Get Social with Sips, Concerts, and Art in STL!

Join us for an intimate evening of acoustically rooted singer-songwriter music as the WCHOF Music Series celebrates the lyrical artistry of Lizzie Weber. Featuring the Saint Louis native’s distinctive voice and carefully sculpted songs, this concert is an essential cultural event for music lovers and a highlight of the Saint Louis concerts calendar.
The performance takes place at the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries, a unique Saint Louis museum and art gallery that offers an unforgettable atmosphere where strategic games meet sonic masterpieces.

The Program: Storytelling in Sound
Experience a journey through graceful melodies and poetic narratives with singer-songwriter Lizzie Weber. Her music, which blends elements of folk, chamber pop, and indie rock, creates performances that are both intimate and transcendent.

• Original Compositions: Lizzie Weber presents an evening of original music marked by lyrical storytelling and emotive vocals.
• Artistic Depth: With her lyrically-driven voice, Weber crafts songs that are intimate yet expansive, weaving delicate melodies with themes of love, loss, and personal reflection.
  The Performers: St. Louis Excellence

The Performer: Lizzie Weber

This exceptional evening features renowned singer-songwriter Lizzie Weber. Known for her lyrical storytelling and emotive vocals, she has released well-received albums and singles that highlight her unique voice and poetic sensibility.

Lizzie Weber was selected for the 2026 Contemporary Music Series by WCHOF Music Director, Brian Owens, and Next Move Artist-in-Residence, Malena Smith, curating a program that reflects the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries' mission to celebrate the intersection of art, culture, and excellence. Weber’s music will bring a vulnerable and deeply resonant depth to the performance.

Thematic Connection: Lyrical Strategy

Lizzie Weber's songwriting process mirrors the strategic depth of chess. Much like a Grandmaster carefully plans each move, she meticulously sculpts her songs, utilizing every word and note to evoke a specific emotional response in the listener. Her ability to convey profound personal reflection within a concise musical framework is a testament to the power of artistic strategy.

Venue, Tickets, and Full Schedule

Experience this concert surrounded by our incredible permanent and rotating art exhibitions and history exhibits.

Full Evening Schedule:

• 5:30 PM: Doors Open (Cash bar available)
• 6:00 PM: Artist Talk with WCHOF Music Director Brian Owens
• 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Concert Performance

Details:

• Venue: World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
• Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 WCHOF Members, and includes one drink ticket.
• Seating is extremely limited for this intimate performance held within one of the galleries, offering a rare, up-close listening experience.

Purchase Tickets Here

• 20% discount for WCHOF members, students, seniors, and military personnel
• Each ticket includes one free drink

Can’t make it to the concert? Be sure to watch the livestream on the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries’ YouTube channel.

Special Guest Expert: Dr. Brian Yothers
Join us with Saint Louis University's Dr. Brian Yothers for a deeper insight into how chess relates to literature. Dr. Yothers is a professor of English and chair of the Department of English at Saint Louis University. He is the author or editor of a dozen books focusing on early and nineteenth-century American literature, Herman Melville, religion and literature, travel literature, the literature of slavery and freedom, and poetry, among other topics. He is the most recent past editor of Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies, and he is excited by the opportunity to discuss the Moby-Dick chess set by Jessica DeStefano (currently on view in Reading Between the Lines: Chess and Literature) as part of the tour.

Reading Between the Lines: Chess and Literature – From T. S. Eliot to The Queen’s Gambit, discover how the world’s greatest writers have used chess as the ultimate metaphor for life and drama.

Charles Houska: Master of Play – Step into a world of vibrant color and pop-art energy. We’ll explore how Saint Louis’s own Charles Houska brings whimsy and movement to the board with brand-new commissions.

Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition – See the game as you’ve never seen it before. From ancient Persian boards to modern twists, we explore 1,500 years of "house rules" and creative evolution.

The Social Hour

The tour is just the beginning! Once we’ve explored the galleries, we keep the good vibes going with:

• Boxed Lunches & Refreshments: Savor a delicious catered lunch and a selection of drinks on us (if you RSVP in advance).
• Community & Conversation: Meet fellow art lovers and history buffs in a relaxed, inclusive setting right in the heart of the Central West End.

Ready to make your move? Space is limited to keep these tours intimate and engaging.

Register Here

You're invited to the closing reception of Charles Houska: Master of Play on Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. Meet the artist, peruse the immersive exhibition, and enjoy complimentary admission, valet, and refreshments by Brennan's. While you are here, be sure to stock up and save 15% on our limited-edition Houska merchandise, while supplies last!

Charles Houska: Master of Play is a retrospective of the artist’s work over his impressive 25+ year career in Saint Louis and beyond, including brand-new chess-themed commissions and a 3-D-printed chess set. Showcased inside an incredibly vibrant and immersive environment filled with his iconic floral, animal, and portrait motifs, this exhibition boasts more than 75 of Houska’s artworks. The show also explores Houska’s community projects and corporate collaborations with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Herman Miller HQ, Absolut Vodka, and more.

RSVPs are requested. Please email events@worldchesshof.org for more information or to register.

Join us for an intimate and collaborative evening of contemporary soul, folk, and R&B as the WCHOF Music Series celebrates the art of songwriting. Featuring musicians from Saint Louis and New York, this concert is an essential cultural event for music lovers and a highlight of the Saint Louis concerts calendar.

The performance takes place at the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries, a unique Saint Louis museum and art gallery that offers an unforgettable atmosphere where strategic games meet sonic masterpieces.

The Program: Collaboration, Craft, and Celebration
In celebration of his birthday, WCHOF Music Director Brian Owens hosts a Nashville-style writers' round, uniting some of the finest voices in contemporary music. Experience a journey through the creative process as four acclaimed artists—Aida Ade, Malena Smith, Christiaan Padavan, and Brian Owens—trade songs and stories on one stage. This evening spotlights the region’s songwriting community alongside national voices in a spontaneous, genuine, and powerful collaboration.

The Performers: A Night of Master Storytellers
This exceptional evening features four acclaimed vocalists and songwriters, each bringing a unique blend of pop, soul, folk, and R&B to the stage.

• Aida Ade: A Saint Louis-based vocalist and songwriter known for her rich voice and captivating stage presence, fusing soul, jazz, and contemporary R&B to explore themes of love and identity.
• Malena Smith: A classically-trained Saint Louis singer, songwriter, and storyteller whose introspective original songs blend pop, folk, jazz, and soul, celebrated for her elegant phrasing and luminous tone.
• Christiaan Padavan: A vocalist and songwriter from Long Island, New York, with roots in pop, soul, and folk, who gained national attention as a finalist on American Idol.
• Brian Owens: The WCHOF Music Director and a Saint Louis-based soul singer and creative curator whose music is a modern extension of the Motown sound, seamlessly blending artistry, storytelling, and community spirit in every performance.

WCHOF Music Director Brian Owens has curated this exceptional program to celebrate his birthday, selecting an intimate format that reflects the WCHOF's mission to celebrate the intersection of art, culture, and excellence. The ensemble brings authentic and vulnerable depth to these original works.

Thematic Connection: The Strategy of Song
Songwriting, at its core, is a profound act of strategy. It requires the writer to move pieces—melody, rhythm, lyric, and harmony—with precision to capture an emotional truth. A writer's round is the ultimate showcase of this strategic craft, where artists must choose not only what to share but how and when to share it, adapting to the collaborative environment. This evening celebrates the focused intent and deep preparation that define both musical composition and high-level strategy.

Venue, Tickets, and Full Schedule
Experience this concert surrounded by our incredible permanent and rotating art exhibitions and history exhibits.

Full Evening Schedule:

• 5:30 PM: Doors Open (Cash bar available)
• 6:00 PM: Artist Talk with WCHOF Music Director Brian Owens
• 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Concert Performance

Details:

• Venue: World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
• Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 WCHOF Members. Each ticket includes one complimentary drink ticket.
• Seating is extremely limited for this intimate performance held within one of the current galleries, offering a rare, up-close listening experience.

Purchase Tickets Here

• 20% discount for WCHOF members, students, seniors, and military personnel
• Each ticket includes one free drink

Can’t make it to the concert? Be sure to watch the livestream on the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries’ YouTube channel.