen, performing romantic music of composers from the Bohemian heartland and culminating in Dvorak’s beautiful piano quintet.
January 26, 2025
Return of the Next Generation!
Brittany Halen, Sean Holshouser and Calista Smith, joined by pianist Scott Holshouser, return for a new edition of one of Musica Tra Amici’s most popular programs. These three young singers, already seasoned professionals, will present a varied program ranging from virtuosic classical arias to Broadway favorites in an evening of beauty, enchantment and laughter.
November 24, 2024
Timeless Trios
Internationally renowned concert pianist Evelyn Chen joins Musica Tra Amici artistic co-directors Eric Halen and Brinton Averil Smith to perform Beethoven’s legendary Archduke Trio, considered by many to be one of the greatest of all piano trios, and Rachmaninoff’s hauntingly beautiful Trio élégiaque No. 1.
The Return of Ayke Agus
May 19, 2024
Jascha Heifetz’s former student and piano accompanist is one of the leading exponents of the romantic style. Ayke will return to Houston to perform works that she played with Mr. Heifetz and discuss the art of interpretation.
From Europe to Hollywood
March 17, 2024
A concert tracing the journey of the exiled romantic composers who fled Nazism and war in Europe and made their home in Los Angeles. Featuring Brinton Averil Smith, Evelyn Chen, Joan DerHovsepian, Tong Yan, and Yoonshin Song, in Korngold’s emotionally transfixing Piano Quintet. Special guests include Calista Smith – Soprano, and Brittany Halen – Mezzo Soprano.
The Houston Symphony’s
Bad Boys of Cello Ride Again!
January 28, 2024
One of the best cello sections in the world will share both beautiful music for cello ensemble and their irreverent humor.
The World of Johannes Brahms
November 12, 2023
Exploring works from the span of Brahms’ career, including the dramatic c minor piano quartet and rarely heard works for vocal quartet Featuring: Eric Halen, violin, Brinton Smith, cello, Sheldon Person, viola, Evelyn Chen, piano, and Members of the Houston Symphony Chorus.