Performers of different instruments face great challenges in creating a unified tone in a chamber ensemble. One of the most challenging of chamber music settings involves strings, winds or brass, voice and piano. The objective of this performance dissertation is to explore and examine piano trios from the early classical era through the 20th century which differ from the traditional violin, cello and piano combination. By combining the piano with a string, a wind or brass instrument, or even voice, it becomes more challenging to create a homogenous ensemble sound. Each instrument has a different range, method of tone production, attack, dynamic range, timbre and intonation.

My dissertation includes works which highlight how blending sounds this varied and interesting has created an enriched and enlivened chamber music repertoire. Given that this particular repertoire is often exciting and immensely satisfying to study and perform, the rewards are great for all involved.

The three recitals in this dissertation were presented in Gildenhorn Recital Hall on 3/1/2017, 3/28/2018 and 11/5/2018 and included Ligeti's Horn Trio, Brahms' Horn Trio, Schubert's Shepherd on the Rock, Mozart's “Kegelstatt” Trio, Reinecke's Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Horn, Beethoven's Clarinet Trio and Brahms' Clarinet Trio. My partners in this dissertation were soprano Amy Broadbent , violinists Anto Meliksetian and James Stern, violist Rebecca Barnett, cellist Molly Jones, French hornists Joshua Blumenthal and Derek Maseloff, and clarinetists Natalie Groom and Jeremy Eig.

Recordings of all three recitals can be accessed at the University of Maryland Hornbake Library.