Austin Arts

We were privileged to be invited to a private home last night to hear the Miró Quartet, the resident string quartet at the University of Texas. After the amazing concert there was a reception. Unfortunately, I couldn't get all the players in a picture. But this photo shows (left to right) Professor Doug Dempster, Interim Dean of the College of Fine Arts; his wife Kathryn Anderson, a health care consultant, I believe she said, but sometimes poet, too, according to Doug; John Largess, who plays Viola in the quartet; and Daniel Ching, violin. The idea of having a resident string quartet to represent UT and build up studies in strings and string quartet performance was floated a few years ago and the University received some funds from the community to make it happen. The house belongs to one couple who helped fund it.

The tall man in the background is Dr. Ernest Butler. He and his wife, Sarah, have underwritten the arts at UT by establishing the Butler Opera Center there. And, of course, the Butlers are responsible for the lead donation on the Butler Dance Education Center for Ballet Austin which will be near our new home downtown. There were other people at this party who would be recognized because their name is on an art venue, too!

This was a wonderful event and we are honored to know people who support the arts in such wonderful ways and to meet these amazing musicians and hear them play in such an intimate setting.