NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas
Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 8 p.m.
The Kennedy Center and NPR present this annual holiday tradition highlighting jazz pianists performing their favorite seasonal music. This perennially sold-out event will be recorded for future broadcast on NPR and streaming online.
Takács Quartet
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 8 p.m.
After a triumphant Fortas Chamber Music recital of Bartók’s cycle in 2019, the Grammy®-winning Takács Quartet presents a program of quintessential works by Schubert and Beethoven.
Edward Dusinberre, violin
Harumi Rhodes, violin
Richard O’Neill, viola
András Fejér, cello
YAEL WEISS, PIANIST
32 Bright Clouds: Beethoven Conversations Around the World
Date: December 16, 2020
Time: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. ET
Tickets: Free
Presented by Virtual Concert Halls
32 Bright Clouds: Beethoven Conversations Around the World is a global music-commissioning, performing and recording project curated by pianist Yael Weiss. The project commissions a diverse group of composers from countries of conflict and unrest around the world, with all new works unified by a single “Peace motif” from Beethoven, where he added the inscription “A Call for Inward and Outward Peace” above the notes. Each new composition is connected to one of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. 32 Bright Clouds aims to harness music’s great power for unity and peace.
The Tea: Courtney Dowe
In this online series, women musicians perform original work on the first Friday of the month. Conducted over a cup of tea, each session includes a short interview exploring the artist’s creative process. Join us and local singer Courtney Dowe.
Courtney Dowe is a unique combination of human rights advocate, vocalist and lyricist. Whether she is exposing the persecution of Falun Gong under the communist regime in China or denouncing police brutality in the United States, her love for life and dedication to her craft emanate from every note she sings. Find out where her latest journeys have taken her in this performance.
WHERE
Online, streaming on Facebook and nmwa.org
WHEN
Friday, February 5, 12–1 p.m.
PRICE
Free. No reservations required.
The Tea: Black Alley
In this online series, women musicians perform original work on the first Friday of the month. Conducted over a cup of tea, each session includes a short interview exploring the artist’s creative process. The Tea proudly welcomes Washington, D.C.-based band Black Alley.
Black Alley has been pushing the art of music to its rhythmic limits. Determined to create a unique musical elixir, Black Alley has taken the finest ingredients of rock, hip-hop and go-go to create their own genre-bending sound called “hood rock.” The band is one, each musician surrendering to the union of sounds, each delivering music from their soul, while in dialogue with one another through their instruments. Each member of this collective is essential to the workability and funkability of the unit.
WHERE
Online, via Facebook and nmwa.org
WHEN
Friday, March 5, 12–1 p.m.
PRICE
Free. No reservations required. Add to your calendar here.
Shenson Chamber Music Concert:
The McDermott Trio with violist Paul Neubauer
Hailed for their “dazzling virtuosity and beautifully integrated ensemble,” the McDermott Trio has been recognized as one of the most exciting trios of their generation. Since their Carnegie Recital Hall debut, they have performed internationally. Recent highlights include debuts at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y’s Kaufmann Hall and the Ravinia Festival, as well as their first visit to Mexico with the Mainly Mozart Festival.
Violist Paul Neubauer has been referred to as “a master musician” by The New York Times. In 2018 he made both his Chicago Symphony and Mariinsky Orchestra debuts. Neubauer is also the artistic director of the Mostly Music series in New Jersey and is on the faculty of The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music.
WHERE
Online, streaming and posted to YouTube and nmwa.org
WHEN
Wednesday, March 31, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
PRICE
Free. Reservations required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join.
The Tea: MovaKween
In this online series, women musicians perform original work via livestream on the first Friday of the month. Each session includes a short interview, conducted over a cup of tea, which explores the artist’s creative process. The Tea proudly welcomes MovaKween.
MovaKween hails from Baltimore, Maryland, and sings about her “inner-standing” of consciousness and expressions of love. With a life dedicated to healing and spiritual work, her music reflects her survival stories and journey as a new goddess on Earth. She is currently working on her debut album, titled Anu Kween, coming in spring 2021.
WHERE
Online, streaming on Facebook and nmwa.org
WHEN
Friday, May 7, 12–1 p.m.
PRICE
Free. No reservations required.
Annual free Labor Day weekend concert
This year’s program relocated from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the Kennedy Center’s South Plaza
A celebration of American composers in a program spanning
patriotic to popular music
Award-winning singer-songwriter and NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds,
saxophonist Charlie Young among guest artists
Sunday, September 5 at 8:00 p.m.
(WASHINGTON)—A beloved tradition since 1979, the National Symphony Orchestra’s (NSO) free annual Labor Day weekend concert returns on Sunday, September 5, at 8:00 p.m. and is relocated this year from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the Kennedy Center South Plaza. Conducted and hosted by Larry Loh, Music Director of West Virginia Symphony, the concert features multi-platinum singer-songwriter and NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds and saxophonist Charlie Young. Featuring music from Duke Ellington, new Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, and Michael Abels, amidst patriotic music like the Star Spangled Banner, the program spans a wide spectrum of American composers.
The performance is FREE to attend, no tickets required. Seating is first-come, first serve. Masks are optional outdoors, but required to enter the building to use the restrooms.
In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. For the most up to date information regarding the concert, please check the Kennedy Center website and social media channels. The concert will be approximately 80 minutes long, with no intermission.
The full program is located below.
Full Program (with Composers)
Star Spangled Banner………………………………………………………………
The Block…………………………………………………………………
Three Black Kings…………………………………………………………………
Starburst………………………………………………………
Tribute……………………………………………………………
Ben Folds Set
Star and Stripes Forever……………………………………………………………
TICKET INFORMATION
This is a free concert, first-come, first served for seating. No tickets required.
CREDITING:
Support provided by the U.S. Department of the Army and the U.S. Department of the Interior; the National Park Service; the National Capital Region; and the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
To mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, reflect on the ongoing loss from Covid-19, and honor the healthcare professionals who have been on the front lines throughout the pandemic, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will perform a free concert on Friday, September 10, 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall.
Conducted by NSO music director Gianandrea Noseda, this special concert experience will feature the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard with music by Leonard Bernstein, William Grant Still, the Kennedy Center’s new Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, Aaron Copland, among others. The concert will include remarks by notable participants throughout the evening. Representatives and guests from the Washington metropolitan community working in positions of service will also be in attendance.
To mark the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, James Lee III’s An Engraved American Mourning will receive its world premiere, commissioned by the NSO. Inspired by a quote from former President George W. Bush in 2011, Lee uses a four-note descending motive throughout the piece to represent the phrase ‘we re-em-ber.’
The performance is FREE to attend. Tickets are first-come, first serve. RSVPs are strongly suggested to ensure a seat and can be made via the Kennedy Center website here.
To ensure patrons’ health and security, as well as the safety of performers and staff, beginning September 1, 2021, the Kennedy Center is requiring proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to attend all indoor performances and events at the Center. Children under 12 years of age and patrons with a medical condition or a closely-held religious belief that prevents vaccination must provide proof of a recent negative PCR COVID-19 test to attend an indoor performance. Masks are required at all times for all patrons and visitors regardless of vaccination status in all indoor spaces at the Center. For further details, please see here.
Washington Arts Ensemble’s Inaugural Concert
The program includes:
BRAHMS Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
LILI BOULANGER Three Pieces for Cello and Piano
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50
Artists featured:
Natalia Kazaryan, piano
Christopher Schmitt, piano
Zino Bogachek, violin
Loewi Lin, cello
Upcoming dates in this series:
- Tuesday, October 20, 2021 at 6:30 PM
- November 19, 2021 at 6:30 PM
- December 10, 2021 at 6:30 PM
