UNCSA Symphony Orchestra Makes Washington National Cathedral debut on April 14

National media contact: Amanda Sweet
Bucklesweet, 347-564-3371, amanda@bucklesweet.com

UNCSA media contact: Katherine E. Johnson
336-770-1402, johnsonka@uncsa.edu

UNCSA Symphony Orchestra Makes
Washington National Cathedral debut on April 14

Program features the U.S. premiere of Malek Jandali’s Symphony No. 5 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Feb. 25, 2026) — The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) Symphony Orchestra will make its Washington National Cathedral debut on April 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., performing in one of the nation’s most iconic sacred spaces. Led by conductor James Allbritten, the orchestra presents a powerful program pairing Mahler’s luminous Symphony No. 4 with the U.S. premiere of Symphony No. 5 (2018) by Syrian-American composer and distinguished UNCSA alumnus Malek Jandali. The concert is free with registration; please reserve tickets here.

Malek Jandali’s Symphony No. 5 exemplifies his signature synthesis of Western symphonic form and Arabic maqams (modes), reflecting his lifelong commitment to preserving and elevating Syrian musical heritage within the classical tradition. Praised by The Washington Post as “a uniquely gifted composer,” Jandali has emerged as a major voice in 21st-century symphonic music.

The four-movement, 30-minute work integrates traditional Syrian forms — including sama’i and muwashahat —  unfolding from rhythmic vitality to nocturnal lyricism before culminating in a powerful and awe-inspiring finale. The symphony received its world premiere recording in 2021 by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop.

“It is deeply meaningful to have the U.S. premiere of my Fifth Symphony performed by my alma mater, the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra,” said Jandali. “To hear the next generation of talented musicians bring this work to life, students walking the same halls where I once studied, feels like a true full-circle moment. Even more special is presenting the symphony at the Washington National Cathedral, where Leonard Bernstein conducted his historic ‘Concert for Peace.’ It is always better to be together in a symphony for peace. I have long believed that architecture is frozen music, and to share my symphony in such a magnificent and inspiring space makes the occasion even more profound.”

“Making their Washington National Cathedral debut is an extraordinary milestone for our students,” said Allbritten. “To perform in a space of such historical and spiritual significance challenges them to rise to the highest level of artistry and professionalism. These are emerging artists preparing for major careers, and experiences like this shape not only their musicianship, but their confidence and sense of purpose. We’re also proud to bring a bit of North Carolina warmth to Washington, D.C., sharing the spirit of UNCSA with a national audience.”

The program concludes with Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, a work of clarity, warmth and childlike wonder. Its radiant final movement, sung by UNCSA’s A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute student, soprano Claire Griffin, offers a serene vision of heaven, bringing the evening to an ethereal and transcendent close.

Event Details:
UNCSA Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
FREE – registration requested

University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra
Conductor James Allbritten
Composer Malek Jandali
Soprano Claire Griffin

Concert repertoire:
Jandali’s Symphony No. 5
Mahler’s Symphony No. 4

The UNCSA Symphony Orchestra's appearance at Washington National Cathedral was made possible in part by contributions from generous supporters of UNCSA.

For more information, visit uncsa.edu.

Malek Jandali is “a uniquely gifted composer” (The Washington Post) and “a major new addition to the 21st century’s symphonic literature” (Fanfare magazine). His “deeply enigmatic music” (Gramophone) with “heart-rending melodies, lush orchestration, clever transitions and creative textures” (American Record Guide) spans a broad body of work that includes eight symphonies, seven concertos, four string quartets, and his upcoming full opera, The Square.

His works have been commissioned, performed, and recorded by leading orchestras and distinguished soloists around the world, such as the Royal Philharmonic, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony, Russian Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, and the Zagreb Philharmonic. His large-scale orchestral works engage major philosophical themes and integrate Arabic maqams (modes) with persuasive craft and a marked seriousness of purpose that echo UNESCO’s call to preserve and protect the rich cultural heritage of his homeland Syria. Maestro Marin Alsop says “Jandali belongs among the superb composer poets of our time—a meaningful voice of quite astonishing, almost unearthly beauty.”

Mr. Jandali has produced ten albums of lauded performances of more than forty of his compositions. He is the first Arab musician to have arranged the oldest music notation in the world, which was featured on his 2008 album Echoes from Ugarit. Jandali is composer-in-residence at both Queens University of Charlotte and at Qatar Museums. He is also the founder and CEO of Pianos for Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building peace through music and education. Jandali is the recipient of the 2014 Global Music Humanitarian Award, and in 2015 the Carnegie Corporation of New York honored him as a Great Immigrant, a Pride of America. Malek Jandali was born in Germany and raised in Syria. He now makes his home in Atlanta and New York City.

James Allbritten serves on the faculty of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where he works closely with emerging professional artists in the School of Music and the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute.

A respected mentor and conductor, he plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of opera performers through intensive production work and performance training. In addition to his work at UNCSA, Allbritten served as both General and Artistic Director of Piedmont Opera, a position he held for over 20 years.

He continues to serve as Principal Conductor of the Opera Theatre of the Rockies Vocal Arts Festival, a role he has held since 2000, and previously conducted the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale from 1996 to 2006. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with major companies including Opera Theatre of the Rockies and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

A dedicated educator, Allbritten is a multiple recipient of the UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Award (2001, 2008, 2013) and was honored with the Kenan Institute Class Act Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013. He was also awarded the Arts Council of Winston Salem and Forsyth County Arts Educator Excellence Award in 2019.

The UNCSA Symphony Orchestra is composed of talented student musicians from the School of Music’s high school, undergraduate and graduate programs.

The orchestra provides intensive training in professional orchestral performance under a variety of renowned guest conductors — emphasizing artistic excellence, ensemble collaboration, and real-world creative experiences.? 

The ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire — from classical masterworks to contemporary compositions — and regularly collaborates with internationally renowned guest artists, composers and choreographers. Through performances, recordings and interdisciplinary projects, the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra prepares emerging artists to lead and innovate in the global arts landscape.

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is celebrating 60 years as a top-ranked arts conservatory and America’s first state-supported arts school. The nation’s only public university of five arts disciplines on one campus, UNCSA prepares emerging artists for careers in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, and music at the undergraduate through post-graduate levels, as well as through a specialized high school with free tuition for in-state residents. UNCSA provides industry-leading instruction in an inclusive environment where students are encouraged to leverage the arts as a mechanism for change. Interdisciplinary opportunities arising from the unique arts ecosystem on campus at UNCSA prepare artists to enter an evolving global arts and entertainment industry. Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, the School of the Arts opened in Winston-Salem (“The City of Arts and Innovation”) in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina System when it was formed in 1972. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu.

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