Violinist LeeAnne Chenoweth began taking violin and piano lessons at age 5, in her hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. By age 12, her father was taking her to Tulsa, weekly, for violin lessons with the concertmaster of the Tulsa Philharmonic. At age 16, she spent a summer studying violin at the Meadowmount School of Music in upper New York state. She graduated from the SMU Meadows School of Arts with a bachelor’s degree in violin performance, having been a recipient of the Meadows Artistic Achievement Award Scholarship.
Soon after receiving her degree, she began working with the Dallas Opera Orchestra violin section; two seasons later, she won a violin audition in Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, working in FWSO until 2007. In early 2007, she imagined a chamber music series like Timeless Concerts and began planning. She produced her first concert in the summer of 2007 Ms. Chenoweth was honored in 2010 by receiving the Legacy of Women of Tarrant County award in the arts division..
During her orchestral career in Ft. Worth, she shared the stage with great classical artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Pavarotti, Van Cliburn, Joshua Bell, and others. Plus, pops artists as diverse as Natalie Cole, Marvin Hamlisch, Wynona Judd, Pink Martini, The Beatles tribute band “Classical Mystery Tour,” and more. She has also shared the stage with artists like Ricky Martin and Depeche Mode, even accompanying members of Cirque du Soleil.
Ms. Chenoweth currently works as a substitute violinist with several area symphonies in the DFW area, but most regularly with the Waco Symphony, where in 2015 she collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, and in 2017 with superstar soprano Renee Fleming.”
In addition to concert performance work, Ms. Chenoweth contracts ensembles for special events throughout Texas; some examples are wine tastings at the Anatole, Christmas parties at the Ft. Worth Club, and weddings in a variety of locations from the Ritz Hotel to a family ranch.
Ms. Chenoweth plays on a French violin (Nicolas Vuillaume), made approximately in 1848. Her passion is to keep beautiful music alive to be heard by future generations. She frequently performs free educational programs in elementary schools, encouraging children to appreciate music of all eras, pointing out that composers of movie music they enjoy were influenced by the classics. Hear more about Ms. Chenoweth’s mission in the promotional video on the home page of Timeless Concerts.
Chenoweth is the president and artistic director of a nonprofit organization; Timeless Concerts. Her concerts offer an evening of beautiful music of strings and piano, often joined by a vocalist. Audience members enjoy a relaxed atmosphere while sipping complimentary beverages. Interesting stories are told about the history of music and composers. A post-concert party offers time to mingle with the musicians, take photos of great memories, and enjoy the comradery with other music lovers.
She married Richard Lawson while still attending SMU. They live in north Arlington and have two grown daughters, Cayla and Jessica.
