Professor Martin Blessinger, Associate Professor Stuart Cheney and Instructor II Gina Bombola of the TCU School of Music have been named 2024–2025 Gentling Fellows by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. This prestigious fellowship supports scholarly and creative projects connected to the legacy of Fort Worth artists Stuart and Scott Gentling — brothers celebrated for their realist paintings of birds, landscapes and murals, including the iconic ceiling of Bass Performance Hall.
Scott Gentling (1942–2011), Franz Joseph Haydn, 1993, graphite, opaque and transparent watercolor on paper, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, 2018.53, © Amon Carter Museum of American Art
As part of their fellowship, the trio will present a concert showcasing music composed by Scott Gentling, alongside works by composers who influenced him — many of whom, like the Gentlings, were members of notable artistic partnerships. The fellows also contributed essays to a book for the occasion, published by the Carter.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Carter on this interdisciplinary project,” said Bombola. “It has been a truly rich and rewarding experience to learn more about these very talented artists and their deep love of music.”
Blessinger has arranged several of these pieces for string ensemble and composed an original work, while Bombola is contributing detailed program notes for the concert program and publication. Cheney’s independent research will appear alongside Bombola’s essay and Blessinger’s score in the program.
“This project highlights the collaborative, interdisciplinary spirit of the College of Fine Arts, School of Music and our community partners like the Carter,” said Blessinger. “Each of the Gentling Fellows brings a fresh perspective to the study of the brothers’ lives and work that will enrich the experience of concertgoers and museum attendees alike.”
The culminating concert will be presented in partnership with the Mimir Chamber Music Festival, with performers drawn from the festival’s esteemed roster. The event will serve as the finale of the museum’s current exhibition, “Classically Trained: The Gentlings and Music,” which explores the brothers’ deep engagement with both the visual and musical arts.
Join us for “Classically Trained: The Gentlings and Music – A Concert Experience.”