Chandor Gardens Foundation News

Enjoy a self-guided journey through 8 unique gardens in Parker County. Discover what lies behind the hedges, fences, and gates!

The Friends of Chandor Gardens, part of Chandor Gardens Foundation Inc., are thrilled to present the 5th Annual Secret Gardens of Parker County Tour of eight gardens. Embark on a self-guided adventure through these seven hidden gems, each offering a unique and enchanting experience.

Uncover the beauty that lies beyond the hedges, fences and gates while wandering through these picturesque gardens. From tranquil oases to vibrant floral displays, each stop on the tour promises to inspire and delight.

The gardens can be visited in any order between the times of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Saturday, June 6. 2026. Make your own itinerary, go at your own pace, and enjoy your time in these beautiful gardens.

Garden Locations: Will be posted closer to tour date

Tickets:

• $15/person - online in advance
• $20/person - day of the event at 1st garden visited.

NOTE - Those purchasing tickets online will be emailed a link to the PDF brochure with information about each garden and a map closer to the tour date. All ticket holders will be provided a printed copy of the brochure at the 1st garden gate visited the day of the event.

Regrettably, due to stairs and uneven terrain, the gardens on the tour are not fully accessible for those with mobility disabilities.

In case of cancellation, due to significant inclement weather, the tour will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, instead.

Thank-you so much to the garden owners!
We are only able to be in the private gardens through the gracious kindness of the owners.

For additional information call Karen at: 817-550-7762

** Proceeds benefit preservation and enhancement projects to Chandor Gardens reflecting the artistic vision of Douglas Chandor **

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Thank-you to our Sponsors!
We could not hold this event without their generous support.

Chandor Gardens Foundation invites you to “A Night of Jazz” with the Duane Durrett Trio and special guest, vocalist Miss Sandra Kaye, as part of the Wine & Music series of concerts, on Saturday, June 13, 2025, in the Great Room at Chandor Gardens. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the performance will start at 7:00 PM.

This concert will feature instrumental and vocal selections emphasizing the element of swing which makes American jazz music unique.  Music focused on the past and future performed by pianist Fred Sanders (Lincoln Center and Wynton Marsalis and others), bassist Lynn Seaton (Count Basie Orchestra), Duane Durrett (Dewey Redman, James Clay) and Sandra Kaye, vocals.

Tickets $45 (+fees)  Wine/Beer/Soft Drinks/Bottled water provided

Tickets are limited for this intimate concert experience so act fast!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Performer Bios:

Duane Durrett, has performed with many of the great jazz, blues and country artists during his more than fifty years of playing music. Dewey Redman, James Clay, Kenny Burrell, Ray Price, Michael Martin Murphy, the Temptations and many more are artists Mr. Durrett has performed with. He has degrees from UNT and TCU, and directed the WC Jaz Orchestra from 1975 – 1990. In 1987 the WCJO was the first community college to be selected to perform on Big Band Night at the annual Montreux (Switzerland) Jazz Festival where they were featured with Dizzy Gillespie and his All-Star Orchestra. Duane is the Emeritus Dean of Fine Arts at Weatherford College.

Fredrick Sanders, a virtuoso pianist, seamlessly merges classical and jazz, enchanting audiences from dignitaries to schoolchildren. Mentored by jazz icon Alvin Batiste and pianist Frank White, Sanders gained recognition at the De Oosterport Groninga New Music Festival and was featured on Batiste's "Late" CD. His excellence continued with collaborations with Erykah Badu, Frank Foster, and Roy Hargrove. Debuting with "East of Vilbig" (1997), Sanders received acclaim, reuniting with Roy Hargrove and working with Wynton Marsalis, Nora Jones, and Doctor John. "Soul Trinity vol.1" (2003) showcased his talent alongside Rodney Whitaker and Troy Davis at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Sanders, also an academic standout, assumed the Director of Jazz Studies and Music Technology role at Weatherford College in 2020, where he pioneered Spirio technology on Steinway & Sons grand pianos, highlighting his prowess in performance and music technology.

Lynn Seaton, born on July 18, 1957, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, began his musical journey at a young age. He started with classical guitar at age seven but soon switched to string bass at age nine. While studying music at the University of Oklahoma, he began performing in clubs across the state.

In 1980, Lynn moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he joined the Steve Schmidt Trio and the Blue Wisp Big Band. The following year, he received a Jazz Studies Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts to study with Rufus Reid. Lynn has held faculty positions at several prestigious institutions, including the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Long Island University, SUNY New Paltz, and William Paterson College. He is currently a full professor at the University of North Texas. He enjoys teaching workshops, coaching ensembles, and participating in artist-in-residence programs across America and Europe. He has also been involved with Jamey Aebersold’s and UNT jazz camps and Clark Terry’s Institute of Jazz Studies.

In 1984, Lynn joined Woody Herman and the Young Thundering Herd and began performing with the Count Basie Orchestra. He moved to New York City in 1986 and toured extensively with Tony Bennett and George Shearing after his tenure with the Basie Band. His career includes tours with Monty Alexander, freelancing in New York, and performing with the Jeff Hamilton Trio.

Lynn has graced numerous international festivals and currently freelances and tours as a performer and clinician. Lynn has collaborated with many notable musicians, including Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ernestine Anderson, Al Cohn, Kenny Drew Jr., Blossom Dearie, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Herb Ellis, Frank Foster, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, Thad Jones, Marian McPartland, Mel Torme, Nancy Wilson, and more. He has also worked in jingle studios, pit bands, with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and on various television and radio broadcasts.

With over 125 recording sessions to his name, Lynn’s notable works include the Grammy Award-winning "Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra" and Grammy-nominated recordings "Woody Herman 50th Anniversary” and John Fedchock’s “No Nonsense.” His acclaimed solo albums include "Bassman's Basement," “Solo Bass Flights,” “Live!!!,” and “Zoom Blewz.” His book, "Jazz Solos for Bass," is published by Kendor Press.

Lynn has been honored by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, named a Sammons Artist of the Year, recognized as a Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate, and selected as a Fulbright Scholar to teach in Riga, Latvia. He currently resides in Highland Village, Texas, where he continues to work, record with jazz artists, and lead his own trio.

Sandra Kaye, honed her class act in a little Dallas bar. A mixture of nostalgia and myth, the notion of a great undiscovered performer in a dark little hideaway. The formative years of Sandra’s career were spent in her hometown of Dallas Texas. The night club scene was a mainstay in Dallas for Sandra Kaye and she played the Hideaway Clubs for 8 years consecutively.

Sandra Kaye has moved in many musical directions with her style from Jazz to R&B, with jingles for radio and television. Today Sandra performs with several big bands primarily in the United States and Asia and was the opening act for Dionne Warwick, Patti Austin, The Platters, The Drifters, David “Fathead” Newman, Monty Alexander, Blue Lou Marini and Johnny Taylor. Iconic Performances include: The Beaux Art Ball, Duke Ellington Birthday Celebration, The National Anthem performance for The Texas Rangers, The Shelley Carrol/Brad LealI Big Band, The Curtis Bradshaw First Reunion Orchestra, The Dallas Jazz Orchestra, The Galen Jeter Orchestra, The Alan Glasscock Orchestra, The Vecho Vecencio Group, The JZ’s Big Band under the directions of Nicholas Bolucas, The JZ’s Big Band under the direction of Alec Haavik, The Rolf Becker Music Company and The Shanghai Conservatory Big Band.

Sandra Kaye has performed throughout the United States and Internationally in Japan, China, Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Turkey and West Africa. Sandra Kaye is a former resident vocalist at The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai in the famous Long Bar from April 2011 to April 2016. The only place in Shanghai to hear a fine repertoire of songs from the Great American Song Book such as “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, “Ain’t Misbehavin” and “My Funny Valentine.”

Chandor Gardens Foundation is excited to welcome Opus Nova Chamber Music Series back to the Great Room at Chandor Gardens on Tuesday, May 5th at 7:00 PM, for a high-energy celebration of the legendary “King of Swing,” Benny Goodman—just in time for Cinco de Mayo! 

Featuring Stas Chernyshev and Ann Hung, clarinets • Daniel Anastasio, piano • Paul Unger, bass • Nick Sakakeeny, percussion

The evening begins with a complimentary pre-concert reception at 6:30 PM, featuring refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. Enjoy outstanding artists performing chamber music in an intimate, private atmosphere, and share the moment with fellow music lovers.

Get ready for a lively, toe-tapping evening filled with jazz, groove, and virtuosic flair. This program brings together some of the most exciting music inspired by Goodman’s unforgettable sound—music that swings, sparkles, and surprises at every turn. From smoky blues and playful rhythms to lush melodies and dazzling showpieces, every piece bursts with personality.

Featuring the dynamic combination of clarinet, piano, bass, and percussion, this concert moves effortlessly between soulful, intimate moments and full-on, foot-stomping fun. Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo with us—great music, great energy, and a little swing in the air!

Tickets - $60 (+fees)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Musicians:

Stas Chernyshev, clarinet

An "eloquent" clarinetist with "incredible artistry” Russian-born Stas Chernyshev has established a versatile career as an orchestral musician, soloist, chamber musician, and educator (Dallas Morning News, Theater Jones). Principal clarinetist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Chernyshev has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall in New York, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as in Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Russia, South Korea and Japan. A devoted chamber musician, Mr. Chernyshev has collaborated with Grammy-winning ensembles Eighth Blackbird and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, commissioned new works for his instrument. He has been featured on WQXR -New York’s classical music station and WHYY’s television program - On Stage at Curtis. He is the founder and artistic director of Fort Worth Performances for Autism, and a co-founder of Opus Nova Chamber Music Series. Mr. Chernyshev holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a Master’s degree from St. Petersburg Conservatory.

Ann Hung, clarinet

Ann Hung, born in Taipei, Taiwan, began her musical studies at a young age, starting with piano at age five and clarinet at age nine. Dr. Hung is an active performer in the Dallas and Fort Worth area who regularly performs in the realms of both the orchestral and chamber music. She has shared the stage with the Fort Worth Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the faculty of the Juilliard School. Dr. Hung is always pushing the boundaries of her repertoire and skills, such as collaborating with jazz musicians and commissioning new composers. As a proponent of new music, she has avidly commissioned new works including a wind quintet with her quintet Opus Now premiering in Symphony Space in NYC. One of the new works that Dr. Hung commissioned is included in a recently released album “Stained Glass Story” by Eldad Tarmu. Dr. Hung is currently teaching in Lewisville ISD, Burleson ISD as private lesson instructor and often plays with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She is the associate director of the Fort Worth Performances for Autism and co- founder of Opus Nova Chamber Music Series.

Daniel Anastasio, piano

Praised by the New York Times for his “crisp performance” of a “devilish showpiece” by Ukrainian composer Borys Liatoshynsky, Daniel Anastasio is a soloist and chamber musician based in San Antonio, Texas who combines an intellectual curiosity with “technical prowess and emotional sensitivity” (San Antonio Report). As Artistic Director of several organizations including Agarita and the San Antonio Chamber Music Society, his  innovative programs have included collaborations with dancers,  writers, museums, photographers, glass-blowers, and more. As a performer with a diverse skillset, he has performed Bach’s Goldberg Variations on harpsichord one week, and premiered a multimedia work by Rome Prize-winning contemporary composer Christopher Stark on MIDI keyboard the next. An active proponent of new music, he is the co-founder and pianist of Unheard-of Ensemble, a group that creates engaging interdisciplinary works in direct collaboration with emerging artists and composers across the United States, and tours actively. An Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Keyboard Studies at San Antonio College, Anastasio received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Philosophy from Cornell University under Xak Bjerken, a Master of Music degree from Juilliard under Jerome Lowenthal, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, where he studied with Gilbert Kalish and Christina Dahl.

Nick Sakakeeny, percussion

Nick Sakakeeny joined the FWSO in 2018 as Assistant Principal Timpanist and Percussionist. He enjoys performing in a variety of settings, and has worked with ensembles including the International Contemporary Ensemble, Mark Morris Dance Group, the Dallas and Atlanta Symphonies, and the New York Philharmonic. In 2011 he won first prize in the Atlanta Modern Snare Drum Competition, and in 2015 won third prize in the PAS Solo Percussion Competition. Nick has attended the Round Top Festival Institute, the National Orchestral Institute, and has been a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center.Born in Oberlin, OH, Nick attended the Manhattan School of Music for his undergraduate studies before completing his master’s degree at Northwestern University.

Paul Unger, bass

Paul Unger is currently the Assistant Principal Bass of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Double Bass at Texas Christian University.

An accomplished bassist and composer, Mr. Unger’s versatile abilities have allowed him to appear as a featured soloist with the Fort Worth/ Dallas Ballet, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Mimir and Mount Vernon Chamber Music Festivals. As an accomplished orchestral musician, he has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic and New World Symphony. His diverse abilities have also allowed him to perform and record with such diverse artists as Bob Newhart, Bernadette Peters, Andrea Bocelli, Kevin Eubanks, The Who, Elle King and Weird Al Yankovic, as well as, the touring Broadway productions of Les Miserables, Beautiful and Jeckyll and Hyde.

Paul is an integral member of the critically acclaimed jazz group, “Flipside”. A group referred to in Cadence magazine as “contemporary jazz at its best”, “exhilarating and challenging music making that is rarely dull. A band not to be missed”. David Lewis at Cadence said, “not only is Unger a first rate rhythm player, there is no question of his ability to extend his technique well beyond mainstream expectations.” And the Louisville Observer said of Mr. Unger, “the somewhat unexpected gem in Flipside’s “Artificial Joy” is bassist Paul Unger. Like the better known Edgar Meyer, Unger has a strong background in classical music… his smooth bowing style gives an elegiac feel to his own compositions…”

In 2016 Mr. Unger was voted “Best Bassist” and “Best Jazz Group” by Fort Worth Weekly Magazine.

Paul is a native of Silverton, Oregon and graduated from Indiana University. In addition to his musical work, he wrote and directed the multiple award winning film, “The Last Supper” and the docu-series “Symphonic Shorts” which appeared in over a dozen festivals worldwide. He has also composed music for the feature film “Seventy-Eight”.

Thank You to our sponsors for this event: