The crown jewel of our season named in memory of one of our most dedicated and passionate area music educators, the Helen Elbert Collaborative Music Festival is a multi-day experience that takes place in the spring, and features various workshops, artistic collaborations, and guided rehearsals that all culminate in a multi-sensory concert not to be missed.
Within this program, workshops with decorated guest artists allow local students the opportunity to shape their chamber performances in a professional setting, guided by expert coaching from the guest artist(s) and observed by a live audience.
Artistic collaboration is at the heart of this festival, with both an Art and Dance Collaboration presented by the All-Saints Episcopal School featuring artist Lisa Horlander and Artistic Dance Concepts Performing Arts Conservatory in conjunction with two area composers, giving them the opportunity to perform and often to premiere their works.
The East Texas Music Teachers Association is dedicated to teaching students the art of collaborative playing:
A very important part of the Helen Elbert Collaborative Music Festival are original compositions: