Beerthoven

The critically-acclaimed Beerthoven Concert Series is a down-to-earth, approachable celebration of classical song, chamber music, and beer; a quirky mixture of Bach and Doppelbock in unique and intimate settings. Beerthoven finds its inspiration in the musical and festive events of the Austin Saengerrunde as well as the private "salon" concerts of Beethoven's time. Beerthoven events feature live classical music, free beer, and other refreshments and snacks in an all-inclusive manner. There is no backstage here; audience members may even find themselves standing in line for beer with the performers.

Programming is intentionally diverse in tone, instrumentation, and featured performers. Beerthoven supports local artists by offering fair compensation and unique performance venues. Audience members will find our prices at the very low end of typical classical concerts--especially for students and especially given the high quality of the exbeerience.

Mission

Our mission is to offer enriching musical experiences through down-to-earth means. We want to lower the barrier of entry to classical music both culturally and financially. A special effort is made at Beerthoven events to make them free of unnecessary rules and formalities to which the audience must adhere. We also go to great lengths to keep a very low price without having to sacrifice the quality of performers, quality of experience, or quality of beer & food! It is our hope that we might serve an audience that has --or may develop-- an appreciation for classical music that would be unlikely to visit a traditional concert hall.

History

Beerthoven began in 2014 as an auxiliary of the Austin Saengerrunde, combining the club's love of great German music and great German beer. In 2015 Beerthoven began to broaden its reach in the community by joining the Austin Creative Alliance (a non-profit umbrella) and by including non-Germanic music in its programming. The Saengerrunde continues to serve as the primary venue and major sponsor of Beerthoven. Other venues include the Neill-Cochran House Museum and private homes throughout the city. Beerthoven Inc. was certified as a Nonprofit Corporation with the State of Texas in 2020 and has been determined by the IRS to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3).

Beerthoven’s first season, and ultimately, it’s existence, simply would not be possible without the initial support of the Austin Saengerrunde. When our founder Daniel Swayze dreamed up the first form of Beerthoven, it was Bart Goddard who saw the same dream of hope and of community and took immeasurable steps to help Beerthoven be born and take its first steps. Much like we all do in life, we are constantly growing to become far more than we were the past year, or ever dreamed of being years ago. It takes a loving environment of people who believe in your mission and passion, and it was Bart Goddard —along with the help of the whole Austin Saengerrunde— that made our dreams come true, ensuring to help Beerthoven grow into more than it conceived of in it’s infancy.

To all of you in the first year that helped us get our start, what words are there to truly express our gratitude? This thing that we’ve become, and that which we dream to grow into, would likely never have been possible without you. From the bottom of our hearts, we are eternally thankful to your generosity, guidance, and sheer will of force to help give us the foundation we needed to open our doors to this local Austin community.

Bless you all, and thank you to each and every board member, volunteer, performer, and of course above all, our audience. We are so blessed to have such a great audience that allows us to push the boundaries of our styles and explore new ventures in which to enrich this community we’re all in.

Recognition from Local Media

2018 Austin Critic's Table Awards
3 Nominations for Beerthoven:

- invoke for Best Classical Ensemble Performance
- invoke for Best Classical Chamber Performance
- Carla McElhaney for Best Instrumental Performance

WINNER: Best Classical Ensemble Performance: invoke at Beerthoven! 

Austin Chronicle Review of 2019 Program “Czechs Mix”:
”A bigger energy – perhaps the biggest of the concert – was saved for last. Smetana's Piano Trio in G Minor was written in the wake of great tragedy in the composer's life: the death of his 4-year-old daughter from scarlet fever. The work teems with powerful emotion, with anguish and grief on an elemental scale. A visitor to West Texas might have seen something like it in a raging thunderstorm, with sheets of rain lashing a mountain range, and the musicians here pulled that storm into the upstairs of Austin Saengerrunde on a sunny afternoon. It was the grand finale of showing us what makes these Czech composers at home in this state. We like everything bigger in Texas, and that's just what their music gave us.”

Full-length story by the Austin Chronicle in 2014.

Check out more Beerthoven Videos on our YouTube Channel

Kraft Piano in the Austin American Statesman