Chamber Music Tulsa: AYA Piano Trio
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
September 28, 2025
My favorite sound is the small string ensemble: One or two violins, a cello, maybe a viola, with the occasional clarinet or piano joining in for a change of scenery. I love the spare texture, the peace of knowing each musician will hold their note exactly the right length of time, the wordless communication between performers. I love how the cello grounds us harmonically and propels us rhythmically at the same time. I love how a violinist will break my heart with the perfect vibrato, how the viola will chug away patiently in the background until they gift us with an unexpected, impeccable solo. When there is a piano involved, I, as a fellow pianist, feel the burden of knowing they are responsible for setting the pace and must abandon their desire to be the star of the show (pianists are an egotistical bunch), lending the music a thicker timbre and even more interpretive possibilities.
I’ve attended chamber music concerts for decades, in places I’ve lived or visited. Starting in Abilene, then in Ann Arbor, then in San Jose, Vienna, and Paris, I’ve luxuriated in my favorite sound.
Chamber Music Tulsa puts our city on par with any of those other locales. The organization brings in chamber groups from all over the world, musicians who have devoted their lives to their art, consummate professionals who never disappoint. Years of practice and preparation, both alone and as an ensemble, go into each performance.
I invited my friend Susan to Sunday’s concert of the AYA Piano Trio, formed in 2013 when its members were students at Curtis Institute of Music. Susan is more of a Struts fan than a chamber music fan, but she took a chance on me, put on a cute outfit, and showed up. Susan is one of the leaders of Indivisible Tulsa County, and was exhausted from fighting fascism all week. All month, actually. Okay, the better part of a year. I hoped chamber music would get her mind off her duties and let her experience something new.
So imagine my surprise when I arrived at TPAC’s Williams Theater Sunday afternoon and learned that the AYA Piano Trio had lost its pianist on Thursday, replaced her with some other dude, and whipped together a totally new concert.
“It’ll be fine,” I told Susan, fanning myself with the hastily-printed program insert listing the new music. “This happens all the time. They know tons of music and can adjust to any upset.” I hoped I was telling the truth. The missing pianist had recommended the replacement pianist when the former got stuck in Milan with passport issues. She knew him. It would be fine. Fine.