Violinist Kristin Lee and Pianist Jun Cho Perform American Sketches
2025-10-26 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC
On Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 4pm, violinist Kristin Lee – praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “vivacity and electric energy” – will perform with pianist Jun Cho in a concert presented by The Phillips Collection (1600 21st Street NW). Coinciding with The Phillips Collection’s exhibition Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection (November 8, 2025-February 15, 2026), the program features music from Kristin Lee’s debut solo album, American Sketches, released on First Hand Records last year.
Out of Many tells a dynamic story of how artists have imagined and depicted American identity. Like the exhibition, American Sketches presents a panoramic view of America’s musical landscape, reflecting the distinct and recognizable sound of American music and its rich history. The album and concert program also encompass Lee’s journey as an American as well as the journeys of the composers she has selected. The concert is part of Phillips Music, the museum’s renowned Sunday Concerts series, now in its 85th season. For over 80 years, Phillips Music has presented exceptional young musicians alongside an international roster of acclaimed performers in the intimate, art-filled setting of the museum’s Music Room. A cornerstone of Washington, DC’s classical music scene, the series continues to champion both classic repertoire and innovative new works.
A violinist of remarkable versatility and impeccable technique, Kristin Lee enjoys a vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and artistic director. “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity,” writes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and The Strad reports, “She seems entirely comfortable with stylistic diversity, which is one criterion that separates the run-of-the-mill instrumentalists from true artists.”
For her American Sketches program at The Phillips Collection, Kristin Lee will perform Four Southland Sketches by H.T. Burleigh (1866-1949); Non-Poem 4 by Jonathan Ragonese (b.1989); Sonata No. 2 “Poeme Mystique” by Ernst Bloch (1880-1959); But Not For Me (arr. Jeremy Jordan) by George Gershwin (1898-1937); Lament (arr. Jeremy Jordan) by J.J. Johnson (1924-2001); The Entertainer (arr. Jeremy Jordan); by Scott Joplin (1868-1917); Romance by Amy Beach (1867-1944) and Fantasy on Themes from Porgy and Bess (arr. Frolov) by George Gershwin (1898-1937).
American Sketches embraces the beauty of cultural diversity in the U.S. The album has a personal resonance for Lee. A native of Seoul, Korea, she emigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven. During her childhood, playing the violin was a refuge from bullying and racism for Kristin – she moved to the U.S. not speaking any English, and felt the violin became her voice. As a foreign-born citizen of the U.S., Lee was compelled to select repertoire for the album that would express her pride in the country she now calls her own.
Performing on a violin crafted in Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano, in addition to her solo appearances, Kristin Lee tours throughout the world as a member of New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, including in Italy, Croatia, Germany, Taiwan, and across the U.S. Always up for adventure, at the Moab Music Festival in Utah, Lee has performed in such unexpected places as rafting down the Colorado River, in a natural rock grotto, and in the magical landscape of the red rock canyons of the area.
As a soloist, Kristin Lee has appeared with leading orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Hawai’i Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic. She has performed on the world’s finest concert stages, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ravinia Festival, the Louvre Museum, the Phillips Collection, and Korea’s Kumho Art Gallery. In 2026, she makes her solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall performing her program American Sketches with pianist John Novacek. An accomplished chamber musician, Kristin Lee is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performing regularly in New York at Lincoln Center and on tour.
In addition to her prolific performance career, Lee is a devoted educator. She has served on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and she has also been in residence with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, the El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and is a summer faculty member at Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute. Lee is also the founding artistic director of Emerald City Music (ECM), a chamber music series that presents authentically unique concert experiences and bridges the divide between the highest caliber classical music and the many diverse communities of the Puget Sound region of Washington State.
Kristin Lee’s honors include an Avery Fisher Career Grant, top prizes in the Walter W. Naumburg Competition and the Astral Artists National Auditions, and awards from the Trondheim Chamber Music Competition, Trio di Trieste Premio International Competition, the SYLFF Fellowship, Dorothy DeLay Scholarship, the Aspen Music Festival’s Violin Competition, the New Jersey Young Artists’ Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi Scholarship Foundation.
Born in Seoul, Lee moved to the United States and studied under prestigious teachers including Sonja Foster, Catherine Cho, Dorothy DeLay, Donald Weilerstein, and Itzhak Perlman. Lee holds a Master’s degree from The Juilliard School. Lee’s violin was crafted in Naples, Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano and is generously loaned to her by Paul & Linda Gridley. For more information, visit www.violinistkristinlee.com.

Simone Dinnerstein, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Katherine Needleman, and Baroklyn
2025-10-29 20:00 - 22:00 | Library of Congress, 10 1st Street SE, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 8pm, GRAMMY®-nominated pianist Simone Dinnerstein – described by The New York Times as “colorful and idiosyncratic” – performs with Baroklyn, the string ensemble she founded and directs, in music from their recent Bach album Complicité.
Presented by Library of Congress in the Thomas Jefferson Building – Coolidge Auditorium (10 1st Street SE) Washington D.C., the concert also features mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and oboist Katherine Needleman with Dinnerstein and Baroklyn
Simone Dinnerstein is well known for her distinctive musical voice and for her expressive performances of music by J.S. Bach. She first came to wider public attention in 2007 through her recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, reflecting an aesthetic that was both deeply rooted in the score and profoundly idiosyncratic. She is, wrote The New York Times, “a unique voice in the forest of Bach interpretation.”
For her most recent performance at the Library of Congress in February 2024, Dinnerstein celebrated the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the U.S. Air Force Band. Her October 29 performance commemorates the centennial anniversary of the Library of Congress’s Concert Series. In celebration of the milestone, Dinnerstein will begin the concert program performing a solo piano arrangement of Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, the same chorale that opened the LOC’s concert series in October 1925, when it was performed on the organ. In a special letter to organist Lynnwood Farnam–the first musician to play in the Coolidge Auditorium–that the Library of Congress shared with Dinnerstein, the message describes an approach to programming that is very similar to that which Dinnerstein applies to her performances – thinking of a concert feeling like a “service” (as it’s put in the letter), with one piece continuing into the next without applause. Dinnerstein and Baroklyn’s performance thoughtfully connects the concert series’ past with the present.
Letter from the Library of Congress written by Music Division Chief Carl Engel
Following the opening of the concert, the program will feature music from Complicité, including Dinnerstein and Baroklyn’s arrangement of Bach’s chorale Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf, BWV 617; Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in E Major, BWV 1053; J.S. Bach: Der Leib war in der Erden, BWV 161 (arr. Simone Dinnerstein and Baroklyn); Bach’s Cantata 170, Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust with continuo realization by Philip Lasser; and In the Air, Lasser’s recomposition of Bach’s Air on the G String.
The deeply felt recording has been warmly-received by listeners – Complicité has already been streamed over 1 million times. Gramophone describes Dinnerstein’s performance as “full of life, engagement and detail.” Of the new album, Textura writes: “Not only are the performances terrific, the music impresses for being more than faithful replications of existing scores but instead arresting re-imaginings that take Bach’s pieces into dynamic new realms.” Read the album press release here and listen here.
Dinnerstein says of her group Baroklyn, “Baroklyn is a group of string players which I lead from the piano. We’re a community that shares the artistic vision that is most important to me, that music should be creative and new. Rehearsal is important to us, and I’ve been influenced by theater practice in which we listen to each other and pass musical ideas and phrases within the group. We rehearse and perform in a semi-circle around the piano and I rearrange parts to emphasize lines, voices and imitative qualities to create a sense of dialogue.” The ensemble’s name is a portmanteau of Baroque and Brooklyn, Dinnerstein’s home borough.
Coinciding with the album’s release, Dinnerstein spoke with NPR’s Morning Edition about the project, as well as about her experience with performance anxiety and the way that playing with the sheet music on an iPad has resolved this for her. Of her work with Baroklyn, she said, “It’s like a sharing circle, and you hear everybody’s individuality, their individual sound as it gets passed around.” Listen to the NPR interview here.
Of the album’s title, Dinnerstein says, “Complicité is a term that I first heard from my son, who studied the teachings of the French theatre practitioner, Jacques Lecoq. Three important ideas that Lecoq communicated to his students were le jeu (playfulness), complicité (togetherness), and disponsibilité (openness). I was so intrigued by these ideas, and the different exercises that my son learned in order to cultivate these skills within ensemble acting, that I decided to try a Lecoq approach with my own musical ensemble, Baroklyn.”

National Chamber Ensemble Season Opener
2025-11-08 19:30 - 22:00 | Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang Street, Arlington, VA, 22206
The National Chamber Ensemble (NCE) launches its 2025–2026 season with Parisian Dreams: Ravel and Saint-Saëns on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM at the Gunston Arts Center – Theater 1. This elegant evening transports audiences to the glamour and charm of turn-of-the-century Paris in a program celebrating French sophistication, lyricism, and
innovation.
The concert pays tribute to the 150th birthday of Maurice Ravel, featuring some of his most beloved and exotic works, including the sensual Habanera, the stately Pavane, the sparkling Le Tombeau de Couperin, and the brilliant Alborada del gracioso for solo piano. Completing the program is the passionate Piano Quartet in B-flat Major by Camille Saint-Saëns, showcasing French romanticism at its most dazzling.
The evening opens with the lively Rondeau by Cécile Chaminade, the first woman composer awarded the Legion d’Honneur, whose music embodies both charm and brilliance. Together, these works create an immersive journey through the lush textures and emotional depth of French impressionism and romanticism.
Performing are acclaimed NCE musicians:
 Carlos César Rodríguez, piano
 Leo Sushansky, violin & artistic director
 Uri Wassertzug, viola
 Steven Honigberg, cello
“
We are thrilled to begin our 19th season with music that captures the essence of Parisian
elegance and imagination,” says Artistic Director Leo Sushansky. “It is a celebration of timeless
artistry, beauty, and innovation that continues to inspire.”
Tickets and more info is available now through the National Chamber Ensemble’s website:
www.NationalChamberEnsemble.org
Tickets: Gen admission $45, student $25, Season ticket $169: Tickets
Venue Address: Gunston Arts Center – Theater 1
2700 S. Lang Street
Arlington, VA 22206 (Free parking)
Info: (703)685-8690

Hellenic Music Ensemble at Strathmore
2026-01-23 19:30 - 21:00 | Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland
What: Hellenic Music Ensemble, Music Director Panos Liaropoulos, artists: Natassa Bofiliou, Giannis Haroulis, and Judy Kuhn
Date/Time: Friday, January 23 at 7:30 pm
Location: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
Tickets: $52-166 and available here: https://www.strathmore.org/events-tickets/in-the-music-center/the-hellenic-music-ensemble/

“A century of iconic Greek music comes to life in a global celebration of Hellenic culture. The Hellenic Music Ensemble, a 21-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Panos Liaropoulos, embarks on a landmark world tour celebrating the centenary of Greece’s legendary composers Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hadjidakis. Featuring two of Greece’s most celebrated voices, Natassa Bofiliou and Giannis Haroulis, the concert blends powerful contemporary performance with timeless orchestral arrangements. They are joined by special guest star, the Tony and Grammy Award–nominated Broadway singer and actress Judy Kuhn, creating a rare artistic bridge between the Greek and American musical worlds. Audiences will experience a sweeping journey through Theodorakis’ stirring anthems of resistance and Hadjidakis’ lyrical masterpieces of love and poetry. Visiting nine countries and performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, this international celebration introduces the beauty and soul of Greek music to audiences worldwide. An unmissable tribute to two cultural icons and the living spirit of Greece.”

Dallas Morse Coors Legacy Concert w/ Yo-Yo Ma
2026-02-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland
ANNUAL DALLAS MORSE COORS LEGACY CONCERT
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Music Center at Strathmore
TICKETS: Purchase here
Experience an evening of profound music making with Yo-Yo Ma, the world-renowned cellist and longtime Washington Performing Arts collaborator, celebrated for his expressive artistry and deep connection to the music he performs. In this rare solo recital, Ma invites audiences into an intimate musical journey, showcasing works that span the breadth of the cello repertoire. Juxtaposing Bach suites alongside works by contemporary composers he has championed through his solo career, and as the founder of The Silk Road Project, Ma’s performances are known to transcend mere technical mastery, offering listeners a glimpse into the soul of the music. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes, “Yo-Yo Ma’s playing captivates the ear and charms the imagination,” highlighting the emotional power and integrity he brings to each piece. This performance is the second-annual Dallas Morse Coors Legacy Concert – a yearly recital celebrating artists who create lasting cultural impact, connecting generations through the universal language of music. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a true cello virtuoso at the height of his craft.​
Program:
Zhao Jiping – Summer in the High Grasslands
J.S. Bach – Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Ahmet Adnan Saygun – Allegretto from Partita No. 1, Op. 31
J.S. Bach – Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
George Crumb – Sonata for Solo Cello
J.S. Bach – Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012
Presented by Washington Performing Arts

The King's Singers Concert
2026-02-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-02-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
The King’s Singers: Washington, D.C.
DATE/TIME: February 6, 2026 & February 7, 2026, 7 p.m.
LOCATION: The Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
TICKETS: Purchase here
The King’s Singers bring their impeccable vocal artistry to two iconic venues this winter in New York and Washington, D.C. The world-renowned British ensemble will offer an enchanting evening of harmony, wit, and vocal precision with Angels & Demons, a program spanning more than 500 years of choral music that explores both the light and the shadows of the human experience. Presented February 6–7 in the awe-inspiring Washington National Cathedral, the performance also features a second half devoted to the group’s signature close-harmony style.

Valentine’s Day with the National Chamber Ensemble
2026-02-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang Street, Arlington, VA, 22206
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the National Chamber Ensemble (NCE) in an evening of powerful voices and sweeping melodies.
Chords of Desire:
Broadway and Opera Favorites explores the universal themes of love, longing, and triumph through beloved selections from opera and the Broadway stage.
This romantic concert features the charismatic baritone Anton Belov, renowned for his velvety tone and dramatic depth, alongside the luminous soprano Karin Paludan. Joined by NCE Artistic Director and violinist Leo Sushansky and piano virtuoso Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, the ensemble bridges classical and popular traditions with elegance, passion, and flair.
The program includes arias by Puccini, Mozart, and Leoncavallo, as well as favorite selections from Broadway classics such as Kismet, The Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors, and more. Whether discovering these works for the first time or returning to beloved favorites, audiences will enjoy an extraordinary evening celebrating love in all its forms.
Perfect for couples, friends, and music lovers alike, Chords of Desire promises a Valentine’s celebration that is romantic, vibrant, and unforgettable.
The National Chamber Ensemble has been widely praised for its artistry and impact:
 “Delightful” — The Washington Post
 “One of the gems of the entire Metro area” — DC Theater Arts
 “Enriched the musical skyline… amazing!” — Nina Totenberg (NPR)
Concert Details
Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Gunston Arts Center – Theater 1
Address: 2700 South Lang Street, Arlington, VA
Parking: Free parking available
Tickets and more info is available now through the National Chamber Ensemble’s website:
www.NationalChamberEnsemble.org
Tickets: Gen admission $45, student $25 : Tickets

A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2026-02-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland
Living the Dream… Singing the Dream
A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs
The Choral Arts Society of Washington
DATE/TIME: Sunday, February 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Music Center at Strathmore
TICKETS: Purchase here
When the power of the human voice meets the spirit of community and the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the result is guaranteed to be joyous and inspiring—as thousands of Living the Dream attendees over the years can attest. Join us as the combined Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel choirs of Washington Performing Arts, and the Choral Arts Chorus raise their voices in tribute both to Dr. King’s achievements and to his ongoing, indelible impact. Through song, inspirational stories, and special tributes by community leaders, Living the Dream…Singing the Dream ​unites all who honor Dr. King’s ideals.
This performance is co-presented by Washington Performing Arts and The Choral Arts Society of Washington.

DAR Celebrates America 250! – A Salute to Women Veterans, featuring Patti LaBelle
2026-04-18 19:00 - 21:00 | DAR Constitution Hall, 18th & C Streets NW, Washington, DC, 20006
DAR Celebrates America 250! – A Salute to Women Veterans, featuring Patti LaBelle
This special evening will honor America’s military women—past and present—by recognizing their courage, sacrifice, and contributions over the last 250 years. The program will spotlight the work of the Military Women’s Memorial, which preserves and shares the stories of women who have served our nation.
Proceeds from the concert will support DAR’s Vivian’s Outreach to Women (VOW) Grant Program, which provides assistance to organizations serving homeless and indigent women veterans.
The evening will begin with a short recognition program, followed by a full-length concert by Patti LaBelle, the iconic Godmother of Soul. Celebrated for her powerhouse vocals and timeless elegance, LaBelle returns to the DAR Constitution Hall stage—where she has performed many times throughout her remarkable 65-year career—to help us celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Event Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Tickets: Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster HERE

Jazz on the Lunar Lawn | Amy K. Bormet Presents “Time Travel”
2026-04-29 17:30 - 20:00 | Hillwood Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Jazz on the Lunar Lawn | Amy K. Bormet Presents “Time Travel”
Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 5:30-8 p.m.
Join Amy K. Bormet for an evening outdoor concert, “Time Travel,” inspired by the special exhibition On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting. The concert will feature classic songs and fresh new pieces about the passing of time, and understanding how it’s measured through music.
www.HillwoodMuseum.org
4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
